As I left, the bathroom door opened. Paul sauntered out with a towel wrapped around his waist. His slim but athletic body was beaded with droplets of water. His eyes widened when they saw me as he ran a hand through his wet hair.

My gaze became fixed on the same claw-like scars as Carlyle's, yet these were fresh, red, and raised.

"Do they hurt?" I asked, allowing my eyes to meet his.

He shook his head and threw his T-shirt up and over his head.

"Why did you resist?"

"I could have hurt you," he said.

"Why did you decide to come back here? You seemed pretty dead set against ever seeing me again." Paul paused; without a doubt, he was reading me.

The television switched on in Luke's bedroom. The volume steadily rose. At first, I couldn't fathom why until I focused on the soft chatter that came with morning newscasters. It was then I realized Luke was aiding me to block Paul out should I wish it. Using every ounce of effort, I focused on the sound, blocking him from my head.

"I came to speak to your brother, and now I'm leaving."

"Whoa, wait." He reached, tugging on my arm as I turned.

"What about Antoine? You can't leave."

"Luke, has it sorted. We have an agreement. You won't even know that I'm here."

I headed to the bottom of the staircase and toward Carlyle's waiting van outside. This setup would be beyond difficult, but what other choice was there than to play house with Luke? I needed to get this thing with Lucille finished and collect the cash Luke could provide.

"What do you mean, he's sorted it?" he asked before I descended.

I shook my head, pausig, unwilling to continue the conversation until my phone rang. The welcome relief at my best friend checking back in was clear in my up change of my tone.

"Carolyn..."

"Who?" Jenny replied, her confusion hard to miss.

"Oh, I thought you were someone else." I turned, angling myself away from Paul's scrutiny.

"I know I am the last person you want to talk to, but your friend just showed up at the shop. I said to I'd let you know he stopped by—olive branch?" she asked.

I hung on to her last words, unable to tell her this wasn't the peace offering she thought it was.

"He?" I repeated.

"Good-looking guy, short black buzz cut..."

My hand cupped my gaping mouth. Antoine had come looking for me. Within a second, with my guard down, Paul read everything. With this information, he took three strides forward, shaking his head when I shot him his third warning look of the day to stay back. This time, rather than having him take the phone, I sighed and offered it up.

"Did you tell him where she lived?" Paul kept one hand on the phone, with the other securing the towel around his waist.

After a few moments of silence, I grew impatient. Paul made an agreeable hum but offered me no insights. I snatched the cell back and disconnected the call. No longer able to continue the same argument with him, I descended the stairs. This call only changed the urgency but not the plan. I needed to get home, grab some clothes, and then head back to Luke's room.

"You can't leave now!"

"Carlyle's out front."

The sound of Paul's steps stopped on the landing. "That's how you're going to play this? You'd put yourself in danger to spite me?"

"I'm coming back. Luke's sleeping on the couch, and you won't even know I'm here." Close to the last step, I turned.

"Luke said he would get my scent or some wacky shit like that, to protect me from the pack. Said it would be quicker that way. Then you won't hurt me. Until then, I'll stay out of your way, and you can stay out of mine."

His eyes grew cold. "My pleasure, Peach." He disappeared until I heard his bedroom door slam. I suspected this would be how we greeted each other from now on—with the rattle of doorframes.

Once outside, Carlyle hung an elbow out of the driver's window and nodded once to me. "You got my keys? I'm using the spare."

I nodded, fished them out of my pocket, and dropped them into his expectant palm. The engine started. "Are you okay? After last night, I mean."

"I wouldn't say okay, but I know the side of the fence you're now on. Is there room for two?"

He smiled. "Always. Don't get me wrong, but I take this to mean you're not leaving as I hoped?"

"That is still very much the plan. Luke thinks I can bring Lucille home for good, and Lucille will not let me leave until I try. Win, win."

Carlyle looked uneasy. "Just make sure you are doing this for her, not for him."

I nodded.

The round trip took thirty minutes. By the time I crept back through the door, Luke and Paul were chatting in the kitchen. The sound of the front door closing behind me silenced them.

"We're in the kitchen, Dana," Luke said.

I sighed through my nostrils. It was time to get this over with. I rounded the corner and went in. Both men were sitting at the circular table. Paul's eyes looked everywhere but at me.

"Listen," Luke started, "we've been talking about the change in circumstances. The risk to you has elevated..." He raised a finger to silence the barrage of abuse I was ready to unleash at being the last one in on that conversation. "If your friend is in town, it would be an idea to go off-grid, away from the people in Benton. Give you a chance to practice before we decide what to do about Lucille."

Paul nodded along with Luke.

"For how long?" I asked.

"However long it takes," Luke replied. "What do you say?"
For once, I couldn't argue with their logic. If Antoine found nothing, he may leave. But he might also head straight to Carolyn.

"Carolyn is staying outside of the apartment, right?" Luke asked.

I nodded. "Yes, but that doesn't mean she's safe. I still need to get that man his money."

Luke nodded along. "Agreed. That's why I'm going to go with you."

Paul straightened and shot daggers at Luke. "Hold up. I thought I was taking her?"

Unfazed, Luke said, "Remember our agreement. This sounds like the perfect time for both of us to cash in if you get what I'm saying?"

I nodded. "Agreed."

"Now, hang on," Paul said. "This wasn't what I agreed to..."
Luke turned to Paul. "Dana was put in danger last night. If she is to be safe, I need to recognize her scent as an Alpha. I'm sure Dana will be more willing to talk to you after a brief day out in the woods with me. Right, Dana?"

It was my turn to send Luke a death glare, but I knew what he was getting at. For me to get the cash Luke had promised, I needed to make good on my part of the deal. Paul would never allow Luke to be the one to do it; dangling a hope that I may hear him out on my return was irresistible. "Perhaps," was all I could muster.

"I packed my truck while you were out. I am ready to leave right now."

"Dana?" Paul's voice was low and cautious. The distance between us was foreign, but I wouldn't put his mind at ease that everything would be okay upon my return. I suspected it never would. "Take care, is all."

I nodded, picked up my bag again, and cut through the kitchen to the garage.

An hour later, after a silent drive east, we stood outside a nature reserve. My heart beat like a drum as I stood in the sun-dappled wood. But my nerves were frayed, and my hands shook at my sides as I considered what it was they asked of me.

"What's got you worried?" he asked.

"You need to ask?" I replied.

"No," he answered. "A polite formality." He then squinted, his ocean-blue eyes almost white as the sun passed through them.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the rustle of leaves.

He stepped closer, his tall, slim muscular build casting a protective shadow over me. "Yeah, Dana," he said gently. "But we think it's the best way for you to understand the town's supernatural abilities. And that knowledge could help you pay off your debt to Antoine."

Luke led me deeper into the forest. "This is where we'll begin to help you reconnect with nature. You need to learn the process first."

The forest seemed to close in around us, its dense foliage casting dappled shadows on the leaf-strewn ground. The air was rich with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves.

"Luke, what exactly am I supposed to do?" I asked.

"First, we need to teach you to connect with nature on a deeper level," he explained. "You need to be grounded and in tune with the natural world when dealing with the animal kingdom. This will help you maintain control and ensure a smoother connection with Lucille."

"Okay," I replied hesitantly, "so how do I do that?"

"Start by focusing on your breathing," Luke instructed, his voice steady and reassuring. "Take slow, deep breaths, and try to clear your mind of any distractions. You want to be fully present in this moment."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs before exhaling slowly. I did my best to push away thoughts of Antoine and the debt I owed, concentrating solely on the sensation of the air moving in and out of my body.

"Good," Luke murmured, his voice barely audible above the rustling of the leaves and the distant calls of birds. "Now, I'm going to need to get accustomed to your scent. That way, I will be able to better protect you once shifted, allowing me to also protect you from others."

"What do I need to do?"

"Sit still." He moved closer.

Amber pools appeared within his ocean eyes, but the rest of his body never shifted. He inhaled and I froze. Man, this was awkward. I had totallyshowered, andwashed my hair, even though it wasn't a wash day, yet I still became overwhelmed with insecurity. I mean, this was just plain weird.

"Not that weird to me," Luke responded with the grace of a small smile on his lips. "You know, you smell,"—he searched for the right words—"familiar. Perhaps it's the family connection. I understood it when you first walked into the shop,or into my kitchen, or maybe it's something else..." He inhaled again, longer this time, until the amber within his eyes almost overtook the blue.

"It's totally the lavender body wash. It was in Lucille's bathroom." God, I must smell like an old lady, but the fragrance reminded me of her.

Silence followed an uncomfortable, long period where Luke just lingered around the curve of my neck.

"Oh my god, are those your fangs!" I jerked away.

Luke stood abruptly, his canines retreating back to wherever they went to. "Teeth, Dana, I am not a vampire. And, it's done, you are as safe with me as you are with any of my pack."

"Awesome, and slightly creepy, now what?"

"You need to learn to connect with Lucille. I want you to reach out with your senses. Listen to the sounds of the forest – the wind whispering through the trees, the birdsong, the rustle of small creatures in the underbrush. Feel the earth beneath your feet, the sun on your face, the breeze against your skin."

I did as he instructed, allowing my awareness to expand outward. The forest came alive around me.

"Can you feel it?" Luke asked quietly. "The energy that flows through all living things, connecting us to the earth and to each other? The nature of life and death is that they are interdependent. One cannot exist without the other. It is the same with a Pack."

I nodded, feeling a subtle thrumming beneath my feet that seemed to echo in my very bones. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before—a powerful, primal connection that made me feel both small and infinite at the same time.

"Good," Luke said, his voice filled with approval. "I am not sure how much of your Lucille's DNA flows through your veins, but I am curious to see. If you have any at all, you will find it easier to communicate with the Pack with your mind. This can be a bit overwhelming at first, but with practice, you'll learn to control the flow of thoughts and maintain your own boundaries."

"Okay," I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Focus on that connection you've established with nature," Luke instructed. "Envision it as a bright, glowing light within you, radiating outwards in all directions. As you breathe in, imagine that light growing brighter and stronger until it encompasses not only your body but the entire forest around you."

I followed his instructions, picturing the light within me expanding and enveloping everything it touched. I felt a sudden surge of warmth as if a fire had been lit inside me, and I gasped at the intensity of it.

"Stay with it," Luke encouraged now in my head, his voice steady despite a new concern etched on his face. "You're doing great, Dana. Just remember to remain grounded and connected to the natural world.I will keep you safe."

With every breath, I felt the light within me grow stronger, connecting me to the forest as it stretched out. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting golden rays through the swaying branches of the trees. Its warmth caressed my skin, a gentle reminder that life still pulsed around me even as I prepared to delve into the unknown.

"Remember, Dana," he said softly, "focus on your breath and let your energy flow through you. Benton is special to us. A haven in the human world. Everything about it is different."

I nodded, the scent of damp earth, moss, and the faint perfume of wildflowers filled my senses. I felt the firm ground beneath my feet, grounding me in reality.

A rustle in the trees caused Luke's eyes to switch to amber fires. "Lucille is close by. Be prepared to set boundaries with her."

"Will she know it's me?" She said she would. "How do I set boundaries with Lucille?"

"It's as simple as clearing your thoughts and setting the intention in your head. The stronger you feel about it, the more successful it is

A gust of wind brushed against my face, carrying the faintest trace of lavender—Lucille's favorite scent. A silver wolf with silver eyes stalked the perimeter of where we sat.
A hushed silence settled over the forest, and for a moment, I thought my efforts had been in vain. But then, a gentle warmth enveloped me, and I sensed Lucille's presence drawing near.

For a moment, there was only silence as I stared at Lucille and she at me. Then, without warning, a flood of images and sensations washed over me, overwhelming in their intensity. I gasped, clutching at Luke's arm for support as I struggled to make sense of the deluge of information. A vivid and detailed image of a savage wolf formed in my mind—its fur matted fully with blood, its eyes glowing with a feral hunger that sent a shiver down my spine.

A sudden gust of wind whipped around us as if the very air was urging me to break free from whatever now held me. My body trembled, my hands clenched into fists, and my heart raced at a dizzying speed. From the corner of my eye, I saw Luke's eyes widen with alarm.

"Focus on my voice," he urged, his grip on me tightening. "Tell her to submit to the Alpha. I can then help bring her back. Do it now!"

"Something's not right," he murmured, more to himself than to me. "Dana, you need to break the connection."

But I couldn't—I was trapped in the mental vice of someone else's control, the savage wolf's image still imprinted in my mind's eye. "Luke," I choked out, my knees shaking beneath me. "It's too much. I can't—"

Piece by piece, a story began to take shape in my mind—a story of love, family, and betrayal, all buried deep within the heart of Benton. I watched. A wolf unlit by any moon, was chased through the forest by a bloodthirsty Pack.

"Dana!" Luke yelled, desperation edging his voice. But his words fell on deaf ears.

My eyes sprung open. Lucille turned, andher eyes flashed towards Luke. The wolf's hackles rose and its ears flattened against its head. Her eyes shifted from a gentle silver to a fierce, blood-red.

My heart beat a thousand times faster in my chest before it faltered.

"Enough!" Luke roared in his Alpha's cry. In one swift motion, Lucille darted back into the forest. Luke grabbed a thick branch from the ground and hurtled it towards her with force. The world went black.

Sometime later, I came to my senses slowly, the haze of unconsciousness gradually lifting from my mind. As I began to focus on my surroundings.

As I began to focus on my surroundings, Luke said, "Are you okay?" His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that almost frightened me.

"Luke," I said hoarsely, my throat raw and dry, "what just happened?"

"She didn't recognize you. She also has a darkness within her, something powerful that I can't quite understand. You felt it too, didn't you?"

I felt something. I wasn't sure what. "Yes," I said, struggling to sit up, my head throbbing with pain. "I guess."

"As Alpha, Lucille is swiftly becoming a threat, and I don't need another reason not to do what I know now we have to. I need to teach you how to snare a wolf, and next time, I will make her submit. It may be the only way of commanding her to shift back."