Chapter 80

“They had me,” she started, her voice low as she stepped in closer to Aiden. “There were five of them. Omegas. I could tell by the way they carried themselves. They were ready to kill me, to cut me off without flinching.”

Aiden's jaw tensed, but he remained silent, letting her continue.

Lucy glanced at her wounded arm, the gash now a dull ache compared to the adrenaline that had surged through her veins earlier. “I tried to move. To get out of their circle. But one of them rushed at me.”

Her breath hitched as she recalled the moment—how she had barely dodged, how another had grabbed her from behind before she could react.

“He held me down and then…” she exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “One of them was going to strike. I saw his claws. I almost felt death lurking when he aimed for my throat.”

Aiden took a slow step forward, his brows drawing together. “But he didn't.” It wasn't a question.

Lucy nodded. “No. Because I… I growled.”

The word felt foreign on her tongue. Aiden's expression darkened, interest sparking in his gaze. “You growled?”

Lucy hesitated before nodding. “I don't know how to explain it. It wasn't my voice. It wasn't a normal growl. It felt deeper. Stronger. It wasn't just me. And that made the omega to stop. He could not move, rather he became scared. I think they didn't expect to see that.”

Aiden's stare was intense. “And then?”

Lucy clenched her jaw. “Then I fought.” 

She could still feel it, the strength she had experienced. Her body had moved before her mind caught up, faster, sharper, like she had talked into something buried deep within her. She had knocked the omega off her, twisted out of the other’s grip and when another lunged, she had thrown him back—too easily.

“I didn't think, Aiden,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “I just moved. My body reacted before I could even process what was happening.”

Aiden's gaze flicked to her wounded arm. His fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for it but restrained himself.

“Have you ever felt that before?” he asked, redirecting his eyes so they fell on her.

Lucy shook her head. “Yes, but not like this. This was different, I think.”

“Then what?”

She bit her lip, her eyes dropping to the floor. She didn't want to say it, but she knew he wouldn't let it go.

“It was noon. I got angry with Marie.”

Aiden's face remained unreadable as he was all attentive, listening to every detail.

“That was when I first knew my wolf was locked away,” Lucy murmured. “I felt something that afternoon, but it never fully resurfaced. This time, though… it was different. I didn't feel weak and I'm still conscious.”

Aiden stayed silent.

Lucy hesitated before continuing, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of her wounded arm. “It took a toll on me, Aiden. After the scream and the threat. I collapsed. I was unconscious for hours.”

She glanced at him, expecting some kind of reaction, but Aiden's face was impassive. Like his eyes were lost in thought.

The silence stretched. But then, he finally spoke l.

“Do you know what must be done to unlock your wolf?”

The question sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. She felt the question lingered in the air. 

What was required for you to unlock your wolf?

She knew the answer. She had known about it for a long time.

Did she tell him? Did she admit what she knew?

Her fingers curled around the fabric of her dress, tightening as if to hold herself together. The truth sat heavy on her tongue, unwilling to come out. If she told him now, what would he think? What would he do?

Aiden didn't move at first. He was waiting for her to speak, but the silence stretched between them like an invisible wall. His patience was running thin. She could see it in his stance—the way his shoulder stiffened, the way his hands flexed at his sides.

Then he stepped forward. One step. Then another. Until he was too close, his warmth pressing into the space between them, his presence too overwhelming to ignore. Aiden's gaze didn't waver. She could feel her heartbeat in her ears. Her hands slightly clenched into fists and returned to spreading themselves apart again.

She knew the answer. She had known about it for a long time, even before she knew Aiden was her mate. 

The Bite of her mate.

Her throat tightened. She could feel Aiden's presence. It was steady and unyielding. He was waiting for her to speak. But the words refused to come. 

Lucy held her breath as his voice dropped lower. “Lucy! We don't have all night. I have to go anytime soon, remember?”

She tensed. He was too close to refuse not answering him. She opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat.

“What aren't you telling me?”

Her lips parted again, but still, no words came. Her mind was a battlefield of doubt and fear.

Would he offer? Would he be smiling? Would it even work if he wanted to? She wasn't ready to know the answer. So she stayed silent. 

Aiden let out a deep sigh through his nose, his gaze never leaving hers. Then he reached out again. Lucy flinched, expecting him to grab her wrist or touch her arm again. But instead, his fingers barely grazed her chin, tilting her head up just slightly.

“If you ever need to tell me, you will.” His voice was softer than before, but firm. “Right?”

Lucy swallowed hard and gave a small nod. Aiden leaned in slightly, his frustration barely restrained. He was about to speak again, to demand an answer—

But then—

A soft sound. A rustling from the mattress.

Lucy's head snapped to the side just as Marisa's eyes fluttered open. 

Panic seized her. Aiden immediately turned sharply, his back now to Lucy, moving so fast. It was as if he had vanished into the shadows. 

Lucy's breath hitched.

Marie groaned softly, rubbing at her eyes. They were still unfocused, still heavy with sleep. She blinked once, then again, struggling to make sense of her surroundings.

Her gaze landed on Lucy first.

“Lucy?” Marie's voice hoarse, laced with sleep.

Lucy froze.

Marie frownedzher brows drawing together as her gaze shifted slightly past Lucy, to the faint outline of another figure.

Aiden.

Marie squinted. “Who—”