Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 356: Never enough

Braelyn’s POV

Raphael might have lost himself, but there was still a line he had never crossed. I saw it now in the way his eyes flickered toward the gun. He wasn’t scared of getting hurt himself but something else. It looked like hesitation, like a man standing at the edge of something irreversible.

His voice came out strained, almost hollow. "Is this really it?" he asked, more to himself than to me.

I swallowed hard, my throat still burning from screaming. "Please..." My voice came out softer now, "Don’t let me see your blood." It was a desperate plea.

The cold air cut through us, and the winter cold bit into my skin. For a moment, everything went still. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Benjamin’s grip on the gun didn’t waver, his aim was steady on Raphael. The tension coiled tighter with every passing second, stretching thin enough to snap.

Lucien’s voice broke through it, his calm voice still carried that firm edge. "I don’t want this to turn into something worse," he said. "If bullets start flying, she could get hurt."

His gaze didn’t leave Raphael. "One way or another, she is leaving with me. If you love her, let her go."

The words settled heavily between them.

Raphael’s jaw clenched, the muscles tightening as though he was holding himself together by force. I felt it in the way his grip loosened a bit on me. A long second passed before he released a long breath.

Then, unexpectedly, he lowered me to the ground.

My feet touched the cold pavement, and for a second I couldn’t move. I just stood there, stunned, my body still trembling from everything that had just happened. After everything he had done, after dragging me out like I was nothing, he still chose to stop.

I couldn’t believe he was scared of me getting caught up in the crossfire after everything he had done to me in the past.

Raphael leaned closer, his voice dropping so low only I could hear it. "I guess I was never enough," he murmured. "Couldn’t even give you the one thing you wanted. Congrats on being a mother," he whispered his voice strained with something bitter.

My chest tightened, but I didn’t look at him. If I did, I wasn’t sure what I would see, and I didn’t want to feel anything for him in that moment. He was truly clueless the reason I never got pregnant was because I was being drugged

Before I could think further, Lucien’s voice cut through my thoughts. "Viper." he stepped forward but gave us distance like he wanted me to run his way.

I turned instantly. A wave of relief washed over me all at once. Everything else faded at once, even Raphael standing right behind me, all of it disappeared as I ran straight toward Lucien’s arms.

He dropped slightly as I reached him, his arms wrapping around me tightly. I buried myself against him, my fingers gripping his coat like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. He held me just as tightly, his face pressed against my neck.

"I’m here," he murmured, his voice rougher than before. "I’m sorry... I should have been faster."

I shook my head, my body still trembling. "You came," I whispered, my voice breaking again. "That’s all that matters."

He pulled back slightly, his hands moving to my face, checking me as if making sure I was really there. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his eyes scanning me carefully.

I tried to answer, but all that came out was a soft, broken breath. The adrenaline was fading, and now all that was left was exhaustion and the lingering fear of what could have happened.

"I thought he was going to take me away," I admitted quietly with tears in my eyes. God, I was terrified Raphael was going to take me away.

Lucien’s expression darkened for a brief moment before he forced it back under control. " I am sorry I wasn’t faster. I feel so useless," he said, disheartened

I nodded weakly, not trusting my voice. "I guess it is fine now." Lucien finally calmed down he gave Benjamin a meaningful look before his gaze looked over my shoulders to Raphael.

"Do you want to stay for the event?" he asked after a moment, his tone softer now. "Or do you want to leave?"

The thought of going back inside made my stomach churn again. The party was a grand event possibility of running into more trouble or someone I would rather not face, it all felt too much.

"Let’s leave," I said quietly. "I’ll send Alora a gift later."

Lucien studied me for a second before nodding. "Alright."

He didn’t let go of me. Instead, he lifted me into his arms, holding me securely as he walked toward the car. I didn’t protest. I didn’t have the strength to, so I just leaned into him.

Benji didn’t enter with us as he was staying for the event. As Lucien placed me in the back seat, I caught a glimpse of Raphael through the tinted windows.

He was still standing there rooted to the ground, his gaze fixed on us. There was no anger on his face now. Just something hollow and unreadable.

Then the car started moving. cutting him out of sight. The car pulled away smoothly, leaving the parking lot behind. Lucien pulled out his hankie to wipe my tears and the mascara streaking my face. I looked like an absolute mess.

I rested my head on Lucien’s lap, my eyes closing as exhaustion settled deep into my bones. His fingers moved gently through my hair, weaving through the strands, grounding me in a way nothing else could.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

My mind drifted back to earlier, to the sudden wave of nausea that had hit me out of nowhere. It still didn’t make sense. I was in my 3rd month and it wasn’t morning but what did I know about pregnancy?

Before I could dwell on it further, Lucien’s phone started ringing. His expression turned serious on seeing the caller ID