Free Web NovelChapter 242: I want you to choose me
When Luke returned home, dawn was just around the corner.
He had dozed off for far longer than intended.
Sleeping under the moonlight was such an comfortable experience that he didn’t hold a track of the time.
Making his way into the house he silently closed the door and looked around.
Most of the villagers hadn’t woken up so he wished his mate remained the same.
But just as he feared, the moment he stepped inside the house, he heard footsteps coming from the hallway.
The owner of those footsteps was the last person he wanted to face at this hour.
"Luke..."
Monica’s groggy voice reached him as she stood at the end of the hallway, her narrowed eyes fixed on him.
"Ah... hey." He gave an awkward wave. "You wake up this early every day?"
"Where were you last night?"
Ignoring his question entirely, she asked one of her own.
As she approached, her gaze swept over him, and her eyes widened.
His clothes were riddled with cuts. Dried blood stained parts of the fabric, impossible to miss upon closer inspection.
Though he appeared healthy and free of any visible injuries, there was a trace of exhaustion hanging over him that he could not completely hide.
Luke let out a quiet sigh.
"I went to help a friend. Sorry... I should’ve told you beforehand."
Monica’s expression softened slightly.
"Were you out all night?"
Luke slowly nodded.
"Yeah. I’m sorry. I should’ve let you know."
For several seconds, Monica simply stared at him.
She didn’t seem angry.
But the hurt was still there.
Even so, she knew there would be a better time to question him and complain.
Right now wasn’t it.
Without a word, she took his hand and ed him to his room.
Once inside, she pulled a stool for him and said,
"Sit."
Luke blinked in surprise.
"I’ll be back."
Before he could ask what she was planning, she had already left the room.
Letting out a resigned sigh, he accepted her instruction and sat down.
The room felt peaceful.
Warm.
Even in her absence, there was a comforting feeling lingering in the air.
His gaze drifted toward the bed she had spent the night in.
Suddenly, the temptation to throw himself onto it and take a quick nap became almost overwhelming.
But he resisted.
Instead, he remained seated and patiently waited for his mate to return.
Not long afterward, Monica returned carrying a small wooden basket in one hand and several clean cloths in the other.
Without saying a word, she set them beside him and began unfastening his vest.
Seeing her struggle with the last button, Luke raised a hand.
"Let me help..."
"I’ve got it."
Before he could move, she tugged the final button free and pulled the vest apart, exposing his chest.
Carefully, she slid the garment from his shoulders and set it aside.
Her gaze lingered on his bare skin.
Marked by countless cuts and scars, this was no longer the same boy she used to fuss over, nor the one whose unblemished skin she had once envied.
A part of her felt proud.
Every scar was proof of a battle survived, a challenge overcome.
Yet that pride was accompanied by worry.
Because every mark on his body was also a reminder of the dangers he kept throwing himself into.
Monica drew a slow breath, steadying her emotions.
Rolling up her sleeves, she dipped a cloth into the bucket of clean water. After wringing out the excess, she pressed the cool fabric against his skin.
Starting from his shoulders, she gently wiped away the dirt and dried blood, moving slowly down his back.
The cool touch was soothing after everything he had endured.
"Did you risk your life again?"
Her voice was quiet as she worked, almost drowned out by the soft sound of the damp cloth sliding across his skin.
"Not... really. Things got a little messy, but I’ve gotten pretty good at finding my way out of situations like that."
He wasn’t lying.
There had been a moment during his fight against that bear-sized human when he genuinely thought he might lose.
Then he remembered he was a magician.
A magician with spells.
After that, the battle had turned completely in his favor.
A single use of <Shadow Walk> had allowed him to slip behind the man unnoticed, and the rest was history.
"How is your friend now?" Monica asked as she moved to clean the front of his body.
The damp cloth slid from his collarbone down across his chest.
His muscles were noticeably tense beneath her touch. She could tell he was sore, even if he refused to admit it.
"Yeah. She’s safe now." freёwebnovel.com
"She, huh?"
A faint smile tugged at Monica’s lips.
"No wonder you went as far as hiding things from me."
Luke immediately offered an awkward smile.
"That wasn’t the reason..."
"I know."
Monica shook her head lightly.
"I’m just teasing you."
The corners of her lips remained gently curved as she continued cleaning him.
Recently, she had come to realize something about her mate.
Luke wasn’t someone who formed attachments easily.
In fact, he often kept people at arm’s length.
But once someone managed to earn a place in his heart, he never hesitated to go to extraordinary lengths for them.
Sometimes, far more than he should.
And while that part of him worried her, it was also one of the things she admired most.
"Hey."
Luke suddenly cupped her cheek, causing Monica to pause and look up at him.
His voice softened.
"If you’re upset, you can vent to me. You’re the only one who has the right to scold me or complain when I’ve done something stupid. So don’t keep everything bottled up. Tell me what’s on your mind."
Monica shook her head.
"I am worried about how accustomed you’ve become to pain lately. That’s true." Her gaze lowered for a moment before returning to him. "But I don’t want to keep crying about it and become another burden for you to carry."
After a brief pause, she added,
"If anything, I just want you to promise me something."
Luke hummed.
"What is it?"
Monica looked straight into his eyes.
"If you’re ever forced to choose between saving the world and your own life..." Her voice grew quieter. "Promise me you’ll come back to me instead of sacrificing yourself."
Luke’s lips parted slightly.
For once, he didn’t answer immediately.
He took a moment to understand what she was truly asking.
This wasn’t about heroes, villains, or impossible choices.
It was about her fear of losing him.
About the possibility that one day he might decide everyone else’s happiness mattered more than his own life.
And more importantly, more than the life they shared together.
After a long moment, Luke nodded.
"Okay."
His hand gently brushed her cheek.
"My life belongs to you now. So I won’t even consider throwing it away."
The tension in Monica’s eyes finally eased.
A genuine smile spread across her face as she leaned into his touch.
"Good."
Her smile softened further.
"That’s more like it."
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