Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 122

122 After The Battle

Lucian

We made our way to the field hospital-tents hastily set up to treat injured soldiers and Driftwake residents. Medics moved quickly, working by lantern light. Someone handed us fresh shorts, and I pulled mine on gratefully. I was done being naked and blood-soaked.

All I wanted now was to get back to the city.

I watched as a medic patched up my father’s side. He winced here and there but couldn’t stop smiling. Not because of our victory-but because of Mara.

Her curfew order had been the turning point.

If those reinforcements had joined the battle, we would’ve been overrun. We had no backup coming, and they knew it. But Mara had cut off the enemy’s reach without even stepping onto the battlefield.

Because of her, we might survive long enough to learn who’s behind these attacks-and why.

After dealing with minor logistics and assigning the new infantry troops to secure the Driftwake perimeter, we boarded the chopper and headed home. Denis came with us, still buzzed from surviving the chaos.

As soon as the helicopter touched down on the helipad, I was on my feet. My father chuckled at my

impatience.

“She’s safe, Lucian. Waiting for you at home,” he said. “It’s only been nine hours-and look at you.”

I didn’t care.

“To think you originally rejected the union,” he added, laughing again.

I stayed silent, already moving toward the elevator. The four of us rode down together-bare-chested, bruised, wearing nothing but shorts. We looked like a damn ad for some fitness brand, and none of us

cared.

A van waited for us outside the building. We piled in.

As we drove, I kept imagining what Mara might be doing. Was she curled up on the couch, watching the news? Had she fallen asleep? Was she okay?

We reached the mansion. Austin, Rowan, and a few others were waiting.

Darian stepped out and immediately hugged Rowan.

“You did good, Delta,” our father said, placing a hand on Rowan’s shoulder. Even demoted, Rowan stood tall with pride.

“It was under Luna Mara’s orders, Alpha,” he replied.

I didn’t wait to hear more. I was already moving.

13

122 After The Battle

“Alpha, Tiffany is in the room with Luna Mara,” Austin linked me.

I clenched my jaw. Of all the rooms…

“Darian,” I linked my brother, “come get your pregnant girlfriend out of my space.”

As usual, no response.

I moved fast through the hall, up the stairs, and turned the knob on the bedroom door. It wasn’t locked.

I stepped in quietly.

Claim

The lights were dim. The TV was on, muted. Tiffany was passed out on the couch, curled awkwardly with a

blanket around her.

I walked past her and into the bedroom.

The bed was empty.

My chest tightened.

Then I saw her-curled up in the corner of the room on the floor, her body tucked into itself like she was trying to disappear. She wore my old, oversized t-shirt. The same one she wore on our wedding night, now worn thin with age and small tears.

She was asleep in it. Curled up like a child. Alone.

And suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.

This woman-my Luna, my mate, the one who’d saved us all tonight-had folded herself into the corner of our room, wearing my scent like armor, waiting for me in silence.

I slipped into the shower, quick and focused. No more than fifteen minutes. The battle was behind me, but I didn’t want her to wake up and find me gone again-not even for a moment.

When I returned, clean and wearing a fresh pair of shorts, I crossed the room quietly. She was still curled in the corner, fast asleep in my old t-shirt-our tattered, intimate relic of a wedding night long past. The sight of her there, so small and vulnerable, wrecked me.

She didn’t belong on the floor.

I knelt, slid my arms beneath her, and lifted her carefully. She stirred but didn’t wake. I laid her gently on the bed and pulled the blanket over her.

She looked so peaceful, but I could still see the traces of exhaustion clinging to her face. She had gone from utter ecstasy on the cliffs… to hours of fear and dread. That emotional swing would break most people.

As I leaned in, she murmured in her sleep.

“Please be safe…

My chest clenched.

<122 After The Battle

I kissed her forehead, then her lips-softly, reverently.

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