Chapter 15
Clay’s POV
As I stepped into the apartment, Scarlett immediately stood up, her movements tense and guarded. I noticed her quickly brushing her face, trying to hide the telltale signs of tears.
Even though she’d never admit it, I could tell she’d been crying.
She had this quiet, unbreakable strength, the kind that refused to show vulnerability, and honestly, I admired her for it. There was something deeply resilient about her, a spirit
that refused to bow to anything we threw at her.
“Have you eaten?” I asked gently, not wanting to push her further. She glared at me with that fierce scowl of hers, shaking her head. I couldn’t help but laugh a little. She tried so hard to antagonize us, to keep us at arm’s length, that it was almost endearing.
Watching her now, it baffled me that Lucian couldn’t see through her defenses. Scarlett wasn’t just some problem to be dealt with. She was hurting and lost, her life torn apart,
and the toughness was her way of coping.
To reject her now, after everything, seemed cruel. Scarlett might not have Stasia’s delicate beauty, but there was something raw and real about her. Fate had paired us for a reason,
and I wasn’t about to throw that away.
I’d told Lucian and Maxwell that our approach was half the problem. We’d been harsh,
demanding, treating her more like a prisoner than the mate she was supposed to be. And despite Lucian’s threats, she’d tried to escape countless times. That defiance didn’t come
from spite alone–it came from strength.
The more we pushed, the more she’d resist, but if we showed her kindness, perhaps we’d see a side of her we hadn’t yet glimpsed. I refused to believe that the woman before me
was all there was to Scarlett. The anger, the scowl, the defiance–it had to be a defense, a wall she’d built to survive. Lucian, blinded by his need for revenge, couldn’t see that.
My decision to keep her with us wasn’t about magic. The truth was, the moment I first saw her, something stirred within me–a heartbeat, a connection I hadn’t felt with anyone else. Even now, with that scowl on her face, she made my heart beat faster.
I knew it wasn’t just me; Maxwell and even Lucian felt it too, though he was unwilling to
1/3
Chapter 15
admit it. If he truly cared for Stasia, he wouldn’t be clinging so hard to this need to prove Scarlett unworthy.
No, I was certain he felt something for her. But if he wanted to deny it and pursue another, that was his choice. For me, Scarlett was the one fate had brought into our lives, and I intended to show her that we were meant to be by her side.
Lucian was still tangled in his grief and bitterness, unable to let go of the past. I knew a part of that was guilt–guilt because he’d started to feel something for Scarlett, the very woman he’d sworn to hate. I could only hope he’d work through it sooner rather than later.
“So, is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?” I asked her, keeping my tone light. She shot me a fierce scowl.
hatever shit you guys offer,” she replied, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
oubt you’d enjoy that, Scarlett. Be careful what you ask for, or one day Lucian might tually serve you shit.” She rolled her eyes, sinking down to the floor with a dramatic sigh.
“You know you’re allowed to sit on the couch,” I reminded her. “Lucian only banned you because you refused to clean up and wash your clothes.”
She scoffed, looking away defiantly, but I heard her stomach growl softly. I linked the omegas and asked them to bring some food up for her.
“Would you like to go sightseeing?” I suggested, knowing she’d probably scoff at the idea but thinking she might need a change of scenery.
“This is the ugliest place I’ve ever been,” she muttered. “There’s nothing to see here.”
I chuckled. “Judging the book by its cover, huh?” She didn’t reply, just shot me a dismissive look as I headed to my room, smiling to myself. She had spirit, and I liked that about her, even if she hid it behind layers of defiance.
Not long after I’d gone to my room, I heard Lucian’s voice calling for her. I knew what he intended; he was planning to go through with the rejection, pushing her away for good. I sighed, feeling the weight of it all and knowing he was about to make a huge mistake. I got up and walked down the hall to his room, finding him standing across from Scarlett.
2/3
Chapter 15
Her usual scowl was in place, but there was something else–a tense, silent fear. I could sense it, smell it even. She was afraid of him, of what he might say or do.
“Lucian,” I interrupted, stepping in. He glanced over at me, clearly annoyed by the intrusion.
“This isn’t necessary,” I said quietly, trying to keep my tone calm. “You’re letting your grief, blind you. She’s not Nikolay, and this won’t bring anyone back.” I glanced at Scarlett, her face a mask of anger and fear.
Lucian clenched his jaw, visibly torn, but the pain in his eyes softened just slightly. I could only hope he’d let go of his need for revenge long enough to see her for who she was, not who he imagined her to be.
Chapter Comments
5
POST COMMENT NOW
SHARE
3/3
