Chapter 17: Argument

Lucian’s POV

​I stared at it for a second too long. I told myself I shouldn’t care. I told myself I didn’t want to care. But as I stood near the table, a dark irritation blossomed in my chest anyway. Why wasn’t she here? She could sleep until noon for all I cared. In fact, the quieter she was, the better my morning would be.

​I picked up my coffee, then put it back down without taking a sip. Damn woman.

​I turned toward one of the maids standing near the sideboard. "Where is Annabel?"

​My mother’s eyes immediately moved toward me. Lucas looked up from his breakfast too.

​The maid bowed quickly. "I don’t know, Alpha."

​"Then find out."

​"Yes, Alpha." She hurried from the dining room.

​I picked up my fork. Lucas was staring at me.

​"What?"

​"Nothing."

​"Then stop looking at me."

​His mouth pulled into an annoying smile, but I ignored him and looked down at my food.

​A few minutes passed before hurried footsteps came from the hallway. The maid rushed back into the dining room, completely pale and her breath coming in fast gasps.

​"Alpha!"

​I looked up. "What did she do this time?"

​"Alpha! Princess Annabel fell in the bathroom!" she cried out. "The Princess slipped while bathing. She landed badly on her right arm. She thinks it’s broken. She’s crying and asking for a healer!"

​My entire body went rigid. Instantly, I was on my feet and moving before I even realized it. Lucas’s eyes followed me, and my mother noticed too. I hated that they noticed, and I hated even more that I didn’t just sit back down.

​Why was it always her? A dark room, a snake, and now a broken arm. She had been in my mansion for barely two days, and somehow there was always constant drama, constant trouble, and constant pain surrounding this girl every single hour of the day.

​"Where is she?"

​"Her bedroom, Alpha."

​I walked out—not rushing, because I didn’t rush for anyone, but my long, furious strides were faster than usual.

​Unfortunately, Lucas followed me. I heard his heavy footsteps behind me as we climbed the stairs.

​"You don’t need to come," I said without looking back.

​"I know."

​"Then why are you following me?"

​"I’m curious."

​"Find something else to be curious about."

​He chuckled, but I ignored him.

​I took the stairs two at a time down the third-floor corridor until I reached her bedroom. The door was wide open.

​I stepped inside and stopped.

​Annabel was sitting on the edge of the large bed, wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped tightly around her body. Her skin was damp, her wet hair was hanging around her shoulders, and tears were running down her face as she cradled her right arm against her ribs.

​The moment she saw me, her face changed—not with relief, but with fear. Again. Something inside my chest tightened, but I narrowed my eyes at her, keeping my face completely blank and cold.

​I walked farther into the room. "What happened this time?"

​She looked up at me, her sea-blue eyes red and filled with raw pain. "I fell in the bathroom," she sobbed, her voice cracking. "I slipped getting out of the bathtub and landed on my arm. I think my right arm is broken. Please... I need a healer."

​I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring down at her without a single trace of pity. "I am not sending for any healer."

​Her lips parted, and she stared at me as though she hadn’t heard correctly. "My arm might be broken."

​"I can see that."

​"And you’re refusing to call a healer?"

​"You’re not dying."

​Her mouth dropped open. Even in pain, she somehow found enough strength to look offended. "Are you serious?"

​"Do I look like I’m joking?"

​"Lucian, don’t be silly!" Lucas’s sharp voice cut through the room as he pushed past me into the doorway. "She is in obvious pain. Look at her arm!"

​I slowly turned my head toward my brother, my eyes darkening as my wolf growled beneath my skin. "Stay out of this, Lucas. This is my house, and she is my responsibility."

​Lucas walked past me and stopped a few feet from the bed. "Let me see your arm."

​Annabel hesitated, looking between us. Something about the way Lucas was looking at her irritated me.

​I stepped forward. "She doesn’t need you examining her."

​Lucas looked at me. "Apparently she needs someone to. She is a human being suffering right in front of you! You don’t have to act like an unfeeling monster every second of the day!"

​"I am the Alpha of this pack!" I roared, stepping into his space, my presence filling the entire bedroom like a heavy storm. "If I say she doesn’t get a healer for a simple slip, then she doesn’t get one! Do not question my decisions in front of my staff!"

​Lucas slowly stood straight and faced me, stepping right into my chest. "And I’m telling you that’s stupid. Don’t act like an idiot."

​My wolf immediately pushed forward. Lucas might have been my elder brother, and he might have been the Alpha King, but this was my territory. Nobody spoke to me however they pleased inside my own home.

​"Watch how you speak to me," I growled, stepping closer until we were almost chest to chest. "You seem very concerned about my wife."

​The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Lucas’s eyebrows lifted slightly, and something almost amused appeared in his eyes.

​"Your wife?"

​I realized my mistake immediately. I had spent the last two days telling everyone, including Annabel herself, that she was nothing more than a peace agreement. Now I had called her my wife.

​Lucas glanced toward Annabel before looking back at me. "I thought you said she wasn’t your wife."

​"That’s none of your concern."

​"It becomes my concern when you’re refusing medical care to someone who is clearly injured just to prove you’re in control."

​"I decide what happens under my roof."

​My wolf growled louder inside me, and I moved another step closer. "Don’t test me, Lucas."

​His expression changed, the amusement disappearing entirely. "You think being cruel makes you strong?"

​My hands curled into fists. "And you think being Alpha King means you can walk into my home and question every decision I make? Maybe you should remember whose territory you’re standing in."

​"And maybe you should remember who you’re talking to."

​The air between us changed instantly. Neither of us moved. Neither of us looked away. I could feel our Alpha auras beginning to push against each other, making the entire room feel smaller.

​"Enough!"

​My mother’s loud, commanding voice echoed from the hallway, stopping the argument instantly.

​I turned to see her standing in the doorway, glaring at both of us before stepping between us. Her eyes moved from Lucas to me before finally settling on Annabel.

​"Both of you," she said sharply. "Enough."