Chapter 80

The sudden knock at the door made them all freeze. Oakley's ears perked up, and a low growl rumbled in his throat.

Achilles moved instantly, positioning himself between Shea and the door. His muscles tensed, ready to transform at a moment's notice. Aunt Penelope reached for the silver loaded shotgun mounted above her fireplace.

Shea's heart pounded as Achilles approached the door. His movements were silent, predatory. He gripped the handle, counted to three in his head, and yanked it open-

There stood Lucius, casually leaning against the doorframe with an amused smirk on his face.

"Really?" Lucius raised an eyebrow at his son. "Sneaking out through windows now? At least give your old man a heads up."

Achilles's shoulders slumped in relief. "Dad, you scared the hell out of us."

"Good. Maybe next time you'll think twice before disappearing without telling me." Lucius stepped inside, nodding respectfully to Aunt Penelope. "Though I can't blame you for wanting to visit. It's been too long."

"How did you find us?" Shea asked, her heart rate finally returning to normal.

"Please." Lucius tapped his nose. "You two may be getting better at stealth, but I've been tracking scents since before either of you were born."

"Penelope," Lucius bowed his head slightly. "It's been far too long."

Aunt Penelope's eyes widened with recognition. "You're... Vincent used to speak of you often."

"Did he now?" A warm smile crossed Lucius's face. "Your brother was one of the finest men I've ever known."

Penelope gestured for them all to sit. Oakley padded over and settled at Shea's feet as they gathered in the living room.

"Vincent told me you were more than just allies," Penelope said, pouring tea. "That you helped protect our family."

"I tried." Lucius's expression darkened. "Though not well enough, in the end."

"And now?" Penelope's eyes flicked to Shea. "This situation with the Hawkins faction?"

Lucius wrapped his hands around the warm teacup. "They've forced our hand. There will be a formal battle between the packs - winner takes all."

"All meaning Shea," Penelope's voice was tight with concern.

"We won't let them have her," Achilles spoke up fiercely.

"No, we won't." Lucius's tone held absolute certainty. "The Von Lunar pack has protected the Wolfes for generations. We won't stop now."

Shea and Achilles sat close together on the couch, listening intently as Lucius explained the complexities of pack politics and the upcoming battle. His steady voice filled the room as night settled deeper around the small house in the woods.

Penelope leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "What exactly makes Shea so important to the Hawkins pack?"

"It's not just the Hawkins," Lucius said, setting down his cup. "Shea's bloodline carries immense power. The offspring of a Wolfe could shift the balance between all the factions."

"That's why they killed Dad, isn't it?" Shea's voice was quiet but steady. "To try to control our bloodline?"

Lucius nodded slowly. "Vincent knew too much about the darker dealings between the packs. And he refused to be controlled."

Achilles slipped his hand into Shea's, squeezing gently. She drew strength from his touch.

"The Hawkins aren't the only ones who've been watching," Lucius continued. "There are other factions who'd love to claim Shea's power for themselves."

"But why now?" Penelope asked. "Why wait all these years?"

"Because she's come into her power," Lucius explained. "They needed her to manifest as a shifter first. Now that she has..." He trailed off meaningfully.

"Now they're all circling like vultures," Achilles finished, his jaw tight with anger.

Oakley whined softly at their feet, picking up on the tension in the room. Shea reached down to scratch behind his ears.

"The battle will be dangerous," Lucius said. "But it's our best chance to establish dominance and keep Shea safe through official channels. If we win, no faction can legally challenge our protection of her."

"And if you lose?" Penelope's voice shook slightly.

"We won't," Achilles said firmly. "I won't let that happen."

The conviction in his voice made Shea's heart swell. She leaned against his shoulder, drawing comfort from his solid presence beside her.

Penelope looked between Achilles and Shea, noticing their closeness. A small smile crossed her face despite the gravity of the situation.

"You two seem... different than when I last saw you," she observed.

Shea felt heat rise to her cheeks while Achilles cleared his throat. Lucius chuckled.

"They're true mates," he explained. "The bond between them grows stronger each day."

"True mates?" Penelope's eyes widened. "Vincent mentioned those were rare."

"As rare as Shea's bloodline itself," Lucius nodded. "It's part of why Achilles was chosen to protect her. The universe has its own way of bringing destined pairs together."

Oak padded over to where Achilles and Shea sat, laying his head on Shea's lap. She stroked his fur absently while processing this new information.

"That's why we feel so drawn to each other," Shea said softly, glancing at Achilles. "Why we can't stay apart."

He squeezed her hand in response, his thumb tracing circles on her skin. The simple touch sent tingles up her arm.

"The mate bond will only make you stronger," Lucius said. "Both individually and together. You'll need that strength in the coming battle."

"Speaking of which," Penelope interjected, "what can I do to help? Vincent was my family too."

"For now, stay safe," Lucius advised. "The less the other factions know about Shea's connections here, the better. We can't risk them using you as leverage."

Penelope nodded reluctantly, though it was clear she wished she could do more. Oak whined again, sensing her distress.

"We should head back," Lucius announced, rising from his seat. "The mansion needs to be secured before dawn."

Penelope hugged Shea tightly. "Be careful, sweetheart. And come visit again when you can."

"I will," Shea promised, squeezing back. Oak whined and nuzzled against her legs, reluctant to see her go.

Achilles helped Shea into her coat while Lucius exchanged a few quiet words with Penelope. The older woman nodded solemnly at whatever he told her.

"Ready?" Achilles asked softly, his hand finding the small of Shea's back.

She nodded, giving Oak one final pat. The dog's tail wagged half-heartedly as if he sensed the weight of their departure.

"Thank you for everything, Aunt Penelope," Shea said.

"Always, my dear. Achilles?" Penelope fixed him with a stern look. "Take care of her."

"With my life," he replied without hesitation.

They stepped out into the cool night air. The moon hung low and full above the trees, casting long shadows across the ground. Lucius led the way down the path while Achilles and Shea followed close behind, their fingers intertwined.

The sound of Oak's mournful howl echoed through the woods as they disappeared into the darkness.