Chapter 28:Mine to Explain

Lucien I pushed open the door to my lodge just after midnight, the weight of the evening still clinging to me like smoke. The restaurant had been a calculated move—showing my face in neutral territory, letting Kara see me with Elena, forcing her to feel the bond snap tight. I’d hated every second of it. Elena knew it was business; she’d played her part perfectly. But watching Kara serve us with that frozen smile, her scent spiking with jealousy and hurt, had nearly broken my control. I shrugged off my suit jacket, tossed it over the chair, and rolled my shoulders. The house was dark except for the low glow of the fire I’d banked earlier. Quiet. Empty. Then her scent hit me—wild honey, pine, and something sharper tonight. Anger. My pulse kicked hard. I followed it down the hallway, past the kitchen, straight to my bedroom. The door was cracked open. Light from the fire spilled across the floorboards. I stopped in the doorway. Kara was in my bed. Naked. She sat against the headboard, she