Chapter Nineteen

Brielle's POV

I felt my foot slip and the ground give way beneath me. My heart seized in my chest, and my scream could not stay trapped in my throat as I began to fall.

I was panicking, and the thought that this was it— I was going to lose my baby because of my reckless, desperate initial decision, held me by the neck. If I survived the floor, my conscience would never let me live.

But just as I felt myself pitch forward, a strong hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back from the edge. Right after I had already seen my life flash before my eyes.

I stumbled forward, crashing into the solid wall of a chest. My vision swam, heart hammering in my ears. I looked up to see Damien, one of the pack members, and he looked extremely concerned.

That was close. Too close.

“Brielle! Are you alright?” He asked, his voice a bit shaky.

I nodded, trying to catch my breath.

“I... I think so. You saved me. Thank you.”

He released my arm gently but kept another hand on my shoulder to steady me.

“You need to be more careful. What were you thinking, standing so close to the edge like that?”

I looked down at the stairs, still trembling.

“I... I wasn't thinking clearly. I just needed some air, some space.”

Damien's brow furrowed, but he didn't press further.

“Let's get you inside. You look like you're about to pass out.”

I let him guide me back into the house, grateful for his help. My legs felt like jelly, and my mind was a river of emotions. The relief, fear, and a crushing guilt. I had been so close to making a terrible mistake. I wouldn’t give up my child for anything.

We reached the living room, and I sank onto the couch, my body still shaking from the near fall. Damien stood nearby, watching me.

“Can I get you anything? Water, maybe?” He offered.

I nodded.

“Water would be nice. Thank you, Damien.”

He disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later with a glass of water. I took it with trembling hands, sipping slowly as I tried to calm my racing heart.

“Thank you.” I said again, my voice quiet. “I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there. What could have happened…” I broke into tears again.

Damien gave me a small, reassuring smile and held my shoulder.

“Just glad that I was around to help. Are you sure you're okay? Should I call someone? Maybe Zane?” He kept a respectful distance.

The mention of Zane made my heart clench. I shook my head quickly.

“No, please don't. I'll be fine. I just need to rest for a bit.”

He nodded, respecting my wishes.

“Alright. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.”

I watched as he turned to leave, feeling a lot of gratitude and something else. A fear of what could have happened, and I wasn’t prepared to spend time thinking about such a terrible thing.

“Damien, wait.”

He paused, looking back at me.

“Yes?”

“Would you like to stay for some tea? Just for a few minutes?” I asked, needing the company and the distraction.

He hesitated, glancing at his watch.

“I appreciate the offer, Brielle, but I have somewhere I need to be. Maybe another time?”

I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment.

“Of course. Thank you again for saving me.” I got up to see him out with the cup in my hand.

With a final nod, Damien left, and I stood by the door. I took another sip of water, my thoughts racing.

I had been so close to losing everything. The realization made my heart ache, and I vowed to never let myself get to such a dark place again.

As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I heard the sound of heels clicking against the floor outside the apartment.

I looked up to see Angelina passing by the window, and her expression was disdainful. And then she looked at Damien with curiosity before she stopped, giving me a long, appraising look.

“Brielle.” She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Always seems to find herself in the company of multiple men, doesn't she?”

Her words cut deep, and I felt a flare of anger and shame. But I didn't have the energy to argue or defend myself. I just stared at her, my jaw clenched.

Angelina smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

“Better be careful, honey. People might start talking."

She sauntered off, leaving me seething and hurt. Her remark stayed in my mind, and she didn’t know how deep she had gone, but it was a cruel reminder of the tangled mess that my life had become.

I took a deep breath, trying to push the anger away. I couldn't afford to let her words get to me. Not now. She was just jealous because of Lucien and me from the past. I saw the way she looked at him.

But what if she knew something now? She worked as his secretary, didn’t she?

I closed my eyes and tried to calm the storm of emotions inside me. I had to find a way to untangle the mess I was in. For my sake, and for the sake of my unborn child.

I was lost in thought, standing by the door, the cup of water still in my hand. Angelina's words kept on repeating in my mind, adding to the weight of my already heavy heart. The sound of heels clicking faded away, but the anger and shame still stayed.

I sighed and tried closing the door, but suddenly, there was a resistance on the door. I turned quickly, expecting Damien or even Zane. But instead, Lucien stood there, his dark eyes locking onto mine. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a firm click.

“Brielle, what’s wrong?” His sounded concerned, but there was an intensity in his eyes that made my heart race for a different reason.

I took a step back, trying to gather my thoughts.

“Lucien, you shouldn't be here. It’s not a good time. In fact, we shouldn’t be together at all.”

He ignored my words, taking another step closer.

“I saw Damien leaving. And Angelina was out there. I know something’s wrong. Talk to me.”

His insistence grated on my already frayed nerves.

“I said it's not a good time, Lucien. Just leave.”

He shook his head, his jaw set in a stubborn line.

“No, Brielle. I won’t leave until you tell me what’s going on.”

His proximity to me, the intensity of his gaze, the sheer presence of him— everything was just too much. My emotions were a tangled mess, and I didn’t think that I could keep the facade any longer.

“You wouldn’t understand.” I muttered, turning away.

He reached out, grabbing my arm gently but firmly, turning me to face him.

“Try me.”

The challenge in his voice sparked something within me. I yanked my arm free, my anger flaring.

“You want to know what's wrong, Lucien? Everything! Everything is wrong!”

He didn’t flinch, his eyes boring into mine.

“Then tell me. Let me help.”

His persistence was both infuriating and oddly comforting. I wanted to push him away, but at the same time, I craved the release of sharing my burden. The conflicting emotions boiled over, and before I knew it, I was shouting.

“You can’t help! No one can help! I’m tired! Tired of everything! And not only that, but I’m drowning in secrets and lies, and you’re the catalyst!” I shook my head.

His eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t look away. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a softer tone.

“Brielle, you don’t have to go through this alone.”

His words, so similar to what Zane had said earlier, hit me like a ton of bricks. The anger, the fear, the guilt, all of it seemed to rise within me, and I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

“Get out. I don’t want to see you—”

Lucien silenced me with his lips, and before I realized what I was doing, I had joined in, kissing him, my lips crashing against his in a desperate, hungry manner.

Lucien immediately responded, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer. The kiss was intense, filled with all the pent up emotions I had been holding back. I had missed his body on mine so much.

We stumbled back into the living room, our lips never parting.

The cup of water slipped from my hand, forgotten as I tangled my fingers in his hair. He pushed me against the wall, his hands roaming over my body, igniting a fire within me.

I knew this was wrong. I knew I should stop. But the need to feel something, anything, other than the crushing weight of my secrets was overwhelming, and Lucien was a pretty hot distraction.

I needed this. I needed him. And I told him so.

“I need you.” My words sounded dirty and desperate.

His lips moved down my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I gasped, my head tilting back, giving him better access. His hands slipped under my shirt, caressing my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

“Lucien.” I moaned, my fingers digging into his shoulders. “Please...”

He pulled back slightly, his eyes dark and filled with desire.

“Please. Are you sure, Brielle? Didn’t you want me to leave?”

I nodded, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Yes. I need this. I need you.”

That was all the encouragement he needed, apparently. He lifted me effortlessly, carrying me over to the bed inside the room I shared with Zane. Our clothes were a hindrance, and we quickly shed them, desperate to feel each other’s skin. The moment our bodies touched, it was like a spark igniting a wildfire.

His hands were everywhere, caressing, teasing, driving me mad with desire. I arched against him, my body craving more. He responded in kind, his touch both gentle and demanding, his lips never straying far from mine. Not until his hand went around my neck, and his lips drew a shaky line down my face to my breast, and he took his time there.

Not that I minded.

We moved together in a heated frenzy, the world around us fading away. It was just us, our bodies entwined, and he fit into me in a way that made it seem like we were just made for each other. The intensity of it all was almost too much to bear, but I didn’t want it to end.

“Lucien.” I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. “Don’t stop.”

He didn’t.

He continued with the same thrusts and pushed me to the edge and beyond, his every touch, every kiss, sending me higher and higher. And when I finally reached my peak, it was like a release, not just in the sense that I was cumming, but something had snapped inside me. Lucien held me as my orgasm had left me breathless and trembling in his arms.

For a moment, we just lay there, our bodies entwined, our breathing slowly returning to normal. The intensity of what had just happened left us both shaken, but in a good way.

Lucien came shortly after, collapsing on me for a while, and I thought he had fallen asleep. A bit sooner, he got up and started wrapping his arms around me, holding me close. And for the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of peace. It was fleeting, I knew, but I would hold onto it for as long as I could.

As we lay there, the reality of what had just happened began to sink in in my head. The secrets, the lies, they were still there, waiting to be dealt with. But for now, in this moment, I allowed myself to just be. To enjoy the warmth of his body, the comfort that his presence brought to me for some reason.

I knew that this moment of peace wouldn’t last. The truth would have to come out eventually. And when it did, I would have to face the consequences. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the man holding me, and the comfort he brought.

He turned and kissed my forehead, his arms tightening around me. And for the first time in a long time, I found myself drifting off to sleep without any issues.