Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 19

19 The Library Incident 2

Mara

Once upon a time, I would have melted into that kiss.

But not now.

I shoved Darian off and slapped him, hard.

“I’m your brother’s wife, Darian. You don’t get to do that.”

He stumbled back, red blooming across his cheek. His eyes welled with tears.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I just… I’m desperate. He’s only using you, Mara. This is about punishing me–for taking the Alpha title. He doesn’t love you. He’s just using you as a pawn.”

He stepped closer again, his hands trembling. “But if I claim you, Lucian has no choice but to annul the marriage. We could be together. Please, Mara. Just give me the chance to prove myself.”

I stared at him, stunned.

“You’re talking about claiming me. What about my reputation?” I asked quietly.

He hesitated. That was answer enough.

“I can’t let you go,” he said, the cracks in his voice deepening. “I wasn’t supposed to lose you. You were never meant for him. You were mine, Mara.”

He pulled me into a hug before I could stop him. His whole body shook with sobs.

“Please. Just think about it.”

I didn’t move. Didn’t return the embrace.

“I think it’s best you spend your energy on Tiffany,” I said firmly.

He shook his head, still clinging to something that no longer existed–maybe never did.

But I was done letting guilt confuse me.

“That baby isn’t mine,” Darian snapped, frustration thick in his voice.

“I used protection with her. I always do. They lie, Mara. Say the condom broke, or they ‘forgot‘ they were ovulating. Tiffany wanted to sleep with me that night so badly, and now I know why.”

His anger filled the space between us, and for a second–I almost believed him. It was plausible. Maybe she did want to trap him. Maybe others did too. But the truth was, he made himself available to be trapped.

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19 The Library Incident 2

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“I don’t care what they did,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “If you really loved me, you

would have waited for me. When your father asked if you wanted me, you should’ve stood up.

Damned the consequences. Fought for me.”

Tears pooled in my eyes, blurring the face of the boy I used to dream about. All those words I’d

waited so long to hear… he was finally saying them. Just too late.

Too late because I was someone else’s now.

Lucian’s wife.

Even though he saw someone else behind closed doors. Even though he gave me permission to

see whomever I wanted.

I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. Not like this.

“I get it,” Darian said, wiping at his face, pulling himself back together. “Then… let’s go back. Let’s be friends again. Before all this. You were my Gamma. We were best friends.”

“I don’t think that would be wise,” I said gently. “Not with how you feel. Not with how close we

were.”

He paused. Something flickered in his eyes–desperation, maybe madness.

“Let me kiss you,” he said.

There was a low growl echoing deep in his chest. I’d never seen him like this before–this raw, this

unhinged. A different side of him entirely.

I sighed and stilled. “One kiss. Goodbye.”

His lips met mine, and it wasn’t passion I felt–it was grief. He kissed me like he was begging for something I couldn’t give. And I kissed him like I was closing a chapter that had dragged on too long. When I pulled away, his eyes were wet again. I didn’t wait for more words.

I left him in the library and walked quickly back to the left wing.

My heart was pounding. My body was humming. And I hated myself a little for both.

Lucian was in the room when I walked in. Shopping bags were arranged neatly on the bed.

“I had to ask your mother for your toiletries list,” he said, not looking at me. “I haven’t been paid yet, so I bought what I could. A few casual outfits too–I guessed your size.”

Then he stepped closer and sniffed the air.

“Were you with Darian?” he asked.

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I hesitated. “We bumped into each other in the right–wing library. The one here doesn’t have any

books.”

He nodded slowly, like he wanted to believe me. But he didn’t.

“And you kissed.”

His voice was quiet, but it cut deep. Then he gave me a half–smile–wounded and knowing.

“Your swollen lips gave you away.”

He turned before I could answer, walked into his room, grabbed his keys, and left without another

word.

I stood there, stunned, fingers brushing over my mouth.

I hadn’t meant for it to matter. It had been a goodbye. A way to leave Darian behind without another tearful monologue.

But Lucian didn’t know that. And I doubted he’d believe it even if I told him.

Part of me wanted to run after him. To explain. But I stayed frozen. Because he’d never once

explained where he went when he left. Because he had Tina.

He was sleeping with someone else.

And I was the one feeling guilty over a kiss.

It wasn’t fair. But love–real or pretend–never was.

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