Chapter 19
Lucian’s POV
I knew Scarlett would try to eavesdrop, so I chose to speak to Maxwell through the mind
link. Stasia had given me an ultimatum: she wouldn’t come near me unless I rejected
Scarlett. Part of me wanted to do it, to sever the bond and be done with her, but another
part hesitated. I hated that I felt anything for the Vladislav girl, hated that fate had tied
us together. It was like some cruel joke.
“She wants me to reject Scarlett first,” I linked to Maxwell, watching his reaction. He
raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
“Go ahead,” he linked back. “You planned to anyway. It shouldn’t be a problem.” But I could feel the judgment in his words, subtle but there, and I grasped for an excuse.
“I don’t want to risk your and Clay’s chance at magic,” I explained, though it felt thin even to me. He sighed, knowing my arguments were flimsy.
“Lucian,” he linked back patiently, “as things stand, we’re unlikely to get the magic anyway. She’s tainted. If.that’s your reason, don’t worry about it–reject her. No hard feelings here.”
But I felt a pang of resistance, something I couldn’t quite ignore. I glanced over at Scarlett, who was doing her best to look indifferent, but even from a distance, I could feel her presence pull at me, steady and unyielding.
Maxwell’s voice came through the link again, softer this time. “You don’t really want to, do you?”
I wanted to deny it, but the truth lay heavy between us. I couldn’t bring myself to say it, but Maxwell could read me well enough.
“There’s no shame in it,” he linked calmly. “She’s your mate too. Maybe it’s time to let Stasia go, to give fate a real chance with Scarlett.”
I shook my head, unwilling to admit it. Stasia was predictable, safe, and I’d counted on that stability. Scarlett…Scarlett was a wildfire, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to risk getting burned. But the indecision weighed on me, and I knew it wouldn’t be resolved by simply pushing her away.
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Chapter 19
“I can never be with her,” I admitted, my voice hard as I finally revealed the real reason behind my anger. “I’d rather be alone and fight the bond than claim a woman who couldn’t even wait for me, knowing we were fated.” Scarlett’s past haunted me, and though I knew it wasn’t fair, I couldn’t shake the bitterness.
“Very well, then, do what you must,” Maxwell replied, but he seemed unconvinced, his face thoughtful. I sighed, preparing to share the plan I’d been piecing together, one that would satisfy both my need for revenge and our goal for power.
“When you and Clay decide to claim her, I’ll join in,” I told him, watching his reaction closely. “Once it’s done, I’ll leave her for Stasia.”
Maxwell’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s…cruel, Lucian. Both of you would be in agony. Stasia would never experience the full bond, she’ll never have you completely.”
“That’s the point,” I said, holding his gaze. “This way, the bond will be complete, and if
fate grants it, we’ll get the magic. And I won’t have to stay with Scarlett. She’ll suffer, knowing the bond is real but not having me by her side. I’ll keep my promise to my sister this way.”
Maxwell looked at me, stunned, and I could see the unease in his expression. He didn’t argue, but the shock and, perhaps, a hint of fear in his eyes was unmistakable. Without another word, he turned and left the room, leaving me alone with my twisted plan
echoing in my thoughts.
I glanced over at Scarlett, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. “Thanks to you, Stasia no longer wants me,” I said, the words both cowardly and unfair, but they fell from my mouth anyway. I hated that it was easier to blame her, even if deep down I knew it wasn’t her fault. If she hadn’t been “loose,” I wouldn’t be searching for love elsewhere.
I studied her, curious despite myself. She showed no desire, no hint of interest. For all her reputation, she seemed as indifferent to me as if I were a stranger on the street. Maybe neither I nor Maxwell or Clay was her type. But a new thought nagged at me–if she’d been as promiscuous as I’d heard, how did she keep her urges in check? I could barely look at her without feeling the weight of the bond clawing at me.
“Maxwell and Clay might be willing to give you freedom,” I said, voice dripping with bitterness, “but don’t go screwing every man in sight.” She looked at me with pure disgust, and for a moment, I could swear she looked through me, as if I didn’t even exist.
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Leaving her behind, I turned to the business of pack matters and clearing my head. I knew what I wanted–some form of peace, a connection, the comfort of someone who understood me. With Scarlett, I couldn’t find any of that. I hoped Stasia would understand my dilemma and my plans, that she would see the reason behind my choices.
After handling matters at the office, I picked up a bouquet of roses and went to Stasia’s place, trying to focus on her warmth. When she answered the door, I forced a smile, a reminder of the calm she brought to my life. There was no intensity in her presence, nothing like the fiery, consuming effect Scarlett had on me. I knew it was the bond, and I hated that it kept drawing me to a woman I didn’t want to claim. But Stasia–Stasia was real, solid, and I liked her for that.
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