The Breaking Point

The tension between Elena and Xavier had been simmering for weeks, an unspoken battle neither of them acknowledged but both felt deeply. The weight of his presence, his unpredictable moods, and the way he looked at her—as if she were something he couldn't quite control—was suffocating. She had tried to push it aside, tried to ignore the quickening of her heart every time he was near. But tonight, she couldn't.

She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the door. The mansion was quiet, the late hours stretching into an eerie stillness. The conversation with Damien earlier in the day echoed in her mind.

"He's dangerous, Elena. More dangerous than you realize."

She already knew that. Xavier was a storm, a force of nature that no one could tame. But that didn't change the way he made her feel. And it didn't explain why he kept pulling her close, only to push her away again.

She had to know.

Rising to her feet, she took a deep breath and left her room, her bare feet silent against the cool marble floors. She didn't hesitate as she reached Xavier's door. Without allowing herself to think twice, she knocked.

The door swung open almost immediately, as if he had been waiting.

Xavier stood there, his dark eyes unreadable, but there was something in them—a flicker of surprise, maybe even expectation. His suit jacket was gone, and the first few buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of the powerful frame beneath.

"Elena." His voice was low, almost guarded.

She swallowed hard. "I need to talk to you."

A muscle in his jaw tensed, but he stepped aside. "Come in."

She hesitated only for a second before walking in. The room smelled like him—woodsy, with a hint of something darker. She turned to face him as he shut the door.

"What is this?" she demanded. "What are we doing, Xavier? Because one minute, you act like I'm just an inconvenience, and the next—" she exhaled sharply, her frustration boiling over. "The next, you look at me like I belong to you."

His gaze darkened. "You do."

Her breath caught.

"You don't get to decide that," she whispered, though her heart betrayed her, hammering wildly against her ribs.

Xavier took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "I don't?" His voice was quieter now, dangerously soft. "Then why are you here, Elena? Why did you come to me tonight?"

Her pulse roared in her ears. She didn't know if it was anger or something else entirely.

"Because I need to know," she admitted. "I need to know what I mean to you. If this is just another game—"

His hands were suddenly on her, gripping her waist and pulling her against him. The heat of his body pressed into hers, and she gasped at the contact.

"This is not a game." His voice was rough, strained. "You were never a game to me."

Her breath hitched. "Then what am I?"

For a moment, he didn't answer. His hands tightened on her hips as if he were holding himself back. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said:

"My weakness."

Elena's heart stopped.

Before she could process his words, a sharp knock echoed through the room, shattering the moment.

Xavier tensed, his entire demeanor shifting from raw vulnerability to sharp alertness in an instant.

"Elena, stay here," he ordered before turning toward the door.

But she wasn't about to listen.

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A New Threat

Elena stayed a few steps behind him as Xavier opened the door. A man stood in the dimly lit hallway, his face partially shadowed. But Elena recognized him immediately—Malcolm.

She remembered him from his last visit, the one that had left Xavier cold and distant for days.

"Not a good time," Xavier said, his voice clipped.

Malcolm smirked, his gaze flicking past Xavier to land on Elena. "Seems like I have the worst timing."

Xavier moved slightly, blocking her from view. "Say what you came to say and leave."

Malcolm chuckled. "Straight to business, as always. The family isn't happy, Xavier. They think you're getting... distracted."

Xavier's shoulders tensed, but his voice remained calm. "And?"

"And they don't like it." Malcolm's smirk faded. "You know how this works. No weaknesses. No liabilities." His eyes flickered toward Elena again.

A chill ran down her spine.

Xavier's jaw clenched. "She is none of your concern."

"That's where you're wrong." Malcolm tilted his head. "She's everyone's concern now. She's a liability, Xavier. And you know what happens to liabilities in this world."

Elena's breath hitched.

Xavier moved before she could react. His hand shot out, grabbing Malcolm by the collar and shoving him against the wall.

"You lay a hand on her, and I will end you," he growled, his voice dripping with lethal intent.

Malcolm didn't flinch. If anything, he looked amused. "You're making it too easy, Kane. Falling right into their trap."

Xavier's grip tightened before he finally let go, stepping back with a look of barely restrained fury.

Malcolm adjusted his suit, straightening his collar. "You have a choice to make, Xavier. The family, or the girl."

With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing down the hall.

Elena stood frozen, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Xavier exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair before turning back to her. The fire in his eyes was still there, but now, it was mixed with something else—fear.

"Elena…" His voice was rough.

She took a shaky breath. "What does this mean, Xavier? What are you going to do?"

A muscle in his jaw ticked. "Whatever it takes."

But the way he said it sent a shiver down her spine.

Because for the first time, she realized just how far Xavier Kane was willing to go to protect what was his.

And that terrified her.

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