Chapter 54

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 to protect you, Leo. You're risking too much.”

Leo nodded, his expression softening slightly. “I appreciate it, Ethan. But I can't just stand by and do nothing.”

Ethan hesitated but eventually nodded, stepping back to give them space.

Leo nodded again and turned his attention back to Lucy. “You're burning up.” he murmured, his expression shifting to one of alarm. His hand moves to her forehead, the cool touch startling against her fevered skin.

“I'm fine,” she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Fine?” he repeated incredulously. “You look like you've seen a ghost. And your temperature—”

“I said I'm fine,” she interrupted, though her voice packed conviction. She stepped back, slacking off his hands, but the movement made her dizzy.

Leo didn't let her stumble far. He reached for her again, his jaw tightening. “You're not fine, Lucy. You're pale, trembling and your skin is hot enough to start a fire.”

She looked away, avoiding his piercing gaze. “I just need to get to Marie. Isabella told me—”

“To hell with Isabella,” Leo snapped, his frustration breaking through. “You're not in any condition to be running errands… You still remember your situation, right? Don't you?”

Lucy's eyes darted back to him, startled by the sudden anger in his tone. She opened her mouth to protest, but he spoke again, his voice lower this time.

“What's going on, Lucy?” he asked, his eyes searching hers. “Just let me know… What did Aiden do to you back in the hall… I'm curious,” He paused, his gaze darkening. “Did he do something to you?”

Her breath hitched, her thoughts flashing back to the hall, to the way Aiden's presence had at first unsettled and eventually comforted her but now it doesn't seem that way.

“No,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “He just asked me a few questions and that was all.”

Leo studied her face for a moment before speaking up again. “Are you sure… should I believe—”

“Why do you care?” Lucy's voice cut through his words like a blade.

Leo stopped in his tracks, startled by the venom in her tone. Lucy pushed his arm away, stepping back. Her eyes, glassy with tears, locked onto his.

“Why do you care now, Leo?” she demanded, her voice trembling. “You didn't care before.”

“Lucy, I—”

“You rejected me!” She shouted, her voice breaking. “You told me to forget about you. That I wasn't good enough for you because of my status in this pack, in the royal residence… because I'm just a mere maid with no recognition. Do you remember that?”

Leo's breath caught in his throat. Her words hit him like a blow, each one dripping with the pain he had inflicted.

“I was just doing what—”

“Don't you dare,” she interrupted, tears streaming down her face now. “Don't you dare blame anyone else for what you did. You humiliated me. I was your mate but you made me feel like nothing. You made me suffer… I fainted because I couldn't take it.”

Ethan shifted uncomfortably, turning his back to them to give her some semblance of privacy, though the emotion on his face was clear. But all he could hope for is that no one passed by at the moment.

“Lucy, I'm sorry,” Leo said quietly, his voice heavy with regret. “I was a—”

“Sorry?” she echoed bitterly, her voice cracking. “You think sorry fixes this?” She wiped her tears angrily. “I don't need your pity. Leo. I don't need you. I'll be fine without you— just like I've always been.”

Her words struck him harder than any blow. Leo stood frozen, guilt and remorse swirling within him. He wanted to say more, to beg for her forgiveness, but his throat tightened, and the words wouldn't come.

When he reached out to touch her arm, Lucy flinched, stepping back. “Don't… please Leo… I'm just tired,” she said, her voice quieter but no less resolute. “Just… don't… I longed for your touch, hoping you would see me but you turned a blind eye… not now.”

She turned and walked away, her steps unsteady but determined. Leo watched her retreating figure, his chest aching.

Ethan turned back to him, his expression solemn. “She's right, you know,” he said softly. “But it isn't your fault… all you needed was time, Leo.” He paused and patted him by his shoulder. 

Leo waged his head slowly. He didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on the corridor where Lucy had disappeared. 

“What are you going to do now, Leo?”

Leo mused, his thoughts heavy with regret. I failed her, he thought. And now, I don't know if I'll ever be able to make it right. But I have to… I must.

“I'll have to get her back… But I guess all this happened because of what happened between Aiden and Lucy back inside the hall… no one knew what happened.”

“Do you think it is the right time?… The full moon is just in three days and we have lots of preparation to do… and remember, Leo, you haven't trained and you have to… you'll be meeting Aiden, you'll have fight him, he'll propose that and you know it to,”

“I know, right?” He nodded. “Let's go see him.”