Chapter 153
TERESA’S P.O.V.
There was something strange about Lucian Blackwood.
Well, aside from the fact that he was a blind, sarcastic, stubborn werewolf alpha with a possessive wolf named Ares and a penchant for driving me up the wall. No, this was different. He’d been acting… twitchy lately.
Normally, Lucian carried himself with the confidence of a man who had the world at his feet—and to be fair, he did. But lately, he’d been quieter, more thoughtful, like he was wrestling with something big.
I wasn’t going to push him, though. If there was one thing I’d learned about Lucian, it was that he’d talk when he was ready—or, more likely, he’d make some snide comment that hinted at what was on his mind.
That night, however, everything changed.
It started innocently enough. Lucian had asked me to meet him by the lake near the pack’s territory. He said he wanted to talk, which immediately set off alarm bells in my head. “We need to talk” was never a good sign.
I felt my old insecurities raise their ugly heads at me but I forced myself to calm down.
I walked through the woods, the moonlight filtering through the trees. The lake was one of my favorite spots—serene, quiet, and breathtakingly beautiful at night. I couldn’t count the number of times I’d come here to clear my head or just enjoy the peace.
But tonight, it wasn’t peaceful. Tonight, it was magical.
The lake shimmered like liquid silver under the full moon, but it wasn’t just the moonlight that caught my attention. Lanterns hung from the trees, their soft golden glow reflecting on the water. A pathway of rose petals led to a small wooden dock that jutted out into the lake.
And standing at the end of the dock, looking both ridiculously handsome and uncharacteristically nervous, was Lucian.
“Lucian,” I called out, trying to suppress the smile tugging at my lips. “What is this p>
He turned toward me, his face unreadable. “Come here,” he said softly.
I hesitated for a moment, then followed the trail of petals, my heart pounding in my chest. When I reached him, he held out a hand. I took it, his grip warm and steady despite the tension I could feel radiating from him.
“Okay,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “What’s going on? Did you lose a bet with Rylan or something p>
He smirked, the familiar sarcasm flickering in his expression. “If I had, I’d never admit it p>
“Then what’s this all about p>
Lucian exhaled slowly, his fingers brushing against mine as he held my hand. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” he began, his voice quieter than usual.
“Uh-oh p>
He chuckled, the sound low and rich. “Don’t interrupt me, Teresa p>
“No promises p>
His smirk softened into something more vulnerable, more real. “You’ve changed my life,” he said, his voice steady despite the emotion I could feel behind his words. “You’ve made me a better man, a better alpha. You’ve challenged me, called me out on my nonsense, and stood by me when I didn’t deserve it p>
“Lucian p>
“Let me finish,” he said, his tone a mix of impatience and affection. “I never thought I’d find someone like you. Someone who could make me laugh and drive me insane in the same breath. Someone who could see past all the walls I’ve built and still choose to stay p>
I blinked, my throat tightening as I realized where this was going.
“And I know I don’t say it often enough,” he continued, his grip on my hand tightening slightly, “but I love you, Teresa. With everything I am. And I want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you p>
Before I could respond, he let go of my hand and knelt down on one knee.
“Lucian,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my racing heart.
“Teresa,” he said, pulling out a small velvet box. “Will you marry me p>
For a moment, I couldn’t speak. The sight of this proud, infuriating, wonderful man kneeling before me, his blind eyes filled with a vulnerability he rarely showed, left me completely speechless.
“Say something,” he said after a beat, his smirk returning despite the tension in his voice. “Preferably yes, but I’ll take whatever I can get p>
I laughed, a choked, teary sound, and knelt down in front of him. “You idiot,” I said, my voice shaking. “Of course, I’ll marry you p>
Relief and joy flooded his face, and he pulled me into his arms, holding me so tightly I thought I might break.
“Good,” he muttered into my hair. “Because I was fully prepared to beg p>
I pulled back just enough to look at him, tears streaming down my face. “You? Begging? I would’ve paid to see that p>
He grinned. “Don’t tempt me p>
We both laughed, the sound mingling with the soft rustle of the trees and the gentle lapping of the water against the dock.
Later, as we sat side by side on the dock, my head resting on his shoulder, I couldn’t help but tease him.
“So,” I said, tracing circles on his arm, “who helped you plan all this? Rylan p>
He groaned. “Why does everyone assume I can’t be romantic on my own p>
“Because you’re you p>
“Fair point,” he admitted. “But for the record, Rylan only gave me the idea. The rest was all me p>
I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the lanterns or the moonlight. “Well, you did good, Blackwood. Really good p>
“Of course I did,” he said smugly. “I’m Lucian Blackwood p>
I rolled my eyes. “And there’s the ego p>
“You love it,” he shot back.
“Unfortunately p>
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me closer. “Get used to it, Teresa. You’re stuck with me now p>
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I whispered.
And in that moment, with the moonlight dancing on the water and the man I loved by my side, I knew I’d made the right choice in loving this man.