Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 128

128 Everybody Knows-1

Lucian

Claim

We finally pulled up to the prison, and both Mara and I thanked Ambrose. The man grinned like he’d just been let in on a secret worth bragging about for the rest of his life.

My car was already parked out front. Denis stood beside it, arms folded, looking like he’d been pacing.

Mara gave him a small wave. “Hey, Denis.”

She slid into the passenger seat.

“You left in a rush,” Denis said, his brow furrowed. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “Just had to get Mara from the hospital.”

His eyes widened. “Wait… she’s okay, right?”

“She’s more than okay.” I smiled, and it only took him a second to put the pieces together.

“Fuck, Lucian. That was fast,” he muttered, then grinned. “Congrats, man.”

“Thanks,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Keisha and I will come by tonight-if that’s cool with you?”

“Of course. Just… don’t tell Darian.”

Denis’s smile faded slightly. “Yeah… I hope he gets over her soon.”

“He’s getting there,” I said. We shook hands, and I told him we’d see them tonight.

Then I got in, started the engine, and drove off.

“Prison, Lucian?” Mara asked, side-eyeing me playfully.

I reached over and squeezed her thigh, glancing at her with a smile. “Had to question the prisoners. But all

I can think about is getting home.”

She shifted in her seat with a grin. “Lucian, I can only take so many orgasms. I’ve been very well-behaved

lately.”

I laughed, low and deep. “Good girls get rewarded too.”

She grumbled in mock protest, but I caught her scent as it bloomed in the car-and it drove me wild. I was already counting the seconds until we were alone.

Her phone rang. She picked it up immediately. “Mother.”

Ah. The news had spread faster than wildfire. Of course.

“Thank you, Mommy. I know… Yes, he’s here. Okay… love you too. Bye.”

12

128 Everybody Knows 1

She turned to me. “She says hello-and congratulations.”

Claim

I smiled. The joy was still sinking in. Who would’ve thought it would happen this fast? We’d made love so

many times lately I couldn’t even pinpoint when it had happened. But that didn’t matter. What mattered

was that she was carrying our future.

“I’m getting you a dietician,” I said, already planning. “The best one. I want you and the baby eating right

from the start.”

Her brows rose, amused, but I wasn’t joking.

“I mean it, Mara. From now on, you work from home. I’ll have Mary forward everything to the house. Video

calls, conference meetings, whatever-just no more stress. This is a crucial time, and we’re going to do

everything right.”

She didn’t argue. She just smiled, and I knew she appreciated being taken care of-even if she’d never

admit it outright.

I pulled into the driveway. The Clearwaters were there. Jennifer met us at the door, full of energy.

“Thank the goddess you’re alright, Alpha,” she said, referencing the fight. I gave her a small smile.

“Jennifer,” I said, “find the best dietician for Mara. Top tier. No exceptions.”

She blinked, confused for half a second-until I bent down and scooped Mara into my arms.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh-oh! Congratulations!” she gasped, joy spilling out in her voice.

Mara laughed, and I couldn’t help but laugh with her. We both knew this was only the beginning of the

well-wishes and attention.

But I didn’t mind.

Not today.

Because my mate was safe.

And our family had already begun.

!

I laid Mara gently on the bed, carefully undressing her down to her underwear. She stretched out with a small sigh, eyes heavy with exhaustion and trust. I stripped down too, ready to slip in beside her and lose

ourselves in the comfort of this moment-just the two of us.

Comments

LUCK DRAW >

244

M

Vote

128 Everybody Knows 2

128 Everybody Knows-2

But my phone buzzed.

Father.

I considered ignoring it. Then I saw the grin on the screen before I even answered.

“Lucian,” he said, voice already soaked with joy. “Is it true? Is she pregnant?”

I sighed. So much for privacy.

“Yes,” I said, resigned.

Claim

“That’s my boy!” he exclaimed. His joy was palpable, and I could understand why. The Nighthorns weren’t a large family. Just Darian and me. Any potential from Tina or Tiffany’s children would come with complications. But this? A legitimate heir, from the Alpha and Luna. This was different. This was real

legacy.

“I’m so happy, Lucian. When are you bringing her over? We need to celebrate!”

“Not anytime soon, Father,” I said, my voice firm. “That place is toxic. Mara needs peace right now. Rest.

Joy. Not tension.”

He sighed. “Please, Lucian. Just dinner. One night. This is a huge blessing to our family.”

I laughed under my breath, couldn’t help myself. “I thought you were all about Tina’s child, Father.”

“That’s not true, and you know it,” he snapped, a bit too quickly. “I just didn’t want a Nighthorn child out

there, unacknowledged. But that child is… illegitimate.”

He didn’t say the word, but we both knew what he meant.

“You called him an heir once,” I reminded him, needing to hear him say it plainly.

There was a pause. Then he spoke, carefully. Calculated.

“I was concerned at the time-when Mara didn’t conceive after her heat. I misspoke. What I meant was… if

the child carried an Alpha Mark, and it activated naturally without being passed down, then we’d have no

choice but to acknowledge that bloodline. But that’s not the case.”

He softened his tone. “Mara’s children are the true heirs. The ones who will carry the Nighthorn name forward. Don’t get stuck in past conversations, Lucian. We need to look ahead. This is a new beginning.”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t have to. He was already moving on.

“This is a big moment for us. Come for dinner tomorrow. Just you and Mara. Nothing else. Let us honor this new life.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify