Chapter 46: Confrontation
LUCIAN’S P.O.V.
I stood in front of the mirror, taking a slow, measured breath. My fingers moved to straighten my collar, my movements tense, deliberate. I must have adjusted it three times already, but it still didn’t feel right. My reflection stared back at me—a man hardened by countless battles, but the eyes... they were different tonight. Restless. Haunted. Facing enemies was second nature to me, but today was different. Today, I’d be facing Luke, Teresa’s brother, and that thought gnawed at me like a wolf locked in a cage.
"About time," Ares rumbled in my mind, his tone accusing and cutting. "Luke should’ve been the first person you went to when Teresa disappeared. You know that, don’t you?"
My jaw clenched, and I forced myself not to look away from the mirror, though it was my own reflection I despised at that moment. "Don’t you think I know that?" I muttered, more to myself than to him. "But after everything I did... after how I hurt her... I couldn’t just show up there like nothing happened. I was a wreck, Ares. I could barely keep control of my shifting. What if on my visit he snapped at me, and I lost it? If I hurt him..." I swallowed hard. "Teresa wouldn’t have forgiven me. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself."
Ares softened slightly, his judgment giving way to something almost like understanding. "I get it, Lucian. But this is something we need to face, no more running. Take whatever he throws at us. Even if it means a beating. We deserve it."
I nodded slowly, the weight of his words settling on me. "Yeah," I murmured. "We do."
I pushed away from the mirror and headed for the door, linking with Rylan as I made my way downstairs. "Take care of things while I’m gone. I’m going to see Teresa’s brother."
Rylan’s reply came instantly, almost as if he’d been waiting for this. "Good luck, Alpha. You’re going to need it."
Just as I stepped out the front door, a familiar voice filled my mind. "Lucian... wait. It was Juliette, her tone laced with hesitation and guilt. Let me come with you. I... I need to apologize too. To Luke."