Chapter 7
I didn’t even know when Lucian had arrived.
Aubrey’s stench must’ve been so strong, it masked Lucian’s usual bitter scent.
“How thoughtful of you, Aubrey,” Lucian said, pulling me gently into his arms. His voice was calm, teasing. “You’re already planning my future moves for me.”
Aubrey’s face went pale. She quickly lowered her head.
“I… I didn’t mean it that way,” she said, shoulders trembling. When she looked up again, her eyes were red, lips trembling with vulnerability. “It’s just… I’ve been in the castle for days, and the Alpha King never visited my bedroom. I haven’t even seen you…”
Lucian said nothing, just held me as we walked inside.
As we passed Aubrey, I couldn’t help it-I pinched my nose.
Lucian glanced down at me. “What’s wrong?”
“She smells bad,” I muttered without thinking.
The moment the words left my mouth, Aubrey’s face went even paler-like I’d just slapped her in front of everyone.
Lucian, however, chuckled softly like he’d heard the best joke all day. “Now you know why I haven’t
been to see you, Aubrey,” he said with a hint of amusement.
Aubrey fled the room, tripping over her own feet.
Once she was gone, Lucian let go of me and said, “You’re clever. She’ll probably be scrubbing
herself raw after that.”
But his praise didn’t make me feel good.
“Lucian,” I said, taking a few steps back and planting my hands on my hips. “Why do you have two
Lunas?”
He didn’t expect the question-his expression froze for a beat.
Savanna tugged gently on my sleeve behind me, trying to warn me to watch my words. But I’d forgotten all about my father’s advice and the elders’ teachings. I just felt… cheated.
“Lyra, how many Lunas do you think I should have?” Lucian’s voice was light and pleasant,
carrying a hint of laughter that sounded wonderful.
I really liked him.
I liked his appearance, his voice, and the faint vanilla scent on him, which was why I was willing to
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be his Luna.
Thinking this made me even angrier.
“One, of course,” I said, lifting my chin to glare at him. “My father has only one Luna-my mother. Why do you get two?”
He laughed again-but seeing the angry look on my face, quickly suppressed his laughter.
“I’m not the same as your father,” he explained.
“Why not?” I didn’t get it.
Lucian stepped forward and pulled me into his lap as he sat down on the sofa. “Because I’m the
Alpha King. The Alpha King is different from everyone else.”
I was so puzzled I forgot to be angry. “You’re the most powerful Alpha in the kingdom, right? Does that mean you can just do whatever you want?”
He sighed quietly.
“Lucian, are you unhappy?” I smelled that his bitter scent had grown stronger again.
From yesterday to today, I’d thought about it for a long time. Lucian’s bitterness didn’t seem
related to eating sweets or not.
Whenever he smiled, the bitter scent would fade a little. Maybe… Lucian was bitter because he was
sad.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he twirled a strand of my hair between his fingers and asked, “Aubrey said I’m using you and your father. Doesn’t that make you angry?”
I shook my head.
“I already said, I’m happy to share my father with you,” I replied. “He’ll love you like he loves me.
And if something benefits you, I know my father would want to do it. That’s not using him.” I leaned
against his shoulder, breathing in the scent at his collar. “And you’re a good person. You’d never
hurt me or my father.”
–
“You’re the first person to call me a good person,” Lucian said, his voice low as he kept playing with my hair.
“That’s because they…” I paused. Because they can’t smell what I smell.
I patted his back. “Then I’ll tell you every day from now on.”
“Alright.” His bitterness faded a little more.
Pleased with myself, I slid off his lap and asked again, “But seriously, can’t you really just have one
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Luna?”
He laughed under his breath. “Not for now.”
“Then leave,” I huffed, hopping to my feet. “You don’t get to stay here tonight.”
And with that, I shoved him toward the door.
