Chapter two

Lucian’s POV 

“It’s the Princess, sire…” Lydia, my secretary, popped her head into my office, her voice dropping to a whisper as she looked around uncomfortably. “Miss Marielle,”

At the sound of my wife’s sister’s name, the pen I had been holding dropped and I let out a shaky breath.

“I… Just—-“

“Should I make her wait a bit?” Lydia’s eyes shone with understanding. “Just for a few minutes—-until you’re ready,”

My jaw ticked and I gave her a nod. “Thank you,”

She gave a nod back and slipped out of my office.

Lydia was always ready to help even though she didn’t have the slightest idea what was happening.

No one had the slightest idea what was happening… not even Lyla.

My office suddenly felt too hot as I grabbed at my tie, moving it from side to side as I tried to breathe properly.

How had it all gone wrong?

My hands shook as my memory drifted back to that night. 

The disbelief and anger I had felt as she repeatedly yelled the words.

“The child she’s pregnant with, is not yours!”

My office still felt too hot.

 I staggered from my chair, reaching with shaky hands for bottled water as I unscrewed the cap and downed its cool contents.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I had hissed back at Marielle. Struggling to keep my anger from showing as I stared at my wife’s sister in contempt.

How did she even know about Lyla’s pregnancy?? We had agreed not to tell anyone yet.

"Oh, please,” she scoffed with confidence, crossing her arms as she took a step and blocked my way. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know me, Lucian! Remember you were once—-“

“DON’T!!” My anger has flared up.

Once again, she refused to understand that I felt nothing for her. Not even anger or contempt at her rejecting me; I just felt nothing.

If anything, I was a little grateful that she gifted me Lyla.

My angel wife who I loved unconditionally. 

How could she say she had been with another man?

“DON’T SAY ANOTHER WORD AGAINST MY WIFE!”

Marielle’s face turned serious as her voice dropped low. “I have proof. The bastard she carries is not your child. In three days, I’ll bring it to you, and if you’re not willing to see reason, then maybe…,”

The loud sound of my phone ringing jolted me out of my thoughts. I let go of the empty bottle and ran a hand through my hair.

My hands were shaking. In a few minutes, Marielle would walk into my office holding some twisted proof.

My wolf growled.

I refused to believe Lyla would cheat. 

I was angry; I felt betrayed but even worse, I felt afraid.

The same intense fear that had kept my mouth sealed since Marielle accosted me outside the company.

The same creeping fear that had kept me from asking Lyla for the truth.

The fear that, in some twisted way, Marielle was right all along. Lyla wasn’t carrying my child and she would be forced to end our marriage.

Because as shattered as I would be if the child she carried wasn’t mine, I would even be more totally destroyed if Lyla left me.

The phone rang loudly again.

Whoever was calling was persistent. I let out a deep sigh, dragging up the sleeves of my shirt as I reached for my phone.

Marielle.

I shot a quick prayer to the goddess as I slid the called ID.

“Why am I waiting?” She shot the minute I put the phone against my ear.

Even her voice sounded like bad news. 

I pinched the bridge of my nose as I turned to my desk and pressed a button to signal Lydia.

“She’ll let you in,”

The call ended and in less than a minute, Lydia knocked and opened my door.

I steeled myself, sliding both hands in my pockets as I schooled my expression to one of boredom.

Marielle’s overly sweet citrus scent flooded the room before she stepped in. Perfectly curled blond hair and baby blue eyes that held the strength of her beta wolf.

Little wonder Alpha Donovan and his simple wife doted on her.

“Lucian,” she purred softly as she turned that megawatt shining smile on me.

“Get to it,” 

“Always in a rush,” she shook her head and glanced at me, smiling softly. “That was one of the things I loved about you. You know? Your constant drive,”

My gaze flickered to the wall clock behind her head.

It was almost 4. Lyla would be expecting me soon.

“What is it?” She bristled. Her eyes tracking my gaze as her face soured. “You’re so eager to run home to your wife, you won’t even see the proof I brought?”

I fisted my hands in my pockets, praying to the goddess for patience as I forced a polite smile onto my lips.

“Apologies. Please take a seat,”

I gestured to the chair opposite my desk but she scoffed before flipping her hair and sashaying over to my office couch.

I stood rock still, the office suddenly feeling less hot and more cold as I looked pointedly from the couch to the chair.

 She ignored me, patting beside her on the couch.

“Come Lucian. I won’t bite, I promise,”

Every force in me rebelled against going to meet this woman.

But I needed to see. 

If she indeed had some sort of proof that Lyla was with someone else. Then it was best I took the proof. Just me. No one else.

I swallowed my pride, giving her a small nod as I walked away from my desk and took a position on the sofa opposite her.

She hummed softly, reaching into her bag.

My entire stomach was twisted into nerves. What would she bring out? Did Lyla really—

“Here,”

I watched dumbfounded as she unceremoniously dropped a bottle of wine on the desk between us.

“Before I show you anything, you have to have a glass of wine with me. It’s the least you owe me,”

“Absolutely not!” I hissed, my temper flaring as I considered just sending her out of my office.

“Careful Lucian,” she purred as she uncorked the wine and began to pour into two glasses. “I might think you don’t want this proof after all,”

I just need to get the proof.

I convinced myself as I reached for the glass of wine and downed it in one go.

“Now let me see,”

“Good boy,” she seemed pleased as she opened her box and retrieved a white envelope.

My heart was pounding. Something was horribly horribly wrong.

She wasn’t bluffing. She was serious.

She smirked wickedly as she shoved the envelope towards me.

I was sloppy. My vision seeming to blur as I hurriedly tried to tear into the envelope.

Pictures.

Several pictures of my wife spilled out.

“No no no no,” 

I didn’t even realise I was muttering as my shaky eyes scanned each photo.

There it was. Unmistakably Lyla.

Her gorgeous brown hair filling the frame as she and the bastard in the photo had passionate sex.

Had he set up a camera to take pictures of them?!! 

What sort of animal would take naked pictures of my wife!!

I was feral. My blood sang with anger as I sent the wine glass crashing to the floor and attempted to stand up from the sofa.

Vaguely, I registered Marielle laughing. 

The little witch was pleased. I could barely see through my anger.

How dare he do this to my wife?! 

But I couldn’t stand from the sofa. Not completely.

My arms were sloppy. My body slow as a woman pushed me back onto the sofa.

W who was she?

“L lyla?” I stuttered, trying to make out if the woman now straddling me was my wife.

“Shhhh,” she whispered seductively, biting my ear lobe softly as I heard the clasp of her bra unhook.

Instinctively my hands went out to touch her.

I loved my wife. Loved the feel of her beautiful skin and silky hair.

My mouth found the side of her neck and I was about to drop a kiss there when I heard Lyla’s unmistakable scream.

“What is going on here?!”

Immediately, my eyes flared open, the citrus smell of the woman on me clogging my senses.

No no no!

I pushed her off immediately, turning to Lyla in fear to explain.

But it was too late. The light in her green eyes that I loved was dimmed. 

The thing I feared the most was happening. My wife would leave me.