Chapter 71

Lucius's jaw tightened, his eyes never leaving Donovan's smug face. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Shea felt her heart hammering in her chest, her newfound powers simmering just beneath the surface of her skin.

"We'll need time to consider your... proposal," Lucius said, his voice carefully controlled.

Donovan's smile widened, revealing sharp canines. "Of course. Take all the time you need. But remember, the clock is ticking."

Achilles placed a protective hand on Shea's lower back, guiding her towards the exit. She could feel the barely contained rage radiating off him in waves.

As they stepped out into the cool night air, Shea released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The Von Lunar group moved swiftly towards their vehicles, maintaining a vigilant watch on their surroundings.

"We can't seriously be considering this," Achilles hissed as soon as they were out of earshot.

Lucius held up a hand, silencing him. "Not here. We'll discuss this back at the mansion."

The drive back was tense, filled with unspoken words and mounting anxiety. Shea's mind raced, trying to process the enormity of what had just transpired. She was being treated like a prize to be won, her fate hanging in the balance of a proposed war between factions.

As they pulled up to the Von Lunar mansion, Lucius turned to address the group. His face was grim, but there was a determined set to his jaw.

"We have much to discuss," he said, his voice low and serious. "But for now, rest assured that we will not let Shea fall into Hawkins' hands. We'll find a way out of this, no matter what it takes."

The Von Lunar group filed into the mansion, their faces etched with concern and determination. Lucius led them to his study, a grand room lined with ancient tomes and artifacts. As they settled into the plush leather chairs, the weight of Donovan's proposal hung heavy in the air.

Achilles paced the room, his fists clenched at his sides. "Father, we can't seriously consider this. It's madness!"

Lucius raised a hand, silencing his son. "We must consider all options, Achilles. The stakes are too high to dismiss anything outright."

Shea sat quietly, her mind reeling. She felt Marcus's steady gaze on her and met his eyes. There was a flicker of something - concern, perhaps even admiration - before he looked away.

"What if we refuse?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucius sighed, rubbing his temples. "Then we risk open war with the Hawkins faction, possibly without the support of the other factions. It could be disastrous."

"And if we agree?" Shea spoke up, her voice stronger than she felt. "What then? I become a prize to be won in some twisted werewolf battle royale?"

Achilles was at her side in an instant, his hand on her shoulder. "That won't happen. I won't let it."

The room fell silent, each person lost in their own thoughts. Lucius stood, walking to the window to gaze out at the moonlit grounds.

"We have time," he said finally, turning back to face them. "Not much, but enough to formulate a plan. We'll use every resource at our disposal, call in every favor owed. The Von Lunar faction will not bow to Hawkins' demands."

Marcus leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. "Perhaps we can turn this to our advantage. If we can gather intel on the other factions' stances, we might be able to sway them to our side."

Lucius nodded approvingly. "Good thinking, Marcus. We'll need to move quickly and quietly. Lyra, I want you to reach out to your contacts in the neutral territories. See what whispers you can pick up."

Lyra nodded, her eyes sharp with determination. "I'll leave tonight. My network should have some valuable insights within a day or two."

Achilles turned to Shea, his voice low and intense. "We need to accelerate your training. If it comes down to a fight, you need to be prepared."

Shea swallowed hard but nodded. The gravity of the situation was sinking in, and she knew she couldn't afford to be a liability.

Lucius cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "There's one more thing we need to consider. The traitor in our midst."

A tense silence fell over the room. The memory of the pack leader's head exploding before he could reveal crucial information was still fresh in their minds.

Marcus growled softly. "We need to flush them out before they can do any more damage."

"Agreed," Lucius said. "But we must be cautious. The traitor could be anyone, even someone we trust implicitly."

Shea felt a chill run down her spine. She looked around the room, studying each face. Could one of them really be working against the Von Lunars? Against her?

Achilles seemed to sense her unease. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, his touch grounding her.

"For now, we keep this information strictly between us," Lucius continued. "Trust no one outside this room. We'll conduct our own investigations discreetly."

The group nodded in agreement, the weight of secrecy settling over them like a heavy cloak.

"What about me?" Shea asked, her voice stronger than she expected. "How can I help?"

Lucius regarded her with a mixture of pride and concern. "Your focus should be on your training, Shea. But your instincts are sharp. If you notice anything unusual, no matter how small, report it immediately."

As the meeting concluded, tension hung heavy in the air. Lucius and Marcus left to begin their discreet investigations, while Lyra prepared for her covert mission. Achilles and Shea found themselves alone in the hallway, the weight of their responsibilities pressing down on them.

Achilles noticed the worry etched on Shea's face. He gently took her hand, leading her towards his room. "Come on, you look like you could use a break from all this strategizing."

Shea followed, grateful for the momentary reprieve. As they entered Achilles's room, she felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. "You're right. My head's spinning from all the plotting and counter-plotting."

Achilles smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well, I know just the thing to take your mind off it all."

"Oh?" Shea raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips. "And what might that be?"

He pulled her close, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "I was thinking we could practice some... close-quarters combat techniques."

Shea laughed, playfully pushing at his chest. "Is that what they're calling it these days?"

Achilles grinned, his hands settling on her waist. "What can I say? I'm a dedicated instructor."

Their eyes met, the playful banter giving way to a deeper connection. Shea reached up, tracing Achilles's jawline with her fingertips. "Well then, Professor Von Lunar, I'm ready for my lesson."

Without another word, Achilles captured her lips in a passionate kiss. Shea melted into his embrace, all thoughts of faction wars and hidden traitors momentarily forgotten. In that moment, there was only the two of them, finding solace and strength in each other's arms.