Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 34

Scarlett

Chapter 34

Lucian’s POV

Scarlett had set that trap deliberately, urging me to reject her in front of Stasia, knowing full well I couldn’t do it. She wanted to get under Stasia’s skin, wanted to create conflict. I couldn’t deny that the mate bond compelled her to feel jealousy; it was natural expected even. But it felt like a low blow for her to act on it. She knew I felt nothing for her. She had to know that, and yet she chose to provoke me. After all, she was my fated mate, and the bond was impossible to ignore. It tugged at me in ways I despised and couldn’t control.

It had taken every ounce of resolve to bring Stasia here, to share my space with her, to commit to something I could control. And I knew, without a doubt, that I’d pay for it when Clay and Maxwell returned. They’d be furious, livid that I’d let another woman take Scarlett’s place here. And, as if the weight of their anger wasn’t enough, my wolf, Tiger, was giving me no peace over it. Tiger wanted Scarlett, a desire so intense it clawed at my mind, making my decision feel like self–betrayal. But I couldn’t accept her–not her, not the daughter of Vladislav.

The pain of what her father had done to my family still lingered, festering like a wound that wouldn’t heal. He’d killed the only family I had, slaughtered them in cold blood, and yet here I was, bound to her. The mate bond had twisted fate in a way I couldn’t

understand. The moon goddess had tethered me to Vladislav’s daughter, and I couldn’t comprehend why. But despite my anger,

despite the part of me that wanted her gone, I couldn’t bring myself to reject her outright. I knew, deep down, that bonding with

her would be my undoing. It would break me, make me weak for her. I’d be drawn into her world, and whatever vengeance I’d sworn

to uphold would dissipate, leaving me vulnerable.

If I let myself fall, I’d be at her mercy, bound to her every whim. I didn’t trust her, couldn’t trust her. The apple never falls far from

the tree, and I couldn’t ignore the bloodline she carried. I had no idea how Maxwell and Clay could ignore it, how they couldn’t see the danger that lay in bonding with her. Rejecting her was hard, painful even, but I knew it was necessary. My wolf fought against it,

e I felt wanting to reach out to her, to ease her suffering. Every time I felt her pain, I had to hold Tiger back, restrain him from going to her, offering her the comfort she needed.

The longer I kept my distance, the harder it became to hold myself back. Every moment was a struggle against the bond, a constant effort to bury my desire for her. That was why I was stubborn about keeping Stasia close, creating a barrier, a distraction. I needed Stasia here to keep me from Scarlett, to remind myself of everything I stood against, even as the bond pulled and twisted, tempting

me closer with every beat of my heart.

PER ante f got up, I linked the omegas to clear the plates, eager to shift the mood we

Stasia and I finished our meal in a heavy silence, the tension between us thickening with every bite. I could feel her

cuddle on the couch and watch a movie, hoping the familiarity would settle her frustration.

held an edge, her But as soon as we sat down, Stasia’s question came, sharp and direct. “Why don’t you just reject her?” Her voice annoyance clear. I hesitated, my mind running through the answer she wanted to hear and the truth I couldn’t admit, not even to myself. I couldn’t tell her that my wolf, Tiger, and a part of my own twisted heart clung to Scarlett despite the anger and resentment. I couldn’t tell her that something deep inside me felt that rejecting Scarlett would be a mistake I’d never recover from.

Instead, I opted for a lie that felt both cowardly and convenient. “I want the power that comes with mating a fated mate. Once I have that, I’ll be done with her. I won’t need to touch her again.” The words felt hollow as I said them. I knew it was a promise I

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Chapter 34

wouldn’t be able to keep. The pull toward Scarlett was a silent, insidious thing, tightening around me every day, and deep down, I sensed that tasting the bond would make it impossible to let go.

We watched movies in silence, and after a while, Stasia leaned in to kiss me, her lips soft and familiar. But the moment her lips touched mine, a sudden, searing pain shot through my chest. I recognized it immediately the mate bond, the cruel pull of connection to Scarlett, tightening like a vise around my heart. It had only grown stronger since she arrived, each day a reminder of the inevitable bond I fought so hard to deny. I gritted my teeth against the pain, unwilling to let Stasia know, and pressed on, trying to lose myself in her touch.

The pain intensified, clawing at my insides, making the experience excruciating. I kept going, telling myself it was penance, a punishment for betraying the promise I’d made to my sister. If I’d rejected Scarlett outright, I wouldn’t feel this agony, and yet here I was, torn between my own hatred and my desire. When the pain finally overwhelmed me, I pulled away, leaving Stasia hurt and bewildered. I saw the shimmer of tears in her eyes, and though she didn’t say anything, I knew she understood. The bond was impossible to ignore.

“Mate is in pain too,” Tiger murmured in my mind, his tone full of sorrow. It was the first time he’d acknowledged Scarlett’s suffering, and the realization left me feeling conflicted. I wasn’t sure if I felt relief or a deeper ache knowing that she was hurting

just as I was.

When Stasia finally drifted off to sleep, I quietly left the room and went to the living room, needing space, needing to breathe. The

night was heavy, thick with unspoken truths and emotions I could barely contain. The mate bond was consuming me from the inside

out, forcing me to confront feelings I’d buried beneath layers of anger and resentment. And in that quiet solitude, I felt the fragile

walls I’d built around my heart begin to crack.

Comments

Michele Gremillion

he’s giving into the bond. I think he’ll be the one who will take scarlett’s viginity.

7 days ago

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