Chapter Eight

Lucien's POV.

The day had been long and exhausting, but it wasn't over yet. My body ached from the recent things I had going on, and with everything stressing me out, all I wanted was a moment of peace. Instead, I found myself dealing with more drama.

I looked at the papers for the budget for the rest of the year and noted how many meetings I had to be present for. Things were getting heated up in the pack, my silence since Trivia's death and affected us greatly.

I paced the floor of my study, trying to calm my racing thoughts but I couldn't stop thinking about Brielle. It was destructive, my mind was in shambles and my heart felt like I was betraying Trivia.

Flashes of our moments in the woods didn't make it easier for me. Her frightened smile, her lips, her scent, all of it shouldn't make me feel that way. I never thought I could ever feel that way again but I could. My body wants responding to me, the thoughts of how she tasted made me hard.

"No!" I growled, slamming my hand furiously against the table.

Zane walked in, looking hesitant as he saw the look on my face.

"I come in peace. I don't know what the table did to deserve been spanked but I am here to talk,"

"Then talk," I grunted as I went back to looking through the paper.

"About what you saw yesterday, it didn't mean anything. I was just in there to check in on her,"

"You mean when I caught you with her half naked wet body? Sure, whatever you say,"

"What's your problem?" He spat with a fierce tone.

"My problem? The girl had barely been here a day and you are already trying to fuck her! That's my fucking problem!" I blurted, panting heavily at the end as I felt a weight on my chest.

He looked surprised, his expression had me lost with words. "This is the most emotional thing I had seen from you since Trivia,"

"Don't call her name. Don't bring her into this,"

He walked closer, leaning towards me as he whispered, "It's not bad to feel something, brother,"

"Feel what? For a girl I just met in the woods? A girl that has Chase brand on her body? A girl that is married to the man our sister died from?"

"Yes brother!" Zane exclaimed with a bit of excitement in his voice.

"Don't you say fate lining up here. It is fate and the sooner you realize it the better,"

With a stern look, I responded, "Right now Zane, I'm trying to figure out how to keep our revenue up. How to fund the schools, the hospitals, the police departments, all of those,"

"Excuses, you are looking for excuses. She needs you right now, she needs someone to help her fit in. a friend atleast,"

"Are you volunteering?" I asked with a curious look.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm. I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on.

"Do whatever makes you happy, brother. As long as it doesn't pull me into the middle of it all,” I gave a sarcastic smile.

“Yes.” Zane replied without hesitation. “I think I can help her. She needs a friend, and I can be that for her.”

The thought of Zane getting close to Brielle made my chest tighten. It hurt more than I wanted to admit, but I knew he was right. She needed support, and I was in no shape to give it to her.

"I said do what you want," I muttered in a way that made him flinch with shock.

"Now if you don't mind, I have work to do,"

"Don't ignore this chance you have been giving. Some of us yearn for it," He muttered softly.

"Enough with this talk about chances given!" I snapped angrily.

“If you want the girl, brother, go ahead. Keep me the fuck out of it!"

“Dont talk about her like that!” Zane warned.

“Like what?”

“Like she’s an object to be passed around. She’s a human being, more human than you since you lost Trivia,” Zane said, and I nodded

“Spare me the preaching, and get out.” I dismissed him with a wave of my hand.

Just then, I heard a noise outside the study. I turned to see Brielle standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock. She must have overheard our conversation.

“Brielle.” I reacted, surprised that she found her way to the study.

“I heard... voices. I'm sorry," She stuttered as she tried to walk away.

"Did you hear our discussion?" Zane question held her on the tracks.

"Did you overhear what we were saying?"

"I heard enough," She answered with a brief smile, trying to hide a different emotion that I could smell off her. Hurt, one I knew too well.

"What do you people want from me? What do you want to me to say or do?"

"I want my brother!" Zane shot a response that caught me off guard.

"Not this emotionless brute I'm staring at. I miss my brother,"

His words cut me deep enough that I felt the instant void in my chest. "So because I don't want anything to do with a mate, I'm no longer your brother?"

"I took you on that hunting trip to see if I could get you back," He replied with a painful gaze.

"I guess I can't,"

"Because of her?" I pointed at the person by the door.

"Why not just reject me?" She said with teary eyes that had me gasping for breath. I knew what she wanted, she seeked clarity and I owed it to her. I didn't feel like pulling her into the darkness that I was dealing with, no one deserved to be in that dark hollow place I was trapped in.

"Brielle, not now," Zane paused her.

"No, she is right," I muttered calmly as I took steps closer to her.

"You deserve to be free if that burden. I don't want you as a mate, I will never want you,"

I said those words while locking gazes with her. A tear dropped from her eyes as she exhaled deeply. I clenched my fist to hold back the pain I felt myself. That one tear that dropped from her destroyed me at that moment.

"Okay, Alpha Lucien," She voiced with a smirk before heading back to her room.

I turned back round to meet a disappointing look from Zane.

"I hope you are satisfied with this cloak you call a life because you are going to trapped in it for a while,"

He left after uttering those words. I shut the door behind him, my heart and soul firing up with anxiety.

"It's the right call," I mumbled to myself as I collapsed to my chair. I shut my eyes and there it was again, her face.