Chapter 5 Invitation

• Leah’s POV
• The first time I looked at Lucian, I knew he was dangerous. Just one glance, and it felt like everything I knew could crumble under his gaze. It was terrifying and magnetic at the same time.
• And now, here he was, leaning in closer. I didn’t know why he was doing this, why he was trying to kiss me. Each inch he crossed made my heart race faster, pounding so loudly in my chest that it drowned out my thoughts. I felt like I was spiraling, lost in the chaos he was creating within me.
• I wanted to push him away. I wanted to move, to stop this. But my body betrayed me, frozen in place.
• "Lucian," I whispered, my voice trembling, but it was barely audible.
• "Don’t say anything, Leah," he murmured, his voice low and intoxicating. "Don’t fight it. I know you want this. I know you do."
• I couldn’t reply. My lips pressed tightly together, trembling as I bit down to keep from saying or doing something reckless. I closed my eyes, bracing myself. I could feel his breath now, warm and steady against my skin, sending waves of heat through me. It was overwhelming—both terrifying and comforting.
• Just as I thought it was going to happen, a loud, jarring knock shattered the moment.
• "Leah, are you in there?" Damon’s sharp, dangerous voice echoed through the door. "Open up, or we’ll break it down!"
• My eyes shot open. Lucian had already pulled away, his expression instantly shifting to fury. His jaw was tight, his glare fixed on the door as if he wanted to destroy whoever dared to interrupt. Without another word, he strode to the door and flung it open.
• Standing there were the other three brothers—Damon, Xander, and Rafael—all staring, their expressions a mix of suspicion and curiosity. Damon stepped forward.
• "I caught her. I brought her here," Lucian said casually, as though it was no big deal.
• Lucian stepped aside, letting them in. One by one, they walked into the room and surrounded me. Their presence was suffocating—four men who commanded the space with their sheer intensity.
• "You’re so stubborn," Damon said coldly, his eyes narrowing at me. "How many times do we have to tell you? There’s no escape from this mansion. If you keep trying, we’ll kill your family."
• "Relax," Xander cut in, his tone softer but still firm. "Let’s not make this worse than it already is."
• Xander sat beside me, his presence close enough to make my skin prickle. I couldn’t move, couldn’t find my voice. I looked at them, one by one. Lucian stood with his hands shoved into his pockets, leaning against the wall, his gaze distant. Damon’s glare bore into me as though he was fed up with my resistance. Xander and Rafael were softer, but their calmness only added to the suffocating weight of the moment.
• It was all too much. My stomach churned, the room spun, and I felt like I was going to collapse.
• "W-Where’s the bathroom?" I managed to whisper, my voice weak.
• "Right here—" Rafael started to say, but before he could finish, I was already running. I barely made it to the bathroom before everything spilled out—my nausea, my fear, my helplessness.
• When it was over, I slumped forward, trembling, barely holding myself up. Suddenly, they were all there, crowding around the doorway, unsure of what to do.
• "I got you," Rafael said, stepping forward. He placed a hand on my back, rubbing gently, steadying me as I recovered.
• When I was finally done, my legs gave out. Xander and Rafael quickly moved to help me, lifting me gently.
• "Here, lie down for a bit," Xander said, his voice unusually tender.
• But before they could get me back to bed, Lucian shoved them aside, his movements swift and commanding. Without a word, he scooped me up in his arms, holding me close as he turned to the others.
• "Call the doctor," he said, his voice edged with urgency.
• "And why should I listen to you?" Xander snapped, his tone sharp.
• "Because I said so," Lucian shot back, his eyes burning with a warning. "And I’m older than you. Now do it."
• Xander glared but eventually sighed and left, muttering under his breath. Lucian gently placed me back on the bed, pulling the covers over me as if to shield me from everything.
• Just as I began to settle, Damon spoke up, his voice dripping with venom.
• "Just because you’re taking care of her doesn’t mean she’ll choose you."
• Everyone froze. His words hung in the air like a threat.
• "What the heck is your problem?" Lucian barked, turning to face him.
• "You know exactly what you’re doing. You’re trying to make her yours. But remember, she has to choose, and you can’t push us aside just to get what you want."
• The tension between them was electric, suffocating. Rafael quickly stepped between the two, his voice calm but firm.
• "Stop it, both of you," he said. "Do you think this is what she wants? This isn’t how you win her over. Just calm down."
• Both Lucian and Damon looked away, their anger barely contained. Rafael turned back to me, his expression soft.
• "Leah, do you need anything? Are you hungry?" he asked gently.
• I shook my head, tears welling up. "I just want to go home," I whispered. "I want to be with my family. Please… I don’t want to be here anymore."
• The room fell silent. The brothers exchanged glances, their tension shifting to something heavier. Rafael reached out and took my hand, squeezing it softly.
• "We’re sorry, Leah," he said, his voice laced with regret. "We can’t let you go. You’re bound to us now. But we’ll do everything we can to make this easier for you."
• Before I could respond, the door burst open. Xander was back, holding a piece of paper.
• "Where’s the doctor we asked you for?" Lucian demanded.
• "He’s on his way," Xander replied, unfazed. "But before that, there’s an invitation for us."
• "What kind of invitation?" Lucian asked, his tone sharp.
• Xander handed him the paper. Lucian scanned it quickly.
• "We’ve been invited to The Celestial Soirée," Xander said, his tone grave. "A secretive event known for uniting the world’s wealthiest and most influential individuals."