Page 52 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

That submission was completely unexpected, leaving her frozen in her spot as she absorbed the vulnerable fact that was indeed, Lucian’s reality from the past.One of the many things that could contribute to his imbalanced sanity.The raw pain in his voice couldn't be faked. Serenity felt something inside her crack open, a sliver of genuine trust forming despite her best defenses.

"These people don't just kill their enemies," Lucian continued, his voice dropping to something harsh and haunted. "They erase them. Destroy everything they built. Rewrite history to suit their narrative." His eyes locked with hers. "They won't just kill you, Serenity. They'll erase every trace that Marcus Vale ever had a daughter or empire."

The weight of his words pressed against her chest. She glanced around the seemingly innocent Parisian street, suddenly aware of how exposed they were.

"Fine," she said, at last, stepping toward the car. "But understand this—I'm working with you, not for you."

Lucian's mouth quirked up at one corner as he held the door.

"I would expect nothing less from Vale's daughter."

As he moved to join her in the back seat, Serenity caught a glimpse of his expression. Behind the mask of control, behind the calculating Alpha exterior, she saw something that trulyfrightened her: fear. Lucian Blackthorn was afraid, and someone like him didn't scare easily.

The car pulled away from the curb, Christmas lights reflecting off its polished surface as it disappeared into the Parisian night, carrying its precious cargo away from glittering festivities and deeper into darkness.

10

THE PLOY IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF ACCEPTANCE

~SERENITY~

Lucian settled beside her in the luxury car's plush leather backseat, close enough that the heat from his body radiated against her skin.

The vehicle slid silently into the flow of evening Paris traffic, Christmas lights streaming past the tinted windows in blurs of gold and red.

"This choice isn't one made lightly," Lucian said, his voice measured as he turned slightly toward her. "You need to understand exactly what accepting our protection entails."

Serenity raised an eyebrow.

"I've never made a decision lightly in my life, Blackthorn."

His amber eyes captured hers, and something in them made her breath catch—a primal recognition, Alpha to Omega, that she both resented and couldn't deny.

"Three Alphas," he said, his gaze unrelenting. "Sharing territory. Sharing purpose." A slight pause. "Sharing an Omega."

Serenity's spine straightened.

"I'm not a possession to be shared."

"No," he agreed, "you're not. That's precisely what makes you so... extraordinary." His eyes drifted down her neck, lingering ather pulse point. "Your father knew we would be drawn to your strength as much as your scent."

"And what exactly does this alliance look like?" she pressed, refusing to be distracted by the way his proximity made her body respond. "In practical terms."

Lucian leaned back slightly, his expression becoming analytical. "Darius provides legitimacy and social cover. Ronan offers muscle and street intelligence. I provide financial resources and strategic planning. Together, we're positioned to dismantle The Society systematically—but we need you."

"For what? My inheritance? My father's contacts?"

"For completion in a world that forces us Alphas to be deemed as incomplete otherwise." The simplicity of his answer surprised her. "Four corners of a fortress. Your father designed it this way—three Alphas with complementary skills, but missing the central piece that would unite them." His hand moved to rest on the seat between them, fingers just inches from her thigh. "You."

The car made a smooth turn, and through the window, Serenity caught glimpses of the Seine, its dark waters reflecting the holiday lights strung along the bridges. Paris continued its cheerful celebration, unaware of the dangerous currents flowing through its streets.

"And if I refuse?" She forced herself to ask the question, though part of her already knew the answer.

Something dark passed behind Lucian's eyes. "Then you fight alone against an organization that has spent decades perfecting the art of making people disappear." He adjusted his immaculate purple tie. "They've already compromised one of my informants. They'll find a way to you eventually."

"I'm not defenseless."

"No one is suggesting you are." His voice softened fractionally. "But even the most capable Omega can't watch her back every second of every day."

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