Lucian’s POV
I waited for her to speak, wondering if she would even answer. Before, whenever I asked her, she tried to avoid answering for some reason.
But this time, she didn’t disappoint me.
She met my gaze and answered what she remembered. "Just after I left home, Sophia came across me. She stopped her car, seeing me running along the road. It was late at night, so I could only walk or run. She asked me where I was going and said she could take me there. I didn’t reject it as I wanted to hurry to go to Alice.
"On the way, she asked me what happened and why I was so scared. She offered to help me without telling anyone. I had to tell her the truth as she insisted, and then, she was the one to take me there."
"The gun?" I asked. "She was the one to give you?"
Eira nodded. "When we reached there, it was dark and scary. Sophia told me to stay in the car, saying she would look around first, as she was stronger than me due to her wolf. I could only agree. After all, she was all of your friend and would want to protect Alice as well. I saw hope in her that she would truly help me save Alice.
"But before leaving, she took out the gun from the side box and gave it to me. She told me it had silver bullets, and if there was any wild wolf or any other threat, I could use it to protect myself. And she left to look for Alice.
Silver bullets and wolf? I repeated in my mind, so that bitch Sofia was aware Eira will end up seeing a wolf and already handed her gun filled with silver bullet, the one which will kill Alice in no time.
Eira continued, "I waited in the car for a while, but stepped out. I was getting impatient and worried for Alice. When I walked here and there, after some time, Alice was truly there. She was running away from something, scared and screaming. When she saw me, she asked for help. But, before I could reach her, I saw a black wolf attacking her and..." she stopped as her voice choked, tears gushing out.
I moved closer to her and hugged her gently to comfort her. I let her cry for a long time until she calmed down.
"Trust me when I say it wasn’t your fault that Alice died," I said, coaxing her. "You were used by someone. You are innocent."
She shook her head. "Still... I should have been careful... I shouldn’t have shot... I should have known it was an illusion..."
"That drug is so powerful that it’s impossible to resist its effect. If it had been given to me or even to Kael in a strong quantity, we would have lost to it as well," I tried to assure her. "It wasn’t your fault. You just wanted to protect her. And you were so brave to go to her on your own. Just because you loved her, you cared for her. She was so fortunate to have you—we all are."
She continued to cry, while I said again, "We were idiots to not see the truth. I am sorry. We shouldn’t have let them fool us. They had set all of us, and we will take revenge for it. If not for them, Alice and my mother would be with us, Kael wouldn’t have faced that loss, and you wouldn’t have suffered and lost your child as well. They all deserve to die for ruining our lives."
She nodded but then lifted her head to look at me. "You already killed Keiren; I have no one to take revenge on."
I looked into her eyes. She was seeking revenge? What brought this change?
Is it the effect of what Rafe and she did in the dungeon that day, killing one bastard brutally. Even after getting to know about it the next day, I didn’t confront Rafe. I felt he did the right thing, which none of us could in fear of messing up her mental state. Only a crazy, irrational vampire would risk doing it.
I caressed her cheek gently and wiped the tears away with my thumb. "Keiren was just a small fish dancing to someone else’s tune. The main culprits are still out there, and we will reach their throats very soon," I assured her. "I will let you kill the main villain. Is that all right?"
She nodded quickly.
I liked this change in her. She was coming around slowly. Her wolf had truly worked wonders.
"Can I ask you something?" I said.
She looked at me, waiting to know what.
Now that she had talked about Keiren, I contemplated whether to ask her about that video of hers with Keiren and his friends. But I feared she wouldn’t want to answer.
It had happened back then when she was with us, but she had hidden it. She must have felt embarrassed about it. I could tell, she was forced to do it, but at what expense. Why did she decided to obey him quietly.
And, if I asked now, would she distance herself from me when she was finally so close, letting her guard down around me?
"Tomorrow we are going to visit Alice. You will come with us, right?" I changed my question.
She nodded quickly.
"It’s late. You should sleep," I said.
She nodded and lay in bed, maybe excited to wake up early tomorrow and go to Alice. I covered her with the blanket and chose to sleep as well. She was so close, my heart wished to hold her closer, but once more I feared to let her think I wanted something from her.
But then, this felt enough as well, being able to talk to her calmly, and there was no bitterness from her side.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked her while staring at the ceiling.
"Hmm?" I heard her reply, but didn’t look at her.
"Will you hate me for drugging you that day?" I asked, that thing still weighing heavy in my mind.
"It was for Alice’s sake, so I won’t," she answered.
I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
She didn’t respond and I looked at her. She had her back at me, I wanted to hold but...
"Good night," I said and closed my eyes.
Maybe one day, this distance won’t be between us anymore. That day would be the start of my journey to fulfill all those dreams I ever had with her in that future.