Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King Chapter 152

LUCIEN'S POV

She stared at me.

Right there on the training grounds, long after everyone else had gone.

Her eyes held mine…steady, unafraid, almost bored—while my wolf slammed itself against my ribs like it wanted out. Like it wanted her. Like it wanted blood.

I didn't say a word.

I couldn't.

If I opened my mouth, I wasn't sure I wouldn't roar.

Adele let out a quiet huff and rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable."

She turned on her heel, ponytail swinging, already walking away like she hadn't just unraveled me in front of everyone.

Something snapped.

I moved before I thought.

My hand shot out and wrapped around her wrist.

"Adele."

She gasped and spun halfway back toward me. "Let me go, Lucien."

I didn't.

I tightened my grip and pulled her toward me, my strides long and angry as I dragged her off the main path. Gravel crunched under our boots. She stumbled once, then caught herself, yanking against my hold.

"Are you insane?" she snapped. "Let. Me. Go."

"Stop fighting me," I growled.

"Or what?" she shot back, twisting her wrist. "You'll embarrass me again? In front of everyone?"

Her words were sharp, but they landed deep.

I didn't slow down.

She cursed under her breath—loudly. Creative. Angry. Every step she took was fueled by pure defiance, and it only made my wolf snarl louder.

"Lucien!" she hissed. "You're acting like a caveman!"

"Funny," I said coldly, dragging her past the storage sheds, deeper into the quieter edge of the grounds. "Because you were acting like you didn't know exactly what you were doing."

She scoffed. "I was training."

"With him?" I snapped.

She laughed once, short and humorless. "Oh, Goddess forbid I speak to another male."

I shoved open a door hidden from view. The moment we were inside, I spun her and slammed her back against the wall.

The impact made her suck in a breath.

I planted my hands on either side of her head, caging her in, my body close enough that I could feel the heat rolling off her skin.

My chest rose and fell hard.

Her chin lifted, defiant as ever.

"Done?" she asked.

I growled.

"What the hell were you doing out there?"

She blinked once. Slowly.

Then lifted her chin.

"What does it look like?" she shot back. "Training. Laughing. Existing."

"With him," I snarled. "Throwing yourself at him. Touching him. Smiling like—"

"Like what?" she interrupted. "Like I was enjoying myself?"

My control cracked.

"Is he that funny?" I demanded, voice rough and dangerous. "Does he amuse you that much?"

She didn't flinch.

Didn't look away.

Instead, she held my gaze, eyes burning bright as fire. "What right do you have," she said calmly, "to tell me who I can talk to?"

The question hit hard.

Harder than any blow she'd landed earlier.

I sneered, anger surging up fast and hot. "Because I'm your fucking mate."

The words echoed between us.

Her breath stuttered—but only for a second.

Then she laughed.

A soft, bitter sound.

"Oh?" she said quietly.

Before I could react, she reached up and swept her hair aside, baring the side of her neck to me.

Bare.

Unmarked.

"There," she said. "Do you see anything?"

My chest tightened painfully.

"No mark," she continued, voice steady but eyes sharp. "No claim. No proof. Four months, Lucien. Four months, and nothing."

She dropped her hand, still holding my gaze. "I'm basically unclaimed."

My wolf roared.

"So tell me," she whispered, stepping closer until her body brushed mine, "what claim do you really have over me?"

"Fuck."

I swore under my breath, turning my head away just enough to break eye contact. Because if I didn't, I was going to lose whatever control I had left.

She noticed.

Of course she did.

Her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile—and then she bit her lower lip.

Hard.

I cursed again, sharper this time, my fingers digging into the wall beside her head. I wanted to bite that lip so badly it hurt. Wanted to feel it swell under my teeth. Wanted to hear the sound she'd make when she finally broke.

She leaned in, close enough that her breath brushed my jaw.

Her voice dropped, softer now. "Lucien…"

Just my name.

Nothing else.

I lost it.

I slammed my mouth down on hers.

Hard.

Four months.

Four months of restraint. Of distance. Of pretending I didn't want her every second of every day. It all exploded in that single moment.

She gasped against my lips, shock freezing her for half a heartbeat—then she melted.

Her hands fisted in my shirt.

Her mouth opened.

I groaned into her, the sound raw and broken as I kissed her deeper, harder, like I'd die if I didn't. My wolf howled in triumph, claws scraping at my control.

Her lips were soft. Perfect.

Goddess, How long I've been wanting to do this.

The kiss was fire and fury and need all tangled together—anger crashing into desire, frustration bleeding into hunger. I kissed her like I was claiming something I'd already lost.

And she kissed me back.