Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Scarlett’s POV

محل

I stepped into the dining area, finding Lucian waiting at the table, alone. Stasia was truly gone, just as he’d promised. I felt a strange mix of relief and pressure all at once.

“You look good,” he said, his voice warm and genuine. My heart betrayed me, leaping at the simple compliment, though I forced myself to remain neutral, trying to keep my emotions in check. But the mate bond’s pull was undeniable, and the longer I stayed with him and the others, the more it felt like a force working on its own, beyond my control. Last night, I’d slept deeply, wrapped in Lucian’s scent, that rich pinewood I was now learning to crave. I knew each of their scents by heart–Maxwell’s was earthy, sandalwood, and Clay’s held the warmth of cinnamon. The thought made me curious about my own scent, wondering what it meant to them, but I kept those thoughts to myself.

“Please, relax, Scarlett,” he said gently, noticing my unease. “I promise, I won’t hurt you. I’ve made my choice. I’ve accepted you as my mate, and I won’t go back on that. So… please stop asking me to reject you. It’s no longer an option.”

I looked down, feeling a confusing blend of emotions. I wanted to believe him, but trusting Lucian didn’t come easily. His words felt

sincere, but the pain he’d caused me still lingered, like shadows in the background.

“I’m not expecting you to accept me right away,” he continued, his voice soft. “After everything that’s happened, I know I have a lot

to prove. But I’d like the chance to earn that acceptance. I hope that, one day, you’ll accept me the way I’ve accepted you.”

I nodded, still unsure of how to feel, but his honesty had reached me.

“Come on, eat up,” he said, flashing me a relaxed smile. “After breakfast, we’ll go shopping, and later, I’d love to take a walk with you in the woods. I want you to meet my wolf, Tiger. He’s been waiting to meet you.” His eyes darkened briefly, flashing black, a

telltale sign that Tiger was present.

I felt a small smile tugging at my lips before I could stop it. Seeing his wolf’s eyes peek through, feeling his presence, I felt something within me ease. For the first time, I sensed sincerity not just in Lucian’s words but in the energy he exuded, as if Tiger

himself were urging me to trust them.

We finished breakfast, and Lucian led me out, a protective presence by my side as we walked through the settlement. People stared, some with looks of surprise, others with thinly veiled disdain or confusion, as if they couldn’t reconcile seeing me at his side. The whispers and glances were hard to ignore, and a part of me expected Lucian to feel embarrassed, maybe even regretful. But he kept his gaze steady, his attention fixed on me, showing a clear, unspoken intent. He wanted people to know I was with him, and despite everything, that small act made something inside me soften.

We got into his vehicle, and he started the drive to town. The thought of escape briefly crossed my mind, the open roads tempting me, but I knew better. Lucian was one of the alphas who held power in the North. Running wasn’t an option here–not easily, anyway. As we drove through the changing landscape, I took in the scenery, realizing how far we were traveling.

After a while, we arrived at a bustling, more developed town. “This is Tealberg,” he explained. “Where we stay, that’s Redcape Ville.” I nodded, mentally noting the names. Tealberg was lively, its streets lined with shops and cafes, and the people here seemed

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warmer, friendlier. Their smiles were genuine, and it eased my nerves as we made our way through the town. For a moment, allowed myself to relax.

We entered a boutique, and Lucian gestured for me to pick whatever I wanted. I hesitated, feeling out of place, but he urged me, his tone almost pleading. “We go to events, parties, and conventions often,” he explained gently. “It would be nice to take you along. looking as beautiful as you are, Scarlett.” I couldn’t help but smile a little at his words, the sincerity behind them.

The store attendant approached, giving Lucian a knowing look. “Alpha, should we do her hair, nails, and maybe some makeup, too?” she asked, eyeing me with a smile.

Lucian nodded but looked at me thoughtfully. “Just the hair and nails,” he replied. “She looks beautiful without/makeup, but maybe pack some, in case she’d like to wear a bit for outings.” His words caught me off guard, and I felt warmth rising to my cheeks. Hearing my mate call me beautiful so effortlessly stirred a joy I hadn’t felt in a long time. Stasia was beautiful, glamorous even, but he was here with me, choosing me, and that realisation was more heartwarming than I’d ever imagined.

Surprisingly, it didn’t take much for me to start feeling at ease. Lucian, it turned out, could be unexpectedly funny when he wanted to be, a side of him I’d never seen before. It was as if the angry, bitter, and tormented Lucian had vanished, replaced by someone lighter, someone willing to smile. I found myself wondering if someone had waved a magic wand overnight. Whatever had caused the shift, I was grateful. I hadn’t felt this free, this genuinely happy, in as long as I could remember.

But as much as I tried to lose myself in the joy of the moment, part of me couldn’t ignore a sense of lingering sadness. The path to

this had been painful–excruciating, even. I’d endured Lucian’s anger, Stasia’s disdain, and all the wounds from my past, only for

this change to finally come. The pain of those memories lurked beneath my smile, reminding me of the sacrifice, of how I’d held

onto hope, keeping myself for my mates while they had judged me, accusing me of things they themselves were guilty of. It was a

bittersweet irony that wasn’t lost on me.

Yet, Lucian’s efforts today were sincere, and I allowed myself to enjoy this new beginning, no matter how fragile it felt.

When we arrived back at Redcape, I felt a small pang of anxiety. But instead of taking me straight back to the pack house, Lucian

took my hand, leading me down a forest path, his ression warm and playful. “Let’s take a walk in the woods,” he said, motioning

for the omegas to handle the shopping bags. His casual confidence made me laugh, and for once, I didn’t care who was watching, or a bride into the heart what they might think. I caught up to him, and he surprised me by lifting me up in his arms, carrying me

of the woods.

I let myself relax, feeling his strength and warmth around me, cocooned by the scent of pine and the comforting stillness of the forest. In that moment, I realized I was ready to leave behind the pain, if only he was willing to carry me forward into something

new.

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