His Stray

Chapter 23

Present

Celia finished scrubbing the pots while Lucas handled the rest of the kitchen. They didn’t speak. She tried to stay focused on her task, but questions tumbled through her mind.

Would Hendrix tell Alpha Marcus what he had seen? If he did, what would the alpha do? Would Lucas really stand by her like he claimed, or would he cave to his father the way he always had before?

She wanted to believe him when he said he wasn’t going to run. But history suggested otherwise. And history showed that Lucas always ran.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Lucas asked as he helped her stack the last pot on the shelf.

“About what?” She tried to sound casual.

“All those thoughts spinning around in your head.”

She turned to face him, crossing her arms. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

He gave her a crooked grin that made her stomach flutter. “Because I know you. Plus, I can feel all your anxiety through the bond. Which is kind of interesting. I used to guess what you were feeling, but now I know for sure.”

She frowned. Damn Lucas. Damn the mate bond. She had always been an open book to him, but now he had a direct line to her emotions. That was the last thing she needed.

He stepped closer and braced his hands on the sink on either side of her. She had to tip her head back to meet those honey eyes. The amusement faded, replaced by concern.

“What are you thinking?” he whispered.

“What’s going to happen when your dad finds out we’re mates?” The question flew out before she could decide if she even wanted an answer.

The corner of Lucas’s mouth pulled tight. “I suppose he’ll be pissed. He’ll probably tell me to reject you.”

Her chest squeezed. “He would really do that?”

“Yeah,” Lucas said quietly. “He would, just because he’s an asshole. Besides, my parents each rejected their own fated mates for an alliance union.”

“That’s… sad.”

He shrugged, though his eyes were darker than before. “It is. But it’s not going to be us.”

She searched his face, wanting to feel the certainty in his voice. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’m not my father,” he said. His hands slid from the sink to her waist. “And you’re my mate. But it’s more than that, Celia. I’ve loved you since I was a kid. No one’s taking that from me. No one’s taking you from me.”

She wanted to believe it so badly it hurt. She pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “You’re going to tell him?”

He nodded. “I’ll tell him right now if you want. I can call the elders tomorrow and have the announcement made to the pack. If I’m going to the alpha, you’re going to be my luna.”

Her head swam. Her throat tightened painfully. “Lucas, you know what they call me. You know they’ll never accept me.”

“Ask me if I care.”

She frowned, feeling his heart pick up under her palm. “You do,” she whispered. “You’ve always cared what they thought. That’s why…”

He cut her off with a bruising kiss, his fingers digging into her waist. His heart thundered under her hand as she fisted his shirt.

“I did care,” he admitted softly when the kiss ended. “You’re right. I cared a lot. But I don’t want to be that kid anymore. The one who always lets you down. You deserve more than that, and I want… I want to be the man you deserve. I’ll do anything to prove that to you.”

She could hear the truth in his words. She’d known him too long for him to lie to her. More than that, she felt the truth. Ariadne felt it. Mates could always tell.

She brought her other hand up to cup his jaw, feeling the rough stubble against her palm. “Can we not tell anyone yet? Unless Hendrix or Landon out us? I just need time to figure this out. To get used to this… to us again.”

Lucas nodded. “Alright. I won’t say anything. We’ll take it one step at a time. If my dad finds out before we’re ready, then we’ll deal with it. Together.”

Her breath hitched. “Together.”

His forehead rested on hers. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise. Wherever you are, I’m there.”

He walked her home. The night was surprisingly warm after all the rain and cold. Lucas reached for her hand, but Celia only shook her head. So he walked close enough that their arms brushed.

The house was dark when they got there. Harold had told her he would be in town visiting friends, but the little house always felt empty and too quiet when she was alone. She hovered in the doorway, chewing her lip, then finally looked at Lucas.

“Will you stay for a bit? Just to… talk?”

A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Of course.”

In her room, he paused by the bed and picked up the stuffed wolf. “You kept Rusty?”

Her face warmed. “Of course I did. He was always yours too.”

Lucas ran his fingers over the wolf’s frayed ears, a small smile touching his mouth. “Glad to see he’s still keeping you safe.”

Celia shut the door, hesitating a moment before turning the lock her father had recently installed. Lucas’s eyebrow lifted slightly, amused.

She shrugged. “Nothing’s going to happen tonight, but Dad told me to use it when you’re here.”

“Wouldn’t want to startle him again,” Lucas said with a quiet laugh. “Besides, I prefer my balls uncrushed.”

She laughed. “I prefer them that way too.”

The laughter faded into an awkward silence. Memories of all the times they’d shared in this room flooded her.

“Hey.”

She looked up to see Lucas watching her, a small worry line between his brows.

“Let’s just lie down, alright?” he whispered. “Nothing happens. Just let me hold you for a while.”

Something warm unfurled in her chest. Slowly, she nodded. She grabbed pajamas from her dresser, and Lucas surprised her by turning his back so she could change. When she finished, he shucked his boots and jeans and slid under the blanket in just his t-shirt and boxers.

They lay facing each other. Lucas curled an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Their noses nearly brushed. He kissed her softly, and she couldn’t bring herself to stop. Those gentle kisses turned slow and lingering, lips brushing again and again until it was more about comfort than want.

Eventually they drifted off, tangled together, with Rusty pressed between them like the silent witness he had always been.