Bride of the Cursed Alpha - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Lucien POV
Auren froze when I stepped closer to her. Her breath hitched in her throat and I couldn’t help but pull her in my arms. She trembled in my arms, her wide eyes filled with fear. “Promise me,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Promise you won’t kill anyone because of me.”
Killing wolves in the werewolf world who defied their Alphas was common. We killed them in cold blood or in fights. And we killed them if they tried to mess with us. This was a message I wanted to send to every one of my pack members. If they messed with Auren, that was challenging my authority. I don’t know why but for some reason Auren was beginning to break the walls I had carefully crafted around my heart. It was like she was peeling them one by one and I wasn't even aware of it.
“Auren,” I muttered as I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear tenderly. “No one can mess with you. It’s a direct challenge to their Alpha, and that has consequences.”
“Please Lucien,” she said in a low voice, her chin quivering as she tried to blink away her tears, trying to show that she was brave. But I knew it better.
Her heart hammered so violently that fear gripped my heart, twisting it painfully. I stayed silent, taking in her trembling form. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her that I wouldn’t harm anyone. Finally, I nodded and said, “Okay.” But deep inside, I knew the truth: if anyone dared to come close to her or hurt her, I would kill them without hesitation. My protective instincts roared to life, fierce and dangerous as hell. “Come, let’s have lunch.”
As I led her back to the dining room for lunch, I could see she was still shaken. Her hands trembled as she sat at the table, and I knew she wouldn’t be able to eat. “What would you like to eat?” I asked softly. Vivi, Tom and everyone else were standing silently, watching us.
Auren looked up at me. “I’ll make us something to eat,” she said softly.
My lips parted to protest it, but then I stopped sensing something deeper. I watched as she stood up, and I knew that she needed some time alone. “Everyone out,” I commanded, and my pack members quickly obeyed, leaving Auren and me alone in the kitchen.
As she moved around the kitchen, her bare feet quietly padding on the floor, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me. She started to gather ingredients, her focus shifting to the task at hand. I stood back, silently observing as she poured her heart into cooking, and I realized this was her comfort zone. She loved cooking and it helped her calm her nerves. Seeing her walking barefoot around the kitchen was a memory that would be etched in my mind forever.
My heart sank when I realized that she would be gone in a year. Fuck. I clenched my fists so hard that my knuckles turned white. Doubts on how to deal with my unique situation crept in my mind. Darkness started bleeding in my chest and I felt this need to shift and run in the jungles until my wolf was tired and out.
Auren started humming a tune, snapping me out of my darkness, and I promised myself to just observe her.
Auren first made a creamy tomato basil soup. The way she chopped the fresh basil and stirred the pot made me smile despite my earlier anger. The rich and inviting smell filled the kitchen. Next, she prepared a warm, fluffy garlic bread. I watched her mix the butter and minced garlic, spreading it generously over the bread. The scent made my mouth water. Finally, she whipped up a simple yet colorful salad with crisp greens, cherry tomatoes, shreds of tender meat and a tangy vinaigrette.
I marveled at her skill, and I felt my heart swell as I watched her create. Auren was full of surprises.
When she finished, she placed the dishes on the table, her cheeks flushed with satisfaction. She looked at me and said, “Would you like to try these?”
I sat at the table and nodded. I filled my plate with all that she had made and I delved right into eating all of it. Fuck. Everything she made was heavenly. I could actually fire my chef, Tom, and employ her forever. With my cheeks stuffed with the salad, I said, “Why aren’t you eating?”
She licked her dry lips and I knew what was going on in her mind. So I made her sit with me, unable to ignore the nagging worry that she might not eat after all that had happened. I scooped some soup into a bowl and brought it to her lips, wanting to feed her, wanting to take care of her. As she ate, her eyes sparkled with a mixture of appreciation and bashfulness, and I promised myself right then that I would never kill anyone coldly in front of her again. Not at the risk of her losing her appetite.
Just as we finished our meal, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw Rizv Brown’s name flashing. My jaw tightened, irritation rising within me. I ignored the call, focusing instead on Auren’s soft smile as she finished her food.
Once she was done, I helped her to her room, ensuring she was comfortable.
“Sleep for the afternoon, Auren,” I said as I tucked her in the bed. “I’ll be back in the evening, and then we’ll talk.” I knew that she needed to sleep after what she saw in the office earlier. The need to be with her to comfort her was so intense that I couldn’t move from the edge of her bed. What was happening to me?
She looked at me with so much hope in her eyes that my breath lodged in my throat. Once she drifted off to sleep, I felt a strange mix of protectiveness and frustration. I knew I had to meet Tarian. When I stepped out, the tension in my chest eased slightly, but it was soon replaced by a sense of urgency. Tarian was waiting for me in the main hall, and he looked serious.
“Rizv wants to meet you,” he said, his expression grave. I frowned, the name alone stirring anger within me.
“What does he want?” I growled as I walked back to the office.
“He’s trouble, Alpha Lucien,” Tarian grumbled.
In the office I noticed that Tarian had already taken care of Jace’s body. There was not a single drop of blood on the floor or anywhere else. And Rizv was sitting there. I narrowed my eyes at him as I sat on my chair. He bowed to me and said, “You took the breeder to Celestial Soirée. For someone of your stature, you can't do that.”
“I’ll take her wherever I want to. How does that concern you?”
“Breeders are like sluts. You don’t bring sluts to events like that,” he said and my body went rigid. “Sable would’ve accompanied you.”
I leaned forward, my wolf growling. “If I hear you calling her that again, I will snap your neck. Is that clear?”