Marked By The Lycan King, Betrayed By Fate

CHAPTER 42

(Lucian’s POV)

As I sat there with Selene, my fingers lightly wrapped around hers, I could feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. Her words echoed in my mind—What if they come after me? I could hear the fear in her voice, see it in the way she trembled, trying to hide it behind a facade of strength. She didn’t want to admit it, but I knew that her heart was breaking just as much as mine.

I could feel her anxiety rolling off her in waves, the doubt that had rooted itself deep within her soul ever since Dexton had cast her aside. She had spent so long convincing herself that she didn’t need anyone, that she didn’t deserve love, especially from someone like me. But here I was, holding her, trying to convince her that I would do everything in my power to protect her.

But did I have that power?

The Council… Dexton… they were forces to be reckoned with. I knew that if they came after us, it wouldn’t be easy. The pack would be torn apart. And there was always the possibility of war—a war that could take everything from me, everything I had fought for. And yet, as I sat there beside Selene, I realized something I had known for a long time but never fully acknowledged: I was ready for that war.

I would burn the world to the ground if it meant keeping her safe.

“I’m not afraid of losing everything,” I said to her, though I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the words. “Everything I’ve built, every decision I’ve made… it’s all been for this moment. For you.”

Her breath hitched, and she pulled away slightly to look at me, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and longing. She doesn’t understand, I thought. She doesn’t see how everything about this, about us, has been leading to this point.

I could tell by the way she clenched her jaw and avoided eye contact that she didn’t fully believe me. She was afraid. Afraid of what we might lose, of what might be taken from us. And it hurt, because I could feel that same fear deep inside me. It wasn’t just about the pack or the Council—it was about her. She had been broken by Dexton’s rejection, torn apart by the cruelty of others.

I wasn’t going to let that happen again.

“You’re not afraid of losing everything, are you?” she asked, her voice trembling. She didn’t look at me when she spoke, but I could hear the rawness in her words. The vulnerability she tried so hard to mask. “Your power… your position. What if Dexton challenges you? What if the Council forces your hand?”

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the fear that lingered in my chest. “I have nothing to lose, Selene.” The words were firm, though the truth of it settled uneasily in the pit of my stomach. “Everything I care about is right here with you.”

I watched her face closely as I spoke, trying to gauge her reaction. Her eyes softened for a moment, but the flicker of doubt was still there. She was questioning me, questioning whether I really understood the consequences of what we were about to face.

“I don’t want to lose you,” I said before I could stop myself, my voice quieter now, softer. My heart ached as I spoke those words. It’s not just about power, I realized. It’s about her. It’s always been about her.

Her fingers tightened around mine, and I could feel her pulse racing beneath my touch. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against my chest, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. It was just the two of us, alone in the quiet of the room.

“I’m here. I’m with you,” she whispered, her words muffled by the fabric of my shirt.

I held her tighter, letting the moment stretch between us, allowing her to feel the weight of my promise. I wasn’t going to back down. I couldn’t. Not now. Not when I knew what we were capable of together.

But deep inside, a small part of me wondered if I was fooling myself. This wasn’t just about me and Selene. This was bigger than us. If the Council chose to fight, if Dexton was hell-bent on reclaiming what he thought was his, the consequences could be catastrophic. I had seen the devastation that war could cause. I had lived through it before, and I wasn’t eager to repeat it.

Yet, there was no other choice.

I would not let them take her from me. I would not let them tear apart what we had just begun to build.

For a long while, neither of us spoke. I let Selene rest in my arms, hoping that she could feel the steadiness of my resolve, the unwavering certainty that no matter what, I would protect her.

But then, Selene shifted slightly, breaking the silence. “Lucian…”

I tilted my head, listening closely.

“What if it’s not enough?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. There was that fear again, so raw and unguarded. She was afraid of losing me, of losing everything she had worked so hard to protect.

I cupped her chin gently, lifting her face to meet my gaze. “It will be enough. I promise you.”

She stared into my eyes for a long moment, as if searching for any sign of doubt. When she didn’t find any, she exhaled a shaky breath and nodded, but I could tell that she wasn’t entirely convinced. And I understood. How could she be? After everything that had happened?

“We’ll figure this out,” I said, my voice firm, despite the doubt gnawing at the edges of my mind. “We’ll face whatever comes, together.”

She nodded again, her eyes softening, though a trace of sadness lingered. “Together,” she echoed, as if she needed to remind herself.

I held her for a moment longer, feeling the warmth of her against me, letting the quiet reassurance of our bond settle in the air between us. And for the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to hope. Maybe—just maybe—we had a chance.