Veil of Secrets

Chapter Thirty-Two - Still Standing

I stood frozen in the kitchen for a second, my heart racing in my chest as the sound of the front door slammed behind Lucas. My mind screamed at me to let him go, to let him cool off, but my heart refused to stay still. Without thinking, I bolted toward the door and threw it open.

The rain was coming down in sheets, drenching everything in its path. I could barely see through the downpour, but there he was, walking away, shoulders tense, as if he was carrying the weight of the world.

"Lukas!" I shouted into the storm, but he didn't stop.

Panic surged inside me as I ran after him, the cold rain instantly soaking through my clothes. "Lukas, don't you dare walk away from me!" My voice cracked as I yelled, my feet slipping on the wet ground, but I didn't care.

I pushed harder, my legs burning as I finally caught up to him, grabbing onto his arm. "Lukas!" I shouted again, tugging on his arm to stop him.

He froze, his back still turned to me, the rain pouring down on us both. Slowly, he turned, and when I looked up at him, I saw the raw emotion in his eyes. The rain had mixed with his tears, and the sight of him, so strong yet so broken, made my chest ache.

"Why do you care, Aria?" His voice was low, pained. "Why are you chasing after me when you don't feel the same? When you don't want what I want?"

I swallowed hard, my hands still gripping his arms tightly. "I... I don't know what I want yet," I admitted, my voice trembling. "But that doesn't mean I don't care about you, Lukas."

He shook his head, his expression pained. "You don't understand. The only thing I want, the only thing, is you. And it kills me-" His voice cracked, and he closed his eyes, taking a shaky breath. "It kills me to know that you don't feel the same way."

My heart twisted at his words, the weight of his pain hitting me like a punch to the gut. I hadn't realized how much this bond-this connection-was affecting him. How much it was hurting him.

"Lukas..." I whispered, stepping closer. "Maybe I don't know what I want yet. Maybe I'm scared of it all, of fate, of everything." I lifted my hand to his cheek, wiping away the rain and tears mixed together. "But I'll always be here for you. And I'll always care about you. I don't want you to ever think that you're alone in this."

His eyes opened, and for a moment, he just stared at me, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. Then, without warning, he pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as the rain poured down around us. His grip was firm, like he was afraid if he let go, I'd slip away.

I rested my head against his chest, listening to the rapid beat of his heart. "I'm here," I whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."

For a long time, neither of us said anything. We just stood there, wrapped up in each other, the rain soaking us to the bone. But in that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the bond, not the confusion, not the fear. It was just me and Lukas, standing together in the storm, holding on to each other as if the world could fall apart and we'd still be standing.

As the rain poured around us, soaking us both, I felt Lucas's breathing steady, his hold on me easing but still strong. The tension in his body seemed to melt away the longer we stood there. I gently pulled back, keeping my hand on his chest, looking up at him through the rain. His hazel eyes searched mine, the sadness still lingering, but there was something else now-a quiet understanding between us.

"Come on," I whispered, taking his hand. "Let's go back inside."

Lucas hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the house where everyone else was. I gave his hand a small squeeze, silently telling him it would be okay. He finally nodded, and together, we walked back toward the house, the rain still falling but less harsh now, more like a gentle reminder of the storm that had just passed between us.

When we reached the front door, I opened it, the warmth of the house immediately hitting us. I led Lucas back into the living room, where everyone else was still lounging on the couch, watching the movie as if nothing had happened. Emma glanced up from her spot, giving me a questioning look, but I just smiled softly at her and led Lucas to the couch.

There was a spot beside Sebastian, but instead of taking my previous seat, I sat down next to Lucas this time. I could feel the weight of Sebastian's gaze on me, the unspoken tension hanging in the air. Lucas shifted beside me, his body tensing up again, the familiar protective energy returning.

I glanced over at Sebastian, who was staring at me, his jaw clenched slightly. It wasn't an angry look, but there was definitely something simmering beneath the surface. Lucas's hand twitched, and I could sense his frustration building again, the jealousy flickering just beneath his calm exterior.

Without thinking, I rested my hand on Lucas's thigh, my fingers gently pressing into him. I wasn't sure why I did it, but the effect was immediate. His whole body relaxed under my touch, the tension that had been knotting his muscles unwinding. He leaned back into the couch, letting out a quiet breath, his hand slipping over mine in silent gratitude.

Sebastian's gaze shifted between us for a moment, but he didn't say anything. I met his eyes, giving him a small, apologetic smile, and he seemed to understand. He looked away, focusing back on the movie, though I could still feel the lingering tension in the air.

But with Lucas beside me, his hand resting on mine, and the warmth of the room surrounding us, it didn't feel as overwhelming. For the first time in a long while, I felt a strange sense of peace, as if maybe, just maybe, things would be okay. We didn't have to figure everything out right now.

I squeezed Lucas's hand gently, and he squeezed back, his thumb brushing softly over my skin. And for now, that was enough.