Page 18 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

And Mrs. Gray didn't seem to care what humiliation her daughter suffered—she'd already left when Liam threw the mud. After all, our trade would increase after the alliance. I sneered. Classic Gray. Only cared about appearances and profit. Then I thought of the bride's face—what was her name again? Oh, Elena—numb, lips trembling slightly.

She was pretty pathetic too.

The thought flickered past.

The study lights were off. I didn't bother with the switch. Just walked in and sank into the chair, leaning back and closing my eyes. Moonlight leaked through the blinds, cutting gray-white shadows across the floor. The room was so quiet all I could hear was my own breathing. The tie choked me. I loosened it, tossed it on the desk, and leaned back.

Knock knock.

Two soft raps.

"Come in."

The door cracked open. Light from the corridor spilled in, outlining a figure—Lina. She stood in the doorway, not entering, clutching a handkerchief, tear tracks still on her face.

"Lucifer." Her voice was hoarse. "Can I come in?"

I didn't move. "Come in."

She entered and gently closed the door. Without turning on the light, she walked over and sat in the chair across from the desk. Moonlight hit her profile. Her eyes were still red. "I came to apologize," she said. "Liam... I didn't watch him closely enough. He was painting in the garden today. I don't know how he got out... By the time I noticed, he'd already charged into the chapel. I'm sorry."

I looked at her face. She was crying, tears soaking a small dark patch on the handkerchief, but she wasn't sobbing or wailing—just quietly, properly shedding tears in that way well-bred she-wolves did.

I knew how hard she'd worked to calm Liam in the corridor, knew she'd waited until he was asleep to come here, knew her apology was sincere.

But I was still irritated.

At everything that happened today. At this marriage. At the Elder Council for forcing this. At standing on that platform saying "I do" while thinking not of the Gray family's second daughter but of lily and bay leaf, and that damned mud.

"Not your fault," I said. "When that kid wants to run, nobody can stop him."

Lina looked up at me, more tears welling. "But... but today was your wedding day. I should've watched him. I shouldn't have let him—" She shifted. "Lucifer, I'm so scared. Now that you have a wife, I'm afraid she'll make me leave—"

"Lina."

She stopped.

"I've already decided." My voice leveled, pace measured. "This alliance is to shut up the Elder Council. Nothing else. You'll continue taking care of Liam. You don't need to be afraid of anything."

She looked at me for a long time. In the moonlight, her eyes glistened. Her lips moved like she wanted to say something, then swallowed it. Then she stood, walked around the desk, knelt in front of me, and rested her face near my knee, voice soft. "Lucifer... I really want this family. Liam, you, and..."

Her palm landed on my knee.

I looked down at her. Her fingers tightened gently, like searching for a place to land. She lifted her head. The remaining tears made her face look especially tender in the darkness. "Tonight... could it be me?"

She spoke softly, but the meaning was clear. Her hand slid up from my knee. Her scent tonight seemed especially strong, something like laurel spreading around us. But my wolf roared when it caught the smell.

Fake! It snarled.

I reached out, gripped her wrist, and removed her hand from my knee. The movement wasn't rough, but it left no room for negotiation.

"Lina."

She froze.

"I've been very clear with you. You're my family." I released her hand. "Go rest," I said. "Liam needs you."

She stared at me for several seconds. Then she slowly stood and stepped back, the tear tracks on her face now dry, replaced by a kind of covered, restrained calm.