LAYLA'S POV
The gardens were quiet that afternoon. The sunlight shone on the lovely marble paths and the roses bloomed in the gardens.
It was a beautiful day.
I was carrying a small basket of herbs back toward the kitchens when I saw him.
Lucian Stormvale.
He stood near the fountain. He looked tall and handsome as usual. The moment his eyes caught mine, my steps faltered.
He smiled.
"You look beautiful today," he said smoothly..
Heat rushed to my face. I ducked my head quickly, fumbling with the basket in my hands. "I-I'm not… you shouldn't say things like that. I'm just—"
"An omega?" he finished for me. "Titles don't dim beauty, Layla."
My stomach flipped. No one had ever spoken to me like that before. Not even the triplets. Especially not them.
Lucian stepped closer, holding out his arm. "Walk with me?"
I shook my head. "It isn't right. A noble shouldn't be seen walking with… with me."
His smile deepened. "You let other people decide what is right far too often. Walk with me, Layla. Please."
I hesitated, then placed my hand lightly on his arm. My chest ached with nerves, but I let him guide me down the path.
At first, he asked simple questions. About where I grew up, what I liked to do in my free time. He asked me things no one had ever bothered to ask me. I answered cautiously. I was a bit embarrassed by how plain my life had been. But he listened intently, as if every word mattered.
Then, his questions turned deeper "And what of your bond with the Alphas?"
My heart clenched. "That's… complicated."
"Complicated how?"
I swallowed hard. "They don't… want me. Not really. Not because of the bond. Because of who I am. Because I'm an omega." The words left my throat like broken glass. It hurt to even say that out loud.
Lucian stopped walking. He turned toward me fully. His eyes searched mine with an intensity that made me forget to breathe. Slowly, he reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. His touch was gentle and it sent shivers down my spine.
"Then they are fools," he said firmly. "If they can't see how extraordinary you are, they don't deserve you."
My heart stuttered. No one had ever said something like that to me. I didn't know whether to believe him, but the words sank into places inside me I didn't even realize were aching.
Before I could answer, I felt a sensation. It felt like someone was watching me. I looked up to the castle windows.
When I saw who it was, I froze.
Kieran.
He was standing at the tall window. He watched us intensely. Even from afar, I could feel his aura. It was filled with anger and something even darker. His eyes locked with mine, then cut toward Lucian. His jaw was clenched so tightly I thought it might crack. He looked ready to leap down and tear Lucian apart.
My chest squeezed painfully.
Lucian followed my gaze, then smirked.
"Ignore him," he murmured, sliding his arm back beneath my hand. "Walk with me, Layla. Let him watch."
My breath caught, but Lucian started forward again. He began telling stories. He told me clever, outrageous stories about his travels beyond the territories. Before long, I was laughing even though I still felt uneasy.
For once, I felt light. I felt free and seen.
And that terrified me.
-
A few days later, I was in the kitchens, stacking clean plates when the air shifted. Suddenly, whispers filled the room, and I turned just in time to see him enter.
Lucian.
But not as I usually saw him. Tonight he was shirtless. He looked fresh from training. His lean, muscled build caught every eye in the room. The moonlight coming from the windows made his muscles and skin sparkle.
The servants immediately bowed and murmured "My Lord"
I froze, plate in hand. My heart felt like it was stumbling over itself.
He scanned the room lazily, ignoring the bows and greetings. Then his eyes landed squarely on me.
He walked forward without hesitation.
"Layla," he said softly. The way he said my name made the entire kitchen fall silent.
"My lord," I whispered, holding the plate against my chest.
He tilted his head, studying me like I was the only one there. "I've been meaning to see you. You hide too well."
"I…I don't hide," I whispered.
He smiled. "Then meet me later. In the gardens. Just you and I."
My breath caught, but before I could answer, he reached for my hand again. He kissed my hand, while the room around us seemed to stop breathing.
Then he released me and walked out, as if he hadn't just set the kitchens on fire.
The silence shattered into whispers immediately.
Janet appeared at my side, grinning like a cat.
"Oh, Layla," she teased. "That man has a taste for you. A very strong taste."
"Shut up," I hissed. I could feel my face burning.
She smirked wider. "Don't pretend you don't like it. I can see your knees shaking."
I glared, but my heart was pounding so violently I couldn't form a proper denial.
-
-
That night, unable to sleep, I slipped into the gardens for peace. The moon hung low in the sky. When I got there, I thought I was alone until the shadows shifted.
Lucian stepped forward from the darkness.
"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said quietly.
My heart hammered. The night air suddenly felt heavier.
"Why are you here?" I whispered.
He stepped closer "Because you intrigue me." His amber eyes gleamed in the moonlight. "And because I always go after what I want."
My breath caught in my throat. "And what is it you want from me, Lord Lucian?"
The question trembled between us