Chapter 74

074 – We Are A Team, Right?

LUCY.

“I can. But can you?” His eyes bored deep into mine.

“What do you exactly want from me?” I asked, trying not to raise my voice.

Lucius appeared out of thin air, and I saw his jaw twitch when his gaze fell on Adan before anger flitted across his expression at my father’s following words.

“Rule this kingdom with me.”

Lucius obviously wanted this for himself.

“I don’t want your kingdom! I have a pack! I am the Luna of my pack, not of Kalmerus!”

“You belong in this realm, Lucija.”

“I never feel like I belong here, Lucien. Set me free.”

“No.” His eyes blazed red as his grip on the armrest tightened as the whip was used to hit Adan again.

“Stop hurting him!”

“Calm down! Or there will be more.”

“You’re not playing fair. I’m trying to calm down, but you’re still hitting him!”

“Who says Lucien plays fair?”

“Can you both calm down? And Father, stop hitting the fucking wolf! If he dies, Lucija will fucking perish as well!” Lucius ‘ hissed in annoyance.

“You’re underestimating the Alpha in front of you, Lucius. It takes more than a whip to kill him.”

“I hate you.” My lips quivered in anger, but I was controlling my fire, and I was getting good at it.

“Thank you. Hate and greed make me stronger. So shower me more.”

“Let Adan go.”

“I told you I can do that. But can you?”

“No. Whip me more if you want, but let Lucy and I go.” Adan shouted.

“I’m not talking to you, Stone. Again, Lucija, can you let him go?”

My lips quivered because I knew the answer would be painful.

“I have options for you.” My father flashed me one of his wicked smiles, and I knew this was not good. “I can do this without your help, but since we will be working together for the good of Kalmerus, I want to include you in all my plans moving forward.”

I held my breath as a hologram appeared in front of me, making me step backward as my eyes grew wider before I was able to control my emotions.

Althea and Blade. He found her.

They looked like they were arguing as Blade threw his luggage inside his Jeep.

And then it was gone. My father closed the hologram.

“I found the witch. Her coven is sheltering her and I can not get through on their territory at the moment but I will find a way soon.” He smiled at me as if he won already. “However, the man who looked important to her is leaving without any spell to protect him. I can take him, trade with his life, and bring the witch here. She can unbind you. So what do you think, Lucija?”

“Leave them alone.”

“Why would I do that? She’s my only guarantee to unbind you from that wolf.”

“I will let Alpha Stone go. No need to bring the witch here.”

I could hear growling from my back, and I knew Adan was furious about my decision. But I was doing this to protect him and Althea. And now, Blade as well.

“You see, Lucija. Simply letting him go gives me no guarantee that you will not sneak out and return to him. Then it will be the same cycle again. I will look for you, and the fool will follow you here. I need the bond broken.”

“No need to break it. No one has to die just because it needs to be broken. Spare Adan’s life and send him back to his pack! “I told him with conviction.

“No! Stop Lucy! Stop making a decision for me. I will still come back and hunt you!

Adan growled.

“Not if you don’t remember me anymore, “I answered in a firm voice.

“No! No! No! Fucking no! Don’t you fucking play with my head!” Adan shouted, and I heard chains clattering, and I knew he must be trying to break free from them.

“Bring Patrea here, Father!” I was doing my best to ignore Adan.

“Tell me your...”

“Bring Patrea here, Father!” I repeated myself, not letting him finish his words.

“Tell me exactly your plans.” Of course, he was stubborn as hell.

‘Patrea can make him forget about me. He can resume his life without me.’ I answered him through our minds. I didn’t want Adan to hear the rest of it.

‘And you?’

‘If he doesn’t bother me anymore, I will eventually move on and forget about him.’

‘Out of sight, out of mind...’ He scoffed. ‘ What’s my guarantee that you will not come after him?’

‘My word, father.’

A spark of light ignited beside me, and soon, Patrea’s body appeared. She probably wasn’t expecting to be transported, and she would have collapsed to the floor if Lucius hadn’t been quick enough to catch her and help her get back on her feet.

It didn’t escape my notice how Lucius was staring at her, as if mesmerized, before catching himself and resuming his scowl, while Patrea maintained her annoyed expression as she straightened her posture.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you should have the courtesy of informing me ahead of time that I will be transported?

If you think traveling in limbo is a fun ride, then you’re wrong! It’s not something for me!” She snapped at my father, her chest heaving. Her hair was down, and it looked like she was brushing it since she had a hairbrush in her hand.

“This is not the time to complain, Patrea... “I didn’t hear the rest of my father’s words as Lucius dug into my head.

‘Who is she?’

‘The witch father trapped in this realm.”

‘No way, I met her several times. And she doesn’t fucking look like this. I would have remembered her face...’

‘Father probably let you see what he wanted you to see because this is the face I’ve been seeing since I was eleven. Father made her immortal.’

‘How?’

‘I didn’t ask. Can you focus and help me instead of gloating over Patrea?’ I hissed at him.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Lucija? “Patrea’s voice snapped me out of my conversation with Lucius.

The chains kept clattering, and Adan was making too much noise now.

My eyes locked with Patrea’s and I saw worry fleeting on hers. I nodded my head as I fought back the tears before facing my father again.

“Will you promise me, in Hades’ name, that you will never touch Adan and his territory again? And Althea and Blade.”

“In Hades’ name, as long as he and the witch don’t cross me, I will not touch. them or his people. I will forget about all of them.”

‘You fucking marked him. And how about you? Your heat? You need to have a rejection before you let him go.’ Lucius was in my head again.

‘I’m a she-demon. I can take care of my heat. And no, I will not reject him.’

‘Lucija! You can’t just throw him away!’

I didn’t know if I could trust Lucius, but at part of me wanted to. ‘One day, I will find him again.’

‘What if he’s mated already?’

‘I will move on.’ I answered him before shutting off our connection.

I already made up my mind.

“Can you do it?” I asked Patrea.

Patrea nodded her head before I looked at my father.

“Just give me one minute to say my goodbye, Father. Just one minute.” This time, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

He didn’t say anything, but he nodded his head.

I turned around and made my way to where Adan was. If I thought seeing my mother’s dead body was the worst day of my life, it was nothing compared to now.

I knew I was being a coward by letting the only man I ever loved go. But what choice do I have? I knew from the beginning that my life was doomed that even if I try to fit in in the shifter’s world, I would never really belong there.

“Lucy... Please.” Adan’s voice broke as he tugged on his arms, trying to break the chains. “I know I’m fucking useless, but please don’t give up. We are a team, right?

His tears were shattering my entire being. But I was doing this for him.

I cupped his face and rested my forehead against him.

“You’re not useless. You’re the bravest man I’ve ever met. Thank you for buying me on the Omega Feast, Alpha Stone. For cutting Cesar’s thumb because he hurt me.

Thank you for all the adventures you and Beast gave me...”

“Lucy... Please, I love you. Don’t punish me this way. I can take everything.”

I closed my eyes and asked Angel to mindlink to Beast, hoping she would be able to reach his mind.

‘I’m sorry, I’m letting you both down. One day, I will find you, and I will claim. you as mine. But if that day comes and you already find comfort in someone else’s arms, I will understand. I will still wait for you until eternity ends. I love you, Adan.’

I pulled away from his forehead and pecked his lips, letting the sparks from his lips comfort me. Adan tried to kiss me hard, taking my whole lips into his, but I withdrew immediately and turned my back to him.

“Lucy!!!” He growled, and it was so loud that I felt the hall shake from his voice.

“You can begin now, Patrea.”

Patrea’s eyes were welling with tears as she nodded her head. Soon, the spot where she was standing began carving ancient letters, and dust appeared and began swirling around her.

“Lucija!!!” Adan growled once more, and for the first time since we arrived in this realm, I felt his Alpha aura rising. It was so strong that my heart began thudding loudly.

but I He was trying to catch my eye, didn’t want him to see my betrayal. So like the coward that I was, I turned my back on him as Patrea began chanting her spells.