Tess
The world is spinning after I’ve given up my wolf to save Lucas’ life. I feel weaker, heavier. My movements are sluggish, and it feels like I’m deaf. No longer can I hear or smell things from a distance. I feel like a puppy and almost stumble over my own two feet before Jenny catches me.
“You okay?” she asks me, her cool eyes boring into mine. Her nostrils flare, and I count the seconds it takes her to realize something is wrong with me: six before worry overtakes her features. “Why do you smell so strange?”
“Strange?” I ask.
Her eyes keep staring blankly down into mine as if she is hesitating before she finally whispers, “Like a human.”
I swallow thickly and drag my arm out of her hold. Jenny allows me to create some distance, but she still studies me. She must be trying to figure out what is so different about me.
I sigh and give her a pained smile. “Can we talk about this later? I would like to focus on one thing at a time, and right now, I can’t stop worrying about Lucas. I really want to see this miracle everyone is talking about. Is that okay?”
Jenny hesitates. It looks like it’s on the edge of her tongue to ask something else, but in the end, she just sighs and shrugs her shoulders. “Sure thing,” she says, forcing a smile. “Do you want to go alone, or should I follow you?”
“I’m fine on my own,” I say, mostly because I have this false idea Lucas might be less of a jerk if I enter his room alone.
I make my way down the hallway, my footsteps echoing against the walls, and I can’t help but feel like I’m not myself. It’s as if a part of me is missing, left behind with my wolf. She was always such a huge part of me. I was never a late bloomer and could shift from an early age, so it truly feels like I’ve lost a part of myself.
I will miss her, but I don’t regret my choice of giving her up to save Lucas’ life. He is more important than part of my identity, even if I feel weaker and jumpier than usual.
As I approach Lucas’ hospital room, I hear voices coming from inside. I hesitate for a moment, wondering if I should wait for Jenny, but then I take a deep breath and push open the door.
The sight before me takes my breath away. Lucas is sitting up in his bed. His blue eyes are bright and clear, and his skin is looking healthier already. He no longer looks like a burn victim and intently listens to what Wesley is telling him.
I stand there, watching for a moment before Lucas notices me. He blinks a couple of times, and I suddenly feel shy. What is he going to think of me now that I don’t even have a wolf? And how is he healing so quickly?
I’m a bit taken aback by the fact his eyes are back.
Did the moon goddess give Lucas super regenerative abilities? She must have. He is healing too quickly, making me contemplate leaving the room. I’m scared. Scared of Lucas and how he might treat me. It would only make sense for him to return to being mean to me now that he is stronger than ever while I’m weaker.
“Tess?” Lucas’ calm eyes meet mine, and suddenly I’m rooted to the spot with words lodged in my throat.
I want to say something comforting about his recovery, but I’m too nervous even to breathe the same air. The mate bond is zapping between us, stronger now that we can see each other. I wonder if Lucas is thinking about how ugly I am. Does he regret our time together?
Lucas gives me a peculiar look, eyes trailing me up and down, stopping on my hands that are clasped over my heart as if they might save me from him ripping it out.
Is he going to do that?
I wait a little longer, and his lips part. “You came.”
“Y-yeah,” I respond. “I did.”
Lucas doesn’t smile, doesn’t break out into a grin. He keeps looking at me, and I must fight the urge to run out of the room to be spared from his intense eyes.
Take it easy, I tell myself. He is just a guy...
A scary guy.
Intimidating. Brooding. Cold. Huge. Moody and complicated with anger issues.
I shiver.
“Why do you smell so strange?” Lucas asks, breaking the silence.
After he has spoken, even Wesley tilts his head. “Yeah...did you hug a human recently or something?”
Their eyes lock on mine, and I swear my heart stops beating for one painful second. No one knows what I gave up in order to save Lucas’ life, and I intend to keep it that way, even if it means leaving this room.
“No, I-I didn’t,” I say, taking a step backward to leave the room.
But the doorway isn’t empty.
My back crashes into someone’s broad chest—another warrior werewolf that works for Wesley. I’ve never seen him before, but he seems nice. He steadies me with his giant hands and laughs. “Oops, easy there,” he says but freezes once he inhales the air inside the room. A frown quickly appears on his handsome face, and his eyes narrow. “What is a human doing at the pack hospital?”
My heart skips a beat at being called a human. The man with his hands on my shoulders hardens his grip. “Did you sneak into the building?”
Fear prevents me from moving or speaking. The man is glaring daggers at me, making me feel about ten times smaller. I know I’m a human now and understand what it means in terms of strength, but I never expected to feel so...powerless.
Either way, I expect Wesley to save me. He is a nice Alpha who would never let anyone hurt Lily’s friends. Wesley cares too much about his mate’s happiness. And when I hear someone growl behind me, I assume it’s Wesley—only to be shell-shocked when I look behind me and see Lucas towering over me and the other werewolf.
He is standing with his legs apart, hands clenched into fists by his sides, and a look of anger on his face. Lucas must be the only man who can look dangerous while wearing a hospital gown. He glares coldly at the other werewolf, but anyone can see the protectiveness burning in his eyes.
“Back off, Gabriel,” he grits through gritted teeth, not taking his eyes off the werewolf for even half a second.
Gabriel backs away slowly, sneering to himself as he moves out of Lucas’ range. I take a deep breath and stand there in stunned silence, unable to believe my own eyes. Did Lucas really just come to my rescue?
He is so tall that I have to tilt my head in order to meet his silent blue eyes. They are intense, and I have to fight every instinct telling me to create some distance between us.
He breathes in slowly, and I do the same, shocked when I realize his scent is still intoxicating to my senses, even if I’m a human. I’m drawn in like a moth to a flame and can’t help myself from tracing the muscles in his neck down to his arms that are now crossed over his broad chest. He isn’t as big as before, but he is still terrifying.
“Tess, why do you smell like a human?” he asks, the same question the other werewolf asked, but Lucas’voice doesn’t have that menacing edge to it.
I wet my lips, about to answer him, before his focus shifts to the door. Two older werewolves stand there, both of them beaming as they take in the sight of Lucas.
“Lucas, darling!” The female werewolf exclaims, her voice joyful as she surges forward to embrace him. “You’re okay!”
The male follows suit, joining in on the celebration. “It’s a miracle!” He says in awe.
I blink in stunned silence. Are these Lucas’ parents? I keep watching them. The man reminds me of Lucas. He is tall and wide but not built entirely from muscles like Lucas. Instead, he has a beer gut, and his arms are a little flabby, but his blue eyes and facial features are the same—he must be the dad, which is a bit weird.
If these people are Lucas’ parents, why didn’t they visit him on his deathbed? Why show up now? I can’t help but feel like something isn’t right here…
I keep watching the trio but jump a little when I feel a hand landing on my shoulder. It’s Wesley, and his eyes are serious.
“My office,” he says. “Now.”