Chapter 85
Chapter 85
–Elara–
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I thought for a moment that Theo would fight for me if I gave him one last chance.
If I showed him that if he didn’t come back to me, I would marry Lucien.
I looked at him during the vow-taking ceremony hoping he’d stop me from marrying Lucien.
He didn’t return my gaze; instead, he clasped Kaia’s hand and looked at her as if she were the most beautiful thing in the world.
Annoyed, I married Lucien.
After the ceremony, the atmosphere shifted to a party mood while I sucked up all my hurts to smile at the guests.
Just then, my mother came to me.
“Lara, your friend is here to see you,” Mother said, pointing to her back.
My eyes traced her back and I saw someone familiar.
I hopped to my feet with joy.
“Rabiya!” I leapt at her, my heart thundering with joy. “How come you didn’t come sooner p>
Rabiya and I hugged for a long two minutes and I didn’t want to let her go.
“I was caught up with something back home. I needed to handle it first.” She raised her hands, “But see, I’m here now. We can enjoy your wedding together”
“I’m glad you could make it,” I said hugging her again.
“You are my best friend, I wouldn’t miss your big day for any reason,” she said, looking around. “Too bad, you didn’t get the one you wanted”
Her words reminded me of what I’ve lost and fueled my determination.
“It’s never too late to get what I want, Rabiya” I muttered, my eyes searching for Theo. “You know me, I don’t give up easily”
“Of course, I do” Rabiya remarked, parting my hand. “I was wondering why my best friend gave in so easily and decided to marry the substitute. I knew you had something planned”
Rabiya knows me so well, she has seen me fight and succeed many times. So, she knows how hard I fight until the very end.
“How is everyone back in the states?” I asked while leading her to sit.
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Chapter 85
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“They are doing shit like they always do” she responded and we both chuckled. “The only reason I came is because of my brother, I haven’t been back to this country for over ten years and now I’m here because of my brother, and of course, you, darling”
Rabiya pulled me into a hug, getting playful and shaking us both.
“You still haven’t changed, have you?” I laughed, breaking the hug.
“You can say I’m trying to but I just can’t help myself” she replied and I nodded, agreeing. “So, where is that ex-boyfriend of yours? The one you are still so hung up on”
When she asked, I instinctively turned around searching for him.
I couldn’t see him for a minute, Kaia must have taken him out somewhere.
That annoying stray acts as if she wants to enter his skin and live there.
Just then, I saw Theo and Kaia walking towards the self-serve brunch table.
They looked a little too happy together for my liking.
I tapped Rabiya, pointing towards them.
“There he is,” I said and Rabiya’s eyes followed my direction. “With that stupid stray he chose over me”
Rabiya saw them and she puckered her lips.
“Oh he’s handsome,” she said, almost drooling over him. “Now, I see why you can’t let him go. Wait, you let him go once, haha I’m so silly.” she laughed, slapping herself for making mistakes. “But seriously, you have good eyes for men”
“If that’s a compliment, well thanks” I smiled.
Then I saw how the look on her face suddenly changed.
“What’s wrong, Rabiya?” I asked, seeing her face.
She bit her lips, cracking her head.
“I’m trying to recall something. That woman with Theo, I think I know her from somewhere”
“Where?” I eagerly asked.
“That’s the problem. I don’t know where” she raised her head and glanced at Kaia, walking away with Theo. “But, I’m sure I’ve seen her before”
“How could you have seen her? You haven’t been in the country for ten years and that bitch is a stray. Who knows where she came from p>
Speaking of Kaia irritates my soul, I wish I could take it out on her. But, I had to hold my peace to avoid pushing Theo farther away.
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Chapter 85
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“Trust me, Lara, I know what I’m saying. I have seen that woman before” Rabiya was dead serious and I couldn’t help believing it as well.
“Keep trying to remember where she saw her,” I suggested. “Just try, okay p>
She nodded. If it turns out that Rabiya is telling the truth, I could finally have a lead on how to dig into Kaia’s past and expose her.
After a while, I took Rabiya back to my mother to be fed and shown to her room.
I was returning to my seat when I felt a hand tugging at me.
Lucien barely let me breathe before he caught my wrist and tugged me away from the crowd.
“Stop pulling me like that,” I hissed, heels digging into the grass.
He only smirked, that infuriating, smug, I-know-exactly-what-I’m-doing grin.
“Relax, wifey p>
I stiffened. “Don’t call me that p>
“Oh?” Lucien stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough to feel intimate and enough to annoy me. “But we are married. Officially blessed by the high chief. Witnessed by the entire pack.” His grin sharpened. “And your little ex-boyfriend Theo p>
My jaw twitched. “Don’t start p>
He laughed under his breath. “I’m not the one who looked at another man during the vows p>
My face flushed with anger and embarrassment, everything mixed.
“I didn’t p>
“You did,” he said simply, eyes glittering. “Right before you said yes. You looked straight at Theo p>
I opened my mouth to deny it… But I shut it again.
Because he was right.
Lucien leaned in, his voice dropping. “Funny how he didn’t look back p>
I blinked. “He did p>
“No.” Lucien’s smile was slow and poisonous. “He looked at Kaia p>
A sting shot through my chest.
Unexpectedly. And painful.
Lucien saw it. Of course he did, he always sees everything.
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Chapter 85
He raised a brow. “Painful, isn’t it? Being second choice p>
“Shut up,” I snapped, but it came out too soft.
Lucien chuckled like he’d won something.
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“Don’t worry. I won’t make fun of you too much.” He tapped my chin lightly. “At least you have me p>
I slapped his hand away. “I don’t want you p>
“Well,” he said lightly, turning toward the path leading to the pack house, “that’s unfortunate p>
“Why p>
He paused, looked over his shoulder, and gave me the wickedest grin I’d ever seen on a man.
“Because,” he said, voice smooth as sin, “we’re sharing a room tonight p>
I froze. “Absolutely not p>
Lucien shrugged, with all faux innocence. “Why not? We’re husband and wife now. A mated pair. Tradition says we share a room p>
I stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “Don’t get any ideas p>
“Who?” He pressed a hand to his chest. “Me? I’m an angel p>
I glared. “Lucien. I mean it p>
He leaned down until his breath brushed my ear. “Oh, I know you do p>
Then he pulled back with a smile that was a little too knowing, a little too satisfied.
“But don’t worry,” he added, turning toward the reception again. “I won’t touch you p>
A small breath of relief left me.
Lucien glanced back, eyes dark with something unreadable.
“Not unless you ask p>
My stomach flipped. And she hated that a tiny part of her wondered if I might.
By the time we reached our new shared room, my nerves were stretched thin.
Lucien opened the door like a gentleman.
He wasn’t a gentleman, but he liked pretending like he was.
“After you, wifey p>
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Chapter 85
“I told you to stop calling me that,” I muttered, brushing past him.
The room was warm, dimly lit with candles and petals, far too intimate.
The bed felt enormous under normal circumstances; now it looked criminally small.
Lucien closed the door behind us with a soft click.
My spine went rigid, and I couldn’t breathe.
He chuckled. “Relax. I’m not going to bite p>
“Yet,” I muttered under my breath.
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Lucien stripped his jacket off, rolling his sleeves up, revealing the sharp cut of his forearms; he was tattooed.
Every movement was casual. Confident. Infuriating.
“You take the left side,” he said, walking around the bed.
I blinked. “Just like that p>
“Well, unless you want the right side p>
“That’s not the problem!” I screamed.
He raised a brow, smirking. “Then what is p>
“You’re acting like this is normal p>
“It is,” he said calmly. “We’re married p>
I threw a pillow at him. Hard.
Lucien dodged it with a low laugh. “Temper, you have such a hot temper, wifey p>
I turned my back to him, climbing into the bed and yanking the blanket up to my chin.
Just sleep. Ignore him. And pretend like he isn’t there.
The mattress dipped slightly as Lucien got in on the other side.
He was a little too close, the warmth of his body spread to me.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
A moment passed.
I could feel him grinning.
Without looking, I snapped, “Stop smiling p>
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Chapter 85
“I’m not,” he said, voice dripping with amusement.
“You are. I can hear it p>
He shifted a little, settling against the pillows. “Sorry. I’m just enjoying our first night together p>
My whole body flamed. “There is nothing to enjoy. We’re sleeping and that’s it p>
“Sure,” he said lightly. “Whatever helps you rest p>
I gritted my teeth. “… You’re still smiling p>
Lucien exhaled a laugh. “I’m simply happy you’re finally beside me p>
My breath hitched, and I hated that it did.
“You’re impossible p>
“And you’re dramatic,” he countered. “I told you, I won’t touch you p>
I slowly turned my head, glaring through the dark.
He lay on his back with his hands behind his head, looking far too relaxed.
“Lucien p>
“Yes, wifey p>
My eyes twitched. “If you snore, breathe too loudly, or cross this invisible middle line p>
“I’m going to die?” he offered.
“Painfully p>
“Good to know.” He smirked again. “Sleep well, Wifey p>
I rolled back over and buried my face.
“By the way,” Lucien murmured, “you don’t have to be afraid of me p>
I froze.
He wasn’t taunting and teasing me now.
“I’m not afraid,” I whispered.
“Good.” I heard him turn onto his side, facing away as he meant it. “Then sleep p>
He didn’t say anything else, and I finally breathed
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Tue, Jan 20
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.