Chapter Thirty Four

Brielle’s POV.

My worst enemy became my thoughts. The ones that wouldn't let me catch my breath. The ones that he had placed in my mind.

I wasn't supposed to love it, I wasn't supposed to succumb to his touch but I did and I could't stop thinking about it . The way his mouth felt on my skin, feeling me with emotion that I wasn't supposed to be feeling for a man whose brother's child was in my womb.

The guilt I felt with the overwhelming pleasure was hollow. I sat by the window, knees hugged to my chest, the cold air doing nothing to numb the fire crawling under my skin. I hated that I liked it. I hated that I still wanted him.

The man was my mate. And he was my curse

Another problem was the unexplained deaths of the royals. Bodies popping up in strange places, almost like they were been hunted.

“Are you ready?” Lucien asked me, watching me like he could see every ugly thought crawling through my head.

I nodded, standing.

"Yes,"

He held my arm, supporting my motion.

“Are you sure you don’t want to—”

I snatched my arm back from his hold.

“I said yes, Lucien. What do you want me to say? No more questions please,”

I walked ahead to the meeting ground. Lucien had summoned all the council members for a meeting concern the deaths.

The council chamber reeked of fear and power at the same time. All the high-ranking members of the pack were seated, and the councilmen had their judgment visible. I sat next to Lucien, ignoring the whispering that started the moment I stepped into the room.

“What is she doing here?” One of the councilmen asked, spitting the words like they burned his mouth.

“She is not even a part of our pack,”

“Watch your fucking tone when you speak about her!” Zane growled from across the room. His cold baritone voice pulled the attention of everyone in the room.

“We decide who stays and who doesn't, not you, not anyone of you,”

The room fell silent.

I didn’t know what stunned me more. The fact that someone spoke up, or the fact that it was Zane who did. Zane, who had been nothing but icy to me for weeks. Zane, who hadn’t looked me in the eye

Lucien's nodded at his brother.

“Brother,” He exhaled, the tension between them was palpable. I felt trapped between it, my hands sweaty from the built up pressure. “Let’s get to it.”

“Three royal bloodlines have been attacked in the past two weeks. Two families wiped out entirely,”

The murmurs ensued until Lucien raised his hand.

“This is not a rogue attack, this is surgical. This is a message, one sent to make us bend the knee,”

A councilman leaned forward.

“So what are you suggesting, Alpha Lucien?”

“I’m saying that we have a traitor.” He said. “And I want them found.”

“How—?”

Lucien’s voice cut through.

“If anyone has information, even suspicions, come to me privately. You’ll be protected, and trust that you’ll be rewarded.”

No one said a word.

But I felt it then. The feeling of someone’s eyes on me. Not the usual stares I’d gotten lately. No.

Someone was looking at me intensely.

I turned, subtly looking around the room, but it seemed like whoever it was had already looked away.

After the meeting, I walked quickly through the hallway. There it was again, that prickly feeling at the back of my neck.

I turned around.

“Who is there? ”

I was answered with silence from the empty corridor. My fingers bunched up into fists.

“Brielle." Lucien’s voice startled me. I sighed, holding my chest.

“You scared me.”

He walked closer to me.

“You do know that we need to talk.”

I didn’t want to talk to him. My thoughts were already eating me alive.

He reached out to me. "We can’t keep sneaking around like teenagers, Brielle. This… thing between us is something that we need to figure it out.”

“Figure what out?” I snapped. “That I’m broken? That I’m grieving your brother’s baby while I’m climbing into your bed like a goddamn whore?”

Lucien flinched, taking a step back. “That’s not what you are, and you know it. Don’t you ever say that again.”

“Well, what is it that you want me to say?” My voice cracked as I spoke now. “That I’m okay with this? With all of it? I’m not.”

“I’m not asking you to be okay with it.” He said softly. “I’m not either, I don’t want to pretend anymore. I’m tired of hiding.”

“I’m tired too, Lucien.” I whispered. “But I don’t have the luxury of feelings right now. You rejected me, your rejection pushed me to your bother. Now you want me back?"

“You think I don’t know how messed up it is?” He hissed. “I hate myself for betraying my brother! I can't help it, I try and I can't help it!"

I looked away. “You might be his brother but you didn't carry his child,"

He didn’t reply to that. Not that he needed to. Not when we both knew where this was heading, and I hated it.

I hated that I was falling for him. I hated that I felt anything at all, because no matter what happened, I couldn’t escape the truth. Lucien was my mate. And that fate came with a scorching feeling that I couldn't run from.

I spent the night tossing and turning, mind racing through every fucked up moment of the last month.

The silence in the house was eerie. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, ready to go and get some water, and then I heard a soft knock.

Whoever it was, they were knocking like they didn’t want to be heard.

Sighing, I grabbed my robe and a knife, hiding it, and then I got out of my room. The hallway was dark, and something smelled off.

It could have just been my nerves anyway. The knock came again, and I opened the door, expecting a guard.

It wasn’t any guard.

It was a girl who appeared pale and terrified. Her eyes wide, and red underneath like she hadn’t slept in days.

“Are you okay?” I looked around. “Whats going on?”

“I have to talk to you.” She whispered, looking around. “Please.”

“Alright, what is it?” I asked.

She leaned in, whispering.

“I know who it is that has been killing the royals.”

Everything in me went ice cold, and I grabbed her by the collar, lowering my voice.

“What did you just say?”

She swallowed hard, shaking her head.

“I-I know who it is. But if they find out I told anyone, they’ll kill me too.”

My blood ran cold. I looked around quickly, letting go of her.

“Get inside, now.”