Chapter 38

Shea gently squeezed Achilles's hand, her eyes filled with concern. "You should rest now," she said softly. "I'll let you get some sleep."

Achilles nodded, his eyelids heavy with fatigue. "Thank you, Shea," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

She stood up slowly, reluctant to leave his side. As she reached the door, she turned back for one last look. Achilles had already closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. A small smile played on Shea's lips as she quietly closed the door behind her.

In the hallway, Shea leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. The events of the day swirled in her mind - the fight, the revelations, and that kiss. Her fingers unconsciously touched her lips, still tingling from Achilles's touch.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice Lucius approach until he cleared his throat. Shea startled, her cheeks flushing as she met his knowing gaze.

"How is he?" Lucius asked, his voice gentle but firm.

"Resting," Shea replied. "He fell asleep almost immediately."

Lucius nodded, a flicker of relief crossing his face. "Good. He needs it." He paused, studying Shea intently. "And how are you holding up?"

Shea hesitated, unsure how to answer. "I'm... processing," she finally said. "It's a lot to take in."

"I understand," Lucius said, his expression softening. "Why don't you get some rest too? We can talk more in the morning."

Grateful for the reprieve, Shea nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Von Lunar."

"Lucius, please," he corrected with a small smile. "Goodnight, Shea."

As Shea made her way to her room, her mind raced with questions and possibilities. But for now, exhaustion won out. She collapsed onto her bed, letting the soft sheets envelop her. Within moments, she drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning, Shea woke to sunlight streaming through her window. For a moment, she forgot where she was, but the events of the previous day quickly came rushing back. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

A soft knock on her door made her jump. "Shea? Are you awake?" It was Lucius's voice.

"Yes, I'm up," she called back, quickly running her fingers through her tangled hair.

The door opened, and Lucius stepped in, looking as composed as ever. "Good morning. I hope you slept well."

Shea nodded. "I did, thank you."

"Excellent. Breakfast will be ready soon. And after that..." He paused, his expression turning serious. "We'll begin your training."

Shea's stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Okay," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "How's Achilles?"

A small smile tugged at Lucius's lips. "He's doing much better. In fact, he's already up and insisting on joining us for training."

Relief washed over Shea. "That's good to hear."

"Indeed. Now, get dressed and come down when you're ready." With that, Lucius left, closing the door behind him.

Shea quickly got ready, her mind buzzing with anticipation. As she made her way downstairs, the smell of bacon and coffee filled the air. She found Lucius and Achilles already seated at the dining table.

Achilles looked up as she entered, his eyes brightening. "Morning, Shea," he said, his voice warm.

"Good morning," she replied, taking a seat across from him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away.

Lucius cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "Eat up," he said, gesturing to the spread before them. "You'll need your strength for today."

As they ate, Lucius outlined their training plan. Shea listened intently, stealing glances at Achilles when she thought no one was looking. She caught him doing the same once or twice, and each time, a jolt of electricity seemed to pass between them.

As they finished breakfast, Lucius led Shea and Achilles to a large, open room at the back of the mansion. Sunlight poured in through tall windows, illuminating a space that looked like a cross between a gym and a meditation studio.

"This is where we'll begin," Lucius said, his voice echoing slightly in the empty room. "Shea, your training will focus on awakening and controlling your latent abilities. Achilles, you'll assist and continue honing your own skills."

Shea nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. She glanced at Achilles, who gave her an encouraging smile.

"First," Lucius continued, "we need to tap into your werewolf senses. Close your eyes, Shea, and focus on your breathing."

Shea did as instructed, taking deep breaths and trying to calm her nerves. She could hear Achilles and Lucius moving around her, their footsteps soft on the wooden floor.

"Now," Lucius's voice came from somewhere to her left, "I want you to concentrate on your surroundings. Don't just listen with your ears. Feel the air on your skin, smell the scents in the room."

At first, Shea felt foolish, standing there with her eyes closed. But as she continued to focus, something began to change. The sounds in the room became clearer, more distinct. She could hear the steady rhythm of Achilles's heartbeat, the rustle of Lucius's clothing as he moved.

Scents she hadn't noticed before filled her nostrils - the lingering aroma of breakfast, the faint musk of sweat, and something else, something wild and earthy that she instinctively knew was the scent of werewolf.

"Good," Lucius said softly. "You're beginning to tap into your heightened senses. Now, without opening your eyes, I want you to point to where Achilles is standing."

Without hesitation, Shea raised her arm and pointed. She heard a sharp intake of breath from Achilles.

"Impressive," Lucius murmured. "You can open your eyes now, Shea."

She blinked her eyes open, adjusting to the light. Achilles was standing exactly where she had pointed, a look of awe on his face.

"How did that feel?" Lucius asked.

"It was... incredible," Shea breathed. "Everything was so clear, so intense."

Lucius nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. "That's just the beginning. With practice, you'll be able to maintain that level of awareness at all times."