Chapter 6
1237 Words
_Katherine’s POV_
Lucian held out his hand, waiting for me to take it. For a moment, I hesitated. I had just escaped one Alpha. Could I really trust another? But something about him felt… different. He didn’t look at me with pity or cruelty. His touch had been firm but not painful. And the way he had stood against those rogues—without hesitation, without fear—had made something deep inside me stir.
I reached out and placed my hand in his. His fingers wrapped around mine. They were warm and steady.
“Come on,” he said, his voice softer now. “You shouldn’t stay out here.”
I nodded, forcing my legs to move. But as soon as I took a step, a sharp pain shot up my foot. I gasped, stumbling forward. Lucian caught me before I could fall.
His brow furrowed. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing,” I said quickly, pulling away from him.
He didn’t look convinced. His eyes dropped to my foot, and I knew he had already noticed the way I was limping.
“How long have you been walking like this?” he asked.
I hesitated. “A while.”
He sighed. “Katherine, you need to rest.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted, trying to take another step. But the pain flared again, and I winced.
Lucian rolled his eyes. “Stubborn little wolf.”
Before I could protest, he bent down and scooped me up into his arms as if I weighed nothing. A startled gasp escaped my lips. My hands instinctively gripped his shoulders.
“Put me down!” I demanded.
He chuckled. “You’re so light. Don’t worry, I am strong enough to carry you.”
I scowled at him. “I don’t need to be carried.”
Lucian smirked, his grip tightening slightly. “You’re limping, little one. It would take you an hour to reach the car. This way, we get there faster.”
I wanted to argue, but I was too exhausted. My body ached, my foot throbbed, and his arms were warm. Safer than anything I had felt in a long time.
So, I gave in with a sigh. “Fine. But only because I don’t have the energy to fight you right now.”
Lucian grinned. “Smart choice.”
We moved through the forest. He was walking quickly. The silence stretched between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. For the first time in hours—maybe even days—I felt like I could breathe.
After a few minutes, Lucian spoke again. “So, Katherine, where is your family?”
My throat tightened. “Gone.”
His arms tensed slightly. “Gone?”
I swallowed hard. “Dead.”
Lucian didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, in a quieter voice, he asked, “And your pack?”
I hesitated. “I left.”
He tilted his head. “Why?”
I didn’t want to tell him everything. Not yet. I wasn’t ready to relive the worst of it. So, I gave him the simplest truth. “My mate rejected me.”
Lucian’s expression darkened. “Fool.”
My chest ached at the memory, but his response caught me off guard. “What?”
Lucian glanced at me, his blue eyes sharp. “Only a fool would reject a mate. You must be the one destined for him if the Moon Goddess paired you two.”
I looked away. “I wasn’t strong enough for him.”
Lucian scoffed. “Or maybe he wasn’t strong enough for you.”
I blinked at him, caught off guard. No one had ever said that before. Everyone had always looked at me with pity or scorn. But Lucian spoke as if my mate had been the one who had failed—not me.
Before I could respond, we stepped out of the forest and onto a deserted road. A sleek black SUV was parked nearby.
Lucian carried me to the passenger side and gently set me down. Then, to my surprise, he reached over and buckled my seatbelt for me.
I raised an eyebrow. “I can do that myself, you know.”
He smirked. “I know. But I like taking care of you.”
A strange warmth spread through my chest. I quickly looked away.
Lucian walked around the car and slid into the driver’s seat. As he started the engine, I turned to him. “What were you doing out here, anyway? Even if you’re an Alpha, it’s dangerous to be alone in the woods at night.”
He exhaled. “I needed fresh air.”
I frowned. “That’s it?”
Lucian let out a low chuckle. “Alright, fine. I was having a bad day.”
I tilted my head. “Bad day?”
He nodded. “I missed a big business opportunity. One that could have benefited my pack. I was frustrated, so I went for a drive.”
I bit my lip. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “It’s nothing compared to your day.” He shot me a quick glance. “I think you win for worst night ever.”
I huffed a small laugh. “I think so too.”
Lucian’s expression softened. “But don’t worry. You’re safe now.”
Safe.
I had forgotten what that felt like.
I glanced at him. “Thank you, Lucian. If it had been someone else… they might not have helped me.”
He smirked. “Well, I’m not someone else.”
I smiled slightly. “No, you’re not.”
For a moment, there was only the sound of the road beneath us. The steady hum of the engine.
Lucian broke the silence. “So, what’s your plan now, little wolf?”
I hesitated. “I… don’t know.”
He nodded. “Then stay with me.”
I blinked. “What?”
He kept his eyes on the road. “Stay at my pack. At least until you figure things out. My people are kind. They’ll welcome you.”
I studied him. “Why are you helping me?”
Lucian glanced at me, his blue eyes filled with something unreadable. “Because I can.”
Something in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t just kindness. It was something more.
I swallowed hard. “Alright. I’ll stay.”
Lucian grinned. “Good. Now, tell me more about you. I need to know all about the little wolf who is stealing my attention.”
I felt my cheeks heat up. “I’m not stealing anything.”
He chuckled. “Oh, but you are. I haven’t thought about my business problem even once since I met you.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s because you were too busy saving me from rogues.”
Lucian smirked. “And carrying you through the forest. Don’t forget that part.”
I sighed. “You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Nope,” he said cheerfully. “I liked holding you. You fit perfectly in my arms.”
My heart skipped a beat. I turned away and looked out the window. “You’re insufferable.”
Lucian laughed. “You’ll get used to it, little wolf.”
I wasn’t so sure about that.
Because something told me that getting used to Lucian… might be dangerous in its own way.
- Writer
