Chapter 62

Lucius considered Shea's question for a moment before responding. "We need to gather more information. I'll reach out to some of my old contacts, see if we can get a clearer picture of what's brewing."

Achilles nodded in agreement. "I can talk to some of the younger werewolves at the college. They might have heard things their parents aren't saying."

"Good," Lucius said. "But be careful. We don't want to draw unnecessary attention."

Shea listened intently, her mind racing with possibilities. She wanted to help, to be more than just someone they needed to protect. An idea struck her.

"What about Ryder?" she asked. "He seemed to know a lot about what was going on. Maybe I could try to get close to him, see what he knows."

Achilles tensed beside her, his jaw clenching. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous."

"I agree," Lucius said firmly. "Ryder and the Hawkins faction are not to be trusted. We can't risk putting you in that position, Shea."

Shea felt a flicker of frustration, but she understood their concern. She nodded reluctantly.

"Alright," she conceded. "But there must be something I can do to help."

Lucius's expression softened slightly. "Your training is crucial, Shea. The stronger you become, the better prepared we'll be for whatever comes our way."

Achilles placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "And you're already making incredible progress. Don't underestimate how important that is."

Shea took a deep breath, letting their words sink in. She was part of this now, whether she liked it or not. The best thing she could do was to keep pushing herself, to be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

"Okay," she said, squaring her shoulders. "Then let's get back to work."

Lucius nodded approvingly. "I'll leave you to it. Achilles, don't go easy on her."

As Lucius left the room, Achilles turned to Shea with a glint in his eye. "You heard him. Ready for round two?"

Shea couldn't help but grin, despite the weight of their situation. "Bring it on."

Shea and Achilles resumed their training session with renewed determination. The large training room echoed with the sound of their movements as they sparred, Achilles pushing Shea to her limits.

"Focus on your instincts," Achilles instructed as he circled her. "Let your werewolf senses guide you."

Shea took a deep breath, centering herself. She could feel the latent power within her, waiting to be tapped. As Achilles lunged forward, she reacted on pure instinct, sidestepping his attack with surprising grace.

"Good!" Achilles praised, a hint of pride in his voice. "Now, counterattack!"

Shea spun, aiming a kick at Achilles' midsection. He blocked it easily, but nodded approvingly. "You're getting faster. Keep it up."

They continued like this for hours, Shea growing more confident with each passing minute. By the time they finished, both were drenched in sweat but grinning.

"You're a quick learner," Achilles said, tossing her a towel.

Shea caught it, wiping her face. "I have a good teacher."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension. Shea felt her heart rate quicken, and not just from the exertion of training.

Achilles cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "We should probably get cleaned up. Dad will want to discuss our next steps soon."

Shea nodded, suddenly feeling a bit shy. "Right. I'll, uh, see you in a bit then."

As she headed to her room to shower, Shea couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between her and Achilles. Their connection seemed to be growing stronger with each passing day, and it both thrilled and terrified her.

Shea stepped out of the shower, feeling refreshed and energized. As she toweled off, her mind wandered back to the training session with Achilles. The way he moved, the intensity in his eyes - it stirred something deep within her. She shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand.

Meanwhile, Achilles was in his own room, lost in thought. He couldn't shake the image of Shea during their sparring match - her determination, her growing strength. It both impressed and worried him. The more she tapped into her werewolf abilities, the more danger she might be in.

Downstairs, Lucius paced in his study, going over the information they had gathered so far. The attack on the mansion had been thwarted, but he knew the Hawkins faction wouldn't give up so easily. They needed a more permanent solution.

As Shea finished dressing, there was a soft knock at her door. She opened it to find Lyra standing there, a hesitant smile on her face.

"Hey," Lyra said. "I thought maybe we could talk for a bit? Girl to girl?"

Shea nodded, stepping aside to let her in. "Sure, come on in."

The two young women sat on the edge of Shea's bed, an awkward silence hanging between them for a moment.

"So," Lyra began, "how are you holding up with all of this? It must be a lot to take in."

Shea sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. "It's... overwhelming, to be honest. A few weeks ago, I was just a normal college student. Now I'm in the middle of some werewolf power struggle."

Lyra nodded sympathetically. "I can't even imagine. But you're handling it really well, from what I've seen."

"Thanks," Shea said with a small smile. "I'm trying. It helps having people like you and Achilles around."

At the mention of Achilles' name, something flickered in Lyra's eyes. Shea caught it, her curiosity piqued.

Lyra took a deep breath, seeming to gather her courage. "Can I ask you something, Shea? About Achilles?"

Shea nodded, her curiosity growing. "Of course. What is it?"

"Are you two... together?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Shea felt her cheeks flush. She and Achilles hadn't really defined their relationship, but there was undeniably something between them. "It's complicated," she admitted. "We're close, but with everything going on..."

Lyra nodded, her expression a mix of understanding and something else - disappointment, perhaps? "I get it. It's just... I've known Achilles for years. We grew up together, trained together. And I always thought maybe someday..."

Understanding dawned on Shea. "You have feelings for him."

Lyra's cheeks reddened. "I did. I do. But I know it's not mutual. I've seen the way he looks at you, Shea. It's different."

Shea felt a pang of sympathy for the other woman. "Lyra, I'm sorry. I didn't know-"

Lyra held up a hand, shaking her head. "Don't apologize. You can't help how you feel, and neither can Achilles. I just... I wanted you to know that he's a good man. He'll protect you with everything he has."

"I know," Shea said softly. "He already has."

The two women sat in silence for a moment, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions. Finally, Lyra stood up, smoothing down her clothes.

"I should go," she said. "But Shea? Take care of him, okay?"

Shea nodded, standing as well. "I will. And Lyra? Thank you for telling me."