Chapter 22

Achilles gripped the steering wheel tightly as he navigated the winding roads through the dense forest. The tension in the car was palpable, but he remained focused on the task at hand. He glanced over at Shea, who sat quietly in the passenger seat, her eyes wide with shock and confusion.

"I'm taking you to where I was supposed to in the first place," he said gruffly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shea nodded, still too stunned to speak. She watched as the trees whizzed by, her mind racing with questions and fears about what was happening.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally emerged from the forest and onto a long, winding driveway. As they approached the end of the drive, Shea's eyes widened in awe. Nestled in the middle of the woods was a massive mansion, its grand facade looming over them like a fortress.

Achilles drove past the ornate iron gates and pulled up in front of the mansion. He turned off the engine and turned to Shea.

"Stay here," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He exited the car and walked around to the trunk, popping it open to reveal the two lifeless bodies inside. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, his voice low and urgent.

"Alaric, I need you to take care of something for me," he said, his eyes never leaving the corpses. "There are two bodies in the trunk of my car. I need you to dispose of them discreetly."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then a deep, gravelly voice responded.

"Of course, sir. I'll take care of it right away."

Achilles hung up the phone and closed the trunk, his expression grim. He walked back around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for Shea.

"Come on," he said, his voice softer now. "Let's get you inside."

Shea followed him up the grand staircase to the front door, her eyes taking in the opulent surroundings. She had never seen anything like it before.

As they entered the foyer, a tall, distinguished man in a black suit appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He bowed slightly to Achilles.

"Welcome home, sir," he said, his voice smooth and polished. "And who might this be?"

"This is Shea," Achilles replied, his hand resting protectively on her shoulder. "She's going to be staying with us for a while."

The butler's eyes flicked to Shea, his expression unreadable. "Very well, sir. I'll have a room prepared for her immediately."

As the butler turned to leave, Achilles turned to Shea. "Come on," he said, his voice gentle. "I'll show you to your room."

Shea followed him up the grand staircase, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no idea what was happening, but she knew one thing for sure: she was in way over her head.

Shea followed the butler, Alaric, through the grand hallways of the mansion, her eyes wide with awe. The opulence of the place was unlike anything she had ever seen before. The walls were adorned with ornate tapestries and paintings, and the floors were made of polished marble. She felt like she had stepped into another world.

Alaric led her to a beautifully appointed guest room, complete with a four-poster bed and a fireplace. He asked if she would like some tea or coffee, but Shea's nerves were still on edge, and she asked for water instead. Alaric nodded and left the room, returning a few moments later with a glass of ice water.

Shea took a sip, trying to calm her racing heart. She still had so many questions, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for the answers.

Just then, Achilles entered the room, his expression serious. He sat down on the sofa beside hers and let out a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry for all of this," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I would have loved for my father to be here to explain things to you, but everyone had to leave for some important business for a few days. It's just going to be you and me for now."

Shea nodded, trying to process everything that was happening. She took another sip of water, her hands shaking slightly.

"I know you have a lot of questions," Achilles continued. "And I promise I'll do my best to answer them. But first, I need to know if you're okay. Are you hurt? Do you need anything?"

Shea shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just...I don't understand what's happening. Who are those people? Why were they after me?"

Achilles let out a deep breath and leaned back against the sofa. "It's a long story," he said. "And I'm not sure where to begin."

Shea took a deep breath and looked at Achilles, her eyes filled with determination. "I know about werewolves," she said. "My aunt told me everything when I arrived in Lockewood. She told me about my father, Vincent, and who he really was."

Achilles nodded, his expression serious. "I see," he said. "Then you should know that there are ranks among werewolves."

"Ranks?" Shea inquired.

He grabs an old book he had grabbed from the shelf on his way to the room. Achilles then reads from it.

"The lowest ranked werewolves transform into a wolf beast every night, regardless of the moon's phase. They have enhanced senses and strength, but they lack the ability to stand on two legs or perform complex tasks. Mid ranked werewolves can transform into a proper werewolf and have more control over their transformations. They are more powerful than the lowest ranked werewolves, but not as powerful as the highest ranked werewolves."

Shea listened intently, her mind racing with all the new information. "And what about the highest ranked werewolves?" she asked.

"The highest ranked werewolves have the unique ability to transform into a werewolf at will," Achilles said. "They can also shapeshift into a regular wolf form if desired. This gives them unparalleled versatility and control over their transformations. In their werewolf form, they are the epitome of power and ferocity. They appear as towering, muscular beasts with highly developed physical attributes and an aura of dominance. They can stand on two feet or move on four, giving them exceptional combat adaptability. In wolf form, they are larger and more powerful than the largest wild wolves."

Shea's eyes widened in amazement. "And your family...they're High ranked?"

Achilles nodded, closing the book and placing it beside him. "Yes, my family has been High ranked generationally. We have always been protectors of the pack and the town of Lockewood."

Shea's mind was racing with questions, but there was one that was burning in her mind. "Why was my father killed?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Achilles let out a deep breath and looked away. "I don't know," he said. "Only my father knows the answer to that. But I do know that since I was born and started to train to control my powers, I have been asked to protect you with everything I have. And if possible, make you stay far away from Lockewood as much as possible."

Shea's eyes widened in shock. "Why?" she asked.

Achilles shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "But we'll have to wait for my father to return to get to the cusp of it."