Chapter 98: Three Months

Olivia’s POV

I was still sitting on the couch, thinking about everything Lucian had told me, when Lucas suddenly teleported into my bedroom.

"Goodness!" I gasped, placing a hand against my chest. "Alpha Lucas! You scared me!"

"I’m sorry," he replied. "Lucian told me you wanted to speak with me. Is everything alright?"

I nodded, although nothing about my situation felt alright. I had just discovered that refusing Lucas’s claiming mark could put my health at risk, and I needed to know what he intended to do about it.

"Please, have a seat, Alpha Lucas."

He walked toward the couch opposite mine and sat down. He was dressed in a black shirt and a pair of jeans, and I noticed how his expression softened whenever he looked at me. It was difficult to believe that the man sitting before me was the same stranger I had met in the forest four years ago.

"What did you want to discuss, Olivia?" he asked.

I took a deep breath. "I spoke with Lucian this morning, and he explained some things about the claiming mark you left on me four years ago. He said it can only be removed if we both agree and that a seer would have to perform a ritual. Is that true?"

"Yes, that’s true."

"Then I want you to agree to remove it."

Lucas’s expression changed immediately. He stared at me for several seconds before leaning back against the couch.

"You want me to release my claim on you?"

"Yes. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I don’t think it’s fair for me to be bound to someone when I didn’t even know about the mark in the first place."

Lucas took a deep breath. "Olivia, I spent four years searching for you. Four years wondering whether you were alive and whether I would ever see you again. Now that I’ve finally found you, you’re asking me to let you go."

"I’m not trying to hurt you, Alpha Lucas. But you have to understand my situation. I’m married to your brother, and I don’t even know what’s going to happen to that marriage now that everyone knows I’m not Princess Annabel. How can I make a decision about us when I don’t even know what my future looks like?"

"I understand that you’re confused," Lucas replied. "But tell me something, Olivia. Do you still have feelings for me?"

I hesitated. "I didn’t say I didn’t."

"Then why are you so determined to remove the mark?"

"Because I want to have a choice!" I replied, unable to hide my frustration. "Lucian told me that if you decide to enforce your claim, the law will support you. He also said that refusing the connection for too long could harm my body. How am I supposed to feel knowing that?"

Lucas’s expression grew serious.

"Olivia, listen to me. I would never use my position, the Council’s laws, or this mark to force you into a relationship with me."

"But the mark is still there, Alpha Lucas. Whether you intend to force me or not, it’s something I have no control over."

He remained silent for a moment before nodding.

"You’re right. You never agreed to the mark, and I understand why you’re upset. But I love you, Olivia. I’m not going to pretend that releasing you is an easy decision for me."

My chest tightened at his words. Part of me still cared about Lucas, but I couldn’t ignore the feelings I had developed for Lucian.

"I know the truth now," I said quietly. "And I’m sorry for believing you abandoned me. But that doesn’t mean I can simply forget everything that’s happened between Lucian and me."

"I know," Lucas replied. "He’s my brother, and I know he loves you."

"Then please agree to release me. I don’t want to be the reason you and Lucian become enemies."

Lucas looked at me for a long moment. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but his silence made me nervous.

Finally, he spoke.

"Olivia, I have a proposal."

I frowned. "What proposal?"

"Give me three months."

"Three months for what?"

"To get to know each other again. We lost four years because of a misunderstanding, and I want a chance to show you who I really am."

"Alpha Lucas, I’m married to your brother."

"Olivia, you and I both know that your marriage to Lucian might not even be legally valid. The marriage agreement was between Lucian and Princess Annabel, not you."

I swallowed hard, knowing he had a point.

"I’m not trying to take you away from him, Olivia," Lucas said firmly. "I’m not asking you to leave him or do anything you’re uncomfortable with. All I’m asking is that you give me a chance. We can spend time together, talk, have dinner, and get to know each other properly. That’s all."

I lowered my gaze, feeling conflicted.

Four years ago, I had felt a strong connection with Lucas, even though we had only spent a short time together. After that night, I had often wondered what had happened to him and whether I would ever see him again. But now that I knew he hadn’t abandoned me, and after spending some time getting to know him, I couldn’t deny that I was beginning to develop feelings for him. Those feelings had nothing to do with what had happened between us four years ago. They were feelings I was gradually developing for the man I was getting to know now.

But Lucian was my husband, and despite everything that had happened between us, I had grown to care about him too.

"And what happens after three months?" I asked.

"If you decide you don’t want to be with me, I’ll agree to remove the mark. I’ll personally arrange for the royal seer to perform the ritual."

I looked at him in surprise. "You’ll really do that? Even if I choose Lucian?"

Lucas’s jaw tightened slightly.

"I won’t pretend I’ll be happy watching you choose my brother," he admitted. "But I won’t keep you bound to me against your wishes. You have my word."

I studied his face, trying to decide whether I could trust his promise.

"And during those three months, what exactly do you expect from me?"

"Nothing you’re unwilling to give. You don’t owe me affection, and you don’t have to make any promises. I only want the opportunity to spend time with you."

I hesitated before asking another question.

"What about the mark? Lucian said refusing it could harm me. What if something happens before the three months are over?"

"Then the agreement ends immediately," Lucas replied. "I’ll summon the royal seer and arrange for the mark to be removed. I’m not going to risk your health just to keep you connected to me."

I let out a slow breath.

For the first time since learning about the claiming mark, I felt a little relieved. At least Lucas was giving me an opportunity to make my own decision.

"There’s something else," I said. "I don’t want you and Lucian fighting over me. Whatever happens during these three months, I don’t want to be responsible for destroying your relationship with your brother."

Lucas sighed. "I can’t promise there won’t be disagreements between us. Lucian loves you, and so do I. But I won’t deliberately hurt him."

I nodded slowly.

Three months didn’t seem like a long time, but I knew a lot could happen during that period. Spending time with Lucas might make my growing feelings for him even stronger, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.

Still, he had promised not to force me into anything. And if I didn’t choose him, he would release me.

Perhaps giving him this chance was better than continuing to argue over the mark.

"Alright," I finally said. "I’ll give you three months."

Lucas looked at me in surprise. "You’ve agreed?"

"Yes, but I want you to understand something. I’m not promising to choose you. I’m only agreeing to get to know you again. And when the three months are over, I expect you to keep your word."

"I will, Olivia. Whatever you decide, I’ll respect it."

I nodded, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake.

A small smile appeared on Lucas’s face.

"Thank you for giving me this chance."

"I just hope we don’t end up regretting it."

"I won’t," he answered. "Whatever happens, at least we’ll have the chance to know each other properly."

Lucas stood up, but before leaving, he turned toward me.

"Since you’ve agreed, how about having dinner with me tomorrow evening? Just the two of us."

I hesitated. Having dinner with Lucas while I was still married to Lucian felt strange, but I had already agreed to spend time with him.

"Alright. Tomorrow evening."

Lucas smiled. "I’ll look forward to it."

He was about to teleport away when I stopped him.

"Alpha Lucas, there’s one more thing."

He turned toward me. "What is it?"

"Lucian doesn’t know about our agreement, does he?"

"Not yet."

"Then we should tell him. He deserves to know."

Lucas nodded. "I agree. We shouldn’t keep this from him."

With that, he teleported away.

I leaned back against the couch, wondering how I had managed to turn a request to remove a claiming mark into a three-month agreement.

Had I made the right decision?

I wasn’t sure. And there was still Lucian to consider. How would he react when he discovered that I had agreed to spend three months getting to know his brother?

I was still thinking about how Lucian would react to my agreement with Lucas when he suddenly teleported into my bedroom.

"Olivia, come with me," he said, his expression serious.

I immediately stood up. "Alpha Lucian, what’s wrong?"

"Someone is here."

I frowned. "Who?"

"A young lady. She claims to be Princess Annabel."

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him.

"What?" I gasped. "That’s impossible! Princess Annabel is dead! I saw her body with my own eyes!"

Lucian looked directly at me.

"That’s exactly why I need you to come downstairs. I want you to see her for yourself."