Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Skylar

They say, “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain“, and in my case, that’s absolutely true. I want Aron to suffer for what he did to me and for what he probably did to so many other girls.

And when I look up at Lucas, I can already tell he won’t argue with me on this. His red and blue eyes are glowing with inner rage. He will do anything I ask of him.

“Are you sure about this, Skylar? Once he is dead, he isn’t coming back.”

Is

ll over to him and place my hand on his chest as I meet his beautiful eyes. “And I don’t want him to. He raped me–he probably raped so many other little girls. That man deserves to die.”

Lucas swallows thickly, and then he takes my hand, not to comfort me but to keep himself in check. I can tell that he wants to shift and rip Aron apart, but we have to walk downstairs calmly so as not to frighten him.

We make our way out of our room and my blood comes to a boil the second we are outside. I’m not the only one barely keeping it

vice around mine, together. Lucas is the picture of calm and control, but I can feel the tension radiating off him. His hand is squeezing a little too tight, but I don’t mind. He is my rock, my protector.

My mate.

“Alpha Lucas,” Aron smiles but cocks his head once he sees me. Interest glimmers in his eyes. “You must be Lucas‘ mate, Skylar. I’ve heard so much about you.”

My l*ps part in shock. How doesn’t he recognize me? Or wait, please don’t tell me he didn’t even bother to remember the name of the child he sexually abused? The thought makes me recoil, my hand slipping free from Lucas’s grip.

“Indeed,” I reply, mustering every ounce of strength to keep my voice steady and neutral, “We’ve met before, but I don’t expect you to remember.”

Aron’s eyes flash with a hint of confusion. But then he smiles and tilts his head. “You were at Lucas‘ birthday party in the past, right? You rejected him, and yes, I do remember, but I thought it would be awkward to bring it up. Anyway, I’m actually here to discuss peace terms-”

“No, before that,” I interrupt him in a shaky voice. It’s taking everything not to break apart. “You met me WAY before that stupid birthday party. Back when I was just a child at the orphanage. You used to come into my room, and I…I was stupid enough to think you would comfort me, but you…” I can’t finish my sentence, and Lucas growls.

“Skylar,” Lucas breathes. He is dangerously close to shifting, and it looks like he is barely keeping it together. I’m his mate and hearing me be in pain is making his dragon want to come out and play. “I think you should step back.”

Aron looks between us. “Wait, I still don’t know…” He gasps as if suddenly realizing who I am. “You’re that little girl who lost her parents… The one with the…Oh.”

His tone shifts from confusion to something akin to amusement, as if he’s just remembering an old joke. I can’t believe he still fails to recognize the gravity of his deeds. The injustice of it all almost chokes me. I spent so many years suffering from what he did, but for him, it’s just another forgotten memory. But not for long.

“Lucas,” I whisper, stepping back, feeling the dragon inside him shivering in restrained rage.

“I know,” he says. His voice is low and dangerous, a calm before the storm. I nod at him, taking one last look at Aron’s arrogant smirk before turning my back on them.

Aron immediately panics. “Hey, where are you going? What’s happening? Aren’t we supposed to talk about the peace? Don’t you want to prevent a war?!”

Aron keeps talking, but then the ground shakes, and I know Lucas has turned into a dragon. I’m barely up the stairs to the mansion’s door when I hear Lucas‘ roar. The sound of it sends shivers down my spine; it’s dramatic and chilling, with a primal fury that promises retribution.

And, because I can’t let Lucas bear this burden alone, I turn around to watch the scene.

Aron is sitting on the ground, begging for his life, while whimpers leave his mouth. “No, please! Don’t do this. I have so much to live for!”

Lucas‘ nostrils flare, and I watch his large wings spread before fire engulfs Aron, silencing his cries. The terrifying sight of Lucas‘ dragon form, with its massive body almost out–sizing the mansion, makes me realize just how powerful my mate is. Yet I don’t fear him. He listened to me, and there’s a sense of finality in the air–the end of a chapter marred by torment and injustice.

Aron is finally gone.

As the flames die down, so does Lucas‘ rage. His massive form shudders before it starts to shrink back, scales retreating into skin and wings disappearing. His transformation back to human form is just as arresting as his shift into a dragon–a spectacle of raw power and control.

He lifts his odd–colored eyes to mine. “My parents taught me murder is never the key, but an Alpha has to make hard decisions sometimes, and I would rather see the world burn than see my mate unhappy.”

! With that, he walks towards me, his steps steady. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding as he reaches me, his hand reaching up to cup my face gently.

“I’m sorry, Skylar,” he murmurs softly, his thumb wiping away a tear that has escaped my eyes. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

I shake my head, my hands reaching up to cover his. “No,” I say firmly, “Don’t apologize. I needed to see that…to know he can’t hurt anyone anymore.”

I see a flicker of relief pass over his eyes. He knows that I don’t fear him despite the monstrous deed he did. Despite being able to turn into a hideous creature.

He waits for a moment, gauging my reaction, then wraps his arms around me. His body is warm against mine, and I breathe in his familiar scent. The terror and injustice from before are still vivid in my mind, but with Lucas holding me, they fade into the background.

“Just promise me one thing,” I whisper, burying my face into his chest, “Promise me you won’t eat people.”

He chuckles. “I will try to BBQ them instead.”

“It’s a promise.” !