Lucien's POV
Lucien had never imagined that a man could reduce him to this pathetic state. Never thought he would find himself drowning in fear and self-doubt.
That was his reality before Ryder entered his world. The insufferable Beta who treated everyone with indifference and seemed to take pleasure in cutting him down with razor-sharp words.
Yet here Lucien stood, desperate to justify his actions because the thought of spending another day without Ryder felt unbearable. Another day knowing the man loathed him with every fiber of his being.
Emotional vulnerability had never been Lucien's forte, but the silence between them was slowly destroying him from within.
"I hope you realize this isn't some casual conversation where I'll forget about time. You have barely any time left," Ryder announced coldly.
Lucien remained frozen before the closed door, his hands buried deep in his back pockets.
