Louisa's POV
"Louisa, listen to me..." Lucian said while holding me tightly in his arms.
I kept pushing him away from me while shaking my head.
"No! No! I don't believe you anymore! You're just hiding the truth from me!" I whimpered against his chest, leaving traces of tears on his shirt. "They'll get married. Lucas is going to get married to that girl and she'll become his Luna! He told me that he doesn't need a Luna but he's just lying! He's a liar and you're a liar and..."
I didn't manage to finish my sentences, because Lucian hoisted me up over his shoulder and carried me into the inner storage room.
It was so tight and there was only limited space for two, so we had to press against each other.
I was shocked. I didn't know what he was doing when he shut the door and covered my mouth.
His strong, muscular body was pressing against mine.
What is he doing? I thought to myself.
"Louisa, please calm down. I'm sorry to do this to you, but it's just there're eyes and ears everywhere. Listen to me, there will be a wedding. But they won't get married. That's all I can tell you. Do you understand what I mean?" He looked into my eyes and said.
I shook my head and closed my eyes.
This isn't fair. I thought to myself. I can't have any conversation when I'm held by him like this. I can't even think straight.
"Stop struggling, Louisa. Stop it." Lucian's voice got commanding.
I gave up struggling and wept silently.
He wrapped his arms around my body and said, "Sorry, Louisa. I'm so sorry that you have to learn about this like this. I should have told you earlier. Luke didn't lie to you. This isn't what he wants. Blame it all on me. It's all my fault."
"Lucian... Why... Why does it have to be this hard?" I looked up at him. Tears ran down my cheeks, turning white with powder, like tiny flakes of snow.
Lucian looked down at me. For a moment, I thought he was about to kiss me. Eventually, he turned his head away, opened the door, and walked out of the storage room.
"Come here, Miss Louisa. Alpha wants to buy you the most beautiful dress because you'll be dancing with him tonight at the Grand Ball," he said.
I shook my head and said, "No. I don't want to..."
"Louisa, you have to do this. It's Alpha's request," he said.
I bit my lips and walked out of the storage room.
Lucian picked up a dress, got down on one knee, and said, "Lift your leg and step in."
I wiped off the tears from my face and lifted my leg.
Lucian held my ankle gently and placed my leg into the dress. As his hand touched my skin, tremors spread all over my body.
Then, another one.
He treated me with such patience and respect that I really couldn't possibly be mad at him anymore.
While he was pulling up the dress all the way up my legs and waist, the soft silk gently stroked across my burning skin, like a glimpse of autumn breeze.
I couldn't help but moan a little bit, which I was extremely embarrassed by.
"I'm sorry, Louisa. Did I make you uncomfortable?" Lucian's voice was floating next to my ear.
"What are you doing, Lucian?" I whispered.
"I'm helping you to get dressed," he answered. His voice was soft and tender.
I looked at myself in the mirror. Half of my chest was still exposed. Tear marks were scattering all over my face.
It was the most beautiful milky white long dress with an off-the-shoulder strap, a pleated satin sash, and an Ivory bodice.
Lucian stood behind me. His long and slender fingers glided all the way across my chest, pulling up the straps to cover my chest. Then, his hands flitted down my waistline to fasten the invisible zip at the back.
I could tell that this wasn't his first time helping a woman get dressed.
Has he done this to Gianna, or to Lucas' other girlfriends? I thought to myself. Why does he have to treat me so gently? Why can't he just be more like Lucas, so I don't have to suffer like this? Doesn't he know what tenderness and attention mean to a girl who has been abused and neglected for years? Does he know the way he touches and strokes, the way he stares and holds, would make a girl fascinated, overwhelmed, and eventually fall madly in love with him?
I guessed he just didn't realize what he was doing to me. I guessed it was all inside my mind. An illusion of a perfect lover. A perfect mate that I would never deserve.
"You look stunning in this dress." Lucian looked at my image in the mirror and said, gently putting my hair behind my shoulders.
"This looks like a wedding dress," I gave a shallow chuckle and then burst into tears again.
"Miss Louisa, we can try another one," Lucian said.
"Lucian, Lucas will never marry me. I will never be able to wear a wedding dress in my life." I covered my face and wept.
Lucian held my hands and didn't say a word.
I grabbed Lucian as the last straw of hope and cried out, "Lucian, you've known him for a really long time. You must know him. Tell me, what shall I do? I would do everything... I really would! I want to be his bride. I want to get married to him and give birth to his children. I want to have a family. I want to have a husband that loves me the same way I love him. That's all I want..."
Lucian held me in his arms, placing his chin on my head and stroking my hair.
I wished he could say something to comfort me.
I wished he could tell me that everything would be fine, that Lucas loved me, that he would change his mind because of his love for me and marry me one day.
I wished he could tell me something, anything, even lies.
But he didn't. He was a soft-hearted spirit. He could never tell a lie to a hopeless, heartbroken girl.
He just stood there in silence, holding me in his arms, slowly drowning me with his sweet, sweet tenderness.