Alina’s POV

Then suddenly Lucian gave me a confused look.

"Alina... your scent," he said.

My eyes widened. He leaned closer, so close I could feel the heat from his body and see the golden flecks in his eyes.

"It’s different," he whispered, voice rough. "Stronger... sweeter." He leaned in and inhaled deeply, his chest rising. When he pulled back, pure realization lit up his face. "Your wolf... she’s awake."

His expression shifted — surprise melting into something deeper, more possessive and full of wonder. His hands gently gripped my arms as he searched my eyes.

"When did this happen?" he asked quietly. "I can feel the bond stronger now. Your power is humming in the air around you. Why didn’t you tell me?"

I gave him a small, shaky smile as tears filled my eyes.

"I just found out, Lucian. I’m just as surprised as you are. I was so sure I was never going to get her... but look at me now." My voice cracked. "I can smell you now." A tear slipped down my cheek. "I’m no longer just an orphaned, wolfless omega."

The words barely left my mouth before Lucian pulled me into his arms. He hugged me so tight, like he was afraid I might disappear. One of his hands cradled the back of my head while the other pressed against my lower back, holding me flush against him. His warmth wrapped around me completely. I felt truly seen. Cherished. Home.

He pulled back slowly, his hands cupping my face. His thumbs brushed away my tears with so much tenderness. His eyes shone with love, hunger, and something raw and emotional that made my heart ache.

"Alina..." His voice was thick and trembling. "Can I mark you?"

My heart slammed against my ribs. Tears kept falling, but this time they weren’t from sadness. I looked into his eyes and saw everything — the nights he stayed awake worrying for me, the way he fought for me, the love that never wavered even when I was broken.

I placed my hand on his chest, feeling his heart racing under my palm.

"Yes," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Mark me, Lucian. Make me yours."

A deep sound rumbled in his chest — half growl, half sob of relief. He rested his forehead against mine, our breaths mixing.

"I’ve waited so long for this," he said, voice rough with emotion. "I promise I’ll protect you. I’ll love you. I’ll never let anyone hurt you again."

He kissed me deeply, pouring all his feelings into it. Then his lips moved to my neck. He kissed the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder, soft and reverent at first. His body trembled against mine.

"I love you, Alina," he whispered against my skin.

Then I felt his canines graze me. A sharp sting of pain flashed as he bit down, marking me as his forever. The pain quickly turned into warm waves of pleasure and connection. I gasped and held onto him tighter, tears streaming down my face.

In that moment, the bond snapped fully into place. I could feel his love crashing over me like a wave — strong, fierce, and endless. His joy. His fear of losing me. His complete devotion.

I buried my face in his neck and whispered back, "I love you too."

His arms stayed locked around me as we both shook with emotion, the fresh mark pulsing warmly on my skin like a promise that would never break.

I broke the hug first and looked up at him. Lucian’s smile was so bright it lit up his whole face, but tears welled in his eyes, making them shine. He looked at me like I was his whole world. Then his gaze dropped to my neck. His fingers gently touched the fresh mark, tracing it with wonder.

"The mark is deep," he said softly, voice full of pride. "Everyone will know you are mine now."

My smile faltered. If Aiden saw this... My stomach twisted.

"I’ll cover it with makeup until it fades," I whispered.

The brightness in Lucian’s smile disappeared. Pain flashed across his face.

"It’s for the best," I added gently.

He nodded slowly, even though I could see how much it hurt him.

"I think you should get going now," I said, my voice shaky. "Aiden might see you and I—"

"I don’t give a fuck, Alina," he cut in. Fear and desperation filled his eyes. "I don’t think I can truly stay away from you anymore. It’s killing me." His voice cracked. "How long do I have to stay away?"

Tears stung my own eyes. I stepped closer and caressed his face with my palm. He leaned into my touch like a lost puppy craving love.

"You have marked me, right?" I said with a small smile. "I carry your mark now. Trust me... I will come back to you."

"Lucian," I whispered when he still didn’t move.

He let out a soft whimper that broke my heart. "Alright then... I’ll leave."

He pulled me in for one last deep kiss, full of longing. When he pulled away, he walked to the window and looked back at me.

"You are all mine now," he said, voice thick with emotion.

I watched him jump down from the window. Before I could even reach it, he had vanished into the night. A soft smile touched my lips, and warmth spread through my chest.

Then a sudden knock sounded on the door.

"Alina? Are you asleep?" Aiden’s voice came from the other side.

My eyes widened in panic. I rushed to the bed, pulled the covers over myself, and pretended to be asleep, heart hammering.

The door opened quietly. I heard his footsteps coming closer. The bed dipped as he sat beside me. Then I felt the soft press of his lips on my forehead.

"You know," he started, voice low and heavy with sadness, "I thought I had everything figured out. How I wanted my life to be... the perfect plan after taking this responsibility. Everything was going according to script. But the moment I married you, Alina, nothing followed the plan anymore."

He let out a shaky breath.

"I tried to fix it, but it didn’t work. After I divorced you, I thought everything would go back to normal. I could follow the script again." His voice cracked. "That’s when I realized... maybe I should have thrown the script away. It pains me so much to think it might be too late." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He stayed quiet for a moment. I felt another gentle kiss on my forehead.

"I think about you all the time. I don’t admit this to anyone... but it’s my truth. I regret the divorce. When I said I loved you, it wasn’t a lie. I meant every word." His tone grew even sadder. "Maybe if I hadn’t followed the script so strictly, you would still love me the way you always did... and I would have the family I truly deserve."

I heard him stand up. The door opened and shut softly behind him.

The moment it closed, my eyes flew open. I sat up, heart racing.

"What!"