Chapter 37

Lucius nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at the two younglings. "Soon," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Your training will begin soon, Shea. But first, you both need time to recover and adjust."

He turned to Achilles, who was still wincing slightly from his injuries. "You'll both take a few days off from college. Achilles needs to rest and heal properly, and Shea, you need time to settle into the mansion without distractions."

Shea opened her mouth to protest, but Lucius held up a hand. "No arguments. Your safety and well-being come first."

Achilles shifted uncomfortably on the bed. "But what about Ryder? The video-"

"I'll handle Ryder," Lucius cut in, his tone brooking no argument. "You don't need to worry about that situation anymore. I have ways of dealing with the Hawkins family."

A look of relief washed over Achilles's face, quickly followed by guilt. "Dad, I'm sorry for causing all these problems. I should have been more careful-"

Lucius placed a hand on his son's shoulder, silencing him. "You did what you thought was right to protect Shea. Yes, there were mistakes made, but we'll learn from them. That's part of growing stronger."

He looked between Achilles and Shea, his gaze intense. "For now, focus on resting and preparing yourselves. The coming days will be challenging, but necessary. We need you both at your best."

Shea nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. "Thank you, Mr. Von Lunar. For everything."

Lucius's expression softened slightly. "Please, call me Lucius. We're all in this together now."

Lucius left the room, leaving Achilles and Shea alone. They sat in silence for a moment, processing everything that had just been revealed.

Shea was the first to break the quiet. "So... rare werewolf blood, huh? That's a lot to take in."

Achilles nodded, wincing slightly as he adjusted his position. "Yeah, it explains a lot though. Why I was always told to protect you, why there's so much interest in you from other factions."

Shea chewed her lip, lost in thought. "Do you think... do you think that's why we've been feeling so drawn to each other? Because of my blood?"

Achilles's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't considered that possibility. "I... I don't know. Maybe? It would explain the intensity of it all."

They fell silent again, both contemplating the implications. Shea finally spoke up, her voice soft. "I'm sorry you got hurt because of me."

Achilles shook his head firmly. "Don't apologize. It's my job to protect you, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with tension. Shea quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing.

"We should probably get some rest," she said, standing up. "Your dad's right, we need to be prepared for whatever's coming next."

Achilles nodded, watching her as she moved towards the door. "Shea," he called out just as she was about to leave. She turned back, eyebrow raised in question.

"I'm glad you're here," he said simply. "We'll figure this out together."

Shea gave him a small smile. "Together," she agreed, before slipping out of the room.

As she walked back to her own bedroom, Shea's mind raced with everything she'd learned. Rare werewolf blood, the potential to create the most powerful werewolf lineage, factions vying for control... it was overwhelming. But underneath it all, a small part of her felt relieved. At least now she had some answers, and she wasn't facing this alone.

As the night settled over the Von Lunar mansion, Shea found herself unable to sleep. Her mind buzzed with the revelations of the day, each new piece of information adding to the complexity of her situation. She tossed and turned, replaying Lucius's words over and over in her head.

Eventually, she gave up on sleep and quietly slipped out of her room. The hallways were dark and silent as she padded barefoot through the mansion. Without really intending to, she found herself outside Achilles's door.

She hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Was this a good idea? But before she could decide, the door swung open, revealing Achilles. He looked as sleepless as she felt.

"I heard you coming," he said softly, tapping his ear to indicate his enhanced senses.

Shea nodded, suddenly feeling awkward. "I couldn't sleep," she admitted.

Achilles stepped aside, wordlessly inviting her in. She entered, perching on the edge of his bed as he closed the door behind her.

"Too much on your mind?" he asked, sitting beside her.

"Yeah," she sighed. "It's all so... overwhelming. I mean, rare werewolf blood? The fate of werewolf kind potentially resting on... on my ability to have kids? It's a lot to process."

Achilles nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I can't even imagine how you must be feeling. But you're not alone in this, Shea. You've got me, my father, the whole Von Lunar pack behind you."

Shea smiled gratefully, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I appreciate that, I do. It's just... I came here looking for answers about my dad, and now I'm caught up in this whole... destiny thing. It's not what I expected."

"Life rarely is," Achilles said wryly. "But we'll face it together, whatever comes our way."

They sat in companionable silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Despite the turmoil in her mind, Shea found herself relaxing in Achilles's presence. There was something comforting about his steady presence beside her.

As they sat in comfortable silence, Shea found her gaze drawn to Achilles. The moonlight filtering through the window cast shadows across his face, accentuating his strong jawline and the intensity in his eyes. She noticed the way his shoulders tensed slightly, as if he was hyper-aware of her presence beside him.

Achilles turned, catching her stare. Their eyes locked, and Shea felt a familiar warmth spread through her body. It wasn't the overwhelming, primal urge they'd experienced before, but something softer, more intimate.

"Shea," Achilles murmured, his voice low and husky. He reached out, hesitantly brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch sent a shiver down her spine.

She leaned into his hand, savoring the warmth of his palm against her cheek. "Achilles," she whispered back, her heart racing.

Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force, they moved closer to each other. Shea could feel Achilles's breath on her lips, could see the flecks of gold in his blue eyes. The air between them crackled with tension.

Achilles paused, his lips a hair's breadth from hers. "Is this okay?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

In response, Shea closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was gentle at first, exploratory, but quickly deepened as they gave in to their growing desire. Achilles's hand tangled in her hair, pulling her closer, while Shea's fingers traced the hard planes of his chest.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily. Achilles rested his forehead against hers, a small smile playing on his lips. "That was..."

"Yeah," Shea agreed, her own lips curving into a smile.