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Chapter 42
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Marie, whose mind was still caught in the chilling grip of what had just transpired, could feel her heart pounded relentlessly in her chest, each beat echoing with a mixture of fear and embarrassment. The image of Aiden's piercing blue eyes lingered, seared into her memory and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling of being completely exposed under his gaze.
Marie finally took a seat in the room, resting her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. She glanced at Lucy, who was still visibly shaken, her face pale and her eyes distant. Marie's own nerves were frayed, and she desperately needed to make sense of what had happened.
“Lucy…what just happened back there?” Marie asked, her voice unsteady. “I—I froze. It's like… I don't even remember what I was supposed to say. Did I do something wrong?”
Lucy, too, was struggling to regain her composure. She clutched her arms around herself, as if trying to hold her own trembling in check. She wanted to respond, to find the words that might explain the storm of emotions swirling inside her, but she couldn't.
Her mind was still foggy, replaying the moment when Aiden's gaze was locked onto her, she couldn't escape the memory of Aiden's eyes. The way they had fallen in her, so intense and piercing, had sent a shiver through her that she couldn't quite shake.
She had felt something in that moment, something powerful and confusing —a pull that both frightened her and intrigued her. It was a feeling she couldn't put into words, a strange magnetism that seemed to draw her towards him.
This wasn't the first time Lucy had felt this way. A similar feeling had gripped her ounce before, when Leo had first caught her eye. She remembered that day vividly: the way Leo's confident attitude and quiet strength had captivated her, making her feel seen in a way she hadn't before.
But this—what she felt when Aiden looked at her—was different or to say, almost the same but yet, deeper and more unsettling like a current running beneath the surface, impossible to resist.
Lucy shook her head, trying desperately to push the thoughts away. She knew she was being ridiculous; Aiden was not someone she could afford to think about, much less feel anything for. He was powerful, intimidating and completely out of reach.
The stories about his cruelty, about his cold and calculating nature, were well known. She had no place in his world and even the fleeting idea of being noticed by him was dangerous.
Stop it, Lucy. This isn't real, she told herself firmly, her internal voice trying to snap her back to reality. You're just a maid, and he's… he's Aiden.
She wagged her head again, trying to dislodge the thoughts like shaking water from her ears but it was of no use. She could still feel his gaze on her, as if he had somehow left a mark that she couldn't wash away. Her chest tightened with every passing second, and she wished more than anything that she could go back to not being noticed at all but that was impossible as she still had a role to play.
Lucy blinked, snapping back to the present for a moment, but Marie barely words barely registered. She glanced at Marie but her eyes were still distant and unfocused. Marie was talking but it was as if Lucy were underwater, the words muted far off.
“Lucy!” Marie's voice cut through sharply, louder this time, yanking Lucy back to reality. “For heaven's sake, Lucy, snap out of it! I'm also trying to figure out what happened and you were already lost… huh.”
“I—I don't know, it's just the way I felt when he looked at me.”
“Oh, come on Lucy… how do you feel, can you please explain?” Marie stood up, her hands on either side of her waist.
Lucy kept mute at first and sighed deeply. “I felt a pull like I was drawn to him… I—”
Marie bursted into laughter and ran her fingers through her hair. “We both felt the same thing, Lucy. You were not the only one who felt a pull… I felt drawn to him also, Oh! Aiden, his eyes are so alluring.” she paused and took a deep breath. “We still have to face him, remember and I could not imagine how I can maintain myself before him.”
Lucy was silent and could only stare, trying to get herself together. The feeling, still evident on her face.
“I…I don't.” Marie finally stammered but could not finish with her words. She looked at Lucy with wide, frightened eyes, unable to mask her lingering shock. “I didn't expect him to look at me like that. I don't even know if he was angry… It felt like he could see right through me. It was like I couldn't move, couldn't breathe.”
She soon thought about it, the stories she heard, the tales of Aiden s, his ruthlessness on the battlefield and his unyielding loyalty to his father's cause. Aiden was known not just for his strength but for the way he could break a person's will without ever raising his voice. He was beautiful, yes, but his beauty was the kind that cut like a blade, sharp and dangerous.
“He didn't even have to say anything, Lucy. Just…just the way he looked at us.” She paused, rubbing her arms as if to ward off an invisible chill. “The stories about him were true. He has no emotion, he didn't show any back there. The stories must be true, aren't they? He's… he's exactly what that say he is. For one time, Isabella was right.”
Lucy nodded slowly, she thought how much of what she heard was exaggerated, spun into legend by those who feared him. But today, she had seen it for herself —Aiden didn't need to shout or make threats. The force of his presence alone was enough to command obedience, to strip away any semblance of courage she might have had.
“He didn't even look angry.” Lucy murmured, still trying to understand her own reaction. “But I couldn't help feeling like I'd done something wrong, just by being there. It's like… he has a way of making you feel small. Even when he's not doing anything.”
“I guess you're right,” Marie said. “And Lucy, he stared at you the most… I don't want to say this, but I think you're in more trouble than I… we just have to be careful.”
“I know, I don't need a reminder.” Lucy stood up and rubbed her face, like trying to unveil a mask.
“Oh, no… they'll be feasting by now… we're supposed to be there before they even started at all.” Marie rumored nervously while Lucy checked the time.
“Oh! This is another problem again… where the jar of wine… let's just get going already.” Lucy hurried and carried a big jar filled with wine and placed it on her head while Marie carried another jar and the two ladies both hurried out of their rooms in an attempt to get to the grand hall.
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The grand hall was filled with the low hum of murmurs and the gentle clinking of silverware as everyone settled around the round table. The room was dimly lit by the warm glow of chandeliers, casting flickering shadows against the stone walls. At the distinguished table in the center sat Alpha Eric, with his commanding presence, exuding an aura of authority that was impossible to ignore. Beside him but distant away by the right, Aiden sat with his usual composed manner, his piercing blue eyes surveying the hall with a cold, calculating gaze. Leo sat on the other side of his father, on the left, tense but outwardly calm, his posture rigid as if bracing himself for what the evening might bring. Next to Leo was Ethan, who had been granted the rare privilege of sitting at the Alpha's table, a proof of his loyalty and status as Leo's most trusted guard.Isabella, sat across from Leo and Ethan as she was beside Aiden, her eyes darting anxiously around the hall. She was doing her best to ma
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The air in the grand hall grew tense as Aiden swiftly rose from his seat, his movements deliberate and hurried, drawing eye to him. He looked down at the dark red stain that marred his perfectly tailored black slacks. His expression remained inscrutable, a mask of calm that concealed whatever thoughts were brewing behind those piercing blue eyes. Aiden's silence was more fearsome than any outburst could have been, and his gaze remained fixed on Lucy, who stood trembling inside before him.Alpha Eric, seated at the head of the round table and conversing with a guard, soon noticed Aiden’s sudden movement and the way eyes seemed to be drawn toward him. He looked from Aiden to Lucy, seeing that Lucy was standing before him with her head bowed, his brow furrowing in confusion.“What's going on here?” Eric asked, his voice cutting through the silence. He scanned the faces around the table, seeking an answer, but none was forthcoming. Isabella, seeing what had happened, stiffened, her eyes
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The round table of Eric was filled with an unsettling silence, heavy and tense as Alpha Eric's question hung in the air. All eyes were on Aiden, waiting for his response. He remained quiet, his face composed and unreadable, as if carefully weighing his answer.Slowly, Aiden leaned back in his chair, the faintest smile playing on his lips, a gesture that seemed to speak of amusement rather than anger. His relaxed demeanor only heightened the tension around the table, making everyone's nerves tightened just a little more.Leo's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Aiden closely, every muscle in his body taut with anticipation. He knew Aiden's reputation all too well, the stories of his ruthlessness and the way he dealt with anyone who dared to cross him.And now, Leo's thoughts were consumed with worry for Lucy. He couldn't bear the idea of her suffering because of a simple mistake, not after all that she had gone through. And the thought of Aiden deciding her fate filled him with a
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All eyes were on him. The round table of Eric had grown silent and the silence persisted for a moment. Eric looked at him, surprisingly but that didn't stop him from taking a sip from his cup.“Yeah, I've changed my mind,” he said again, his voice firm. “She needs to be punished for her carelessness.” Leo's heart sank at his decision. His hands curled into fists beneath the tables, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. He wanted to speak, to defend her but there was no way he could do that, not when his father was around.But the rage inside him was unmistakable. Ethan, sensing his frustration, discreetly reached under the table and placed a steadying hand on Leo's clenched fist. He turned his head to notice Ethan and Ethan made a gesture in which he understood too well.Leo but his lip, his eyes flickered and landed on Aiden. They were locked on him. Inside he was boiling but he forced himself to stay composed.Isabella, seated next to Aiden, could barely hide her satisfacti
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The hall was empty now, the echoes of footsteps fading into the distance as everyone filed out, leaving only Aiden and Leo at the round table. There was silence between them and it was heavy. Aiden remained relaxed while Leo sat rigid, his hands still clenched beneath the table. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. It was a standoff, both aware of the situation at hand but neither of them was willing to break the silence—not until Aiden did as he noticed the gesture Leo made to get Isabella out of the hall, including Ethan.“You've been dying to say something, Leo.” Aiden said, his voice low but sharp. His eyes flickered with amusement as he leaned back slightly in his chair. “So, go ahead. Say what you've got to say.” He raised his head to notice him. “Don't think I didn't see what you did back there.” Leo raised an eyebrow at his words but didn't respond immediately as he waited for him to explain better about what he had done as he had no idea what he was talking about.“I
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Lucy stood in the doorway, she looked smaller somehow, shoulders set as if bracing herself against the weight of all those gazes that followed her every movement. Isabella, standing at her side, held her firmly, almost like someone who was to be condemned.Leo's gaze was fixed on her, his posture rigid, thoughts stirring like a tempest in his mind. She doesn't deserve this. The words rattled through him like a drumbeat. He'd once cast her aside, let her drift from his life as if she meant nothing. She's my mate, he thought, feeling the weight of that reality hit him with a familiar, unwanted pain. And now I can't even shield her from what's coming.The memory of his father's words flashed through his mind. Alpha Eric's cold decree: Lucy would be disciplined. Her status as a mere servant made it difficult to stand up for her in front of his father. Leo found himself helpless, his own standing stripped away, his fists clenched to hide the tremor in his hands.Why did I let it come to t
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Lucy paused, feeling her heart skip a beat. Did she believe it? Standing here with him now, feeling the warmth radiate from his presence. It was hard to reconcile the image of him she'd been given with the man before her. And yet, doubt lingered, like an old shadow that resisted the light.“I… I don't know,” she finally whispered, her words honest and trembling. “But it's hard to imagine… it's hard to believe…” Her voice faded, unable to find the right words. Her hands fidgeted, her fingers twisting together as if they could somehow ground her.He took a step closer, so close now that she could feel the warmth of him, his presence like a fire’s gentle heat in the coldness of the hall. Gently, his hands reached for her shoulder, his touch steady but was feather light.“Lucy,” he said softly, his voice like a balm against the uncertainty swirling inside her. “What they say about me… I suppose there's truth to it… I haven't been… kind, not always. But it doesn't mean I am incapable of ca
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The door opened wide and the heavy sound of boots echoed off the stone floors as Leo entered the hall. He paused at the threshold, his gaze sweeping the room, searching for a sign of what had passed between them. Aiden sat calmly at the round table, fingers resting lightly on the wood, his expression as unreadable as ever. Across the room, Lucy stood with her head bowed, her posture still but tense, as if she were bracing herself.Leo felt a surge of frustration tightening his fists, questions swirling like the storm clouds in his mind. What did you do to her, Aiden? he wondered, anger rising like bile in his throat. He knew his Father's decree was beyond challenge—Aiden had been given free rein, yet Leo had held onto some stubborn hope that perhaps Aiden's arrival would spare Lucy from punishment. But seeing her now, silent and bowed, he felt his insides churn with a darker suspicion. How could she stand just there, as if she were nothing more than a piece in some twisted game? Who
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The question struck Lucy like a blow and she stumbled under the weight of it—not physically but emotionally. Her breath hit her and she blinked rapidly, trying to compare herself. Love Leo? The words echoed in her mind, unwelcome and painful.Lucy stared at the ground, her grip tightening on her clothes on either side. She didn't answer immediately. Her thoughts were a mess, tumbling over each other in disarray. Why is she asking me this? Why now? And what am I supposed to say?After a long, tense silence, Lucy finally spoke, her voice measured but laced with bitterness. “Leo rejected me with his own mouth,” she said, each word carefully enunciated, “and he told me to forget about him… and that's what I did exactly. Or, how can you expect me to love someone that doesn't love me, huh?”Isabella raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of skepticism and disbelief. She gestured with one hand, a small, sharp flick of her wrist, as if physically brushing aside Lucy's words. “You didn't answ
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The sudden impact threw her off balance, causing a few clumps of dung to fall from the bowl. The heavy bowl wobbled precariously and she scrambled to steady it.“Oh no!” she gasped, her heart pounding. She set the bowl down hastily, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Her gaze darted up, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the person she had bumped into.It was Aiden.He stood there, his piercing gaze fixed on her. His swift reflexes had saved him from most of the mess, but a smear of dung stained the sleeve of his dark shirt. He looked at it briefly, his expression unreadable, before his eyes shifted back to her.Lucy's fear spiked instantly, her pulse thundering in her ears. Her thoughts raced, chaotic and panicked. Why him? Of all people, why him?Aiden's eyes flicked to the bowl on the ground and back to her. His tone was calm, yet there was an undercurrent of authority. “Why are you carrying that by yourself?”His question was simple but it felt like a challenge.
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The early days of the sun were faintly breaking through the cracks of the heavy curtains in Leo's room when he pushed open the door. The air inside was still, carrying the faint scent of cedarwood and smoke from the fireplace he hadn't lit in days. He exhaled heavily, shutting the door behind him and moved to the center of the room. He shrugged off his jacket, hanging it on the peg by the wall, before tugging his shirt over his head.The cool air kissed his bare skin, drawing out a soft sigh as he stretched his shoulders. His muscles ached from the night's relentless training—he’d spent hours in wolf form, rubbing and fighting to exhaust the emotions that had been clawing at him since yesterday. But the ache was nothing compared to the battle in his mind.Turning to grab a clean shirt, his eyes caught the faint rise and fall of a figure on his bed. He stilled, narrowing his eyes, his wolf instantly alert. It took only a moment for him to recognize the brown hair spilling over his pil
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The words struck her like a blow. She felt her knees weaken momentarily, but she quickly steadied herself, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. How dare he? she thought, fury and disbelief tangling in her mind. He even has the audacity to call Lucy his mate right in front of me. Her composure wavered for only a moment before she regained her footing, glaring at Leo with newfound resolve. “And exactly are you planning to do that?” she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “She's a maid, Leo. She has no standing here. Why make you think you can claim her? Not when your father is here.”Leo didn't back down. If anything, her defiance only seemed to stoke the fire within him. He took another step forward, closing the distance between them. “Because I'm going to be Alpha soon,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “And when that happens, you'll see. I don't need your permission.”The determination in his voice sent a chill down Isabella's spine. She narrowed her eyes, stud
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The heavy wooden door closed behind them with a low cream and Isabella found herself standing in the dim warmth of Leo's room. The space was simple yet deeply personal, an extension of its owner.The air was scented faintly with pine and leather, and the faint bluish light of the moon filtered in through the narrow window. Her eyes immediately fell on the intricate carvings etched into the walls—images of wolves mid-run, trees swaying and the crescent moon. Each one was unique, bearing the unmistakable mark of Leo's careful hand.She stepped closer to one of the larger drawings, tracing the grooves with her fingers. “You carved these yourself,” she murmured, her voice reverent.Leo, standing a few places behind her, crossed his arms over his chest and kept mute, his eyes following her movements closely.Isabella inhaled deeply, her eyes roaming the room. It had been so long since she'd last stood here. She took in the sturdy wooden bed, its frame hand-carved to match the alls, the sta
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The hallways were long and the stone floors echoed with the sound of Lucy's soft footsteps as she wandered aimlessly, her mind lost in a haze of confusion and turmoil. Her thoughts kept circling back to the words Isabella had said, echoing in her head like a constant drumbeat.“Aiden's ruthless, cruel… he won't care about you. He's never cared about anyone…”Lucy's head throbbed with the weight of those words, the uncertainty about what lay ahead heavy in her chest. She could barely hold onto the fragments of her thoughts, let alone understand the difficulties that surrounded her.Her temperature had spiked again, and she felt dizzy but that was the least of her worries.She had to focus. I have to get a grip, she thought. I can't let this affect me…But before she could lose herself again, she heard her name—soft, yet urgent—calling out from behind her.“Lucy,” Marie's voice broke through the fog.Lucy didn't respond at first. She kept walking, one foot in front of the other, her min
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Lucy blinked, looking up into Leo's familiar face. His eyes were sharp, but there was a flicker of concern beneath his furrowed brow.“Lucy,” he said, his tone softening. “Are you alright?”Her lips parted but no words came out. She felt his hands tightened slightly on her shoulders, anchoring her as she swayed, her gaze fixed on the ground.Her silence gnawed at him, but before he could press further, Ethan, who had been following closely behind, cleared his throat.“Leo,” he began, his voice low but insistent. “You can't be seen like this with her. Especially not by your father.”Leo tensed, nodding his head. “I know,” he replied curtly, glancing at Ethan.“Do you?” Ethan pressed, stepping closer. “Because if your father sees you—”“I said I know!” Leo snapped, his voice echoing down the corridor. He took a breath, his frustration barely contained.Ethan fell silent, his gaze flicking to Lucy, who was only staring but seemed oblivious to their exchange. He sighed. “I'm just trying t
