22. Chapter 22

“ Lina?” Lucas’ voice broke under the burden of his emotions.

I shrugged off Gabe’s jacket and rushed to my feet, fully prepared to blame it on stress, the moon or my wolf, but in the end, I knew the only person responsible for my actions was me.

“I’m sorry.” I knew my apology wouldn’t be enough, but I gave it anyway.

There wasn’t anything I could have said that would erase what happened and take away the pain in his eyes. I’d never wanted to hurt Lucas and yet, it seemed as if I was destined to do it.

“Lucas, wait.” Gabe jumped up and tried to stop him as he pushed his way between us. “It’s my fault.”

“She’s the reason you’re here, so I’d say there’s plenty of blame to go around.” Lucas drew back, cold-cocked Gabe in the temple and dropped him with one blow. “I considered you a friend. Pack. But I guess you’re still a rogue, just out for yourself.”

“Go back to the hotel. Your room or his. I don’t care.” Lucas stormed off down the gravel road. “Just don’t fucking follow me.”

My wolf—the fickle bitch that she was—had the nerve to pine for Lucas after she’d wreaked havoc on my life with her heightened hormones.

As much as I wanted to chase after Lucas, to convince him that it was just a kiss, one kiss and that it didn’t change the way I felt about him, I knew in my heart it would have been the wrong thing to do.

He’d asked for space. The very least I could do was respect his wishes—at least until the morning. He said not to follow him.

If he’d wanted me to never speak to him again, he should have been more specific.

Awkward tension filled the void Lucas left behind. Gabe and I watched him go off into the night in veritable silence.

My eyes welled with tears, but I refused to give myself permission to cry. I didn’t feel that I had the right.

The walk back to the lodge seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Gabe had gone from sharing an intimate moment to sharing a one lane road as if we were strangers. When we reached the lodge, we branched off and went our separate ways to separate rooms.

It was just one kiss, but it might as well have been a weapon of mass destruction.

I didn’t bother to turn on the lights or change out of my dress before I collapsed on the bed. A weariness I’d only ever felt on the day we buried my father settled back into my bones. Exhaustion hit me like a freight train, but sleep eluded me.

Plagued by the image of Lucas’ face when he saw Gabe and I kissing, I laid on the bed, tucked under the covers and counted the peaks in the stucco ceiling. The number was in the thousands when Lucas’ ringtone blared through the speaker on my phone.

“Hello.” I had the phone pressed against my ear before I realized it was a text message.

Lucas: The challenge is scheduled for sunrise. You’re required to be there anyway, but my father is formally requesting your presence as a witness.

Me: Of course, I’ll be there. Where?

The first tendrils of the morning twilight crested the horizon. He hadn’t given me much time.

Lucas: Usual place. Colosseum .

The council’s outdoor arena was a colosseum in name only. The name was grand. The building had delusions of grandeur. It had an oval floor formed in hard packed clay soil and collapsible bleacher style seating.

Still, it had seen its fair share of gladiator style combat.

My rumpled evening gown had been swapped out for a pair of jeans, raglan tee, and a pair of black boots to replace the heels. I had to skip a shower in order to reach the colosseum by first light.

Apparently, I had mistaken Lucas’ notification for an invitation.

He sat ringside beside his mother and mine. He shook his head as a deterrent from joining them when I arrived. My mother seemed to enjoy watching me claim an empty spot on the second row of the bleachers.

I couldn’t help but wonder if he would have reconsidered his choice in company if he knew my mother had advocated his arrest.

Gabe filed in with Jeff and a few other stragglers just before the challenge was set to begin. I knew he cared enough for Lucas not to sit with me after what we’d done the night before, but it hurt nonetheless.

I’d never been surrounded by so many people and felt so alone.

The councilman from the Central pack officiated the challenge. It was customary to introduce the opponent—in this case a midlevel alpha from the Northeastern territory—first.

Benjamin needed no introduction. There was a smattering of boos as he stepped out onto the arena floor.

Power changed hands all the time. My father had been one of the few exceptions to that rule. More than just control of the council had been riding on whether or not Benjamin defeated his challenger.

If he didn’t win, the limited council resources and deflection he’d been able to provide while I hunted down my father’s killer were gone. I needed all the help I could get.

Especially since I’d lost the best resource Benjamin had to offer all on my own—Lucas.

As far as championship fights went, the challenge for head of the alliance was a low-key affair. No flashy trunks or bell to save you between rounds. Just two men engaged in hand-to-hand combat until one of them forfeits.

Benjamin moved with the technical grace of an experienced fighter. His footwork and head movements showed his dominance in the ring. The Northeastern alpha had put it all on the line, but he threw sloppy, wild punches.

Still, the guy had punching power.

He rocked Benjamin with a left jab and a big right hook. The crowd cheered for the northerner and lurched to their feet. For the first time in all the years that I knew him, Benjamin Williams appeared to be in real trouble.

At some point I stopped watching the fight and started watching Lucas. I was one of the few people in attendance that had experienced what he was going through. I’d planned to support him and be by his side.

Plans changed.

Lucas must have sensed the intensity of my gaze. He glanced my way whenever there was a lull in action in the fight, but whenever we made eye contact, he looked away.

Benjamin employed his skills in Brazilian jiu jitsu. After he delivered multiple shin kicks, he swept his opponents legs out from under him and took the northeasterner to the ground. Benjamin dropped down and landed an elbow to the challenger’s sternum.

It had never been proven, but I’d always suspected the origins of the phrase anything goes could have been linked back to an alpha challenge.

Moves that had been banned in other contact sports were used all the time in challenge fights. The stakes were higher.

And so was the danger.

The interim alpha had gone through a partial shift. His jaw elongated to accommodate larger, sharper teeth; razor sharp claws replaced his fingernails. Dewclaws protruded from both wrists.

Something his younger, less experienced opponent wouldn’t have been able to do without the waning power boost from the blood moon.

The arena floor was splattered with blood and sweat as the men battled for control of the alliance.

Benjamin fought with a passion and determination I hadn’t expected. For someone who claimed he had never wanted to fill my father’s shoes it sure as hell looked like he did.

In a last-ditch effort to overpower the alpha, the northeasterner took a huge risk by calling his wolf and shifting mid-fight. A transformation would have left him vulnerable to attack if he hadn’t pulled on the magic in the bond he shared with his packmates.

In a flash of fang and fur the challenger leapt forward and knocked Benjamin to the ground. He snarled and gnashed his teeth as he went in for a killing blow to rip out the alpha’s neck.

Benjamin bucked off his opponent before the wolf’s jaws clamped shut and ripped out his larynx. Blood dripped from gauges left in the tender flesh of the alpha’s neck as he scrambled to regain his footing.

The northeasterner lunged and went in for the kill again. But that time Benjamin was ready. He caught the wolf midair and body slammed him to the ground. The alpha unleashed a series of punishing blows to the wolf’s face and body.

A hush fell over the rowdy spectators who’d come to witness the end of Benjamin’s short-lived reign as alpha of the national alliance. They’d made the mistake of placing their faith in a younger wolf.

Where they saw ambition, I saw inexperience. Where they saw strength and vitality, I saw a wolf whose emotions had gotten the better of him in a fight.

Benjamin hadn’t aspired to be the alpha, but he had the qualities and skills necessary to perform the job.

And with one killing blow he showed his detractors that he’d had a taste for it.

Lucas escorted his mother to the arena floor and joined Benjamin for the official announcement. The Williams family had secured its place of power within the Southeastern territory and the national alliance in one fell swoop.

I doubted if Benjamin had any challengers step up for a long time.

Lucas excused himself from the subdued celebration in the center of the arena as soon as he’d sensed my approach. I’d counted my blessings that his parents had been too distracted by well-wishers to notice.

The last thing I needed was to explain myself in the middle of the amphitheater with an audience all too eager to see me fail.

Namely my mother.

She latched herself onto the Williams family like a parasite desperate to hold on to its food source. In her case, power. I should have outed her to Benjamin for using his son to get to me. I’m sure the alpha would have had plenty to say on the subject, had I chosen to raise it.

As much as I wanted my mother to have a taste of her own medicine, I wanted to remedy things with Lucas more.

I picked up his scent at the edge of the cleared grounds that surrounded the colosseum. Based on the distance he covered, it was safe to assume he hit full stride when he reached the trees and the cover they provided. The hunt was on.

But Lucas and I weren’t alone in the forest.

Someone streaked by. I caught them on my peripheral and it kicked my instincts into hyperdrive. Had we given the killer an opportunity to make a move? I would never forgive myself if something happened to Lucas.

He’d been hurt enough.

I swapped one fear for another when I realized Gabe was the wolf who’d blurred past me. Terrified that the two men who occupied space in our heart were about to do the killer’s work for him, my wolf pushed harder to close the distance between us.

Their voices carried through the trees, but I struggled to make out what they said. The bits and pieces I’d heard didn’t make much sense. Lucas and Gabe were in the throes of a heated conversation by the time I found them.

Had Gabe called me a Luna wolf? Impossible. They were a myth.

“Make up your mind, Gabe. Is she a gamma or a Luna wolf?” Lucas gripped him by the shirt.

“Lucas?” I reared back as if I’d been slapped when he looked at me.

The hurt in his eyes was unbearable.

“Luna wolves are a myth. They don’t exist.” Lucas shoved Gabe to the ground. “But it doesn’t matter. I’m done. I’m dropping out of the challenge.”

“What?” I couldn’t hold back the tears when he made the announcement.

He sounded so cold. So distant. The finality of his words shattered my heart, but I clutched the pieces together and fought for the man I’d loved for as long as I could remember.

“I came back, because of you.” I choked out between sobs.

“No, you didn’t. You came back, because of your father.” Lucas roared. “You can lie to yourself all you want, Lina, but you can’t lie to me. Not to me.”

“You’re the one lying to yourself if you think that was the only reason.” I raised my voice to match his. “Do you know how many nights I laid awake hoping you’d find the courage to come looking for me?”

“One too many? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have fallen into his arms.” Lucas turned his wild-eyed gaze in Gabe’s direction.

“Don’t do this, Lucas.” Gabe did his best to diffuse the situation. “You don’t want to do anything you can’t take back.”

“Hey hypocrite, why don’t you try taking some of your own advice?” Lucas lashed out. “The two of you are acting like I’m the problem.”

“No, I’m not. I’m not blaming you for anything.” I was desperate to explain what had been happening with my wolf, but I struggled to find the words—because I had no clue as to what was going on. “It’s not—”

“If you’re about to say it’s not you, it’s me … I swear to God, Lina…” Lucas’ hands trembled at his side as he fought to maintain control over his wolf.

“That’s not what I was going to say.” I started to explain but had to correct myself. “Umm, well, that might actually be the best way to explain it.”

“No. No it isn’t.” Gabe picked himself up off the ground and positioned himself between me and Lucas. He raised his hands and lowered his head in a show of submission to Lucas’ wolf. “Just hear her out. That’s all we’re asking.”

“Something’s happening with my wolf, Lucas.” The tears continued to stream down my cheeks. “I think it started a few months ago. The night she gave me this.”

I hiked up my shirt and exposed the scar on my abdomen.

“She feels different.” I let my shirt fall over my waist. “I don’t know how to explain it, but she hasn’t been the same.”

“Luna wolf.” Gabe jerked his head in my direction. “She has to be. There’s no other explanation for it.”

“Moon craze comes pretty close.” Lucas’ explanation for my behavior hit a little too close to home.

I’d feared that had been the case ever since my wolf became so opinionated.

“It’s not moon craze.” I crossed my arms over my chest in a defensive posture that matched my tone.

“How would you know?” Lucas arched a defiant brow.

“I think I’d know if I was moon crazed.” Even as I said it, I wondered if it were true.

“No, you wouldn’t. That’s the whole point.” Lucas said, dashing my hopes of avoiding that particular diagnosis.

“Luna wolf, moon crazed, whatever it is, something is happening to me. Please …” I crumbled under the weight of my admission and fell to my knees. “Please, don’t walk away from me. Not now.”

“Damnit, Lina.” He dropped down beside me and folded me into his arms.

“I am and always have been in love with you, Lucas Williams.” I sagged into his embrace and sobbed against his chest.

“I know.” He stroked my hair and held me while I cried. “Things would be so much easier if the opposite were true. I love you too, Lina. I want to understand … I do, but I can’t make any promises.”

“I’m not asking you to.” I brushed my lips against his ear and whispered, “I’m just asking you to stay.”

“So, let’s pretend I believe you.” Lucas adjusted his position and jostled me in his lap until we both faced Gabe. “Lina is a Luna wolf. What does that mean exactly? For us?”

“For us? I don’t know.” Gabe staved off any objections and elaborated on his answer. “For Lina, it means her wolf may never settle on one mate."

“You’re serious?” Lucas sighed. “Well, that poses a real problem, doesn’t it? I mean, forget our messed up little triangle for a minute and think about the challenge she agreed to. A challenge that comes down to one wolf whether her Luna wolf likes it or not.”

“I think I’m going to be sick.” My stomach and my wolf revolted against Lucas’ revelation.

“When’s the last time you ate something?” Gabe asked and pulled a piece of chewing gum from his pocket and handed it to me. “It’s not much, but it has a little sugar in it.”

“I don’t know. Some champagne and a few hors d'oeuvres at the cocktail party?” The fact that I had zero recollection of my last meal probably wasn’t a good thing.

“Lina,” Lucas growled my name, gripped my waist and hoisted me up. “You need take better care of yourself, and your wolf. Come on. Let’s get you back to the lodge. We’ll order room service and figure shit out over breakfast.”

“Bacon makes everything better.” I managed a weak smile and wiped the last of my tears on my sleeve.

“Yes, yes it does.” Lucas pressed his palms against his thighs, squatted down and motioned for me to hop on.

Gabe fell in step beside us as Lucas carried me back to the hotel.

We filled the awkward divide that had developed between the three of us with the contents of the mini fridge minus the alcohol and a couple smushed protein bars from the bottom of my backpack.

Amends had often been made over a meal throughout history, but it would take more than a handful of honey roasted peanuts and date bars. Room service arrived and filled the room with the scent of maple goodness, breakfast meats, and for a few glorious moments hope.

Until I noticed a notecard propped up on the tray. I recognized the handwriting immediately.

A Luna wolf, how exciting. I hope the rumors are true. It would certainly explain the fire in your heart. I can’t help but wonder if you’ll kiss your champion with the same passion as your current companions.

One can only hope.

I warned you, rabbit . Now it's too late. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

“How does he know?” I pushed my plate of pancakes aside. “He wasn’t in the woods. We would have scented him.”

“Surveillance device. Something we missed.” Gabe dropped his fork and swept the room, but came up empty handed.

“Oh shit. Please, no.” I jumped off the bed and yanked the mirror off the wall, exposing the safe.

The list was gone, and I had a bad feeling all traces of the information had disappeared from the records room as well. We were officially back to square one.

Again.

The killer seemed to beat me to every punch, but I was a Redford—and if Gabe was correct, a Luna wolf. A myth. Something that had only existed in shifter lore.

Until now and my retribution would be legendary.