Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets Chapter 180 - with you

180

~Lisa’s POV

Damon rose first, offering his hand to like a knight from the old tales. I slipped my fingers into his, and he pulled easily to my feet. My legs tingled from sitting so long, but there was a new kind of lightness in my chest that made want to walk, to stretch my limbs and breathe deeply.

"Shall we?" he asked, his tone quieter now, almost tender, as though he didn’t want to shatter the fragile peace that had grown between us.

"Yes," I said, unable to hide the small smile tugging at my lips. "Let’s walk."

We left the blanket behind for the mont, letting it rest there among the wildflowers. Damon walked at my side, tall and steady, his presence like a shield but also strangely gentle now, as though he’d shed the weight of command for a short while. My hand brushed against his as we walked, and though I didn’t dare take it fully, the closeness sent tiny sparks racing through .

The path curved slightly, leading us through a cluster of trees where the leaves whispered above us. Shafts of golden light stread through the branches, painting stripes across his strong shoulders. I found myself watching him in secret, the way the sunlight caught in his dark hair, the proud line of his jaw, the quiet focus in his eyes, even when he wasn’t speaking.

He noticed, of course. Damon always noticed. "You’re staring," he murmured without turning, a hint of amusent in his voice.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I looked away quickly. "No, I wasn’t."

"Yes, you were." He stopped walking, forcing to pause as well, and turned to face . His lips curved in that faint, teasing smile that always seed to undo . "Don’t deny it, Lisa."

I swallowed hard, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. "And what if I was?"

"Then it ans you see the way I see you." His voice dropped, soft and low, but every word struck deep.

I opened my mouth, but no sound ca out. My heart thundered against my ribs, my breath caught like a trapped bird. I wanted to tell him he was wrong, or perhaps that he was right, I didn’t even know anymore. But before I could find words, he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his knuckles brushing my cheek. The touch was so simple, yet it set trembling.

"Damon..." I whispered his na, spilling from like a plea.

He didn’t press further. Instead, he turned back to the path, his hand lingering at my arm for a heartbeat longer before letting go. "Co," he said softly. "There’s more to see before the light fades."

We walked again, this ti slower, almost aimlessly, as if neither of us wanted the day to end. The world around us seed more alive than ever: the distant hum of insects, the rustle of grass swaying in the evening breeze, the call of a bird flying low across the horizon. For the first ti in so long, I felt free. Not trapped within stone walls, not burdened by endless rules and expectations. Just... alive, walking beside him.

We ca to a gentle rise where the land sloped upward, and at the top, we paused to look back. From there, we could see the adow spread wide, our blanket like a small patch of color in the sea of green and gold. Beyond that, the faint shimr of the river caught the dying light, winding like silver through the land.

"It’s beautiful," I whispered.

Damon glanced at , not the view, his eyes steady. "Yes. It is."

I felt the words in my chest more than I heard them, and I had to turn away before my heart betrayed . We stood there for a long while, watching the sun dip lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and rose.

By the ti we descended, the air had grown cooler, shadows stretching longer across the ground. Damon’s hand brushed mine again, and this ti I didn’t pull away. I let my fingers slip into his, tentative at first, but when he closed his hand firmly around mine, it felt natural, like it had always been ant that way.

We walked in silence for a while, our steps matching, our hands joined. I could feel the strength in his grip, but also the care, the unspoken promise that he wouldn’t let stumble. And strangely, it didn’t scare . It soothed .

As we neared the edge of the adow, the guard who had brought the palanquin earlier ca into view, standing dutifully by the shaded grove where it waited. He gave a small bow when he saw us approaching, but Damon lifted his hand in a gesture that told him to wait a little longer.

"Not yet," Damon said quietly, looking at instead of the guard. "Let’s walk a little more."

I nodded, unable to stop the smile that rose in . I didn’t want this to end either.

We followed the curve of the adow until the sun was only a sliver above the horizon. The sky deepened into violet and gold, the first stars shyly appearing. Damon finally slowed, then stopped, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky.

"It’s getting late," he said reluctantly.

I nodded, though my heart ached at the thought of going back. "Yes."

His eyes softened, and he squeezed my hand gently before releasing it. "But we’ll co again," he promised, his voice steady, carrying a weight that felt almost like an oath. "I’ll bring you outside whenever you wish."

The words settled deep inside , filling with warmth I hadn’t expected. I wanted to believe him.

When we reached the grove, the guard straightened, ready to help us. Damon gave a last lingering glance at the horizon, then motioned for to enter first. I stepped inside, my heart still racing, my mind still tangled with everything that had passed between us that day. Damon followed, his presence filling the small space, and as the palanquin lifted, carrying us back to the palace.

The sway of the palanquin was gentle, almost like a lullaby, but I was far too aware of Damon beside to allow sleep to claim . The thin curtains that shielded us from the world outside let in streaks of fading sunlight, gold bleeding into purple as dusk settled. My skirts brushed against his boots, and every ti the palanquin rocked, our shoulders touched. I felt each contact like a spark, delicate but impossible to ignore.

Damon turned to then, his profile strong against the dimming glow. For a long while, he said nothing, simply studied with those steady eyes of his. The silence pressed against , filled with unspoken things, until at last he broke it. His voice was low, softer than I was used to.

"Did you enjoy your day?"

I smiled, unable to help it. The truth spilled from with ease. "I did," I said quietly. "I enjoyed it more than I can explain. The air, the freedom, the food... even the laughter." I hesitated, then added in a voice softer still, "I enjoyed being with you."

His lips curved slightly, not quite a smile but close, the kind of expression Damon rarely gave anyone. "Good," he murmured, leaning back a little.