Chapter 41

[ 1,119 words ]

Lucien Volkov:

With a sigh, Lilith showed herself, “Hello, Arabella.”

Arabella didn’t react and kept staring at Lilith, who now seemed uncertain, but she didn’t give up, “I’m a friend of Lucien…or let’s call me his aunt. How are you?” She extended her hand for a handshake.

Arabella looked at her outstretched hand and then turned to me as if asking silently for my permission.

I nodded at her, and she shook Lilith’s hand.

How would she look if she stopped taking permission from me for everything and started making her own decisions? I asked myself.

Since the day she arrived here, she had been scared, and at the time, I thought that it was just drama.

“Is she really a Beta’s daughter?” Lilith asked me through mindlink as she tried making small casual talk with Arabella… the same question that had been on my mind since I saw her.

“Come, Arabella. You don’t have to stand the whole time,” Lilith pulled a chair and smiled warmly, “Let’s sit and then talk. What do you say?” she said, sitting down in a chair.

Instead of taking another seat, Arabella immediately looked at me again as if waiting for permission. When I gave her a small nod, only then did she lower herself onto the chair, sitting right at the edge of the seat with her hands folded neatly in her lap. Lilith sat across from her.

“So…” Lilith held her hands gently, “Did you enjoy your meal?” Arabella gave her a tiny nod, “Y..yes.”

“That’s great,” Lilith gave her a tight-lipped smile, but Arabella’s face was unreadable now. While talking to Lilith, her eyes kept drifting towards me before returning to Lilith as though making sure she wasn’t saying anything wrong.

Aunt Lilith didn’t push her for anything and kept the conversation going.

“Do you like reading?” She asked Arabella, and instead of answering her, my mate looked at her lap.

“Holy shit! Don’t tell me…” Zorro stirred in my head, “She doesn’t know how to read. A girl who knows multiplication doesn’t know how to read. Did they even send her to school?”

“Don’t be a fool. Didn’t you see her reading books in my room?”

Lilith was asking her about her favorite color and her hobbies.

“What do you enjoy doing most?” Lilith inquired, and Arabella thought for a long moment.

“I… I don’t know…”

Lilith’s smile faltered for the briefest moment, then she gently reached across and took Arabella’s hand again, “It’s alright, Arabella. There’s no hurry.”

She was managing it too well. Something twisted inside my chest. I wished I had been the one holding her hand, but my mate was scared of me. She didn’t trust me.

What the hell is happening to me?

I’d watched countless males of my pack finding their mates over the years. They were protective of them and even possessive.

But this sudden urge to go and comfort her, to shield her and to make sure that she never looked frightened again… I’d never seen anyone this affected.

Lilith glanced at me, and I didn’t miss the questions in her violet eyes. I gave a subtle nod, granting her permission to question Arabella further. She understood and turned back to her.

“Umm. Arabella, sweetie. Can you tell me about your family?”

Arabella looked up with a tiny gasp, and for a heartbeat, I thought she would ignore the question. Then something strange happened. Her expression became oddly blank.

“My father…” she started in a flat, emotionless voice, “He is a beta. My parents always spoiled us. Omegas did all the work for us. We were a happy family.”

Lilith and I exchanged a glance. Something wasn’t right. Her answer seemed to be… well practiced.

“My sister Vanessa loves me very much… my brother Victor is the best brother I can ask for… he always protected me…”

The words kept coming, almost rehearsed. Yet, tears slowly began rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t wipe them away, and she didn’t even seem to notice them.

Instead, her fingers tightened around the wooden armrests until her knuckles turned white.

“My family… always cared for me… they are so caring… they love me… they love me so much… they’re so loving…”

Lilith’s gentle smile disappeared as she reached for Arabella’s hand and squeezed it a little tighter, “Arabella. Sweetheart… look at me.”

Arabella didn’t seem to hear her. She kept whispering the same words in an empty voice, “My family loves me so much… they’re so caring…”

Tears kept rolling down her cheeks. Lilith glanced at me as alarm flashed across her face, “Lucien…”

I was already moving. I crouched beside her and took both her shoulders, but her eyes remained fixed on nothing in particular.

“My family… loves me…”

I gently shook her, but she didn’t even blink. Lilith got to her feet and touched her forehead, “She is dissociating, Lucien. Bring her back.”

Without hesitation, I held her hands and pulled her to her feet, wrapping both arms around her, “Arabella,” I held her tightly against my chest.

“My family…” she murmured.

My heart clenched, and I called her name loudly, “Arabella!” For a moment, her body stiffened, and then she shoved herself away from my embrace with surprising force.

Her hand flew towards her own face, slapping it.

“Arabella! No!” My eyes widened.

“Oh, Goddess! What is she doing?” Lilith gasped.

“They love me so much…” Arabella said before trying to slap her face again, but I held her wrists tightly. She tried to free herself, and then her knees buckled. I caught her weak body before she hit the floor, gathering her against my chest.

***

“Something isn’t right…” Lilith whispered, looking at Arabella’s pale face. She was now lying on her hospital bed and was under not-so-heavy sedatives.

I squeezed Arabella’s hand and raised it to my face, maybe to kiss it. But then changed my mind.

“Did you notice how her eyes changed color to silver?” Lilith asked me. I shook my head without looking away from her face.

How could I look into her eyes when she was hurting herself?

I remained silent. A few weeks ago, Arabella had been nothing more than the sister of the man who murdered Anika. Then she became my suspect.

And now?

Now the thought of anyone hurting her made my beast restless.

“There is one more thing, Lucien,” I looked back at Lilith, “If her wolf truly awakens, then don’t try to suppress her. Her family must have done it in the past…” she trailed off with a smile and then continued, “Whatever has been sleeping inside this girl…” Lilith’s violet eyes darkened, “I don’t think it’s an ordinary wolf.”

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