Chapter 63

As Lyra left, Shea's mind whirled with the new information. She hadn't realized the depth of Lyra's feelings for Achilles, and it added another layer of complexity to an already complicated situation.

Shea made her way back to the main living area, where Achilles and Lucius were deep in conversation. They looked up as she entered, and Achilles's face softened at the sight of her.

"Everything okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Shea nodded, forcing a smile. "Just tired, I think. It's been a long day."

Lucius stood, stretching. "We should all get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll need to strategize our next move against the Hawkins faction."

As they bid each other goodnight, Shea felt Achilles's hand brush against hers. The simple touch sent a shiver through her, and she found herself longing for a moment alone with him.

Once in the hallway, Achilles pulled her aside, his blue eyes searching her face. "Are you sure you're alright? You seem... distracted."

Shea hesitated, unsure whether to bring up her conversation with Lyra. Instead, she leaned into him, drawing comfort from his solid presence. "I'm just processing everything that's happened. It's a lot to take in."

Achilles wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting on top of her head. "I know. But we'll figure it out together, I promise."

As they stood there embracing, Shea felt a wave of contentment wash over her. Despite the chaos swirling around them, being in Achilles's arms felt right. She tilted her head up, meeting his gaze.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For everything."

Achilles's lips quirked into a small smile. "You don't need to thank me. We're in this together now."

He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. The tender gesture made Shea's heart flutter. She found herself rising onto her tiptoes, seeking his lips with her own.

Their kiss was gentle at first, a mere brush of lips. But as Achilles pulled her closer, it deepened, becoming more passionate. Shea's fingers tangled in his hair as she lost herself in the moment.

When they finally broke apart, both were slightly breathless. Achilles rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed.

"We should get some sleep," he murmured, though he made no move to let her go.

Shea nodded, reluctantly stepping back. "You're right. Goodnight, Achilles."

As she turned to enter her room, Achilles caught her hand. "Shea," he said softly. "I... I'm glad you're here. With me."

The sincerity in his voice made her heart swell. "Me too," she replied, giving his hand a squeeze before disappearing into her room.

Once alone, Shea leaned against the closed door, her mind replaying the events of the day. From the intense training to the confrontation with the Hawkins faction, it had been a whirlwind. And now, her growing feelings for Achilles added another layer of complexity.

She changed into her nightclothes and slipped into bed, her body aching from the day's exertions. As she drifted off to sleep, her last thoughts were of Achilles and the warmth of his embrace.

The next morning, Shea awoke to sunlight streaming through her window. She stretched, feeling the pleasant soreness in her muscles from yesterday's training. As she got dressed, her mind wandered to Achilles and their kiss the night before. A smile tugged at her lips.

When she entered the kitchen, she found Lucius and Marcus already there, deep in conversation. They looked up as she entered.

"Good morning, Shea," Lucius greeted her. "I hope you slept well."

She nodded, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "I did, thank you. What's on the agenda for today?"

Marcus spoke up. "We're going to continue your training. After day before yesterday's events, it's clear we need to step up our efforts."

Just then, Achilles walked in, his hair still damp from a shower. His eyes met Shea's, and a spark of electricity passed between them. He gave her a small smile before turning to his father.

"Any news on the Hawkins faction?" he asked.

Lucius shook his head. "Nothing yet. But we need to be prepared for anything. They won't take that night's defeat lightly."

As they discussed strategy over breakfast, Shea found herself studying Achilles. The way his brow furrowed in concentration, the strength in his hands as he gestured – she was noticing things she'd never paid attention to before.

After breakfast, they moved to the training room. Marcus took the lead, putting Shea through a series of rigorous exercises designed to hone her werewolf abilities. Achilles joined in, offering encouragement and demonstrating techniques.

As they sparred, Shea felt her confidence growing. She was faster, stronger than she'd ever been before. When she managed to pin Achilles during one bout, the pride in his eyes made her heart soar.

As the training session wound down, Shea felt a sense of accomplishment wash over her. She had pushed herself harder than ever before, and it showed in the approving nods from Marcus and Lucius.

"You're making excellent progress," Marcus said, tossing her a towel. "Keep this up, and you'll be a force to be reckoned with in no time."

Shea caught Achilles watching her with a mix of pride and something else - something that made her pulse quicken. She quickly looked away, focusing on wiping the sweat from her brow.

Lucius cleared his throat. "Alright, let's take a break. We'll reconvene in an hour to discuss our next steps regarding the Hawkins faction."

As they filed out of the training room, Achilles fell into step beside Shea. "You were impressive in there," he said softly. "How are you feeling?"

Shea smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest at his words. "Tired, but good. I feel stronger every day."

They walked in companionable silence for a moment before Achilles spoke again. "Listen, about last night..."

Shea's heart skipped a beat. She turned to face him, searching his eyes. "Yes?"

Before Achilles could continue, Lyra rounded the corner, nearly colliding with them. "Oh! Sorry, I didn't see you there," she apologized, her eyes darting between Achilles and Shea.

"No worries," Achilles said, taking a step back. "We were just heading to clean up before the meeting."

Lyra nodded, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Of course. I'll see you both there."

As she walked away, Shea couldn't help but notice the lingering look Lyra gave Achilles. She felt a twinge of something that might have been jealousy, but quickly pushed it aside.