lphas Second Choice novel Chapter 51

Lucien’s eyes were full of tears as he stared at me, voice trembling.

“Paige, don’t be afraid. I’m here now. This time, I’ll never leave you again.”

He gently took my cold hand in his.

“The truth came out. It was all a misunderstanding Skyla fell on her own that day; it wasn’t your fault. I was blind… I didn’t see how manipulative she really was.”

A soft laugh escaped my lips.

“So that’s it? You tried things with Skyla, realized she wasn’t what you wanted, and now you’ve come slithering back to your first mate?”

He froze.

“No… no, it’s not like that. I never sealed the mate bond with her. After you left, I realized I’d always loved you. I won’t leave you again. I’ll protect you this time.

Let’s go back to Elmbriar, hold a marking ceremony, and give Hope a real family-”

I shot upright. “My daughter, where is she?”

He reached to steady me. “Don’t worry, Paige. Hope s in the next room.”

I looked into his eyes.

Once, those eyes had been everything to me, gentle, devoted, intoxicating.

“Lucien,” I said quietly, “Hope is my daughter.”

He hesitated, then spoke again, voice low.

“Paige, I know you still resent me. Back then, I was confused. I pitied Skyla, but you… you were my

real love.”

“I don’t love you.” My voice was calm, cold.

He stared at me like he didn’t understand. “You don’t love me? Then why live like this, why suffer and still give birth to my child? Paige, stop lying to yourself. You loved me, you still do.”

I smiled.

“Where do you get that confidence, Lucien? What makes you think I can’t live without you?

“What makes you believe I’d fall gratefully back into your arms the second you snap your fingers after four years?”

Chapter 8

44.25%

He froze, stunned.

“I had my daughter because I wanted someone who shared my blood. It had nothing to do with you. In the past four years, I haven’t thought of you once”

“That’s impossible!”

He clutched my hand.

“I thought about you every single day. When they said you died, I refused to believe it. I searched everywhere. Paige, we were in love! We grew up together. All those years, those memories-”

“Those memories,” I said flatly, “make me sick now.”

Color drained from his face, his eyes welled up with more tears with disbelief.

“You… you don’t mean that.”

“Get out.”

Zevius once told me, never argue with someone whose mind is already broken.

Lucien stared at me, horrified.

“You—what did you just say? You’re not… you’re not like this. You used to—”

I smiled faintly.

He was right. I used to be that Paige. The one who loved him, obeyed him, depended on him.

But that Paige is gone. I’m Paige Forrester now.

Our voices must have carried, because the door burst open.

Cassian and Jaxon rushed in, both looking desperate.

“Paige,” Cassian said, “come back with me. I’ll protect you.”

“Come with me, sister,” Jaxon pleaded. “We’re real family, you belong with us!”

I looked at the three of them quietly. Once, they had pushed me into the abyss. Now, they stood here acting as though their pity was salvation.

“Once,” I said softly, “an Alpha told me something.

They all froze. Cassian’s eyes flickered, hopeful.

“He told me,” I continued, “that I don’t need anyone to depend on. That I’m a girl who can shine on

her own.”

Cassian’s face darkened instantly. Because those words weren’t his.

Chapter 8

44.25%

“So please,” I said, my voice steady, unshaken, “take off your savior masks. 1, Paige Forrester,

don’t need any of you.”

Chapter 8