CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 15
“Lucas,” I swallow and Lucas snatches the book from me.
After a brief moment, he finally says, "Aside from losing your shifting abilities, you've not suffered anything else.”
“My healing has slowed down,” I murmur, pointing to the angry looking gash on my forehead.
“But you’re not experiencing any fits of rage or madness,” Luca points out. “The bond between us is suppressing everything. Your healing might have slowed down but it's still faster than what humans have.”
I come down on hearing that. He's right.
Taking a deep breath, I look at Lucas, “We found nothing here. So what do we do now?”
“We return home,” He replies, putting his hands on my shoulders. “And we figure out what to do.”
“What about the records in the pack archives?” But even as I say that, I know that there's nothing related to wolfsbane in them.
Lucas just pulls me to my feet, “We will figure it out. Don’t give up so easily.”
His support makes my heart feel full and when he turns, I say softly, “I’m glad you ended up being my mate.”
He doesn’t say anything but I can feel a warm sensation in my chest that is not my own.
Despite my own grief, the fact that I have somebody standing behind me makes me feel hopeful for the future.
The wolves refuse to leave my side and as we continue our journey back home, I begin to notice that the number of wolves accompanying us has begun to increase.
“I don't know you,” I stare down at a heavily pregnant wolf who is settled at my feet as we set camp.
She just gives me a happy huff.
“Why are they all gathering here?” I have no idea what’s happening.
Lucas studies the large pack and his expression is thoughtful, “They’re treating you like their Alpha. Has this ever happened before?”
I shake my head.
I've seen wild wolves before but they've never approached me like this. But if I recall, they never rushed away from me as they did from my other pack members. I never thought too much about it.
I tell Lucas this and he seems intrigued.
I decide to worry about this later and the next afternoon, we reached the treehouse. The problem begins with the wolves want to join us in the treehouse.
“Stay!” Lucas snarls at them. “That’s our home.”
I feel my heart melt when two pups whine in misery and I look at Lucas who gives me a dark look, “Absolutely not. I will not have our home filled with wolves.”
“But-“
He looks beyond pissed and my heart breaks for the two pups who seems so desolate.
“I’ll build you a home underneath,” I promise them. “But that is our space.”
“You’ll build them a home?” Lucas sounds amused now and I glare at him.
“It’ll give me something to do and be nice to my wolves.”
“So now it’s your wolves?” He suddenly smirks. “I didn’t know you’d gotten so attached to them.”
It's another part of Lucas that I've discovered. He enjoys teasing me and getting under my skin. And he does a very good job of it. And when he knows that I'm all huffed up and angry, he spends the rest of the day, winning me back over, enjoying my sulky mood.
“Oh, just go away,” I scowl.
“Gladly,” He retorts and before I know it, he picks me up in his arms and jumps onto the edge of a treehouse, depositing me there.
“Lucas!” I cry out in annoyance and he just gives me a small peck on the cheek, making me flush.
The next few days are relatively calm but Lucas seems to be engaged in a constant battle with the wolves for who spends more time with me. It would be amusing if he didn't constantly keep kidnapping me and stashing me in the treehouse, taunting the wolves. However, I begin to notice that the wolf pups enjoy clambering over him when he’s chopping up wood or doing something not he ground. And he lets them.
He also teaches me how to make a shelter for the wolves and it keeps me occupied while to figure out what our next step is.
However, our peaceful bubble is soon destroyed on one afternoon when Lucas is away hunting.
I'm standing at the bottom of the treehouse, hammering in a nail for the large shelter we’re building when suddenly, all the wolves stand to attention, their hackles rising and warning snarls leaving their mouths.
I go still and two of the males nudge me behind them, standing in front of of me in a protective manner.
I feel wary and a hint of panic enters me.
I want to go back to the safety of the treehouse but I also don't want to leave my small pack alone. Holding the hammer in my hand, I determine to protect my home.
Just then, two figures walk out of the treelike and my heart almost stops at the sight of them.
My lips press together in a thin line as I see the shocked look on both Hunter and Valerie’s faces when they see me, alive and well.
The silence in the clearing is deathly still and I force some panic into my bond.
I won't be able to hold my own against Hunter if he decides to attack me. If something happens to me, Lucas will suffer.
It's Hunter who speaks first, his voice stunned, “Sarah? You're alive?”
He doesn't look angry, just shocked. Valerie, however, looks furious. I can see the fire burning in her eyes even as she takes a step forward, her voice cracking, "Oh my God! Sarah! I'm so happy to see you alive!"
I don't know what game they're playing so I take a step back, pointing my hammer at them, "Stay away from me!”
I don't know why they're here but I don't have a good feeling about this.