روايات بقلم Léla

♥♥♥♥“Okay, I will tell you whenever the time comes,” Layla said softly, nodding as though she had just made a quiet promise to herself.She served his food carefully and sat down close to him, their shoulders almost brushing. The warmth from his body made her slightly aware of how close they were.“Good girl,” Lucian said playfully, reaching out to mess with her hair.“Stop it,” Layla mumbled under her breath, though he couldn’t hear her. A shy smile spread across her lips anyway, and her cheeks turned faintly pink.Lucian had no idea the effect his small gestures had on her. To him, it was natural. He simply felt relaxed around her...at ease in a way he rarely experienced. He found her reactions cute, unintentionally charming.“Wow,” he gasped after taking a spoonful of food, his brows lifting in surprise.Layla leaned forward slightly. “How is it?” she asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.“It’s delicious. You’re amazing,” Lucian praised her sincerely, taking another bite witho

♥♥♥♥The two of them maintained an awkward silence, the unspoken tension lingering in the air, but the atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the sharp ringing of Lucian’s phone.The sound jerked him out of his thoughts.....and startled Layla as well.“Hello,” Lucian answered curtly as he stepped out of the kitchen. He walked outside to take the call, his expression turning serious within seconds, while Layla quietly began setting the table.“I can’t wait to eat,” she giggled to herself, admiring her masterpiece. The dishes were arranged beautifully, the aroma filling the dining area with warmth.After waiting for a while, she considered going outside to check on him, but before she could move, Lucian walked back in.“Lucian,” she called, relief flashing across her face. She motioned for him to sit down, but he remained standing.“I am sorry, Layla. I have to go,” Lucian said hurriedly, already reaching for his car keys.“What? What about dinner?” Layla asked, her eyes shifting to the

♥♥♥♥Lucian was alerted the moment he heard her scream, and he quickly reached out, preventing her from falling.His arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Layla, who had thought she was going to hit the floor, opened her eyes slowly, trying to confirm how safe she was.“Lucian…” she called his name, embarrassed.“This is the second time this has happened, I think. Mrs. Hilton, be more careful?” Lucian teased, his voice low and amused.“I am sorry,” she said, her cheeks turning red, because she could not ignore the way his fingers were still resting against her waist, warm and firm.“Do you want me to take you to your seat, or do you want to stay like this for now?” Lucian asked, a naughty smile playing on his lips.“I… I…” Layla stuttered when she realized she was still pressed against him. She quickly straightened up and regained her balance.“Thank yo.....” Layla began, but her mouth fell open when she noticed the pastry she had been holding now lying scattered on the floor.“What d

♥♥♥♥“Mr. Hilton, welcome,” the lady rushed toward Lucian with a practiced smile, her tone suddenly syrupy. But Lucian ignored her completely, his attention fixed elsewhere.“Did you bring your wife here? Where is she?” the lady asked, her eyes scanning the room as though Layla did not exist at all.Lucian let out a sharp scoff.Layla, standing beside him, didn’t need words to know....his anger was simmering dangerously beneath the surface. His jaw tightened, and his shoulders stiffened, radiating cold authority.Every customer in the restaurant had gone quiet now. All eyes were fixed on the three of them.“Are you the manager here?” Lucian asked calmly, though a forced smile played on his lips....a smile that held no warmth.“Yes, sir,” the lady replied quickly. “I’m sorry about the commotion. I’ll make sure she leaves now.”She gestured toward the security guards, signaling them to escort Layla out.Lucian’s eyes darkened instantly.“If any of you take one more step toward her,” Luc

♥♥♥♥The morning sun seeped softly into the bedroom, its pale golden light filtering through the tall windows. A gentle breeze slipped in, nudging the curtains into slow movement as they danced lazily to an unspoken rhythm.Layla was already awake.She was dressed neatly for the trip, yet instead of standing or moving about, she sat quietly on the edge of the bed, her shoulders slightly slumped. Her phone rested in her hand, the screen glowing faintly. There was a sadness clinging to her expression....one that no amount of preparation could erase.After hesitating for a moment, she dialed Amara’s number.She needed to hear about her daughter.Once the trip began, she knew she would be glued to Lucian’s side until it was over, and the thought alone tightened her chest.“Hello,” Amara’s voice came through the phone.“Good morning, bestie,” Layla replied, trying to sound cheerful despite the weight pressing against her heart.There was a brief pause on the other end. “What’s wrong with y

♥♥♥♥“Serve the food,” Lucian ordered as he settled into his chair, his posture straight, commanding without effort.“Okay, sir,” the maid replied promptly, bowing before moving forward.The dishes were being arranged neatly on the table when Layla appeared at the entrance of the dining hall. Her steps were hesitant, her presence quiet but noticeable.“Good evening, ma’am,” the maids greeted in unison, their heads bowed respectfully.“Evening,” Layla replied softly, returning the greeting as she walked toward her seat.“Be careful,” Lucian muttered under his breath, watching her closely as she lowered herself into the chair beside him.“Thank you,” she smiled faintly, adjusting her position.Once the last plate was set down, Lucian dismissed the maids with a wave of his hand. The room grew quieter, the soft hum of distant lights the only sound filling the space.“Let’s eat,” he said calmly.“You first,” Layla replied politely, turning slightly toward him.Lucian paused, his gaze linge

♣ DARIUS ♣“You raised those boys yourself! We... we raised them!” Lycus shouted, his voice echoing through the warehouse as frustration flashed across his face. His breathing had become uneven, and his fists were tightly clenched by his sides, the veins on his neck standing out from the strain. “How could you talk to them like that? Is that how you treat your comrades? Is that how you repay the people who've stood behind you all these years?” His words struck harder than any punch ever could, yet I remained standing where I was, my expression unreadable despite the turmoil raging inside me. I understood why he was furious. Those men weren't just subordinates to us. We had watched most of them grow from reckless teenagers into dependable warriors. We trained them, corrected them, punished them, celebrated their victories, and buried the ones who never returned from missions. They were more than soldiers. They were family. Hearing Lycus remind me of that only made the guilt pressing

♣ DARIUS ♣My heart was aching, but there was nothing I could do. Every beat felt heavier than the last, as though the betrayal had become a blade lodged deep inside my chest. No matter how much I wanted to turn back, hold her, and pretend none of this had happened, I couldn't. It was better if I let her go. If she remained by my side, more enemies would come after her. My name alone attracted danger, and now that my seal had been stolen, countless eyes would be watching my every move. She would become an even bigger target if I continued protecting her openly. Perhaps distancing myself from her was the only way I could still keep her alive. It hurt more than I wanted to admit, but pain had long become a familiar companion. I slowly exhaled, suppressing the emotions threatening to surface before forcing my expression back into its usual coldness. There was still work waiting for me, and an Alpha couldn't afford to break down in front of his people.I returned to the warehouse to tak

♠ SYLVARA ♠“Darius... please forgive me!” I cried, shaking my head repeatedly in regret as tears blurred my vision. My voice trembled uncontrollably, and my entire body shook from fear and guilt. My chest felt painfully tight, as though every breath was being squeezed out of me. I knew I had made a terrible mistake, but I never imagined it would hurt him this deeply. Looking into his eyes, I couldn't find even a trace of the warmth he had shown me only hours ago. The disappointment written across his face was far more painful than any punishment he could ever inflict on me. My fingers curled helplessly at my sides as I waited for him to say something... anything that would tell me there was still hope.“From now on...” he said coldly, his deep voice carrying through the silent mansion, “don't appear in front of me. I'm giving you the freedom you've been craving for.”His words struck me harder than a slap.My heart skipped violently before sinking into my stomach. The world around m

♣DARIUS ♣ “Please... don't tell him anything,” I interrupted hurriedly, my voice firmer than I intended despite the fear tightening around my chest. The words escaped almost instinctively. I didn't want him to know about my health... not now, not ever if I could help it. Lycus had known nothing about the curse from the very beginning, even before it grew worse. I had hidden every symptom, every treatment, and every moment of weakness from him. It was easier that way. Carrying the burden alone was far less painful than watching the people I cared about suffer because of me.“He's your Beta... your best friend,” Scott mumbled quietly, his expression filled with conflict as he instinctively reached for his phone, intending to summon him. “I think he deserves to know...”“Don't call him if you're not ready to chain him down,” I growled, stopping him immediately. The Alpha aura that escaped me was weak compared to before, yet it carried enough warning to make him freeze. I slowly lower

♣ DARIUS ♣I only had seven months left to breathe... and they would be filled with pain as well. I couldn't help but wonder if this was karma finally catching up to me. Had my lifestyle made me sick? Had all the bloodshed, endless battles, and the weight of carrying everyone else's burdens finally taken their toll on me? The irony almost made me laugh. I didn't even get the chance to live longer than my parents. The thought settled heavily in my chest, making it difficult to breathe. For years, I believed I was invincible, that nothing could bring the great Alpha Darius Ashfang to his knees. Yet here I was, defeated by something I couldn't even fight with my own strength. Fate truly had a cruel sense of humor.I stared blankly at the floor, unable to find the strength to speak. For the first time in years, a tear escaped my eye in front of someone other than Lycus. It slid silently down my cheek before dropping onto the polished wooden floor beneath me. I had always seen this comin

♣ DARIUS ♣I staggered backward the moment I heard her name associated with the theft. For a brief second, it felt as though the ground beneath my feet had disappeared. My breathing turned uneven, and my chest tightened painfully. How could she do that to me? The question echoed relentlessly inside my mind. I had finally allowed myself to lower my guard around her. I thought that being free around her would ease the burden I had carried alone for years. I thought she would become the one person I could be completely vulnerable with... the only person I could trust without looking over my shoulder. Instead, she betrayed me. The one person I wanted beside me until my last breath had unknowingly driven a knife straight through my heart. I wasn't even angry because of the seal alone. It was the trust behind it. I had shown her something no one else had ever seen, believing she would understand what it meant. I had willingly placed my greatest weakness before her, and in return, she u