The day had been long, filled with trips to the woods, hikes, and various training exercises, but no matter how much she tried to make it enjoyable, Ava could feel the tension between Marcus and
Lucas
Every time she tried to initiate something fun, they both barely reacted.
It was as if their hearts weren’t in it, and no amount of her enthusiasm could shake that feeling
Ava wasn’t one to give up easily, though.
She’d done her homework on their pack’s training grounds–each stop was something she hought might bring out a spark of fun.
Still, nothing.
They just weren’t themselves.
‘How about a bit of excitement?”
She suggested, her eyes lighting up as she pointed to a section of the woods where a wild, untamed stream cut through the rocks, offering a dangerous yet thrilling path.
Marcus’s voice was firm, his gaze dark as he shot her a look.
Lucas isn’t ready for something like that. The boy’s health–his wolf’s not in sync with his body.
You know that.”
Ava waved off his concern, a flicker of defiance in her eyes.
I know his wolf’s still coming to terms with things, but come on, he’s not a child anymore. A ittle rush won’t kill him. When his mother, Brianna was around, she kept him locked away, never etting him experience the world. She had him so sheltered, so controlled–it’s no wonder his volf’s stifled.”
She glanced over at Lucas, offering him a playful smile.
But I’m here now. I’ll help him grow strong–stronger than he ever would have been with her. He leserves to be free. And so do you, Lucas.”
she reached over to ruffle his hair, her smile gleaming, though Lucas could see the undercurrent if something else in her gaze–a desire to prove herself.
.ucas froze, the words coming back to him.
fe’d always felt like a prisoner like he wasn’t allowed to live.
His wolf’s suppressed power had always been a reminder of what his mother had controlled.
Jut Ava’s words, her challenge to his bond with Brianna, sparked something deep within him..
Brianna? She was just a wolf playing house, Lucas snapped, his voice cold and sharp.
She was never really my mother. She kept me locked in a cage, held back by her obsession with control. I’ve had enough of that.”
His voice rose, and the fire in his eyes burned.
I’m not afraid of anything anymore. I’m done being afraid.”
With that, he strode toward the unmarked path through the woods, the rush of adrenaline
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already igniting his pulse.
He could hear Ava calling after him, but he was determined.
He wasn’t going to be the boy who lived in fear anymore.
Alpha Marcus, seeing his son’s defiance, moved quickly to catch up, grabbing Lucas’s arm.
“Lucas, wait. You don’t know what you’re doing. This is too much for you.”
Lucas jerked his arm free, his gaze turning dark.
“Dad, stop. You’re still listening to her, aren’t you? You never really trusted me. She’s the one who made everything worse. She said I couldn’t handle the power inside me, but she lied. She lied to you too.”
Marcus faltered.
He’d always deferred to Brianna’s decisions regarding Lucas’s health, trusting her expertise.
But now, seeing Lucas so determined, he wondered if he had been blind to his son’s true strength.
‘Lucas-”
Marcus’s voice was shaky, but he let go of his son’s arm, realizing his mistake.
In the end, he knew he had to trust his son, even if it meant risking it all.
As they approached the training ground, the familiar scent of the forest–earthy and wild- wafted through the air, teasing at Lucas’s wolf.
Suddenly, Alpha Marcus’s sharp senses caught something out of place–a figure moving swiftly through the trees.
He blinked, his heart racing as he caught a glimpse of someone familiar.
‘Brianna?”
Marcus’s voice was strained as he stepped forward, his instincts surging.
His eyes locked on the figure disappearing deeper into the woods.
Without thinking, he ran.
Lucas glanced over his shoulder as Ava tried to catch up with him, but the moment was lost. They were already moving past the trees, headed toward the dangerous section of the woods, and Ava wasn’t fast enough to reach him.
Marcus pushed forward, his heart pounding, a primal urgency urging him on as he wove through the dense trees, chasing that silhouette. He reached the clearing just as the figure came into
view.
‘Brianna!”
He shouted, his breath catching in his throat.
But when he grabbed the woman’s shoulder, it wasn’t Brianna.
It was a stranger.
She turned to face him, startled by his grip. Her eyes widened, a blush creeping across her face.
“Can I help you?”
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She asked, her voice small but gentle.
Marcus froze.
His heart pounded, and he realized his mistake–a mistake born from desperation.
“Sorry… I thought you were someone else,”
He muttered, embarrassed. He released her shoulder, running a hand through his hair.
“Get a grip, Marcus!”
He muttered to himself.
Just as he turned to leave, his phone rang.
It was Ava, her voice trembling with panic.
“Marcus, it’s Lucas… He collapsed… He’s not responding. You need to come back, now.”
Marcus’s blood went cold, his heart slamming against his chest.
He turned and ran, faster than before, his thoughts on his son. Every step was a painful reminder of how much he had failed to see. How much he had been blind to his son’s true power.
When he reached the clearing, Ava was kneeling on the ground, Lucas’s unconscious form in her arms. His son’s eyes were closed, and his breathing was shallow.
“Lucas!”
Marcus’s voice broke through the forest as he rushed to his side, his hand trembling as het reached for his son.
“What happened?”
Ava looked up, her eyes wide with fear.
‘I don’t know… He just… collapsed… His heart rate… it’s all over the place.”
Marcus’s eyes burned with desperation as he cradled Lucas’s body.
Something had happened to trigger his collapse, and Marcus had no idea what it meant. But he <new one thing for certain–this wasn’t the end.
Lucas’s wolf was stronger than they realized. And whatever had just happened?
t was just the beginning.
Chapter 16
