Page 96 of Forsaken Devotion: Part 2
“If you want to work with the pack, I can ask Lucian what jobs they have available?”
Verity screwed her lips into a contemplative pout.
“I’ll think about it.”
The doors swung open with extra force. Lucian strode in, and the entire room stilled. I didn’t miss the hitches in breath behind me.
“Come here.” Lucian pulled me by my wrist, and I stumbled after him.
“What—wait, Lucian,” I complained. “Stop.” I twisted my wrist and slipped out of his hold. The doors creaked as they closed behind me. “Why is there blood all over you?”
Lucian raked both hands through his hair.
“In my effort to protect you, I made you feel like you had no say, correct?” My eyebrows furrowed together, and I slowlynodded. “I should have told you about having a lead on Cierra.” He gripped my non-injured arm. “I keep fucking up, but I’m trying, even though it goes against my nature to protect you with every fiber of my being.” He sighed. “Please, follow me.”
I studied him for a few moments. The expectant look on his face and tension lining his body only worsened by the second.
He seemed much more serious than earlier.
“Okay.” With the single word, he took my hand and pulled me after him. I trailed after him, walking through the hallway until he guided me out of the Community Center.
In the gravel parking area, Bruno stood over a huddled, bloody form. It took me a moment to make out the face I’d only seen once.
Stools was lying on his side, blood and bruises all over his face.
“He was one of the ones who helped Cierra,” Lucian said, arm sliding around my waist. Stools raised his head, eyes so wide I could only see the whites of them. They kept flicking back and forth. Our conversation in Gideon Drake’s bar rushed to the forefront. His pleas echoed in my thoughts. He’d mentioned a daughter and wife . . .
“Let him go.” Lucian’s hand flexed on my waist.
“What?” Lucian bit out, head whipping toward me.
“Let him go,” I repeated. “If he hadn’t recommended your hotel to my case worker, I never would have ended up there.”
Lucian’s gaze flicked from me to Stools.
“You two have spoken about this?”
His eyebrows rose high on his forehead.
“That day Drake tricked us onto his land. I did manage to speak with him.”
“But—”
“No.” I raised my eyes to Lucian’s. “The Luna, the woman who should have had her pack’s best interests in mind, ordered him to do something. What else was he to do?”
Lucian growled, and he started pacing, raking his hands through his hair.
“He could have come to me,” Lucian shouted.
“After you rejected me?” I matched his tone. “How could he think you’d care?” I spat.
He flinched, and his head turned to the side, his eyes shutting so I couldn’t tell what he felt. He did this when he felt especially guilty.
I took a deep breath, knowing arguing like this was counterproductive.
“He didn’t have to try to make things right, but he did.”
The corners of Lucian’s mouth twitched downward. He finally opened his eyes, meeting my gaze with piercing focus.
