NORA’S POV
I was still trapped against the stone bench, with Lucian’s hand firmly around my wrist, and his silver gray eyes burning into mine with an intensity that made my breath catch and my heart beat faster against my ribs.
The warmth of his fingers against my skin sent shivers up my arm, and I hated how my body responded to him even when my mind was screaming at me to run.
“I am not letting go until you admit the truth,” he said in a low and steady voice, like he had all the time in the world.
I swallowed hard, but my throat was dry.
“There is nothing to admit,” I croaked stubbornly.
He leaned closer, brushing my ear with his lips, and I felt my entire body go still.
I could smell him, still that familiar scent that had haunted my dream since that night.
His breath was warm against my skin, and I closed my eyes for a second, as I fought the urge to leaned closer into him.
“I can still remember the sounds you made,” he whispered.
“The way you trembled in my arms.
You can’t tell me that meant nothing.”
My knees went weak as my breath caught in my throat.
I wanted to push him away and run, but my body refused to move.
It was like I was frozen in place, caught between the heat of his body, and the cold fear in my heart.
Then he pulled back and looked into my eyes, waiting.
His gaze was so intense, searching, like he was trying to see straight through every wall I had ever built around my heart.
I found my voice finally, shaky but firm, and tried to push him away, but he held my hand firmly.
“This is wrong.
I am your mother’s friend and she trusts me.
She opened her home to me, and this is how I repay her?
By sneaking around with her son behind her back?”
“Is that the real reason you are running?” He dropped his voice lower and asked, “Or are you just scared?”
I lifted my chin, trying to gather some defiance and said steadily, “I am not scared.”
A slow, knowing smile spread across his face.
“You are a terrible liar.”
I suddenly felt hot anger in my chest and said sharply, “you don’t get to decide what I feel.
You don’t know what I have been through, what it took for me to put myself back after Trevor broke me.”
He stepped closer to me, so close that his body was almost pressing against mine, and I could feel the heat radiating from him.
I could even feel his heart beat and the intensity in his eyes.
“I don’t need to decide,” he said, his voice dropping into a whisper.
“I can feel it.
Every time you look at me, every time I touch you, I feel it.
You want this.
You want me.
And no matter how many walls you built, I will tear them all down.”
My heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe, as the weight of everything pressed down on me — Greta’s trust, Lily’s questions, and my own traitorous heart that refused to listen to reason.
Then I turned my head and looked away, as I said with a cracking voice.
“Please….you need to let me go.”
Before he could respond, I heard light footsteps on the garden path.
“Nora!
There you are!” Greta called out cheerfully.
I was instantly filled with panic.
I quickly pushed Lucian away, hard, and he stepped back, with a calm and composed expression on his face like nothing had happened.
I smoothed my dress as I tried to calm my heart and forced a smile on my face.
Greta appeared with a bright smile on her face, completely unaware of what she had almost walked into.
She looked at me, and then at Lucian with amusement on her eyes.
“Nora, had Lucian been a good host?” She asked.
“Even if he is the Alpha, you as my friend should look at him as your son.
So you are very free to scold him whenever you feel like.”
Lucian scoffed and crossed his arms.
“You can’t be serious, Mother.
Nora is not ild enough to give birth to me.”
Greta laughed heartily and said, “Fine.
An Aunt then.
Lucian scowled.
“Never.
You need to stop, Mother.”
Greta laughed again, shaking her head, and turned to me.
“Anyway, I have been looking for you.
Lady Elara has arrived and wants to meet you properly.”
Then she noticed my flushed face and paused, then she narrowed her brow with concern and asked, “Are you alright, Nora?
Your cheeks are red.”
I forced a smile on my face and replied steadily, “I am fine.
Just warm from the sun.”
Greta laughed and linked her arm through mine.
“The gardens can be deceivingly hot,” she said warmly.
“Come, let’s get you inside.
She led me away, chatting happily, and I glanced back to see Lucian still standing there, watching me with that knowing smile, like he knew exactly what I was feeling.
Like he knew I would not be able to stay away from him no matter how hard I tried.
As Greta chatted about Lady Elara and how excited she was for us to meet, my mind was still in the garden, still trapped in the heer of Lucian’s gaze.
I could still feel his hand on my wrist, still hear his whispered words in my ear.
I hated that a part of me had wanted him to kiss me.
I hated that I had not run.
I thought about Greta, my best friend, who trusted me completely, I thought about Lily, who saw too much.
I thought about Lucian, who refused to let me go.
I felt like I was being pulled in three different directions, and I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on.
I smiled at Greta and nodded along, but inside, I was falling apart.
Lucian had unlocked something I had kept buried for three long years— something I had sworn I would never feel again.
And now I did not know how to lock it back.
Because he was forbidden.
He was her son.
And I wanted him anyway.