Chapter 97

Shea and Achilles lay tangled in the sheets, their breathing slowly returning to normal. The warm afterglow of their passionate encounter lingered between them as water droplets still clung to their skin. Achilles traced lazy patterns on Shea's shoulder while she nestled against his chest.

"We should probably get some actual sleep," Shea murmured, though she made no move to shift from her comfortable position.

"Probably," Achilles agreed, his fingers continuing their idle path along her skin. "But I'm quite content right here."

Shea hummed in agreement, enjoying the warmth of his body and the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. The events of the past few days swirled in her mind - the training, the confrontations, the revelations about her heritage. Yet here, wrapped in Achilles' arms, those concerns felt distant.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"For what?"

"For being here. For protecting me. For..." she gestured vaguely between them, "all of this."

Achilles pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. "You don't need to thank me for any of that. Being with you feels as natural as breathing."

A comfortable silence fell between them as exhaustion began to creep in.

…

Sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows as Achilles and Shea moved around each other with practiced ease. The sizzle of bacon filled the air while Shea whisked eggs in a bowl, occasionally bumping her hip against Achilles as he managed the stovetop.

"You're doing that on purpose," Achilles said, flipping a pancake with expert precision.

"Maybe." Shea grinned, reaching around him to grab plates. Her fingers trailed across his back, making him shiver.

The domesticity of the moment struck her - how natural it felt to share this space with him, to fall into an easy rhythm of cooking together. Achilles stole quick kisses between flipping pancakes, and Shea couldn't help but smile at how different he was from the cold, distant person she'd first met.

They had just settled at the kitchen table, plates loaded with food, when the front door opened. Lucius strode in with Alaric close behind, both looking tired but satisfied.

"Smells good in here," Lucius said, hanging his coat. "Save any for us?"

"Plenty," Shea gestured to the remaining stack of pancakes. "How was the church grounds?"

Alaric moved to prepare plates for himself and Lucius while the Alpha settled into a chair. "Secure enough," Lucius said between bites. "We've arranged additional patrols around the perimeter. The Hawkins won't try anything during the meeting itself - too many witnesses from other factions."

"The grounds themselves are quite beautiful," Alaric added, setting a cup of coffee in front of Lucius. "The old cathedral will make an impressive backdrop for the gathering."

A sharp knock at the door interrupted their breakfast discussion. Marcus and Lyra strode in, both dressed for business rather than combat. Lyra's usual playful demeanor was replaced by focused determination as she settled into an empty chair.

"Morning everyone," Marcus nodded, accepting the coffee Alaric offered. "I trust you're all prepared for this evening?"

Lucius pushed his empty plate aside. "As prepared as we can be. The church grounds have been secured, and we've arranged additional patrols."

"Good." Marcus pulled out a folded map from his jacket. "I've marked the key entry and exit points. The Hawkins will likely try to position their people here and here." He pointed to two spots near the cathedral's side entrances.

Lyra leaned forward, studying the markings. "I can keep an eye on those areas. My abilities will let me blend in without raising suspicion."

"The other factions will be watching closely," Lucius said. "This meeting isn't just about our dispute with the Hawkins - it's a chance for them to gauge the strength of both packs."

Achilles shifted closer to Shea, his protective instinct evident. "We should arrive early, get a feel for the grounds ourselves before everyone else shows up."

"Agreed," Marcus nodded. "The meeting starts at sunset. I suggest we head there by late afternoon."

"Alaric," Lucius turned to his butler, "please ensure our formal attire is ready. We need to project strength without appearing aggressive."

"Already taken care of, sir," Alaric replied smoothly. "Everything has been pressed and prepared."

The group continued discussing logistics and security measures, their breakfast forgotten as they focused on the evening ahead.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the mansion windows as everyone prepared for the faction meeting.

In her room, Shea smoothed down the front of her sleek black dress, the fabric clinging elegantly to her curves while maintaining a sophisticated silhouette. The dress featured a subtle slit that revealed just enough leg to be alluring without appearing provocative. Her dark hair cascaded in soft waves around her shoulders, and she'd kept her makeup minimal but striking.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the hallway just as Achilles emerged from his room. Her breath caught at the sight of him in his perfectly tailored black suit. The jacket emphasized his broad shoulders while the slim cut of the pants accentuated his athletic build. His usually tousled hair was neatly styled, though a few rebellious strands fell across his forehead in a way that made Shea's heart skip.

Achilles froze mid-step when he saw her, his blue eyes widening slightly as they traveled from her face down the length of her dress and back up again. The intensity of his gaze made her skin tingle.

"You look..." Achilles cleared his throat, struggling to find the right words. "Stunning doesn't begin to cover it."

Shea felt heat rise to her cheeks as she took in how the suit transformed his usual rugged appearance into something devastatingly elegant. "You clean up pretty well yourself," she managed, stepping closer to straighten his tie. Her fingers lingered on the silk material, hyper-aware of his proximity.

"The tie's already straight," Achilles murmured, his voice low and intimate.

"I know." Shea smiled up at him, enjoying the way his pupils dilated slightly at her touch.

His hand came up to rest on her waist, thumb brushing against the soft fabric of her dress. "We should probably head downstairs before my father sends Alaric to check on us."

Shea's fingers remained on Achilles's tie as she gazed up at him. The hallway felt charged with electricity, the space between them crackling with unspoken desire.

"You're right, we should go downstairs," Shea whispered, making no move to step away. Her thumb traced small circles on the silk tie.

"We should," Achilles agreed, his hand sliding from her waist to the small of her back, drawing her closer. "But you make it very difficult to think straight when you look at me like that."

"Like what?" Shea's lips curved into a teasing smile.

"Like you want to devour me whole." His voice dropped lower, rougher.

"Maybe I do." She rose slightly on her tiptoes, bringing their faces closer together. "What are you going to do about it?"

Achilles's other hand came up to cup her face, his thumb brushing across her bottom lip. "Something incredibly unwise, considering we're expected downstairs."

"I won't tell if you won't," Shea breathed against his thumb.

With a soft growl, Achilles captured her lips with his. The kiss was deep and passionate, his tongue sliding against hers as she melted into his embrace. Shea's hands slid up his chest to wrap around his neck, pulling him even closer as they lost themselves in the moment.