NORA’S POV
I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, but sleep just refused to come, because everytime I closed my eyes, I saw his face, and those silver gray eyes burning into mine, that slow smile on his lips that made my stomach flip and my heart beat faster all at once.
I tossed and turned, replaying every moment from dinner, every word he had said, and every look he had given me across the table.
I reached for my phone and typed out a message to Tessa.
“I am in trouble.
I need to leave ASAP.”
I waited for a while, but she did not respond, so I put my phone down and stared at the darkness, with my thoughts all jumbled up until the first light of the morning seeped through the curtains.
Then my phone buzzed with Tessa’s name flashing on the screen.
I answered, with a sleepy and thick voice from exhaustion.
“Hello?”
“What trouble?” Tessa demanded, in a sharp voice full of concern.
“What happened?
Why do you need to leave?”
I took a deep breath with my hands trembling and said, “Guess who the handsome young stranger from that night was.”
Tessa laughed and breathed a sigh of relief.
“If you saw him at the pack, don’t bother about anything.
There is no shame in it.
You are a big girl.”
I laughed bitterly and said, “Even if I told you he is the Alpha?”
There was immediate silence in the other end.
Then she said in a voice barely above a whisper.
“That is a lie.”
“It is true,” I said shakily.
“I almost fainted last night when I found out.
He is Greta’s son, Tessa.
Her son.”
“Greta will be so disappointed,” Tessa said quietly, and the weight of those words hit me like a punch in my chest.
“I know,” I said tightly.
“That is why I am leaving before the truth comes out.”
“That is a very good idea,” Tessa said firmly.
“Call me when you are out of the palace.”
I promised her I would and hung up.
Even though my resolve was strong, my heart was filled with guilt and fear. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
I got out of bed and quickly dressed with shaking hands as I buttoned up my dress.
I found Lily in the next room and told her to pack her things, that we are leaving soon.
Lily looked up and narrowed her eyes in surprise and asked, “why?
We just got here.
I thought we were staying for a while.”
“I will explain later,” I said quickly, avoiding her eyes.
“Just do it please.
We need to leave.”
She nodded her head slowly, but I could see the confusion in her eyes, and it made me feel even worse because she trusted me and I was lying to her too.
I stepped out of my room and walked down the hallway, with my heart pounding as I rehearsed what I would say to Greta.
I would tell her that something had come up at home, that I needed to leave immediately, that I was sorry for the short visit.
It was a lie, but it was the best I could come up with.
But I did not make it far.
I heard footsteps behind me and looked up, and there he was, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, like he had been waiting for me, his silver gray eyes fixed on me with that calm, knowing look that made my stomach drop and my breath catch in my throat.
I tried not I walk past him, but he stepped into my path and blocked my way.
“Running away, are we?” He said in a smooth and casual voice like he had all the time in the world.
“You do not look like the type of woman that runs away from your problems.”
I scoffed and said in a sharp voice filled with fesr and anger.
“You don’t know anything about me.
What right do you have to judge me?”
He stepped closer to me, too close, with a slow smile spreading across his face and said softly, “Since I know every location of the birthmarks on your body, even on your private area, I think I have the right to claim you.” Then he gestured to himself with a smirk on his face.
“Besides, this problem is not going to go away just like that.”
My face burned and my heart pounded so hard I could barely breathe.
“You can’t just say things like that,” I whispered shakily.
“You can’t just…this isn’t a game.”
He tilted his head slightly, studying me.
“Who said I was playing?”
“You are,” I said, my voice shaking.
“You are playing with me.
You are an Alpha and you are Greta’s son.
You could have any woman you want.
Why would you want me?
I am older than you.
I am thick and I had a daughter and most importantly, I am your mother’s friend, for goodness sake.”
“You don’t mean that,” I said, shaking my head.
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough,” he said.
“I know you are a healer.
I know you are kind.
I know you have been hurt by someone who didn’t deserve you.
And I know that when I touched you, when I held you, you did not push me away.
You held on just tight.”
I opened my mouth to respond, to tell him to say away from me, to tell him that what happened between us was a mistake and it could never happen again.
But before I could speak, I heart footsteps echoing from the end of the hallway.
And Greta’s voice, calling out cheerfully.
“Nora!
There you are!”
I panicked instantly and pushed Lucian away from me, hard, and he stumbled back, looking surprised but also amused, like he was enjoying every second of my discomfort, I smoothed down my dress and tried to look calm and slow down my racing heart, and tried to force a smile on my face.
Greta approached us with a warm smile, with her arms wide open.
“I was hoping to find you.
I have so much more to show you today.”
I tried to speak, tried to tell her I needed to leave, but the words would not come because she was looking at me with so much trust, so much warmth, and I felt like the worst person in the world.
“Are you alright, dear?” She asked, narrowing her brow with concern.
“You look pale.
Did you not sleep well?”
“I am fine,” I managed, with my voice barely steady.
“Just…still tired from the journey.”
Greta laughed softly and linked her arm through mine.
“Well, come have breakfast.
It will do you good.
I have had the kitchen prepare all your favorites.”
“That is very kind of you,” I said stiffly.
As she led me down the hallway, I glanced back to see Lucian still standing there, watching me with that knowing smile on his lips, like he knew exactly what I was feeling, like he knew I had been about to run, like he knew I would not be able to stay away from him no matter how hard I tried.
I had been so sure I would leave this morning.
But standing in that hallway, with Greta’s warm smile and Lucian’s burning gaze, I realized I was trapped.
The truth was a ticking time bomb, and I had no idea when it would explode.