55 A Welcome
Mara
“I’m sorry, Mara,” Lucian whispered, his voice raw against the stillness of the room. “I’m sorry you have to go through this s**t. I promise I’ll never do anything again that will cause you pain.”
I knew he meant it. I felt it in our bond-clear and true.
But that didn’t change reality.
Another woman was carrying his child. And because of that, she was moving into our home.
No amount of heartfelt apologies could undo that fact.
2
In that moment, lying in his arms, I wished I had a bit of Martha in me. The cold, cunning edge. The ability to use influence and power without flinching. If I were like her, I could manipulate the DNA results, twist the law, and have Tina-and her
baby-gone when the time came.
And maybe… maybe I would.
I wasn’t noble. I had limits. And Tina had already tested every one of them.
She thought she could trap Lucian with a pregnancy? Fine. Let her try. But I was prepared to fight. She was sleazy enough
to play dirty-I was allowed to respond in kind.
Messing her up wasn’t at the top of my to-do list.
But it was definitely on the probability list.
Lucian and I lay naked in bed. He held me like I was already slipping through his fingers, and maybe part of me was. I felt
his fear. Felt his silent plea not to let this break us.
But even after everything-after the passion, after the closeness-I wasn’t okay.
Deep down, I was still sad. Hollowed out by it all.
Tina and her child would be a permanent presence. A constant reminder. And one day, that child might feel entitled to
things that should belong to mine. That child might compete with mine.
And I couldn’t ignore that.
Eventually, we both drifted off into a heavy sleep, tangled in each other.
A knock on the living room door woke me. Sunlight filtered through the curtains. Afternoon.
I slipped out of bed, threw on a robe, and padded toward the door.
It was Austin.
“Madam,” he said, nodding. I frowned-not out of anger, just fatigue. My body was still recovering from last night’s energy-draining release.
“Yes, Austin,” I said softly, letting him know I wasn’t upset.
“Miss Livingston is here with her bags. What room should I assign her to?”
I paused.
The obvious answer was somewhere far. Out of sight. Out of mind.
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55 A Welcome
But distance would allow her to keep pretending. Keep fantasizing that Lucian still belonged to her. That there was still a place for her in his heart.
No.
She needed to hear it. Every moan. Every moment. Every breath Lucian gave me.
Let her drown in the reality of what she’d lost.
“Put her in the next room,” I said, voice calm.
Austin blinked. “The next room?”
“I want her to hear us.”
2
For a moment, he looked surprised. Then a slow, mischievous smile spread across his face. Clearly, he didn’t like her
either.
“As you wish, Madam,” he said with a small bow.
And just like that, my plan began.
“You’re also not allowed to serve her, Austin,” I said clearly. “Assign her a lesser servant. Someone with no access to
Lucian-or me.”
Austin nodded, fully understanding what wasn’t being said.
I wasn’t letting Tina win. Not even a little.
“And one more thing,” I added. “She’s not allowed to approach this room or our space. Station someone at our door.
Always.”
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Understood, Madam.”
I thanked him quietly and returned to the bedroom.
Lucian was still sleeping-peaceful, unaware.
I slipped off my robe and climbed onto the bed, gently turning him onto his back. Without a word, I took him into my mouth, working him slowly. Intentionally. I wanted to moan. I needed him to make love to me.
Petty? Maybe.
But the b***h needed a message delivered loud and clear.
Lucian stirred almost immediately, groaning softly as his hand found my hair. He tugged gently, his hips moving in rhythm. But soon, he pulled me up, his eyes dark with desire, remorse, and something else-devotion.
I straddled him and began to ride, my moans rising louder than usual. Not just for him-but for her.
Let her hear.
Let her know.
Lucian matched my energy. He was a storm beneath me-wild, focused, relentless. Every thrust carried an apology, a vow,
a desperate need to make things right.
By the end, we were tangled and breathless, wrapped around each other in sweat and silence.
He held me close, his lips brushing my hair. “Mara… we’ll be going to the office together from now on. Are you okay with
that?”
I nodded against his chest. “Yes.”
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55 A Welcome
“Tina’s arrived, I added, lifting my head. “I asked them to put her in the room next to ours.”
Lucian let out a low, surprised laugh. “Mara… you are mean.”
I giggled. “Hope she hears us loud and clear.”
Pointe
“I noticed you were a little extra this time,” he teased, kissing my shoulder. “I hope she gets the message too. And Mara… I promise you-I won’t have any interactions with her.”
I believed him.
His mark on my neck said everything. And the one on his? That was mine.
She was wasting her time.
Still, he grew quiet. Thoughtful.
“I’m still thinking about moving out,” he confessed.
I sighed. I understood. The mansion no longer felt untouched. It was tainted now, invaded.
“Not now, Lucian,” I said softly. “After Tina gives birth-and we’re certain. If the baby’s yours, then yes… she’ll have to
remain here. That’s the law.”
I felt him tense beside me, the weight of that truth pressing down again.
“But,” I added gently, “that doesn’t mean we can’t create something of our own.”
He glanced over, confused. I sat up, facing him.
“We can have a holiday home. One we stay at more often than here,” I said, smiling slightly.
“What do you mean?” he asked, sitting up too, his brows furrowed.
I leaned in, my voice calm but sure.
“The law says she must live with you… not next to you. So technically, we keep our wing in the Nighthorn mansion. We let
Tina stay here as required. But we’re gone most of the time. We build a life outside these walls. One that’s ours. We come
back when necessary-but never for long.”
Lucian stared at me for a moment, then his shoulders relaxed. He understood. And he liked it.
Still, the guilt lingered on his face.
“I can’t believe I brought this on us, Mara,” he said, his voice heavy. “My father was right. I should’ve let her go a long time
ago.”
I reached for his hand, but he kept talking.
“It’s not easy to let go of someone you love,” I offered gently.
But he shook his head. “I wasn’t in love with her. Tina was… familiar. Comfortable. That’s it. That’s why I didn’t fight the
union, why I didn’t resist when she asked for space. She wanted an open relationship after learning I wouldn’t be Alpha.”
He paused, his voice steady now. “I stayed out of habit. Not love. That’s why it was so easy to move on-and try with you.”
His words settled into me, warm and unexpected. I had known he was over Tina-but to know she never had his heart to begin with? That was a relief I hadn’t dared to admit I needed.
“You’re the first woman I’ve ever loved completely,” he said, intertwining his fingers with mine. “Body. Mind. Soul.”
My heart ached-in the best way.
“You will never have to question my loyalty, Mara. My heart beats for you alone. Tina’s child-if it’s mine-I’ll care for them.
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65 A Welcome
Out of duty. That’s all. But everything I have, everything I am, will go to you and our children. Always.”
Tears filled my eyes. His sincerity pulsed through our bond, strong and true. This wasn’t reassurance. This was truth.
“I love you, Mara. With all my heart. And I’ll love you until my last breath.”
I couldn’t speak.
Point
So I kissed him-hungrily, deeply-pouring everything I felt into that moment. We wrapped ourselves in each other, bodies bare, hearts open, the world falling away.
I curled against him, one leg between his, one draped over. Skin to skin. Heart to heart.
No space between us.
No room for doubt.
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