Lucian’s pov

I carefully balanced the tray, the warmth of the fresh soup seeping through the silver edges as I pushed open the door. The moment Alina looked up and saw me, her entire face lit up.

She immediately shifted, bracing her hands against the mattress to sit up, but I was already moving. "Don’t even think about it," I murmured, setting the tray gently across her lap and nudging her shoulders back against the stacked pillows.

Alina let out a soft huff, though her eyes were shining. "Lucian, I’ve been stuck in this bed for a week now. If I keep living like this, I’m going to get incredibly lazy and fat."

"I don’t mind," I said, a slow smile spreading across my face as I leaned down to brush my lips against her cheek. "I’ll always take care of you. And if you do get fat, don’t worry—I’ve got more than enough muscle to carry you around."

She laughed, the sweet, melodic sound filling the bedroom, only to be interrupted by a tiny, high-pitched coo from the bassinet.

Leo. He is practically a permanent fixture in my live now. Alina took the spoon, taking a careful sip of the soup, her eyes locked on mine with pure appreciation. I stepped away from the bed and walked over to the bassinet, reaching down to scoop Leo up into my arms. I adjusted my grip, looking down at his ridiculously small face, and let out a few ridiculous, high-pitched baby noises.

Leo immediately burst into a gummy giggle, flashing the two tiny teeth that had recently poked through his gums.

"You make a really good father, you know," Alina said softly from the bed.

The smile on my face faltered instantly. The warmth in my chest cooled, a heavy, dark weight pressing down on my lungs at the word. Father.

I turned back to her, forcing my expression to smooth out before she could catch the panic in my eyes. "Not really," I said, my voice a little tighter than I intended. "I just... get along with him. Besides, he’s not an annoying baby."

Alina offered a small, knowing smile, but didn’t push it, turning her attention back to her food.

I looked down at Leo, who was already starting to squirm and tug at my shirt. "I think he’s getting hungry," I noted.

Alina immediately started to set her tray aside. "No problem, I’ll feed him—"

"Don’t bother," I interrupted, shifting Leo to one hip. "Stay there and finish your food. I’ll take him down to the nanny."

She nodded, leaning back into the pillows, and I slipped out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me.

Downstairs, the kitchen smelled like warmed milk and cereal. The nanny was already there, standing by the stove, stirring a small pot. I walked up behind her and carefully transferred the squirming baby into her arms.

"Make sure he eats everything," I commanded, my voice dropping into the firm, unyielding tone of an Alpha. "And don’t make any mistakes with his schedule."

The nanny swallowed hard, her posture stiffening instantly. "Yes, Alpha."

Satisfied, I turned to head back upstairs. But as I rounded the corner into the main hallway, I caught sight of Ragnar.

He was pacing near the heavy oak doors, his head bowed, his lips moving rapidly as if he were having a heated, frantic conversation with himself. He looked completely unhinged.

"Ragnar?" I called out, frowning.

He didn’t hear me. He took a sharp turn, practically sprinting forward, and slammed right into my chest.

Ragnar stumbled back, his head snapping up. The moment his eyes locked onto mine, they widened with absolute, naked terror. It was the look of a man facing an executioner. He looked like he’d just seen a ghost.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" I asked, eyeing his pale skin and trembling hands. "You look like you’re about to jump out of your skin."

"I-it’s nothing," Ragnar stammered, his voice cracking as he tried to swallow. "Nothing at all, Lucian. Just... lost in thought."

I didn’t believe him for a second. My eyes narrowed, scanning his disheveled appearance until they locked onto his neck. Right there, stark against his pale skin, was a harsh, angry red mark. A fresh bite mark.

A dark, suspicious look crossed my face, but I chose to misinterpret the panic. A slow, mocking grin pulled at my lips. "Well. I see you’ve gone out to have some fun."

Ragnar flinched, his hand flying up to cover his throat. "It... it’s nothing like that, I swear."

"Relax, it doesn’t matter," I said, letting out a short laugh. I stepped forward and clapped him firmly on the back, nearly knocking the wind out of him. "Go have your fun."

Leaving him trembling in the hallway, I walked back to Alina’s room. By the time I pushed the door open, she had already fallen fast asleep, the half-empty tray resting near her hands. I smiled softly, stepping into the room like a shadow. I carefully lifted the tray, set it quietly on the counter, and then leaned over the bed. I brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before slipping out.

Instead of going back to bed, I walked down the hall to my private study.

I opened my laptop, the bright screen illuminating the dark room. My fingers hovered over the keyboard before I typed into the search bar: Houses for sale across the country.

I knew what I’d told everyone. I’d promised I wouldn’t run. I’d promised we would stay and fight. But looking at the listings of quiet, isolated properties thousands of miles away, something shifted in me. I didn’t want any more obstacles between me and Alina. I didn’t want the Aiden’s, threats, or the endless danger. This—leaving everything behind for good—might actually be our only way out. I could take her away, buy a house where no one knew our names, propose to her, and finally get married without a war hanging over our heads.

A sharp, sudden knock on the door broke my train of thought.

I snapped the laptop shut halfway. "Come in."

The door creaked open, and Ragnar stepped into the room. The terror from earlier was entirely gone, replaced by a wide, stiff smile that didn’t reach his eyes. It looked entirely unnatural on his face.

I leaned back in my chair, my tone flat and uninviting. "What do you want, Ragnar?"

"Can you come with me?" Ragnar asked, his voice overly bright, his eyes glittering in the dim light of the study. He took a step back toward the hallway, tilting his head in a way that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. "There’s a place I want to show you."

His smile stretched even wider, turning entirely creepy, casting long, twisted shadows across his face.