Lucian’s POV
The mont her panic flared, all of us rose to our feet, eyes fixed on the screen. She was staring at sothing that terrified her to the core—yet the drawing room was empty.
Hallucinations. Grimhaze was taking hold.
Still, we held ourselves back. We had to see it through, to know exactly what she was facing in her mind. Her scream ripped through the speakers, sharp and raw, tearing straight into our hearts.
"No one moves," I ordered, forcing calm into my voice. "Just a few more monts. Then I’ll go and give her the antidote."
I could feel their reluctance, their instincts screaming as loud as mine to rush to her. But just like , they forced themselves to remain still.
"Go away!" Her cries echoed again, more desperate. "Vixen, Fluffy, go! Go away! That wolf will kill you!"
The words struck us like claws. ’So it’s the black wolf she is seeing.’
She trembled as if her sanity itself was being devoured. Her voice shook with desperation as she pleaded for her pets. Her frail body could not fight what her mind was conjuring. She snatched whatever objects she could reach, hurling them wildly toward a phantom only she could see.
Finally, she collapsed back, cornered, as though utterly overpowered by the black wolf she was hallucinating. Her terror reached its peak.
"That’s it," I muttered, surging forward in a flash, the others followed as quickly. Probably relieved that I finally took the decision to go to her.
I reached her side and gathered her into my arms, kneeling on the floor. Her small fra quaked violently, her screams tearing into the air. She clutched with desperate strength, burying her face into my chest as though hiding from the monster only she could see. Her tears soaked through my shirt, hot and unrelenting. Her skin was covered in the layer of cold sweat.
"Easy... I’ve got you," I whispered, though I knew she could not hear through the storm of fear.
Steadying her trembling body against mine, I pulled a syringe from my pocket. With swift precision, I pressed the needle into the side of her neck and emptied the small dose of antidote she needed. She didn’t even realise the prick.
"It’s gone," I whispered to her, my voice low and steady. "You are safe."
But she did not listen. The antidote would take ti to seep into her system.
I glanced at the others. Jason and Roman stood within sight, tense but silent, while Kael lingered further away, Rafe at his side.
Her trembling gradually began to ease. I held her closer, feeling just how fragile she was, how small her body felt against mine.
"It’s gone," I murmured again, "and your pets are safe as well."
At last, my words seed to reach her. She shifted her head from where it had been buried against my chest, her fearful eyes darting around the room in search of the wolf. Her hands clutched tighter at my shirt as though ready to anchor herself.
Her gaze softened at not seeing that wolf; the hallucination had broken. The antidote had worked. But then her eyes found Kael standing at a distance. In an instant, she recoiled, burying her face against once more as though his very presence reignited her fear.
I watched Kael turn and leave the house, Rafe following silently behind. I knew Kael felt both hurt and frustration at the sight of her shrinking at his sight.
I smoothed my hand gently along her back. "You are safe now," I repeated, my tone as calm as I could manage.
She clung to when I lifted in my arms, refusing to let go. The terror would take ti to fade, but for now, at least, she sought protection in .
I carried her upstairs to my room, Roman and Jason trailing behind .
The last ti I had pretended I did not want her in my room. But now, I wanted her with . Also, sothing I had once snatched cruelly from her, I would give it to her.
Inside the room, I ant to lay her on the bed, but she clung to with the desperation of a child, refusing to let go. Her arms wound tightly around , her face buried against my shoulder as she curled into herself, seeking shelter.
I sat in the bed, with her in my lap, who almost snaked around .
I swore, holding like this felt so comforting to even . It would have been perfect—if only she were sane enough to realize who held her, and not driven by the shadows of her fear.
Roman stepped forward with a glass of water in hand. "Eira, drink so water," he urged gently.
She did not stir.
I signalled him to wait. Her breathing had steadied sowhat, but her heart still thundered against her chest, every beat loud and frantic beneath her skin.
Gradually, her body started slacking in my hold. Her lashes fluttered, then closed, her face softening as sleep claid her. The drug had exhausted her mind completely and the antidote was now putting her to sleep after getting rid of the effect of that drug.
"She’s asleep," I murmured to Roman. "She won’t wake for another hour at least."
Roman gave a quiet hum of acknowledgnt.
My gaze drifted to the doorway, where Jason stood motionless for a while now, simply watching us, his gaze stuck on her.
But I could feel sothing was holding him back from coming to us, as though an invisible wall kept him from crossing the threshold.
I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, he turned and walked away.
Roman lingered only a mont longer. "Take care of her," he said at last, before leaving alone with her.
As the two of us were finally left, the guilt I had been feeling for the past few days started to surface. The guilt of what I did with her back then and how I didn’t even try to know anything. I was blinded by what I saw and by my anger. The reality of her murdering my sister killed any rationality that should have been there.
Now I knew the truth. Yes, it had been her finger that pulled the trigger, but the bullets were never ant to kill. She had been frad, used, her innocence stolen by soone else’s sche.
I lowered my head and pecked on her head gently, her sweet familiar scent gripping my senses as I closed my eyes. Her scent so soothing, I missed it.
Eira, will you ever forgive for what I did? The thought whispered through , aching and heavy. No—you won’t. And I do not deserve it either. But still, going forward, I will make things right for you. You want your son? Trust , these past few days I have been doing everything in my power to bring him back to you. That day, when I said I would kill your child—it was only my anger speaking. I would never do such a thing.
I tilted her face slightly, where it rested against my arm. She was deep in slumber, her lashes wet with tears, her cheeks still damp from her tears.
With a tenderness I did not know I possessed, I brushed them away and caressed her skin.
I don’t care whose child he is. Once I bring him back, he will be our family. And if his bastard father dares to co for him, don’t fear—I’ll end him before he even reaches our door. No one will ever take him away from you. I will make sure of it, no matter the cost.
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