He Wants It All, I'll Give Him Nothing

"Aria, before my brother died, I promised him I'd look after Lina. She's carrying my pups now. I have to marry her," Lucien Walker said.I snapped my eyes open. This wasn't the cold, damp cliff summit where I had been chained. The air carried no scent of blood and no trace of decay.A large hand waved in front of me, the wrist still wrapped with the love knot bracelet I had braided for him."Aria, if you're angry, you can hit me or yell at me. Just agree to let me marry Lina," Lucien said anxiously, his brows drawn tight.His words were all too familiar, and so was the scene before me.I had come back to life. I had returned to the very day Lina Morgan revealed her pregnancy and Lucien announced he would marry her as his second wife to honor the promise he made to his late brother.I was a princess of the bird tribe, and Lina had been the maid assigned to serve me when I married. Our kind was famed for our fertility, said to lay dozens of eggs in a single brood.Yet, after being

I spent the next few days locked inside Ember Hall. Guards stood shoulder to shoulder beyond the doors. The place was sealed so tightly that not even a fly could slip through.Lucien came once to persuade me."Aria, if you'll go apologize to Lina, I'll lift the confinement."He stood there for a moment, waiting for me to say something. When I remained silent, he let out a sigh."I know you're upset, but I have to think about the wolves' future. Our numbers are dwindling, and the elders are pushing harder every day."You know, Lina gets pregnant easily. This pregnancy is crucial. If she delivers strong, healthy pups, the pack can grow again. We won't have to live under the shadow of other tribes."He kept pressing me with talk of duty and righteousness until I finally turned to face him."For the wolves' future? Put your hand on your heart and say you don't have feelings for Lina. Weren't you two already sneaking around, and now you just want a respectable reason to make her your

Lucien's eyes went bloodshot as he glared at me, a vein pulsing at his temple. "No! I don't agree!"He jabbed a finger at Keaton beside me, as if he meant to tear us both apart. "Did you plan this with him? Were you just waiting to force a divorce in front of everyone so you could throw yourself into his arms? You really have no shame!"I actually laughed. "Lucien, do you hear yourself? You slept with your sister-in-law, but I'm the shameless one for leaving you? What a joke! Since when do you get to own the moral high ground?"While I spoke, Keaton met my eyes, the two of us trading a quiet, knowing look. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he lifted his hand and waved it lightly through the air.The next second, armor scraped in unison outside the doors. A formation of tiger warriors swept into the hall, black plate armor gleaming and halberds drawn.They gave off a fierce, commanding presence, their eyes sharp and cold. They were clearly warriors who had fought their way throug

Lina finally lost her nerve. She lunged for Lucien's arm and clung to him, sobbing. "No! Don't test it! Lucien, the pups are yours! They're our hope! You can't let them humiliate us like this!"Her panic read as guilt, and the room erupted."We must find out the truth! Otherwise, who would be convinced?""Exactly! You can't sweep something this big under the rug!""What are you so afraid of? If you're innocent, why refuse the test?"More voices joined until the hall surged with noise.One of them even rushed forward, dropped to his knees, and cried out, "Your Majesty, you must uncover the truth behind Calder's death! Please give him the justice he deserves!"The chaos was edging out of control. Any delay would only make it worse.Lucien's temples throbbed with anger. He shook Lina off and snapped at the guards, "Hold her! Mr. Dawson will conduct the spell!"Two attendants hurried over and strapped Lina into a chair.Lina fought and wailed, "No! Don't touch me! Lucien, help me