Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King (Emilia) novel Chapter 159

LUCIEN’S POV

I don’t remember deciding to leave the room.

just knew that staying there…staring at the door she’d closed behind her…was going to break me in half.

My chest felt like it was caving in, every breath sharp, shallow. The bond hummed beneath my skin, frantic and angry, tugging me in her direction like a living thing. She was out there. Walking. In her heat. Hurt. Angry.

Because of me.

I forced my feet to move.

The palace corridors stretched long and cold as I walked, my boots echoing against floor. Servants bowed as l passed, guards nodded, but I barely saw them. All I could think about was Adele’s voice. Cold. Final.

‘Let’s pretend we don’t know each other!

The thought tore at something deep in my chest.

By the time I reached the balcony, my jaw was clenched so tight it ached. The wind hit me as I stepped outside, cool and sharp, but it did nothing to calm the fire under my skin.King Maximus stood at the railing, hands braced against stone, staring out over the territory like a man who had everything figured out. His dark hair stirred in the breeze.

He didn’t turn when I approached.

I stopped beside him, keeping my distance, fists clenched at my sides.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

“Lucien,” he said dryly, “why do you look like you want to murder someone?”

My jaw tightened.

I said nothing.

That was answer enough.

He turned fully toward me then, studying my face the same way he had days ago in his office. Sharp. Assessing.

Concerned.

Realization hit him fast.

His expression darkened.

“Don’t tell me,” he said slowly. “You haven’t mated with Adele.”

I swallowed

“And you just let her walk around in her heat?” His voice

rose, disbelief cutting sharp. “Are you fucking insane?”

My chest burned.

“There’s nothing I can do,” I said, the words bitter on my tongue.

Maximus stared at me like I’d spoken another language.

“What did you just say?”

“There’s nothing I can do,” I repeated, quieter this time.

For half a second, there was silence.

Then the King exploded.

He stepped closer, anger rolling off him in waves so strong even my wolf flinched.

“What do you mean there’s nothing you can do?” he snapped. “She’s your mate, Lucien. Your mate. You have every right over her”

“I know,” I cut in sharply, the words tearing out of me. “I know!”-

He stopped, eyes flashing.

“Do you?” he demanded. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re letting fear make decisions for you.”

I turned away, gripping the stone railing so hard my knuckles burned.”You don’t understand,” I said through my teeth.

“I understand enough,” Maximus shot back. “Do you have any idea how many unmated males can smell her right now? How many will be drawn to her like blood in water?”

“I know,” I said hoarsely.

The image rose unbidden…other men noticing her, eyes lingering, instincts sharpening. My wolf snarled deep in my chest.

“I know,” I said again, quieter, more broken.

Then why,” Maximus demanded, “are you standing here instead of chasing after her?”

Because I’m terrified.

Because I don’t trust myself.

Because I don’t believe I deserve her.

The words clogged my throat.

He stared at me for a long moment.

After some time I whispered. “I really want to but-”

He lifted his hand to stop me.

“No buts” he said flatly. “I don’t want to hear excuses.”

His voice lowered, dangerous and final.”Go look for your mate. Take care of her.”

“I’m on duty,” I said automatically. “I can’t just-”

“You’re dismissed.”

The image of her leaving, chin lifted, eyes hard…burned behind my eyes.

She hadn’t just been angry.

She’d been done.

And that terrified me more than anything else.

I straightened slowly, breath steadying as something cold and determined settled in my chest.

Running wasn’t an option anymore.

Hiding wasn’t either.

If I lost her because I was too afraid to step forward, I would deserve the emptiness that followed.

The bond flared again, urgent now, pulling harder.

I turned away from the balcony.

Every instinct screamed at me to move faster, to find her before someone else did, before something happened that couldn’t be undone.

My mate was out there.

Hurting.

Burning.

And whether I believed I was enough or not no longer mattered.

I broke into a run.

Down corridors. Down stairs. Past guards who stared in surprise. I followed the pull of the bond, sharp and unyielding, guiding me like a compass I could no longer ignore.

With every step, my resolve hardened.

I didn’t know what would happen when I found her.

I didn’t know if she would scream at me. Slap me. Tell me to leave.

I didn’t know if I would make things worse before they got better.

But I knew one thing with terrifying clarity.

I would not let her face this alone.

Not anymore.

Whatever demons I carried, whatever scars still haunted me, they were mine to deal with.

She deserved safety.

She deserved honesty.She deserved me showing up-fully, finally, without watts.