Marked By Destiny: Claimed By Three Alpha Brothers-Chapter 175: Hunt him down

Leia lowered her head, a faint frown forming on her forehead.

"I thought the same when the Alpha King told me there was a rumor about the fire," Lucien said gravely.

"Then why did Mom never tell me about this? Why did she hide the truth about my father? What exactly was she protecting me from?" Leia murmured, tilting her face toward him, her eyes full of questions she couldn’t answer herself.

"Whatever her reasons were, one thing is certain, there’s still much we don’t know," Lucien replied.

Leia hesitated, then whispered, "I... I would like to see Delia."

Lucien’s gaze darkened. "Before that, there’s something more you should know. Ronan went to North Calimore to investigate the hunters. There, he discovered that Delia had met with their leader. She even sold your information to them."

"What?" Leia gasped in disbelief. "Delia met with hunters? That’s why Eshira came after me... She said I was well-known among the hunters." Leia’s breath quickened, her expression clouded with confusion and hurt.

Lucien nodded firmly. "She was telling the truth. That’s why I’ve declared a death sentence for Delia. In my prison, no one lingers for long, least of all a traitor of her measure. She doesn’t deserve to live."

Leia’s eyes widened. "A death sentence? No... don’t do that yet."

"Why shouldn’t I?" Lucien countered, his tone harsh. "She can’t be redeemed. She lied to you, betrayed you more deeply than anyone else. Keeping her alive is nothing but a danger to you, to all of us."

Leia swallowed hard before speaking, "I know what she’s done. I know she deserves punishment... but still, I want to see her. Just once. Let me speak to her one last time."

"What do you think you’ll say to her? Did you forget how cruel she was the last time?" Lucien’s voice was a bit sharp.

Leia lifted her chin, steadying herself. "Did you ask her who the hunters’ leader was?" she countered.

Lucien’s face faltered. "I... I forgot to ask," he stuttered. This was such an important question, but it slipped his mind.

She drew a steady breath. "I will ask. If the hunters wanted to hurt me, then it ties back to my father somehow. There are answers I need, and I won’t let fear decide for me. Also, because of me you, Ronan and Kieran had to carry the troubles. I don’t want it to happen all the time."

Lucien studied her in silence for a long moment. Finally, he said, "If that’s what you want, then I won’t stop you. But Leia... you’ve made many reckless choices already. This time, I expect you to use your mind and find the answers you seek."

"I understand," Leia replied softly. She could already sense Ronan’s and Kieran’s presence nearby. Also, the storm still raged outside. Rising to her feet, she added, "I need to tell them that you’ve marked me."

"Go ahead," Lucien allowed.

Leia folded her arms across her chest, eyes narrowing slightly. "Don’t you want me to give you an heir anymore?"

His lips curved into the faintest of smiles. "Not like this. I’ve been selfish with you before, and I won’t repeat that mistake. When you’re ready, when it’s your choice, only then should you bring life into this world. And... I suspect that road is still a long one."

Relief softened her features, and she nodded. "Good. Because after you marked me I almost slipped into heat. It made me wonder... if I ever marked you, would you fall into rut too?" She tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her tone.

A low chuckle escaped him, rough and warm. "That won’t happen, my dear," Lucien murmured as his hand caught hers. With a firm but gentle tug, he drew her back down, settling her onto his lap. "But it’s an amusing thought."

"Why wouldn’t it happen?" Leia arched a brow, confusion flickering in her eyes.

Lucien’s smirk deepened. "Because I’m an Alpha. You’re an Omega. When an Alpha marks their Omega, it triggers the bond, driving the Omega into heat. Submission is written into your very trait." His gaze sharpened slightly, though there was a glint of admiration in it. "But you... you surprised me. You didn’t lose yourself or claw at me like a starving Omega."

Leia leaned closer, her voice a murmur as her hands slipped behind his neck. "Because you said you had something important to tell me. And I wanted to hear it before... anything else." Her lips curved faintly. "But tell me, how can I be an Omega when my father was an Alpha?"

"Perhaps because your mother was an Omega," Lucien countered smoothly.

"Yes," Leia admitted, nodding. "She was."

The conversation halted when a sharp knock echoed from the door. Leia’s head tilted toward it just before Ronan and Kieran stepped inside. Both froze for a heartbeat at the sight of her perched on Lucien’s lap, then exchanged knowing grins.

"Well, well," Ronan drawled, folding his arms. "You two reconciled quicker than I expected."

Leia straightened her back proudly. "That’s because he apologized to me last night."

Kieran arched a brow, amusement tugging at his lips. "Only one night? Hm. I thought you’d stay angry for at least a week and torture Lucien properly."

"Hey, don’t give her ideas," Lucien grumbled, rubbing his temple. "I was tormented all night."

Kieran snorted. "He smoked all night, I’m telling you. The ashtray was overflowing this morning."

"You smoked again?!" Leia shot him a sharp look.

"I couldn’t sleep," he mumbled, flustered.

Leia pushed herself to her feet and took a step back, hands on her hips. "I’m confiscating every cigarette and lighter in your room. And consider this your last warning: if I catch you smoking again, you won’t be touching me, ever." Her tone was half-playful, and the three of them exchanged a grin that undercut the severity of her threat.

"Well, Leia, do it soon," Ronan said with a chuckle.

"I promise it won’t happen again," Lucien added quickly.

Leia shot him a flat look. "Yeah, you and your promises."

Before Lucien could respond, Kieran stepped closer, curiosity in his eyes. "Hey... did you get marked?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Leia’s cheeks warmed. "Yes. Lucien marked me after I teased him," she admitted softly. "I’ve forgiven him completely. And I want you both to mark me too... just not yet. I—" she bit her bottom lip, glancing away, "I’ll probably end up slipping into heat."

Kieran and Ronan exchanged a knowing look, but before either could tease her, Ronan frowned. "Wait. If Lucien already marked you, how are you still acting like nothing happened?"

Lucien rose to his feet then. "Because our mate is unlike any omega. She’s stronger... different. She’s special."

"Well, that’s true," Kieran said, standing close beside Leia. With a fond smile, he gently rested his hand on her head, an affectionate gesture that made her relax ever so slightly. "Now that everything’s settled, I trust you two won’t be at each other’s throats again."

"That depends entirely on Lucien," Leia muttered, narrowing her eyes at him with suspicion. "He’s the one who flares up at the smallest thing."

Lucien smirked, unbothered by the jab. "Fights only deepen the bond, you know. They add fire to the love."

Before Leia could retort, Ronan cleared his throat and smoothly redirected the conversation. "By the way... did you tell her about Delia and the hunters?

"Yes," Leia said at last. "It all ties back to my father. But he’s dead." She added the last part almost to herself, as if saying it aloud might make it real.

"We don’t think so," Lucien replied, one hand sliding into his trouser pocket. His eyes were steady. "Your father’s body was ever recovered."

Leia’s breath hitched at the implication. "How can you be so sure?" Her pulse thudded in her throat at the possibility, at the sudden, dizzying thought that she might actually find him.

"Because Delia never told the whole story," Lucien said. "She’s hiding something. I don’t think she believes him dead." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You need to pull the truth out of her. If the hunters are targeting you, it’s not because they expect to gain anything from you, your father may be the prize. We assumed the man who did those things was gone. But what if he isn’t? What if he’s alive and trying to find you?"

Leia stared at him, the room narrowing around the possibility.

"Lucien’s right. Your father could be alive. He might be hidden somewhere. A lot happened with your pack; no one really knows how it all ended. Your mother vanished to a place where no one could follow, and maybe your father stayed close enough to watch but not close enough to be seen."

He stepped forward, eyes locking on Leia. "That’s why we can’t wait. If others know or suspect anything, they’ll hunt him down, or use you to get to him. We need to find him first, before someone else does."