Chapter 103

Shea ran her fingers over the ancient text, tracing the faded symbols that detailed the ritual. After hours of studying, her eyes burned, but she forced herself to continue. The others had retired for the night, leaving her alone in Lucius's study with the leather-bound book.

"You should rest," came Achilles's voice from the doorway.

She looked up, offering him a tired smile. "Just a little longer."

He crossed the room, his movements silent despite his size, and settled into the chair beside her. "Finding anything useful?"

"Maybe." She pointed to a passage written in an old dialect. "The ritual requires specific timing—not just the blood moon, but the exact moment when it reaches its zenith. If we can disrupt the preparation even slightly..."

"We throw off the entire ritual," Achilles finished, leaning closer to examine the text.

"Exactly." She rubbed her eyes. "But Donovan must know this too. He'll have contingencies."

Achilles's hand found hers, his thumb tracing circles on her palm. "We'll have our own. Marcus has already contacted the neutral factions. Two have agreed to stand with us."

"That still leaves us outnumbered."

"Numbers aren't everything." His eyes met hers, fierce and determined. "We have something they don't."

"What's that?"

"You." He brushed a strand of hair from her face. "The true heir of Vincent Wolfe. The rightful keeper of the balance."

Shea leaned into his touch, drawing strength from his unwavering belief in her. "I just hope I can live up to that legacy."

"You already have." He pulled her gently to her feet. "Come on. Even warriors need sleep."

She allowed him to lead her from the study, the weight of responsibility momentarily lightened by his presence.

\---

The next morning dawned crisp and clear. Shea stood in the training yard behind the mansion, her breath forming small clouds in the cool air. Lucius circled her slowly, his eyes assessing.

"Again," he commanded. "Focus on the transformation, but maintain control. Your human mind must remain dominant."

Shea closed her eyes, reaching for the power that now lived within her. It responded eagerly, rushing through her veins like liquid fire. Her bones shifted, muscles stretched, but she kept her thoughts clear, focused on maintaining her humanity even as her body changed.

When she opened her eyes, the world appeared sharper, colors more vivid, scents more distinct. She lifted a clawed hand, examining it with satisfaction. The partial transformation had become easier each time she attempted it.

"Good," Lucius nodded approvingly. "Now, attack."

He barely finished speaking before lunging at her, his own form blurring as he partially shifted. Shea reacted instinctively, sidestepping his attack and countering with a swipe of her claws.

They moved across the yard in a deadly dance, neither holding back. Shea felt her confidence growing with each exchange. She anticipated his movements, reading subtle shifts in his posture, the tension in his muscles.

When she finally managed to pin him, her claws at his throat, Lucius smiled—a rare, genuine expression of pride.

"You're learning quickly," he said as they both shifted back to human form. "But Donovan won't fight fair."

"Neither will I," Shea replied, helping him to his feet.

From the edge of the yard, Marcus approached, his expression serious. "The Hawkins faction is moving. Our scouts report they're gathering supplies for the ritual."

Lucius frowned. "Already? The blood moon isn't for two more days."

"Some components require preparation," Marcus explained. "Herbs that must be harvested at specific times, materials that need to be consecrated."

"Can we intercept them?" Achilles asked, joining them.

Marcus shook his head. "Too risky. They're heavily guarded, and we can't afford to tip our hand yet."

"Then we focus on our own preparations," Lucius decided. "Shea, you've made remarkable progress, but there's one more aspect of your abilities we need to explore."

"What's that?" she asked.

"Your connection to the land itself." He gestured toward the forest. "The Wolfe bloodline has always had a special bond with Lockewood's territory. It's why your father was such a powerful Alpha—he could draw strength from the very earth."

Shea remembered her dream—the sensation of roots extending from her body, connecting her to something vast and ancient. "How do I access that?"

"Through meditation, initially," Lucius explained. "Later, it will become instinctive."

They spent the remainder of the day in a secluded clearing deep in the forest. Shea sat cross-legged on the ground, her palms pressed against the earth, while Lucius guided her through a series of mental exercises.

At first, she felt nothing beyond the cool soil beneath her hands. But gradually, as the hours passed, she became aware of something else—a slow, steady pulse that didn't originate from her own body. It resonated through the ground, up her arms, and into her chest, syncing with her heartbeat.

When she opened her eyes, the forest seemed to breathe around her. She could sense every tree, every creature, every drop of water in the nearby stream.

"I feel it," she whispered, awestruck.

Lucius nodded, satisfaction evident in his expression. "This is your true inheritance, Shea. This connection is what Donovan wants to exploit—but in your hands, it's a shield, not a weapon."

As they walked back to the mansion in the fading light, Shea felt different—more complete, as if a piece of herself that had been missing had finally slotted into place.

Achilles was waiting for them, his face tense. "We have a problem," he said without preamble. "Lyra went to scout the cemetery and hasn't returned. She was supposed to check in hours ago."

Shea's newfound peace evaporated. "Could she have been captured?"

"Possibly," Lucius said grimly. "Or worse."

"We need to find her," Achilles insisted. "If the Hawkins faction has her—"

"They could force information from her," Marcus finished, joining them. "Our entire plan could be compromised."

Lucius considered for a moment, his expression calculating. "We can't all go. It would leave the mansion vulnerable, and Shea unprotected."

"I don't need protection," Shea objected. "Not anymore."

"She's right," Achilles said, surprising her with his support. "Shea's stronger now, and keeping her hidden won't help if our strategy is exposed."

After a brief debate, they decided: Achilles and Shea would search for Lyra while Lucius and Marcus remained at the mansion to coordinate with their allies.

As they prepared to leave, Lucius pulled Shea aside. "Be careful," he warned. "This could be a trap to draw you out."

"I know," she replied, checking the silver dagger strapped to her thigh. "But we can't abandon Lyra."

"No, we can't." He squeezed her shoulder. "You've become a true Alpha, Shea Wolfe. Your father would be proud."

The words filled her with a fierce determination as she joined Achilles at the edge of the forest. Together, they shifted into their wolf forms and disappeared into the darkness, racing toward the old Lockewood cemetery—and whatever waited for them there.