Chapter 106: My Business

A sharp breeze slid across my skin, cool and clean, carrying that faint electric feeling that always hummed around him. I shivered before I could stop myself. Lewis, who had been holding me close, noticed right away and loosened his grip just enough to look at me.He lifted his hand and wiped the trace of wine from the corner of my mouth with his thumb, slow and careful, like it mattered. Then his arm came back around me, firm and warm, blocking the wind without thinking about it. His voice dropped low, rough in a way that curled through my chest.

"Was it to your taste?"

I blinked up at him, my head fuzzy. I wasn’t really listening. I was watching his mouth move, feeling the pull in my gut that had nothing to do with alcohol and everything to do with instinct.

Before I could answer, a sneeze escaped me. He chuckled softly and rubbed the tip of my nose with his knuckle, an easy, familiar gesture.

"Alright," he said, already deciding for both of us. "Let’s head back."

I nodded and tried to stand on my own. The moment my feet touched the ground, the world tilted. I wobbled, clipped the leg of an umbrella stand, and pitched forward.

I didn’t fall.

Lewis caught me effortlessly, lifting me like it was the most natural thing in the world. One second I was tipping over, the next I was pressed against his chest, feet off the ground.

"Careful," he murmured, his arms solid around me. "You’re really trouble tonight."

From behind us, Theo’s voice came, cautious but polite. "Mr. Lewis "

"It’s fine," Lewis cut in without looking back. "No one’s around."

That tone left no room for argument. Theo went quiet.

Lewis carried me to the car, steady and sure, like he knew exactly where every step should land. Even through the haze in my head, something didn’t add up. I stared at him, frowning.

"Wait," I said slowly. "Your legs. You’re... standing."

He placed me gently in the back seat, then climbed in after me. Instead of buckling me in, he pulled me onto his lap, one arm braced around my waist like an anchor.

"I can stand," he said simply.

I squinted at him. "But you said you were hurt."

I shifted, curiosity burning brighter than common sense, and reached down to touch his legs through the fabric of his trousers. They were strong. Solid. Not weak at all.

My confusion deepened.

Then I noticed his belt.

The thought barely formed before my hand moved.

His grip closed around my wrist instantly, firm but not painful. His voice dropped, warning threaded with amusement.

"Elena. Don’t."

I pouted, emboldened by wine and his closeness. "I just want to check," I complained. "How do I know you’re not lying again?"

From the front seat, Theo made a sound that might have been a cough. Or a laugh. I ignored it.

"Be patient," Lewis said, his voice rougher now. "When we’re home, I’ll show you."

"No," I huffed, stubborn for no good reason. "Why not now? Why are you being so stingy?"

He exhaled slowly, like he was holding something back. "You’re pushing your luck."

I tilted my head, honestly confused. I wasn’t trying to start trouble. I just wanted answers.

Suddenly, his arm tightened around my waist, pulling me flush against him. The shift was subtle but unmistakable. Possessive. Grounding. It sent a strange warmth through me, something old and wordless responding without permission.

Then he leaned forward and said quietly, "Drive faster."

Theo didn’t hesitate. "Yes, sir."

The engine surged, and I stayed right where Lewis had put me, heart racing for reasons I didn’t fully understand but didn’t want to question either.

Lewis brought me back to the Hale residence that night.

The estate lights glowed softly, humming with a quiet pressure that always made my skin tingle. It felt like crossing into someone else’s territory, one ruled by strength and unspoken laws. Lewis sat in his wheelchair, and I leaned into him without thinking, my head resting on his shoulder like it belonged there. His arm stayed firm around my waist, steady, possessive in a way that made my pulse slow.

Theo pushed us down the long hallway in silence. His presence was respectful, careful, like he knew better than to interrupt a private moment between bonded mates.

When we passed the living room, Julian stepped out of the shadows. His eyes widened the moment he saw me curled against Lewis, my cheeks warm, my body relaxed in his hold. Shock flashed across his face, sharp and raw.

"What happened to Riley?" he asked, frowning.

"She drank more than she should have," Lewis replied calmly, his voice even, controlled.

I was half-asleep by then, drifting in and out, wrapped in Lewis’s familiar warmth. Some noise echoed through the hall, and I frowned, pressing closer to him.

"Honey... it’s too loud," I murmured.

Lewis’s hand moved in slow circles on my back, soothing, grounding. "It’s fine," he said quietly. "We’re almost there."

Julian didn’t move. He stared at us like something inside him had cracked.

"Uncle Lewis," he said, his voice tight, "Elena hasn’t been gone that long. And you’re already with someone else? Is this how you respect her bond?"

Lewis stopped.

The air shifted. I felt it even through the haze in my head. His body went still, his presence sharpening, heavy and cold.

He looked at Julian and laughed softly, without humor. "Weren’t you the one who told me to let go?" he said. "The one who swore you’d protect her? I did what you asked. I stayed away. I buried what I felt. I left the country."

His voice lowered, dangerous. "And while I was gone, you failed her so badly I couldn’t even see her one last time. I couldn’t even find her body."

Julian’s face paled.

Lewis continued, each word measured, carrying weight. "You expect me to live like a ghost now? To deny my instincts? No. I’m done sacrificing myself for your guilt."

His arm tightened around me slightly. "Riley is my mate. My wife. That makes her your aunt. Remember that. If you cross the line again, you will answer for it."

Julian swallowed. "What are you planning to do with her?"

Lewis’s eyes hardened. "We are married. What happens between us is none of your concern."

With that, he moved forward. The elevator doors slid open, and Lewis lifted me into his arms as if I weighed nothing. The doors closed, cutting Julian off as we rose in silence.

My head rested against Lewis’s chest. His heartbeat was slow, steady, strong. It made me feel safe in a way I didn’t have words for.

When we reached the top floor, the curtains in the room drew themselves shut, sealing us away from the rest of the house. Privacy settled around us like a promise.

Lewis stood up from the wheelchair with ease and carried me to the bed. He laid me down gently, his gaze soft but intense, like he was holding back something powerful just beneath the surface.

He knelt beside me, cupping my face in his hands. His thumb brushed my cheek, slow and reverent.

"Tell me," he whispered, voice low and rough, "what you want to see."

His eyes darkened, full of heat and quiet dominance.

"I’m ready to show you everything."