Chapter 90

Lucas’s POV

The adrenaline from the fight pumps through my body like lightning. It races up and down my nerves as I look around the field. My men take care of the captured Domain intruders, dragging their unconscious bodies across the ground.

A few of the intruders got away, but I’m not worried about them right now. I’m worried about the woman still standing behind me. Just the thought of her being in danger makes me grit my teeth.

My anger flares as flashes of what happened moments ago return. She made herself a target, ran toward the danger instead of away from it, and could have gotten herself killed. My heart beats at my ribcage, and I curse under my breath.

She’s reckless for putting herself in danger, but that’s only part of my anger.

If she had been injured, she could heal herself, but there is no healing yourself if you’re dead. And that was a very real outcome that could’ve come to be.

I could have lost Harper.

Turning, I scan expect to see her right behind me, and when I don’t, my pulse spikes. But then I see her. She’s standing on the tree line, her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes jumping all over the clearing.

My chest tightens at the sight of her nervousness, but this time, it’s not with anger. Relief floods me. She’s alive. She’s waiting for me. Or maybe she’s just lingering because she doesn’t know how to get back. Either way, I’m glad she’s still here. I don’t think I could’ve handled it if I turned around and she was gone.

I hope she’s waiting for me.

“For us,” my wolf adds.

Right. For us.

I take slow steps toward Harper, my pace slow and controlled to where she doesn’t startle when I call for her, “Harper.” I keep my voice low and steady, but it still carries over the space between us. She flinches at the sound, looks up, but doesn’t run.

It’s not great, but it’s a start.

Even though she stares directly at me, she doesn’t respond. She merely watches carefully as I approach, her eyes only briefly leaving me to glance around at the dark forest.

I want to touch her, holder her, and comfort her. She’s tense, her shoulders rigid and eyes sharp. Fear and another emotion I can’t pinpoint shine from Harper’s eyes, and the anger behind my worry simmers and lessens while the need to make sure she’s unharmed grows.

“You put yourself in danger,” I say firmly, trying to keep my voice calm despite the anger and worry. “Do you understand what could have happened to you?”

Harper’s eyes connect with mine, a mix of panic and irritation as she crosses her arms over her chest. “I just wanted to see what was going on.” I don’t miss the sarcastic and snippy tone or the way her lip curls up in what seems like disgust or anger.

I bite my tongue, holding back the anger and the words that crawl up my throat. I want to yell and scream at her, to demand that she never do something this stupid ever again, but it won’t help. She clearly still has reservations and anger about me, and yelling won’t do any good.

It would only hurt her more, and I refuse to hurt her again.

She is what matters most.

I step closer. One step. Two steps. I walk until I’m close enough that when I reach out, I gently rest my hands on her shoulders. I can feel her trembling when I first touch her, but then, she tenses, her body growing more rigid than it already was. I hate the reaction, but I can’t force her to forgive me.

Harper pulls back, “Lucas, don—”

“Not tonight,” I growl softly, needing her close. I need to know she’s alright. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Her breath hitches, and something in her eyes changes. The fire dims just slightly, but she still has that guarded expression. She still wants to pull away, and I’m sure she wants to release her own anger, and I brace myself.

I deserve whatever anger she feels.

“You don’t get to…” her words die off, fading into the quiet of the night.

“I do,” I tell her, needing her to know what’s in my mind and heart. “I want to protect you. Not only that, but it’s my job. We’re…” I pause, swallowing the tightness in my throat. We haven’t talked about the mate bond, but I know she feels it too. I don’t know how I didn’t feel it before.

I was a fool, blinded by Sierra’s tricks, and it nearly cost me everything.

“We’re mates, Harper. I need you safe, and right now, that means keeping you close,” I say firmly. “Even if you hate it.”

That vulnerability from earlier flickers in Harper’s eyes, mixing with the anger. She’ll continue fighting me on this; I know she will. If she’s smart—which she is—she’ll test me, fight me, and make me prove myself before she gives me a second chance.

If she gives me a second chance.

“I’m fine,” she mutters, trying to step back again, but I keep my grasp on her. I don’t squeeze her hard enough to hurt her, but just enough to keep her from running.

“I know you’re fine,” I tell her. “But you’re not usually this reckless. First, going to the Domain, and now this? You can’t keep putting yourself in danger. I’m trying to keep you alive.”

She huffs, narrows her eyes, and scowls at me, “I’m not a child, Lucas. I don’t need babysitting.”

While I like that she isn’t giving in, her defiance is a bit frustrating.

“You’re right. You’re not a child, but you are my mate,” I say, brushing my thumb over the spot that connects her neck and shoulder. A shudder runs through her, and I continue, “And mates aren’t supposed to face threats alone. We should be working together.”

Again, her eyes fill with heat and the muscle in her jaw jumps. “Mate or not, I still don’t fully trust you. I don’t know if you’ll turn on me again.”

My chest tightens at her words, an ache forming there. I wish I could erase my mistakes, but I can’t.

“I don’t expect you to forgive me so soon, but I will always protect you. That hasn’t changed and it never will, even if you’re angry. I will protect you.”

She watches me for a minute, as if she’s weighing my words. I would give anything to be in her head, to know what she’s thinking, but I shake the thought away. Instead, I pull Harper close. I don’t hug her like I want to, but I bring her closer to my chest where we can feel each other’s warmth.

Everything around us is silent.

We’re silent.

The unsealed mate bond stretches between us, like a line that connects us.

“I’m not letting you leave,” I murmur, letting my selfishness win over. “Not like this, and not after a scare like that.”

Harper’s bottom lip rolls between her teeth as she exhales. Frustration, fear, and something softer fill her eyes, but she doesn’t protest.

Tonight, she lets me be the one in control.