Chapter 3

Lucien

The scent hit me like a strike to the chest.

It was wild and intoxicating.

My fingers went numb. The glass slipped from my hand and shattered across the floor, sharp edges catching the light, just like the hunger ripping through me.

She was here.

I didn’t know who she was.

But I knew what she was.

Mine.

The need hit like a storm. A heat low and deep, crawling under my skin, burning behind my eyes. I felt drunk on it. Blind to anything else. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. My thoughts blurred.

I needed to find her.

See her.

Touch her.

One touch. Just one.

My body moved before I could stop it, like something ancient inside me had snapped free.

I crossed the room in seconds, reached for the door, my hand was already twisting the knob when it slammed inward with force.

It was Caelum.

He stepped inside, shutting the door hard behind him.

“Lucien,” Caelum growled, stepping in and slamming it shut behind him.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t even look at him.

My gaze stayed locked on the door behind him, the hallway where her scent lingered like silk wrapped chains around my throat. It pulled, pulled and pulled.

“Move,” I growled.

“No.” His tone was steel. “You need to calm down first.”

My gaze snapped to him, and I could barely see through the haze clouding my head.

"I am calm."

"No you are not. Look at yourself.”

I looked down.

My hands were shaking. My veins burned. My claws had slipped out fully without me realizing. I was barely holding myself together. The shift hovered just beneath the surface, waiting to rip through me.

“I want her,” I whispered. “I want her so bad I can’t think.”

“I know.” Caelum stepped closer. “I feel it too. But Lucien, she’s human. She doesn’t know what we are. If you go out there like this, you’ll ruin everything. You’ll scare her.”

“I’ll be gentle.”

“You don’t know what gentle means right now.”

I flinched.

Because he was right.

The part of me that wanted to protect her was buried under layers of heat and hunger. All I could think about was pulling her against me, burying my face in her neck, sinking into her skin until she couldn't breathe without me.

“I’m going to lose my mind,” I said, hoarse and shaking.

Caelum didn’t say anything. He just stepped forward and gripped the back of my neck,smashing his lips against mine.

It wasn’t soft. It never was with us. His lips pressed against mine with purpose, like he was trying to shove the chaos back into its cage.

I leaned into it, breathing him in.

My hands fisted into his shirt, desperate for something to hold onto. My claws had almost pushed out again, but I curled them tightly and pressed closer, letting Caelum take control.

His mouth moved against mine, slower now, deeper. He always knew how to bring me down from the edge. From that place I went when the hunger was too loud.

I don’t know how he does it.

How he tames the storm in me.

How he still loves me after seeing the worst parts of what I am.

I pulled back slightly, resting my forehead against his. My chest still heaved, the scent still curled in my veins like smoke. But I could think again. A little.

“I’ll go introduce her to Auron,” he said after a moment, his voice quieter. “He’s been sulking in his room ever since you told him no about the cooking.”

“Stubborn little thing.” I smirked.

“Wonder where he got that from,” Caelum murmured, deadpan, before pressing a final kiss to the corner of my mouth. “If he likes her, it’ll be easier. He’s good at sensing people.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

Caelum sighed. “Then we’ll deal with it. One thing at a time.”

I stepped back, watching as he straightened his shirt and adjusted his cuffs. My body still buzzed under the skin, that cursed scent wrapping tighter around my ribs with every breath, refusing to let go.

“What’s her name?” I asked quietly.

“Elara,” he said, glancing back at me. “Her name is Elara.”

I repeated it under my breath, like a secret. Like a prayer.

“Elara…”

Then Caelum added with a half-smile, “Try not to lose your mind before dinner.”

“Don’t linger too long also,” I warned, my voice was lower now, darker. “Not if she smells like that.”

He paused, hand on the doorknob. “I can handle it.”

I gave him a look.

Caelum smiled, slow and sure. “Jealous?”

He chuckled and opened the door, but before stepping out, he glanced over his shoulder. “Stay here, Lucien. I mean it. Let me handle this.”

And with that, Caelum stepped out, and the door clicked shut behind him, locking me back inside with her scent still floating in the air.soft, warm, laced with something I couldn’t name.

I dragged a hand through my hair and forced myself to sit down. I couldn’t pace again. I’d ruin the floor. Or the door. Or lose my grip completely.

Elara..

She probably doesn't know what she is walking to.

I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and stared at the floor like it held the answer.

Could she really handle this? Me?

Caelum could. Somehow. Through every monstrous version of myself, he stood there like he was born for it. He never backed down. Never ran. He grounded me.

I loved him for that.

But her… she was new and fragile in ways Caelum wasn’t. Yet her presence already felt like a second tether, one I hadn’t asked for, but now couldn’t live without.

And the truth echoed again in my head.

If she runs, I’ll chase.

Even if it kills me.

The door creaked open.

I looked up fast, heart thudding.

But it wasn’t Caelum.

It was Auron.

He peeked into the room, holding the edge of the door like he was debating whether to come in or not. His dark curls were still messy, his T-shirt wrinkled. He blinked at me, serious for all of three seconds before stepping inside like he owned the place.

“I forgive you,” he announced.

“For what?” I raised a brow.

“For this morning. You know, when you refused to make me breakfast.”

I tilted my head. “Ah, yes. That. And what earned me this grand forgiveness?”

He crossed his arms. “You brought me a nanny.”

I stared at him. “I didn’t bring you a nanny. Caelum hired her.”

“Yeah, but you live here, so technically it counts.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And what makes her so special?”

Auron shrugged, but there was a small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “She smells nice.”

I blinked. “Smells nice?”

“Yeah,” he said casually. “Not like those ladies that wear too much perfume. She just smells... soft.”

I stared at him.

Strange.

He added quickly, “And she didn’t talk to me like I was five. She just… listened. I like her.”

After a short silence, I muttered, “You still owe me an apology for calling me the worst.”

“You are the worst.”

I launched a pillow at him. He ducked with a grin and ran out, slamming the door behind him.

Little brat.

Thinking back now to all he just said.

Auron isn’t crushing on my mate… is he?