Chapter 54

The next morning, Achilles and Shea were jolted awake by a sharp knock on their door. Lucius's urgent voice carried through the wood.

"Achilles, Shea, wake up. We have a situation."

Achilles was on his feet in an instant, opening the door as Shea sat up, pulling the covers around herself. Lucius stood in the doorway, his face grim.

"What's wrong, Father?" Achilles asked, instantly alert.

Lucius's eyes darted between them. "I've received word from one of our spies. The Hawkins faction is planning a secret attack tonight. They're coming for Shea."

Shea's heart raced as she processed the information. "Here? At the mansion?"

Lucius nodded. "They're planning to infiltrate and kidnap you, Shea. We need to prepare."

Achilles's jaw clenched, his protective instincts flaring. "How reliable is this information?"

"Very," Lucius replied. "Our source has never been wrong before. We can't take any chances."

Achilles turned to Shea, his eyes filled with determination. "We won't let them take you. I promise."

Lucius cleared his throat. "Get dressed and meet me in the study in ten minutes. We need to formulate a plan."

As Lucius left, Achilles and Shea shared a look of concern. The peace they'd found in each other's arms last night seemed like a distant memory now.

"We'll face this together," Shea said, echoing Achilles's words from the night before.

Achilles nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the gravity of the situation. "Together," he agreed.

They quickly dressed and made their way to Lucius's study, their minds racing with possibilities. The Hawkins faction was making their move, and the Von Lunars needed to be ready.

As Achilles and Shea entered Lucius's study, they found him poring over a map of the mansion grounds. He looked up as they approached, his expression grave.

"I've already called Marcus," Lucius informed them. "Lyra will be coming with him. They should be here soon."

Achilles nodded, his mind already racing with potential strategies. "Good. We'll need all the help we can get."

"For now, let's have breakfast," Lucius suggested. "We'll need our strength for what's to come."

They made their way to the dining room, where Alaric had laid out a spread of food. Despite the looming threat, Shea found herself ravenous. She piled her plate with eggs and toast, grateful for the momentary distraction.

As they ate, Achilles kept glancing at the door, his posture tense. Shea reached under the table and squeezed his hand, offering silent support. He gave her a small smile in return.

Just as they were finishing up, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught their attention. Moments later, Marcus strode into the room, Lyra close behind him.

"We came as soon as we got your call, Lucius," Marcus said, his face set in grim determination. "What's the situation?"

Lyra's eyes darted between Achilles and Shea, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face before she schooled her expression into one of professional concern.

Lucius quickly filled them in on the intel they'd received. Marcus listened intently, his brow furrowed in thought.

"So, the Hawkins are making their move," he mused. "We'll need to be prepared for anything."

Lucius nodded gravely. "Indeed. Let's move this to my study where we can plan properly."

The group followed him to the wood-paneled room lined with bookshelves. Lucius spread out a detailed blueprint of the mansion on his large oak desk.

"Our primary objective is to protect Shea," he began, his finger tracing the layout. "We need to create a secure perimeter and have multiple contingencies in place."

Achilles leaned in, studying the plans intently. "We should focus on fortifying the weak points - here and here," he said, pointing to two areas of the mansion.

Marcus nodded in agreement. "Good thinking. We can set up traps in those locations to slow down any intruders."

Lyra, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "What about escape routes? We should have at least two or three options in case we need to evacuate quickly."

Lucius looked impressed. "Excellent point, Lyra. Let's identify the best escape paths and ensure they're clear and accessible."

As they continued to discuss strategies, Shea felt a mix of gratitude and unease. She was touched by how much effort they were all putting into protecting her, but the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her mind.

Achilles seemed to sense her discomfort. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry," he said softly. "We've got this. You'll be safe."

Shea gave him a small smile, drawing strength from his confidence.

The planning continued for another hour, with each person contributing ideas and insights. They discussed guard rotations, communication protocols, and even practiced some quick defensive maneuvers.

By the time they finished, Shea felt more secure. They had a solid plan in place, with layers of protection and multiple backup strategies. Still, as she looked around at the determined faces of her protectors, she couldn't help but wonder what the night would bring.

Marcus turned to Shea, his expression serious. "Shea, I think we should have a quick training session. It'll help sharpen your reflexes for tonight."

Shea nodded, swallowing hard. "Okay, let's do it."

They moved to a cleared space in Lucius's study. Marcus took a fighting stance, motioning for Shea to do the same.

"Remember what we've practiced," he said. "Focus on your instincts."

Shea took a deep breath, centering herself. Marcus launched into a series of quick jabs and kicks, which Shea managed to dodge and block with surprising agility. Her newfound werewolf reflexes were kicking in, allowing her to anticipate Marcus's moves.

"Good," Marcus grunted, increasing the intensity. "Now, counterattack!"

Shea's eyes flashed with determination as she launched her own offensive. She managed to land a solid hit on Marcus's shoulder, earning an approving nod from Achilles who was watching intently.

As the training continued, however, the pressure of the impending attack began to weigh on Shea. Her movements became less fluid, her reactions a split second slower. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple as she struggled to keep up with Marcus's relentless assault.

Achilles noticed the change in her demeanor. "Shea, breathe," he called out. "Remember your training. Trust your instincts."

Shea tried to heed his advice, but the fear of what was to come that night kept creeping into her mind. Her movements became more frantic, less controlled. Marcus easily slipped past her guard, tapping her lightly on the side to indicate a hit.

"That's enough," Lucius intervened, seeing Shea's distress. "You did well, Shea. Take a break."

Shea nodded, breathing heavily. The pressure was evident in her trembling hands and the worried crease between her brows. Despite her progress, the reality of the danger she faced was clearly taking its toll.