Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Scarlett’s POV

My mates had been gently urging me to move into their apartment, a plea that carried both their concern and desire for me to stay close. But as much as I wanted to be near them, I wasn’t quite ready to take that step. I knew that moving in would bring us to a place where we’d share everything, and I wasn’t prepared yet.

The thought of it was thrilling, something I looked forward to with all my heart, but a part of me knew I needed just a bit more time. Lucian looked especially crestfallen when I refused, his expression pulling at my heart, and I felt a pang of guilt as I watched his face fall. Still, he offered to walk me back to my room, and I gratefully accepted.

I thought Clay and Maxwell might follow us, but they stayed behind, respecting the space I needed. When I opened the door to my room, I noticed immediately that the lock hadn’t been fixed, the handle still broken from the attack. Lucian sighed, looking slightly frustrated.

“I’ll get someone to repair it as soon as possible,” he said. “The settlement’s a bit chaotic right now, so finding someone here will be tricky.” His tone was gentle, almost apologetic, and I couldn’t help but smile. Seeing him search for the right words, trying to reassure me, was endearing.

“It’s alright, Lucian. I can manage,” I assured him softly. “I’m just grateful we were able to keep the women safe.” I stepped inside, and he followed me, his gaze scanning the room as if making sure there were no lingering threats. Exhausted, I went straight to the bed, wanting to leave the day’s events behind. To my surprise, Lucian sat down beside me, and while it felt a little unexpected, I found myself comforted by his presence.

The familiar warmth of the bond pulsed between us, an undeniable pull that I felt deep in my soul. I knew he was feeling it too; I could see the strain in his eyes, the way he tried to maintain his composure even as the connection tugged at both of us, strong and persistent.

“Clay mentioned this kind of attack

is

rare,”

,” I said, breaking the silence. He nodded, his gaze soft as he looked at me, the warmth in his eyes calming me.

“Yes, it’s uncommon. But two of our settlements have already been attacked. We’re still unsure what’s causing it,” he said, his voice low and troubled.

“We’ve decided to visit a seer, just to see if there’s something we need to be aware of.” His words carried a hint of hope, a feeling that perhaps, with a little

guidance, we could gain the insight needed to protect our home.

“A seer?” I asked softly, my mind drifting back to memories of my father’s own seer. I’d never met her myself, but I’d heard stories. She had been invaluable

to him, guiding him in ways I could never fully understand. She’d even helped him locate his mate.

But my father’s biggest mistake was bringing my mother along to see her. From that point on, my mother knew everything he knew, and, driven by jealousy

and insecurity, she sought out the mate herself and killed her. She wanted to eliminate any woman who had held a significant place in my father’s life,

hoping to claim his love entirely for herself.

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But her actions had the opposite effect. In the end, my mother lost the one thing she had been so desperate to keep: my father’s love. Her final days were

filled with regret and loneliness, and I had vowed to never follow in her footsteps. I would never force myself on anyone. Love, I had promised myself, had to

be freely given, or it wasn’t love at all.

“Yes,” Lucian replied, pulling me out of my thoughts. “All Valkin Alphas have seers. That’s how we knew you existed. Our seer was the one who directed us to you.” He paused, watching me carefully, as if gauging my reaction. I couldn’t help but wonder if all Valkin Alphas relied on seers for the same purpose.

“Is that all you use them for?” I asked, genuinely curious. “To locate your mates?” He shook his head, a slight smile at the question, though his expression turned serious as he began to explain.

“No, not at all. While finding a mate is important, the seers‘ role goes beyond that. Other than the Valkin Alpha of the West, who has his own unique gifts. the rest of us rely on our seers to understand threats before they happen. Seers help us stay one step ahead of danger, to see when something’s coming

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Chapter 58

before it’s too late. That’s why we’re going to pay ours a visit. We need answers about these attacks. Even when your father was alive, no one dared to attack us, no one attacked anyone, really. He was a powerful force, yes, but he kept to his territory. Now, someone’s targeting our settlements, and we need to know who and why so we can be ready.”

Realizing that something had shifted in my mood, Lucian placed his hand gently on my shoulder, his touch soft and comforting. He let his hand linger, tracing slow, calming circles with his thumb, as if he was trying to smooth away the tension that had crept into me. His eyes softened, holding a quiet understanding.

“I didn’t mean to bring up your father, Scarlett,” he said softly, his voice full of warmth and sincerity. “I was just making an observation.” I nodded, grateful for his consideration, though it tugged at feelings I tried to keep buried

The truth was, I didn’t hate my father–not in the way people might think. He was a complicated man, hard and unyielding, and love was something he rarely showed, at least not in the gentle way most people expected. But that didn’t mean he was heartless. He had his own kind of warmth, though it was one only a few ever saw.

I knew he had a joyful spirit among his people, a side of him that laughed, that found joy in the simple moments. Yes, he was ruthless with his enemies, never taking prisoners and dealing with threats swiftly. But he never pushed beyond his limits. He stayed within his boundaries, kept his word, and honoured his land.

I couldn’t believe the stories that painted him as a thief, the kind who would take territories from others just because he could. I couldn’t see him as the monster some whispered about. If he did take lands from Clay and Maxwell’s cousins, there had to be a reason–one he felt justified, something only he understood. But I knew better than to speak this out loud.

Comments

2 Comments >

Michele Gremillion

I’m beginning to wonder if her father was truly the one who took the or was he st up. he was the strongest, so whoever is attacking the packs needed him out of the way so they can attack the other packs.

7 days ago

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