Chapter 9: Lucas

I didn’t even make it outside before Rhonen took complete control. I was in the sunroom at the back of the house when I shifted. Seizing the first thing we saw, the air filled with the sound of splintering wood, breaking glass, and ripping fabric as I tore through the furniture. The rage was consuming us so entirely that we didn’t notice Knox, Jaden’s wolf, launch himself at us. Knocking Rhonen off his feet, we careened through the glass wall, shattering it before rolling over the ground.

‘Rhonen, stop!’ Jaden’s voice echoed in my head. ‘Stop.’

The only thing allowing him to pin Rhonen to the grass was the chaotic emotions coursing through me. I worked to focus my thoughts and regain control from Rhonen. Eventually, I shifted back, panting as I pushed at Knox to get off of me. Knox shifted as well, leaving Jaden kneeling next to me.

“What is going on, man?” he asked.

“It was fucking Beta Mason,” I growled. “He was her mate. That piece of shit Anders practically bought her and put her in the hands of that monster. I’ll fucking tear him to shreds, Jaden. I swear, he’s a fucking dead man walking.”

Jaden grunted. “Mason always was a piece of work. Still, this complicates things. We’ll have to approach this differently if we’re going to get to him.”

He didn’t understand how complicated everything was.

“She thinks she’s human, Jaden,” I told him, leaning against the fence.

“Woah, what?” he replied in surprise. “What do you mean she thinks she’s human?”

“She said he beat her because she was human,” I explained.

“Well, first, Dawn Stalkers don’t mate with humans — ever,” Jaden pointed out. “Second, she sure as hell doesn’t smell human.”

“I know,” I concurred. “But Rhonen still hasn’t sensed her wolf. She must have not shifted when she was a teenager. I don’t know. There’s way more to this that I have to find out.”

“And if she is human?”

I looked at him with narrowed eyes. “What do you mean?”

“What if her scent is just some weird anomaly and she actually is human? What does that mean for you…”

“Nothing,” I snapped. “It doesn’t change anything, Jaden. She’s my mate. She’s going to be my Luna — wolf or not.”

Jaden nodded. “Just wanted to be sure,” he said with a half grin. “But that still leaves us with figuring out our next move. We have the negotiations coming up. We’ll need to settle this before Alpha Thane’s visit.”

“No,” I said. “Something about this doesn’t add up. Like you said, Dawn Stalkers never mate with humans. They barely suffer their existence on their lands. And I don’t think she’s actually human. There’s something going on. Call Uncle Rodney. Tell him to get rid of the car.”

“Get rid of it?” Jaden questioned.

“Whatever happened the night Sutton escaped, they’re going to come looking for her,” I explained. “They can’t know she’s here yet. Not until she knows she’s my mate. In the meantime, we’ll keep digging. When they come for her, we’ll end them all.”

“You really think they will?”  

“Killing his Beta would be enough of a justification on its own,” I said. “But he wants her for something. I can feel it. As ready as I am to declare war on the entire pack for what she went through, there is more at play here. It could be more dangerous than we’re prepared for just now.”

Jaden nodded. “Best not run in half-cocked.”

I looked out over the yard. Anger was still flowing through my veins but other emotions were gaining purchase. My chest tightened as my conversation with Sutton replayed in my head.

“She was there, Jay,” I muttered aloud. “She was there three years ago. At the summit. I was in their territory. In their damn packhouse. She was there… enduring whatever that…” My fists clenched again. “She was right there.”

“She was marked, Lucas,” Jaden said firmly. “There’s no way you could have known.”

I knew he was right but it didn’t help. My mate didn’t trust me. She didn’t even want me to touch her because of what another wolf had done to her. She suffered for so long and I had an opportunity to save her from that. I failed her.

“She thinks I’m like him,” I told him. “She’s constantly looking for a way out.”

“You said she was a fighter,” Jaden said. “You can’t dwell on what made her that way, man. As a Luna, she’ll need those skills. As for the rest, you can’t prove her wrong down here destroying your own house. Keep spending time with her.”

I scoffed. “You think I’d actually be able to stay away?”

Jaden shrugged but grinned, knowing full well I would be more than preoccupied for a while. Unfortunately, I didn’t think my constant hovering over Sutton would achieve the outcome I wanted. I couldn’t keep her locked up and hidden away. Even if my motives to do so would be to protect her and keep her safe. She had been isolated for too long.

“She needs a friend,” I stated. “We need a female we can trust to keep her company while she heals. She’ll need clothes and other things. I can’t be the only one to help her get comfortable.”

“Well, I know she’s an annoying brat sometimes, but Tarrah does have a knack for fitting in with everyone,” Jaden said. “I’m sure she’d be happy for a new friend.”

“Do you think she could keep quiet? She can’t go gossiping about Sutton being here.”

“If she understands the importance,” he replied. “If anything, you can always command her.”

Tarrah was Jaden’s younger sister. She could be a good fit. I was worried she may be a little too… flamboyant for Sutton to handle. But Jaden wasn’t wrong about her managing to fit in most places. And she was mated. She had found her fated mate before she even turned eighteen. He came of age a few months before her and their bond was formed the day of his birthday. He was a good man and they were happy together. That could make a big difference for Sutton, making her open to accepting and strengthening our own bond.

“Do it,” I said. “Get her here tomorrow.”

I pushed myself to my feet. I told Jaden to get someone to clean up the mess Rhonen’s rampage had left behind. A pang of guilt hit me when I thought about Sutton seeing this. The doctor said she could get out and move around a little.

“Get this cleaned up quickly,” I told him. “It’s getting late today, but I’d like to show Sutton around the house tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir,” Jaden said, heading into the house.