"Bound by Destiny"

Chapter 28 : The Breaking Point

Lan Wangji's chest heaved, his body trembling with the force of his emotions as he pulled away from Wei Wuxian, his heart pounding in his ears. The heat from the potion burned through his veins like wildfire, his body aching with an intensity that left him unsteady on his feet. He turned his back to Wei Wuxian, clenching his fists tightly as he struggled to regain control, the taste of their kiss still lingering on his lips.

Wei Wuxian stood there, wide-eyed and breathless, his heart racing from the intensity of the kiss. He had felt the raw need in Lan Wangji, the desire that had finally broken through the stoic exterior he had grown so used to. But there was something else there too-something dark and unsettling.

"Lan Zhan..." Wei Wuxian's voice was soft, cautious. "What's wrong?"

Lan Wangji's grip on the table tightened, his knuckles white with the strain of holding himself back. He couldn't tell Wei Wuxian about the potion. He couldn't admit that the elders had tried to manipulate them, and worse, that the potion had taken effect before he could stop it. His pride, his honor, wouldn't allow it. He had always been in control of himself, but now, with the drug coursing through him, that control was slipping through his fingers.

"I need to go," Lan Wangji whispered, his voice hoarse with effort. He moved to leave, but before he could take another step, Wei Wuxian's hand caught his wrist, holding him in place.

"Don't run away from me," Wei Wuxian said quietly, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside him. "You always pull away, but I'm your husband, Lan Zhan. You don't have to hide from me."

Lan Wangji's shoulders tensed at the words, the truth in them cutting through the haze of desire clouding his mind. He turned to face Wei Wuxian, his eyes dark with a mix of emotions -guilt, longing, frustration. "Wei Ying... I am not myself tonight. I cannot-"

"I don't care if you're not yourself," Wei Wuxian interrupted, stepping closer to interrupted, stepping closer to Lan Wangji, his gaze unwavering. "I want to be with you. You don't have to protect me from your feelings. I'm ready for this-ready for us."

Lan Wangji's breath caught in his throat. Wei Wuxian's words cut through the fog of the potion, grounding him in a way he hadn't expected. He could see the sincerity in Wei Wuxian's eyes, the open vulnerability that mirrored his own. But even so, the fear of losing control, of hurting Wei Wuxian, loomed over him like a dark shadow.

"Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji's voice was soft, a quiet plea for understanding. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," Wei Wuxian insisted, his hands moving up to gently cradle Lan Wangji's face. "You could never hurt me. I trust you."

Those words, spoken with such certainty, broke something in Lan Wangji. His resistance crumbled, the walls he had so carefully built around his heart shattering as he pulled Wei Wuxian into his arms once more. This time, there was no hesitation, no holding back. He kissed Wei Wuxian with all the pent-up longing he had kept hidden for so long, his hands gripping the fabric of Wei Wuxian's robes as if he were afraid to let go.

Wei Wuxian responded in kind, his hands tangling in Lan Wangji's hair as he pressed closer, their bodies fitting together like two halves of a whole. The heat between them was overwhelming, their breaths mingling as the kiss deepened, growing more desperate, more urgent. Wei Wuxian had never felt anything like this before- this consuming need, this burning desire that threatened to overwhelm him.

But even in the midst of it all, there was something soft, something tender in the way Lan Wangji held him. Despite the intensity of the moment, there was still that underlying care, that deep love that had always been there between them.

Lan Wangji broke the kiss, his forehead resting against Wei Wuxian's as they both tried to catch their breath. His hands moved to Wei Wuxian's waist, holding him close, his body still trembling with the force of his emotions. "Wei Ying," he whispered, his voice rough with desire, "I love you."

Wei Wuxian smiled, his heart swelling at the words. "I love you too, Lan Zhan."

But just as they began to move closer again, the door to their quarters suddenly slid open with a loud thud. Both men froze, turning to see one of the Lan Clan elders standing in the doorway, his face twisted in anger and disgust.

"What is the meaning of this?" the elder barked, his voice harsh and accusing. "You disgrace the Lan Clan with your indecency!"

Wei Wuxian's heart sank. He could see the anger in the elder's eyes, the judgment that had always been there but had now finally come to the surface. He had never cared much for the opinions of the elders, but this- it felt different. The elder's intrusion into their most private moment was a violation that struck deep.

Lan Wangji's expression hardened, his protective instincts flaring to life. He stepped in front of Wei Wuxian, shielding him from the elder's gaze. "Leave," Lan Wangji ordered, his voice cold and commanding. "This is none of your concern."

But the elder was not so easily deterred. "It is very much my concern! The Lan Clan has been patient with this union, but it is clear now that it has borne no fruit. There is still no heir, and instead of fulfilling your duty, you indulge in this this shameful display."

Wei Wuxian felt a surge of anger rise within him. He stepped forward, standing beside Lan Wangji as he glared at the elder. "Our marriage is none of your business," Wei Wuxian said sharply. "What happens between us is between us, not the entire clan."

But the elder wasn't finished. His eyes narrowed, a cruel smile curling at the corners of his lips. "Is it? You are married into this clan, Wei Wuxian. You have responsibilities-responsibilities that you have clearly neglected. If you cannot provide an heir, then perhaps the Lan Clan should reconsider this arrangement."

Lan Wangji's fists clenched at his sides, his anger barely contained. He had always known that the elders disapproved of his marriage to Wei Wuxian, but hearing them speak so openly about dissolving it ignited a fury within him that he hadn't felt in years.

"You will not speak of Wei Ying in such a way," Lan Wangji growled, his voice dangerously low. "He is my husband, and you will respect him as such."

The elder scoffed, unimpressed by Lan Wangji's defense. "Respect must be earned, and as of now, your marriage has brought nothing but shame to this clan."

Before Lan Wangji could respond, Wei Wuxian placed a calming hand on his arm, stepping forward to face the elder. "I've heard enough," he said quietly, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "You don't have to approve of us. We don't need your permission to be together. But if you think we'll be pushed around or threatened, you're mistaken."

The elder's eyes flashed with anger, but Wei Wuxian didn't back down. He stood tall, his chin raised defiantly. "We will live our lives as we see fit," he continued, "and no one-not even the Lan Clan elders-will dictate how we love each other."

There was a tense silence as the elder glared at Wei Wuxian, his face flushed with anger. But after a long moment, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his robes billowing behind him as the door slammed shut.

Wei Wuxian let out a shaky breath, his body still tense from the confrontation. He turned to Lan Wangji, who was standing rigidly beside him, his jaw clenched tight.

"Lan Zhan..." Wei Wuxian reached out, touching Lan Wangji's arm gently. "Are you okay?"

Lan Wangji's eyes softened as he looked at Wei Wuxian, the fire of his anger slowly dissipating. He pulled Wei Wuxian into his arms, holding him close as if to reassure himself that everything was still intact between them.

"I am fine, Wei Ying," Lan Wangji whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "But I will not let them treat you this way. Never again."

Wei Wuxian smiled softly, his head resting against Lan Wangji's chest as he listened to the steady beat of his heart. "We'll get through this, Lan Zhan," he murmured. "Together."

Lan Wangji pressed a kiss to Wei Wuxian's hair, his arms tightening around him. "Yes," he whispered. "Together."