CHAPTER 5

Dahlia

We shouldn't have been doing this. Every rational part of my brain was screaming it. He was my bodyguard, my father's employee. A man I'd sworn to break within a week.

"Fuck. We shouldn't..."

"Stop," he snapped, running a hand through his hair. "Don't think about it, don't regret it. This doesn't leave this room"

Before I could respond, the knock came again. My chest tightened.

"Just a moment!" I screamed, already scrambling off the bed. My legs nearly gave out. Roman caught my elbow, steadying me, and for one insane second, we just stared at each other.

My father, I mouthed.

Roman's jaw tightened. He released me and grabbed his trousers.

I'd never dressed so fast in my life. I picked up a random robe in my wardrobe and quickly put it on. My father mustn't see us together.

I quickly looked at the mirror. My hair was a mess.

"Get me my hair band," I whispered.

"What?"

I groaned, shifting him to the side and I picked the band on the table and wrapped my hair into a bun.

"Dahlia. Open this door," Father said, hitting the door again.

I smoothen my hands on my robe and forced a smile on my face.

Good.

I crossed the room on shaking legs and pulled the door open.

Lucien Argent stood in the hallway, his eyebrows raised. Behind him, two guards waited. My father's silver eyes swept past me, landed on Roman, and froze.

Roman stood by the window, fully dressed now, his expression perfectly neutral.

"What," Lucien said slowly in disbelief, "is he doing in your room?"

Roman’s shoulder straightened. His eyes flicked to me for a moment then back at Lucien. His jaw tightened.

“I…” he scratched the back of his head. "I…"

Oh no.

I stepped into the doorway, blocking his view. "He… he was just checking my room. After last night's attack, I felt unsafe. I asked him to..."

"I didn't ask you." Lucien moved past me. He was taller than Roman, broader, but somehow Roman didn't shrink. He just stood there, meeting the Alpha's stare without flinching. "You. Explain."

He cleared his throat. "I was only checking the room as..."

"Checking." Lucien cut him off. "In a room with my daughter. While she's wearing a robe?"

"No. It's not..." I started.

"Silence." My father barked, not looking at me. His eyes stayed locked on Roman. "Your place is outside her door. Not inside. Not ever inside. Do you understand me?"

Roman lowered his head. "Perfectly."

"Then get out."

Roman didn't argue. He walked toward the door, and when he passed me, his fingers brushed mine. Brief. Barely there. But I felt it like a brand.

Then he was gone, and I was alone with my father.

Lucien stood in the middle of my ruined bedroom, breathing hard. His hands were shaking. I'd never seen him like this before... Not exactly angry but scared.

"Sit down," he said, voice low and soft.

I sat on the edge of the bed. The sheets still smelled like Roman. I hoped he couldn't smell it.

My father didn't sit. He paced. Once. Twice. Then he stopped in front of me and crouched to my eye level. My chest tightened.

I didn't understand what was going on at first.

"I was harsh with you earlier," he murmured. "I struck you. I have no excuse."

I shook my head. My eyes watered. "You were scared."

"I was terrified." He reached for my hands, squeezing them."You are my daughter. My only daughter. When I think of losing you..."

My stomach flipped.

"You won't lose me," I tried to assure him.

"I almost have. Three times." He rubbed his temples. "I cannot protect you if you won't let me. I cannot keep you safe if you keep running."

I wanted to pull away. I wanted to scream that he was suffocating me, that his protection was a cage, that I would rather die free than live as his prisoner.

But I looked at his face, this proud, powerful man, broken open by fear...and something in my chest softened.

"I'll try," I swallowed. "To be more careful."

"That's all I ask." He squeezed my hands. Released them. Stood. "Now. We need to discuss Adrian."

My stomach turned

"Father..."

He exhaled. "The courtship begins next week. He'll be staying at the estate. I expect you to be civil. I expect you to give him a chance."

I stood up from my bed and glared at him. Why wouldn't he listen? "I don't want to marry him."

"You don't know him. Give him a chance, Dahlia. That's all I'm asking." He argued, thumb trailing down my cheek. "I love you. I just want you safe."

BOOM

Before I could respond, the windows shattered. Glass rained across the floor. The walls shook, and a sound like thunder ripped through the estate from the east wing.

My father wrapped his hands around me.

"No," I breathed.

The door burst open. Roman filled the frame, knife in hand, eyes scanning for threats. He crossed the room in three strides and positioned himself between me and the window.

"Alpha," he said, and his voice was cold. "We need to move. Now."

Lucien was already shifting, his wolf rising to the surface. His eyes glowed silver-blue, the Argent pack mark blazing in his irises.

"Protect her," he commanded. "Nothing happens to her. Do you hear me? Nothing."

Roman nodded. "On my life."

Then my father was gone, racing toward the sound of fighting, and Roman was pulling me toward the door.

"Stay behind me. Don't run unless I tell you. Don't shift unless I tell you. Do you understand?"

My heart was thundering in my chest. "Yes."

We made it to the hallway. Smoke curled from the east wing. Screams echoed through the estate. Pack members were running, shifting, fighting.

Another explosion.

Closer this time.

Roman grabbed me and threw us both to the ground, covering my body with his. Debris rained down. Heat washed over us. I pressed my face into his chest and felt his heart hammering against my cheek.

When the shaking stopped, he pulled me up.

"We have to get to the safe room," he whispered.

"I know the way," I said. He grabbed my hands and we sprinted into a race. Just as we rounded the corner, one of the attackers blocked our way, eyes burning red.

He lunged.

Oh my God, I'm going to die.