unrevling

Chapter 7: The Unraveling

"I'll pick you up at seven," Lucian said as I gathered my things to leave the office.

I paused, my laptop halfway into my bag. "For what?"

"Dinner. You agreed, remember?"

Right. The dinner I'd stupidly agreed to in a moment of weakness. I'd been hoping he'd forgotten or gotten busy with something more important.

No such luck.

"I can meet you somewhere," I said, zipping my bag closed. "Just send me the address."

"No. I'm picking you up." His tone left no room for argument. "Wear something comfortable."

"Comfortable?" I frowned. "I thought we were going to dinner."

"We are. But not where you're expecting." He stood from his desk, buttoning his suit jacket. "Trust me."

Trust. Such a simple word. Such an impossible request.

But I found myself nodding anyway.

At exactly seven PM, my doorbell rang.

I'd changed five times before settling on a simple black dress. Not too formal, not too casual. Elegant but understated. My hair was down in loose waves, minimal makeup, heels that were high but walkable.

I grabbed my clutch and opened the door.

Lucian stood there in dark jeans and a black button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. No suit. No tie. Just devastatingly casual and somehow even more attractive than usual.

His eyes traveled down my body slowly, taking in every detail, and the heat in his gaze made my skin flush.

"You look beautiful," he said, his voice rough.

"You look... different." Without the armor of his expensive suits, he looked younger. More approachable. Still dangerous, but in a way that made my pulse race for entirely different reasons.

"Good different or bad different?"

"Just different." I stepped out and locked my door, very aware of how close he was standing. "So where are we going?"

"You'll see."

He led me to the elevator, then to his car in the parking garage. Not the SUV from last night, but a sleek black sports car that probably cost more than most people's houses.

He opened the passenger door for me. I slid in, the leather seats soft and expensive. He closed the door and walked around to the driver's side, and I watched him move with that predatory grace that marked him as more than human.

The engine purred to life and we pulled out into the city traffic.

"You're not going to tell me where we're going?" I asked as we headed away from the downtown restaurants.

"Where's the fun in that?"

"I don't like surprises."

"I know." He glanced at me, a slight smile playing at his lips. "But you need to learn to let go of control sometimes. Not everything is a threat."

"Says the man who probably has three backup plans for every situation."

"Four, actually." His smile widened. "But that's different. That's smart. You're just scared."

"I'm not scared."

"Terrified," he corrected, his hand moving to the gear shift between us. "But that's okay. I'm patient."

We drove in silence for a while, the city giving way to quieter neighborhoods and then to an area I didn't recognize. Hills. Trees. Expensive homes set back from winding roads.

Finally, he turned onto a private drive that climbed higher. At the top sat a modern house, all glass and steel and clean lines. The view of the city below was breathtaking.

"Is this your house?" I asked as he parked.

"One of them." He cut the engine and came around to open my door. "I don't stay here often. Too quiet. But it has the best view in the city."

He led me inside. The interior was minimalist and masculine. Dark wood floors, leather furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the city lights below like a carpet of stars.

But he didn't stop inside. He took my hand and pulled me toward a staircase that led up.

His touch sent sparks through me. The mate bond hummed to life, warm and insistent. My wolf purred, happy to be close to him.

We emerged onto a rooftop terrace, and I stopped dead.

String lights hung overhead, casting a warm golden glow. A small table was set for two with real dishes and wine glasses. Soft music played from hidden speakers. And beyond it all, the city sprawled out below us, millions of lights twinkling in the darkness.

"You did this?" I asked, my voice coming out softer than I intended.

"I cooked, if that's what you're asking." He led me to the table and pulled out my chair. "I'm not completely useless in a kitchen."

I sat, still taking in the scene. It was intimate. Romantic. Nothing like what I'd expected.

Lucian disappeared inside and returned with two plates. He set one in front of me, and the smell made my stomach growl.

Steak, perfectly cooked. Roasted vegetables. Some kind of garlic butter sauce that smelled incredible.

"You made this?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

"My mother taught me before she died." He sat across from me and poured wine into both our glasses. "She said a man who couldn't feed himself was useless. And a man who couldn't feed a woman he cared about was worse."

The mention of his mother caught me off guard. He never talked about his family. None of the research I'd done on him mentioned anything about his past beyond his business empire.

"How old were you?" I asked quietly. "When she died?"

"Twelve." He took a sip of wine, his expression carefully neutral. "Car accident. My father and two younger sisters were with her. I was the only one who survived because I'd stayed home sick that day."

My chest tightened. "Lucian, I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago." But his fingers tightened around the stem of his wine glass. "I built everything I have to honor them. To make sure their deaths meant something."

I understood that. Building something from pain. Creating purpose from loss.

"Is that why you're so..." I trailed off, not sure how to finish.

"Ruthless?" He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Controlling? Yes. When you lose everything in an instant, you learn to hold tight to what matters. To protect it at any cost."

We ate in comfortable silence for a while. The food was incredible. The wine was smooth and expensive. And the view was stunning.

But I couldn't stop watching him. The way the string lights caught in his dark hair. The strong line of his jaw. The way his eyes kept finding mine across the table.

"Why did you really bring me here?" I asked finally. "You could have taken me to any restaurant in the city."

"Because I wanted you to see something real." He set down his fork and leaned back in his chair. "No performance. No public spectacle. Just... this."

"This?"

"Me. Trying to show you that I'm serious about this. About you." His amber eyes locked onto mine. "I know you think I'll hurt you eventually. That I'll get tired or bored or decide you're not worth the effort. But you're wrong."

"You don't know that."

"I do. Because I've been alone for eighteen years, Amara. Eighteen years of building an empire and having everything I could want except someone who actually mattered. And then I walked into your office and the bond hit me like lightning. You're it for me. There is no getting tired. No moving on. You're my mate."

The intensity in his voice made my throat tight. "The bond doesn't guarantee anything. Damien was supposed to be my mate too."

"He wasn't." Lucian stood and moved around the table. He held out his hand. "Dance with me."

I stared at his hand like it might bite. "What?"

"Dance with me," he repeated. The music from the speakers had shifted to something slow and sultry. "Just once. If you still want to leave after, I'll take you home."

This was a terrible idea. But I found my hand moving into his anyway.

He pulled me up and into his arms. One hand at my waist, the other holding mine. Our bodies pressed together, and the mate bond roared to life between us.

Fire and electricity. Want and need. My wolf howling for more.

We moved to the music, swaying gently under the string lights. His scent surrounded me. His warmth seeped into my skin. His hand at my waist burned through the fabric of my dress.

"You're tense," he murmured against my ear, and his breath sent shivers down my spine.

"I'm always tense."

"Let go." His hand moved from my waist to the small of my back, pulling me closer. "Just for a moment. Let yourself feel this."

I shouldn't. I knew I shouldn't. But my body was betraying me. I relaxed into him, my head resting against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady.

His fingers threaded through my hair, the touch gentle and possessive at the same time. We weren't really dancing anymore. Just holding each other, swaying slightly, the rest of the world falling away.

"Amara," he said softly.

I looked up at him.

His eyes had shifted to that amber-gold. His hand cupped my face, thumb brushing across my cheekbone. The air between us crackled with tension.

He was going to kiss me.

I should pull away. Should stop this before it went further. But I couldn't move. Couldn't think. Could only stare at his mouth as he leaned down.

His lips were an inch from mine. Half an inch.

Our breaths mingled. My heart hammered against my ribs. Every nerve in my body screamed for contact.

He paused, waiting. Giving me the choice. Letting me close the distance or pull away.

And God, I wanted to close it. Wanted to feel his mouth on mine. Wanted to let myself have this one moment of weakness.

But Kai's face flashed through my mind. Damien's cold dismissal. The years of pain and humiliation.

I pulled back.

Lucian's hand dropped from my face. He stepped back, putting distance between us, but his eyes stayed locked on mine.

"I can't," I whispered.

"I know." His voice was rough, strained. "But one day, Amara. One day you're going to let yourself have this."

"You don't know that."

"I do." He turned away, running a hand through his hair. "Because I see the way you look at me when you think I'm not watching. I feel the way your body responds to mine. You want this as much as I do. You're just too scared to admit it."

He was right. And that terrified me more than anything.

My phone buzzed in my clutch. I pulled it out, grateful for the interruption.

A text from an unknown number.

My blood went cold as I read it.

"Amara. I know you're hurt by your son's hatred. And I could make him talk to you like his once sweet mother. Why don't you come over tomorrow so we can talk? - Damien"

Rage exploded through me. White hot and consuming. He was using Kai. Using my son to manipulate me. Dangling the possibility of reconciliation like bait.

"Amara?" Lucian's voice cut through my fury. "What's wrong?"

I shoved the phone back in my clutch and forced my expression to neutral. "Nothing. Just work."

"Liar." He stepped closer. "I can feel your anger through the bond. What happened?"

"It's nothing I can't handle."

"That's not an answer."

I met his eyes. "I won't be able to come to work tomorrow. I have something I need to take care of."

His jaw clenched. "What kind of something?"

"Personal business."

"Amara—"

"I need to go." I moved toward the stairs. "Thank you for dinner. It was... nice."

"Nice?" He caught my arm gently. "That's all you're going to give me?"

"It's all I have right now." I pulled away. "Can you take me home?"

He stared at me for a long moment. I could see him debating whether to push. Whether to demand answers.

Finally, he nodded. "Let's go."

The drive back was silent. Tense. I could feel his frustration radiating off him in waves, but he didn't push.

When we reached my building, I got out before he could open my door.

"Amara," he called as I started toward the entrance.

I turned back.

"Whatever you're planning tomorrow," he said, his expression serious, "be careful."

"I'm always careful."

"That's not what I meant."

But I was already walking away.

Lucian sat in his car and watched Amara disappear into her building. Every instinct he had screamed that something was wrong. That text had set her off. Made her pull away completely.

He pulled out his phone and dialed.

"Boss?" Dimitri's voice answered.

"I need you to do something for me tomorrow. And I need it done quietly."

"What do you need?"

"Amara is going somewhere. Meeting someone. I want eyes on her the entire time." His hand tightened around the phone. "And I want to know everything that's said. Everything that happens."

"You got it. I'll have Marcus tail her. He's the best we have at staying invisible."

"Good." Lucian's eyes were still on Amara's building. "And Dimitri? If anyone tries to hurt her, you have my permission to eliminate them."

"Understood."

He hung up and sat there for another moment. His wolf was pacing inside him, restless and agitated. Something bad was coming. He could feel it.

But he'd be ready.

He always was.

The next morning, I woke up with a headache and a sense of dread sitting heavy in my stomach.

I'd barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kai's face. Heard Damien's voice. Felt the ghost of Lucian's almost-kiss.

I got up and got dressed. Black pants. White blouse. Armor disguised as business casual.

At nine AM, I got in my car and drove to the address Damien had sent.

Not the pack house. A private office building downtown. Neutral territory.

I parked and went inside. The receptionist directed me to the tenth floor. I rode the elevator up, my hands clenched into fists.

Damien's temporary office was at the end of the hall. I didn't knock. Just walked in.

He sat behind a desk, looking smug and comfortable. Sera wasn't there. Good. I didn't think I could handle seeing her without committing actual violence.

"Amara." He stood, that same superior smile on his face. "I'm glad you came."

"Let's skip the pleasantries. What do you want?"

"Always so direct." He walked around the desk, leaning against it casually. "I want to make you an offer. A trade, if you will."

"I'm not interested in anything you—"

"You want Kai to not hate you, don't you?" He cut me off, and his smile widened at the flash of pain that crossed my face. "I can make that happen. I can sit him down. Explain that you're not the villain we've made you out to be. Help him see that maybe you had reasons for leaving."

"And what do you want in return?" I asked, though I already knew. Damien never did anything without an agenda.

"Two things." He held up two fingers. "First, you come work for me. In my office. Help rebuild the security systems that have been... compromised since you left."

"No."

"I wasn't finished." His smile turned cruel. "Second, you terminate your contract with Lucian Volkov. Immediately. Completely. No contact whatsoever."

There it was. His real goal. He'd lost business because of the viral video. Lost respect. And now he wanted to take away the one thing that had given me power—my connection to Lucian.

"So let me get this straight," I said, keeping my voice level. "You want me to come work for you—the man who cheated on me, humiliated me, and threw me away—and cut ties with the most lucrative contract I have. In exchange for what? The possibility that you might stop poisoning my son against me?"

"When you put it like that, it sounds unreasonable." Damien pushed off the desk, moving closer. "But think about it, Amara. Kai is eight years old. He needs his mother. Real mother. Not Sera's imitation. I've seen how confused he gets sometimes. How he looks for you even though he claims he doesn't care."

The words were a knife to my chest. But I didn't let it show.

"And if I refuse?"

His expression hardened. "Then you'll never have a relationship with your son. I'll make sure of that. Sera and I will adopt him officially. Change his last name. Erase you completely from his life."

Rage burned through me. Hot and consuming. He was threatening to take away the last thing I had left of my old life. The one thing I still loved despite everything.

I should agree. Should take the deal and figure out a way around it later. Should do whatever it took to get close to Kai again.

But then I thought of Lucian. The dinner last night. The way he'd looked at me like I mattered. The vulnerability he'd shown talking about his family. The almost-kiss that had terrified me because it felt real.

And I thought of the empire I'd built. The power I'd earned. The woman I'd become.

I wasn't going back. Not for anyone.

My voice came out cold and steady. "In your dreams, Damien."

His face twisted with anger. "What?"

"You heard me." I stepped closer, meeting his glare with one of my own. "I'm not working for you. I'm not terminating my contract with Lucian. And you can threaten me all you want with Kai, but we both know you're full of shit."

"You're making a mistake—"

"The only mistake I made was wasting five years on you." I turned toward the door. "Have a nice life with your mistress. Hope she's worth everything you're about to lose."

I walked out, my heart pounding but my head held high.

Across town, in his office, Lucian's phone buzzed.

Marcus's voice came through clear and precise. "Boss, you're going to want to hear this."

Lucian listened as Marcus relayed the entire conversation. Every word. Every threat. Damien's pathetic attempt at manipulation.

By the end, Lucian was smiling. Not a nice smile. A dangerous one.

His wolf growled in satisfaction. She's ours. She chose us.

"She turned him down," Lucian said, more to himself than Marcus.

"Without hesitation," Marcus confirmed. "Even when he threatened her with the kid. She didn't break."

Lucian hung up and sat back in his chair. His eyes landed on the photo on his desk. Amara, taken at a business conference. Professional. Beautiful. Strong.

His heart did that flip it always did when he looked at her. His wolf purred, satisfied and possessive.

"She's ours," he said quietly to the empty office. "And we're not going to let anyone hurt her. Not Damien. Not Sera. No one."

A plan was already forming in his mind. Damien wanted to play games? Fine.

Lucian had been playing and winning dangerous games since he was twelve years old.

And this bastard was about to learn exactly what happened when you threatened what belonged to the Lycan King.