Chapter Twenty

Brielle’s POV.

I woke up first, the events of what happened rushing back into my mind with a rush of emotions. I lay there for a moment, feeling Lucien's warmth beside me, but reality quickly set in. I gently tapped his shoulder, trying to shake him awake without making too much noise.

“Lucien!” I whispered, my voice sharp. “You need to leave. Now!”

He stirred, blinking his eyes open.

“What? Why?” He muttered, trying to wrap his arm around me for a cuddle.

I pushed him away, sitting up and wrapping the sheet around me.

“Lucien, we’re at Zane’s. You can’t stay here, obviously.”

His expression changed from confusion to understanding. He nodded slowly, sitting up and running a hand through his hair.

“Right. I’ll go.”

I got up and started gathering the sheets, determined to get them into the washing machine before Zane came back. Lucien stood and began dressing, helping me with the sheets. As we worked quickly, the silence between us was still heavy, filled with a lot of unspoken words and emotions that had not been faced or resolved.

Once the sheets were in the washing machine, I turned to him, trying to find the right words.

“Lucien, all of that... it was a mistake. We can’t do this. Not here, not now. Not ever, in fact.”

He nodded, his eyes meeting mine with a mix of regret and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“I know, Brielle. You needed someone, and I was there, and I needed to fuck.” His words knocked the air out of me. “Just remember to talk to Zane. He’s supposed to lead people, to do something important as the beta. And tell him that I came to ask about the details.”

I frowned, confused.

“What are you talking about?”

Lucien shook his head, already halfway out the door.

“Just tell him. He’ll understand.”

With that, he left, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and the mess we had made. I sank onto the couch, my mind a whirlwind of guilt and confusion. What had I done again? I told myself that I would stop, and I didn’t! How shameless did I have to be?

I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I needed to figure out how to face Zane, without saying or doing something stupid, else, it would tear our world apart. The secrets I had been keeping were piling up, and keeping all of them was becoming unbearable.

But for now, I had to keep it together. I took a deep breath. I would deal with this, one step at a time. First, I had to finish cleaning up and make sure Zane didn’t suspect anything.

Just as I finished cleaning up, I heard the door open. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned to see Zane walking in, with a tired look on his face.

“Brielle? Are you okay?” He asked, his eyes scanning the room.

I forced a smile, trying to hide my anxiety.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just... had a bit of a rough day.”

He frowned, walking over to me and placing a hand on my shoulder.

“What happened?”

I shook my head, not ready to explain everything.

“It’s nothing. Just... some bad dreams.”

Zane looked like he wanted to press further, but he nodded, accepting my answer for now.

“Alright. Just remember, I’m here if you need to talk.”

I nodded, grateful for his understanding.

“Thanks, Zane. I appreciate it.”

He gave me a small smile, squeezing my shoulder before heading towards the kitchen. I watched him go, feeling extremely guilty. I needed to come clean, but I didn’t know where to start.

But I knew that whatever it was that I was going to do, I could not do it in here. It was too suffocating.

“I’m going for a walk.” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Zane turned, concern etched on his face.

“Do you want me to come with you?” He asked.

I shook my head quickly.

“No, I need some time alone. Just to think. My life has been through some major changes recently and I need to breathe.”

He nodded, though I could see the worry in his eyes.

“Alright. Be careful, honey.”

I grabbed my jacket and headed out, stepping into the cool evening air. The moment I was outside, I felt a tiny bit of relief, but it was fleeting. I needed to clear my head, to figure out how I was going to face the future. My future with my baby.

I walked aimlessly, my thoughts a chaotic jumble. The guilt of betraying Zane, the confusion about my feelings for Lucien, and the fear of what would happen if the truth came out all crashed over me. I started to think, wondering why and how it was possible for me to still feel this way for Lucien, and I needed to find a way to make things right, but I didn't know where to start.

Without realizing it, I found myself deep in the forest. The dense trees surrounded me, their shadows long and foreboding in the fading light. I stopped, taking a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. It didn’t help that I was pregnant and it was basically dark.

“What am I going to do?” I whispered to the trees, as if they might hold the answer. The only response was the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

I thought about the baby, my baby. What kind of life would I give them if I couldn't even sort out my own? The thought of raising a child in this whole chaotic scene made my heart ache. Would it be better with Zane, the steady and reliable beta, or Lucien, my former mate, and the one man who seemed to ignite something in me I couldn't ignore?

My thoughts were interrupted by a low, menacing growl. My heart lurched, and I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat. Two glowing eyes peered at me from the darkness, and the growl grew louder, more threatening.