Unhappy Ending

When Visenya woke up again, she found herself alone in Lucian’s chambers. As she rose from the empty bed, she couldn't help but notice the absence of his warmth that once enveloped her. Stretching her achy muscles, she let her hands roam her body, reigniting the tingles left by Lucian's lingering touch.

Glancing at the pile of clothes still scattered on the floor, she made her way to his wardrobe and grabbed one of his button-up shirts to throw on. Leaving the room, she descended the stairs to her own quarters, but an eerie silence greeted her throughout the entire castle. Though a sense of unease flickered within her, she brushed it off and proceeded to wash up in her room.

After indulging in a relaxing, hot bath, she slipped into fresh undergarments and donned a new dress. With her hair elegantly braided and her sandals securely laced, she felt ready to face the day. As she walked down the halls that led to the kitchen, an unsettling emptiness enveloped her. Not a single person was in sight, and both the dining room and kitchen stood deserted. A growing sense of foreboding tugged at her thoughts, hinting that something was gravely amiss.

"Don't panic," Delilah's soothing voice reassured her. "Maybe, they’re all outside."

Though Visenya couldn't hear any voices from beyond, she decided to investigate. Stepping out into the cool breeze, she surveyed the surroundings, only to find a desolate emptiness. Even the stables were devoid of horses. A gnawing feeling crept over her as she realized that even Lucian was nowhere to be found. However, she quickly dismissed the thought of abandonment, knowing deep down that Lucian wouldn't simply leave her behind. She settled on the steps of the palace, determined to wait until his return.

Relief washed over her as soon as she caught sight of Lucian, soaring in her direction. With a gentle motion, he released a massive, lifeless bison from his claw before seamlessly shifting into his natural form. Visenya stood up and descended the steps to greet him.

He looked at her with deep regard, instantly recognizing the worry etched in her eyes. "What's wrong?" He asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.

"I just..." She fumbled over her words. "I woke up all alone," she managed to say, her vulnerability laid bare.

"Oh..." He replied, not thinking about that possibility. "I thought you'd still be asleep when I got back. I was only away for a short time."

She could sense his feelings of guilt and self-condemnation, which made it apparent that he truly didn't intend for her to wake up alone and felt remorseful about it. She had to admit that she really liked knowing what he was feeling. Dragons and Lycans both had the advantage of sharing this kind of deep connection with their mates. However, in order for him to sense her emotions in return, she would have to mark Lucian.

"Where is everyone?" She inquired.

"I sent a few men to the other kingdom for more goods and supplies, and the rest... I gave them the day off. I believe most of them have taken boats up the lake to camp and fish," he revealed.

"A day off?" She exclaimed, taken aback.

"Yes," he affirmed, his voice filled with sincerity. "I thought, perhaps, we could... spend the day together. Just you and me."

The proposal left Visenya utterly speechless. Never before had Lucian suggested anything so... romantic.

"I'd like that," she blushed, and his eyes lit up at her enthusiasm.

She glanced at the half-charred bison lying on the ground. "You hunted?"

"If that's what you want to call it," he huffed. "Dragons usually just pick their prey and devour. I had to find a way to kill him without stomping him into a flapjack or gutting him entirely. So, I knocked him unconscious with my tail and set him on fire. However, I don’t imagine his burned half will taste very appetizing.”

"Well, at least he's halfway cooked," she giggled.

He looked up, captivated by her adorable laugh, and smiled back at her. She gasped at the sight of his striking grin. Lucian had always been handsome, but when he smiled, he took her breath away. Her heart had never felt more elated.

"Well, I'm starving, and I'm sure you are too," she said, her voice filled with anticipation, as she headed over to the bison so she could carry it inside.

"I've got it," he insisted, his resolve shining through as he swiftly picked it up before she had the chance to.

Her heart beamed at his chivalry, and a whirlwind of emotions came to life - some belonging to her, and the rest to him. It was all so very overwhelming for her, but in a pleasant way. They smiled at one another and then walked inside the home they shared together.

Visenya prepared a hearty meal for both of them while Lucian freshened up. As she set the table in the dining room, he walked in, stealing her breath yet again. He looked dashing in a pair of black slacks and a maroon dress shirt that perfectly complemented him. His usual tousled hair was neatly combed back, adding to his debonair appeal.

In her eyes, he was incredibly dreamy. She stood there, unable to tear her gaze away, making him visibly discomfited under her intense stare.

"I thought I'd wear something other than black for a change," he said, his voice tinged with diffidence. "Perhaps I should have stuck to the norm."

"No," she interjected, unable to hide her admiration. "I think it looks good. You look... good."

A cute little half-smile formed at the corner of his mouth. "Thanks... you look good too."

He wanted to say, "good enough to eat," but he didn't want to ruin the moment by making everything about sex. He took a deep breath, trying to push aside the memories of their passionate night, knowing that indulging in them would only lead to a noticeable tent in his pants. Then, there would surely be no chance of them making it through this meal.

"Thank you," she smiled, her eyes scanning over the second-rate dress she was wearing.

"Please, have a seat," she prompted, gracefully motioning towards the dining table. "The food is ready... I was just about to bring it out."

He took his seat at the head of the table, while she disappeared into the kitchen to fetch their plates. Determined to make this meal perfect, she prepared all of his favorite side dishes and cooked everything to his exact liking. As the tea simmered on the stove, she carefully carried their meals to the dining room, setting his in front of him with a sense of pride.

"It looks absolutely amazing," he complimented, his eyes lighting up.

"Let's hope it tastes just as amazing," she bantered, taking her seat next to him.

"Well, shall we find out together?" He proposed.

They both eagerly grabbed a forkful of food, their mouths watering in anticipation. With eyes closed, they savored each bite, relishing in the exquisite flavors that danced on their tongues.

"Not sure if it's the food or my voracious appetite," she quipped, a playful smile on her lips.

"No, this is beyond delicious," he reassured, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Your cooking has become my ultimate indulgence."

Visenya's face instantly lit up at his words, her heart swelling with joy. Another heartfelt compliment from him and her heart was going to burst.

"Thank you," she beamed, her smile radiant. "By the way, I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" His brows furrowed with curiosity, his eyes sparkling with intrigue.

"Mhm," she nodded gleefully, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I'll be right back."

She gracefully rose from the table and disappeared into the kitchen to retrieve the chilled, rolled-out dough from the icebox. As she skillfully lined the pie pan with the dough, Lucian wandered in, unable to resist his curiosity.

"Well, now you've gone and spoiled the surprise," she playfully scolded him, her eyes sparkling with amusement, as she poured the luscious blackberry filling into the pie pan.

"You're making blackberry pie," his voice sounded astonished. "I love blackberry pie."

"I know," she said softly, gazing into his lovely green eyes.

"How?" He asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Because every birthday I attended, you never had a birthday cake. It was always blackberry pie," Visenya recalled.

He closed the distance between them, pressing her against him and the counter behind her. "Why are you making this for me?"

"Because I wanted to, and because... today is your birthday," she replied.

He gently brushed the hair from the side of her face, his fingers caressing her cheek. "You remembered?"

She closed her eyes, feeling her strength waver under his touch. "I never forgot."

The tingling flutter of his touch swept down her cheek and over her plump lips, sending shivers down her spine. Their eyes locked onto one another's, their gaze filled with longing and desire, while her heart raced erratically inside her chest. He leaned in slowly, his grip on her waist firm as he pulled her closer. After ten long years, he was all too eager to taste her lips again.

Just as their lips were mere inches apart, ready to kindle the passionate flame that had been a mere flicker for far too long, the tea kettle let out a piercing whistle, abruptly breaking the spell. Visenya let out a long breath, as if she had been holding it in the entire time, and rushed over to the kettle to take it off the stove.

She noticed the dwindling fire in the firebox, realizing the oven wasn’t hot enough to bake Lucian's pie. "I should go get some more wood for the oven," she murmured, biting her bottom lip bashfully.

"I'll go," he offered without hesitation.

"Oh, you don't have to," she replied.

"No," he insisted, "please, allow me."

"Alright…" she conceded, her heart surrendering to him even more than she ever thought possible.

"I'll be back," he said, his steps trailing off as he walked out of the kitchen.

As soon as Lucian left, a radiant smile spread across her face, her cheeks blushing like a girl experiencing her very first crush. These newfound emotions overwhelmed her, flooding her senses all at once, leaving her unsure of how to navigate them.

"Keep it together, Visenya... Focus," she whispered to herself, determined to regain her composure. With that in mind, she made her way to the back storage room to retrieve a box of matches, needed to light the oven.

After locating the box of matches, she returned to the kitchen, only to find Lucian standing at the doorway. His expression was inscrutable, a mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite decipher. Was it betrayal? Heartache?

She tried to sense his emotions, but once again, he had shut her out, severing the connection that had linked his heart to hers. Slowly, he advanced towards her, and that's when she noticed that detestable collar clutched tightly in his hand.

She shook her head in disbelief as he stood there, towering over her, looking at her as if she had wronged him terribly. A single tear ran down her cheek as he once again placed the collar around her neck, treating her like nothing more than a piece of property.

He grabbed her arm and led her out of the kitchen, through the dining room, and down the familiar hallway beneath the stairs. It was in that moment that she realized where he intended to take her.

"No!" She cried out, wrenching her arm free and collapsing to the floor as she fought to escape his grip.

Ignoring her struggle, he effortlessly picked her up and slung her over his shoulder, determined to take her straight to the dreaded hole.

"What did I do?!" She screamed, desperately grasping at anything within reach in a futile attempt to break free. But her resistance only seemed to fuel his rage. "I've been good!" She pleaded. "I've been good!"

They descended into the basement, where he tossed aside the red carpet and unlatched the trapdoor to the unforgiving hole. Throughout the ordeal, Visenya kicked, screamed, and sobbed, all the while begging him not to punish her for reasons only he could fathom in his twisted mind.

"Please," she implored, her voice desperate as he chained her wrists to the cold, unforgiving wall and placed the blindfold over her eyes. "Please, don't do this to me!"

He stomped out of there, callously disregarding her pleas, and slammed the door shut behind him. The echoes of her screams penetrated the depths of his very soul, but nothing cut him deeper than the affliction in his heart. He pounded his fist against the unyielding metal hatch, unleashing a primal cry of misery before finally collapsing onto the cold, unforgiving ground beneath him.
———

The next morning, Sarai was abruptly awakened by a sharp knock at the door. With a surge of urgency, she hastily made her way to open it, only to gasp in sheer horror at the sight that greeted her. Standing before her were a few former guards of Visenya's, their faces etched with deep concern as they gingerly carried in a gravely injured Caspian and gently placed him on the sofa.

"What in Goddess's name happened to him?!" She shrieked, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief.

"We... we don't know," one of the men stammered, his voice filled with sympathy. "He called out to me through the mind-link yesterday afternoon. We found him a few miles outside the old Night Stalker kingdom."

"Is he going to be alright?" Synora's voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes, her fingers gently caressing his blood-stained hair.

"He should make a full recovery once he's able to shift again," he reassured, a hint of optimism in his voice. "He's been in and out of consciousness, and based on his severe muscle rigidity, it appears that his wolf had to force shift to save his life. We've already reached out to the physician through the mind-link… he should be arriving soon."

"Thank you, boys. I truly appreciate you bringing him back home and acting so quickly," Sarai expressed her gratitude, guiding them towards the door. "I'll make sure to keep you all updated on his recovery."

The men nodded in acknowledgment as they walked out, their expressions revealing their deep-seated concern for their revered Beta.

"Synora, go to your room," Sarai's voice carried a heavy dose of firmness, as soon as they were alone.

"But I want to stay with him," Synora pleaded, her voice filled with longing.

"Synora!" Sarai's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. "Go... now."

Synora kissed Caspian on the forehead, then went straight to her room.

"Can you hear me, Caspian?" Sarai asked through the mind-link.

"Yes," he replied through the link.

"Good," she said. "Because you're going to tell me what the hell you did."

"Nothing," he muttered weakly.

"Bullshit!" She exclaimed, her anger boiling over. "You were found a few miles outside of HIS territory! Practically on the brink of death! I won't ask again, Caspian. Tell me what the hell you did to provoke him so profoundly that it nearly cost you your life."