Chapter 28: Sutton

 

I didn’t think I was breathing. Or maybe I was breathing too heavily. I couldn’t wrap my head around what the rest of my body was doing with the intense heat radiating from my core. Heat that spread throughout my entire body. Like I was on fire.

I went from craving Lucas’ touch one moment to wanting him far away from me the next. I couldn’t breathe. A sharp, stabbing sensation formed in the back of my skull and I thought I would throw up. I fell to my knees, gasping for breath.

But as fast as the episode hit me, it was over just as quickly. Lucas’ arm was around my shoulder and I registered that he was calling my name.

“I’m fine,” I gasped, catching my breath. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” he insisted, lifting me off the ground. “You’re white as a ghost and your hands are like ice.”

“Ha. Considering I felt like I was in an inferno a moment ago, that’s hard to believe,” I replied.

“Come on,” Lucas said, holding me by the waist. “Let’s get you inside.”

He carried me back into the house, setting me down on the sunroom sofa. He knelt down in front of me. Hooking his finger under my chin, he lifted my face to examine me.  

“It seems like you’re not quite ready to be up and about,” he said. “I’ll get Dr. Callahan back here to check you out again.”

“No, no, don’t do that,” I insisted, brushing his hand away. “She’s probably halfway home by now. I’m fine now. Really. I just… I think…”

“It was too much for you,” he stated, finishing my sentence. “I’m sorry, Sutton. I didn’t mean to push so far. I never want to be the one to bring up those memories.”

Except there weren’t any memories. Lucas must think I was having some kind of flashback or panic attack. I don’t know. Maybe I was. I’d had them before, but they weren’t quite like that. But everything here felt so different. I wasn’t sure I could trust my own reactions anymore.

“Come on. Let’s get you back to bed.”

“No, that really won’t be necessary,” I said. “I’m feeling better already. I just want to get to work.”

Lucas looked at me seriously, concern evident in his expression. I thought he would protest. Maybe even carry me back upstairs again. But after a few moments, he exhaled heavily.

“Okay,” he finally said.

Without saying anything else, he led me back to his office. He instructed me to sit on the sofa while he grabbed a bag from beside the desk. Opening it, he pulled out a laptop and charger and set them on the coffee table in front of me.

“That’s yours,” he said, pulling a card out of the bag next and placing it on top of the computer. “That is, too. Don’t argue. You can’t do anything without money. I can assure you, you’ll have more than enough for whatever you need.” He glanced down at my bare feet. “I would suggest a pair of shoes if you plan on going anywhere.”

I bit my lip to hide a grin. “Tarrah couldn’t guess my size,” I explained. “But I prefer going without shoes when I can, if I’m honest. My sisters used to tease me about the habit.” I looked up to see Lucas watching me curiously. “What?”

“You’re so convinced you’re human, but you sure have the tendencies of a lycan,” I commented.

I scoffed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You prefer being outside, you like to hike and work the land — you prefer being close to nature,” he explained as he went to sit at his desk. “That’s something that’s inherent in us. Like our packs.”

“Oh, I’ve never thought of it like that,” I replied. “Still, having preferences is not the same as being a different species.”

Lucas chuckled. “I suppose not,” he said. “But it’s just one more thing that makes me that much more curious about you, my little mate.”

I blushed at the moniker. Shaking it off, I grabbed the laptop and opened it up. I must have been brand new because it prompted me to the setup once it powered on. Pulling my legs up onto the couch, I settled in. It wasn’t long before I felt Lucas’ eyes on me again.

“What?” I asked.

“What was your mother’s name?”

My forehead wrinkled at his unexpected question. “Lianna… why do you ask?”

“Surname?”

“Langston, of course,” I replied.

“Right. I forgot humans take the male’s name in their pairings,” he said. “I never understood that.”

“Marriages,” I corrected. “They take the husband’s last name in a marriage. It’s just a way of acknowledging that they’ve joined together as one family, I suppose.”

“Yes, well, I guess it’s a solution when you’re not able to do something more significant,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. Why did you ask about my mother?” I pressed.

I leaned back in his chair. Again, his intense gaze fell on me. He stared intently… as if he was trying to weigh his words. Or deciding whether he was going to tell me the truth or not.

“I wanted to look into her,” he finally admitted.

“Why?”

“Because there are questions about who you are that need to be answered,” he said flatly. “Questions you don’t have the answers to and deserve to.”

“Does this have to do with the whole lycan-thing you keep insisting on?” I said with exasperation.

I wasn’t really interested in entertaining that particular fascination. Although, a part of me was intrigued by his interest in my mother. Even if he didn’t find what he wanted, it would be nice to learn more about her.

“That is certainly part of it,” he said. “Your wolf has been suppressed. I would be surprised if she didn’t have something to do with that somehow. I suspect she had a very good reason. Finding out how she did it will help us reverse it. Finding out why… well, that will help you. If anything, we may find out who your real father was. Even if you never do anything with the information, it’s pieces of who you are, Sutton. You deserve to know.”

I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear as I considered what he was saying. Maybe it was time to find out more about my mother’s past. Find out where I actually come from.

“You could always reach out to your stepfather for help as well.”

“No.”