Chapter 90: Lucas

After some intense deliberation, Sutton managed to get us on board with telling the other Alphas what was going on. She wasn’t going to risk Hannah’s life over something that wasn’t even proven and we would likely need their help to get her out safely. Besides, Alpha Anders was planning something. Something that potentially put all of our packs at risk. So, they deserved to know the extent of the concern.  

The meeting lasted most of the day. Ultimately, everyone was in agreement that whatever Alpha Anders was planning needed to be stopped. Although, there was no general consensus on what he was truly aiming to achieve. But that only doubled our efforts in the mission.

By the time we made it back to our room, I was exhausted. I shut and locked the door behind us and immediately started getting undressed, ready to fall into bed. I’d gotten my shirt unbuttoned when I felt Sutton’s anxiety and distance through our bond.

Something else was bothering her. Something between us.

I came up beside her as she was taking off her jewelry. Hooking a finger under her chin, I turned her to face me. My thumb traced along her bottom lip. Her body still responded to my touch but her mind remained distant.

“Talk to me,” I urged. “Tell me what I did.”

She reached up with a sigh and took my hand, removing it from her face but holding onto it. She stared down at it for a while before speaking.

“You really didn’t want me to know,” she said softly. “Like you REALLY didn’t. I saw how upset you were. I felt it. You felt… betrayed when Soloman told me about possibly being royalty.” She looked up and met my eyes. “Why?”

My jaw clenched. She deserved an answer but I didn’t know if I would be able to give her one. I didn’t think I could bear how she would look at me.

‘Tell her,’ Rhonen urged.

I huffed in quiet frustration, leaning my forehead against hers. I closed my eyes, holding onto the memory of how she looked at me the night before. With pure adoration and desire.

“Lucas…” she urged gently.

“Fear,” I stated, stepping away.

“What?”

“It wasn’t about you knowing,” I explained. “It was about the world knowing. Nothing stays secret in our world. Not truly. Someone always knows something they shouldn’t. To say it… to put it out there in the world even as a thought… the danger becomes real.”

“But I still don’t understand,” she said. “How is that any different than how we currently live every day.”

“I can protect from fucking Anders, Sutton,” I snapped. “I can keep you safe within my territory from any Dawn Stalker. I don’t know if I can say the same about the royal family.”

Silence settled into the room. I sat on the edge of the bed, resting my arms on my knees. Eventually, she came and sat next to me but I still didn’t know what to say.

“You believe Leanetta is my mother,” she said. “Don’t you?”

“I don’t know…”

“Yes, you do,” she insisted. “You didn’t believe what Soloman said. You think it really was her. Why is that so terrifying?”

“Because he’ll take you from me,” I burst out, bolting to my feet. “There are rules, Sutton. Yes, fated mates are required for a royal but that doesn’t mean there isn’t such a thing as an unsuitable mate. There have been forced rejections and assassinations before.”

“Lucas, why on earth would you think you’d be unsuitable? You’re an Alpha.”

Sutton reached for me and I grabbed her hands.

“I took my position, Sutton,” I told her. “I wasn’t appointed Alpha and it’s not in my bloodline. The only reason the Council tolerated my rule was because of how deep Morgan’s corruption had spread. But they could still take it from me easily. Why do you think Soloman lives in Thorncrest?”

She shook her head. “You’re not making sense, Lucas. You have more than proven you deserve to be Alpha.”

“Sutton…” I brushed a strand of hair away. “King Osric is a good man, but I don’t see him accepting the risk of his reign going to the son of a couple of Omegas.”

“But why would it?” she asked. “He has a son. He has an heir to his throne. We mean nothing.”

“No, Sutton, if you are the lost princess, you would mean everything,” I said. “Your existence could bring our entire country together or throw it into chaos. So yes, Sutton, I was afraid to face the possibility. Because if I don’t lose you to an assassin… I’ll lose you to a king.”

She grabbed my face forcefully. “I’m not leaving you, Lucas,” she said. “That will never happen.” Taking my hand, she pressed it the mark on her neck. “You told me this was forever. You told me it would never fade. And I won’t let it. That will never change.”

“Baby, you may not have a choice,” I told her, my heart feeling like it would break. “The king can command anyone to do as he wishes. Even you. It would kill you if you tried to resist.”

“Then it kills me.” She pressed a finger to my mouth to stop my protests. “I told you I would never let myself get trapped again. If that means we never find out the truth about who I am, then we never do. But I won’t give you up, Lucas. I love you.”