Their Switched Wolves

Saying Goodbye

Lucas POV

My instinct as a warrior made me search for ways to fortify the pack's defense and advance our fighting prowess for future battles. Over time, it made me take some actions because I thought I might need a war plan in the future.

I am aware that assaulting my pack will be difficult, and I believe Kayla will be safe here. We have bunkers to save the food from fires and vandalism. We built safe houses for women and children, and I made some traps on the field. Thinking about it, I'm glad I did it. It does not need to run against time.

My life was monotonous and quiet. I trained to be a good warrior. I took care of my pack's business, and I spent time with my pack members, learning from them, and making connections.

A few days ago, with the arrival of Kayla and Alice, everything changed. My life has more color, but also more anxiety.

My warrior side is prepared for what is to come. All werewolves have a side prepared for disputes and wars, and none live in fear of dying, maybe only at the exact moment when the reality is inevitable. But now it is not only me; I have hundreds of lives in my hands to secure, and one of them is precious to me: Kayla. It's them, my pack, and Kayla that make me somewhat nervous.

Aric is in a possessive mood, and I would even say he's obsessed with keeping Kayla safe. He kept urging me to stay there, close to her or telling me to check the security measures with Smith once more.

I am about to leave on this trip to see Alice's pack.

I can't help feeling reluctant to go. I'm afraid to leave Kayla here considering the dangers that exist. Now that I have experienced what it is like to have her in my life, I can't imagine my life without her in it. I struggle to imagine my next few days without her scent.

Go to her. You can't go without saying goodbye. Aric asks in desperation. I don't want to succumb to these wishes, but Aric is right: I won't be able to leave without saying goodbye.

I made up my mind, grabbed my bag, and locked the door to my room. I sigh and gather my courage for the action I'm going to take.

I walked a short distance to get to their bedroom door. I set my bag down and knocked at the door. My body is tense, and I can feel the anticipation in my stomach clenching.

"Hey, Lucas. I'm ready, I'll be right out." Alice said while beaming. A part of me is relieved to see her smile because it's the first time I've noticed her smile reaching her eyes.

"Actually, I need to talk to Kayla. Alone." I informed her, taking a long breath. I know my remarks have hurt Alice. I can see it in her serious expression. She nodded.

"Okay. I'll get my bag and wait downstairs." I watched Alice's body walk inside the room and take the suitcase. She gave me a forced, sad grin as she passed me, and I could tell it was forced. Guilt befalls me, but I need to do this. After Alice's body finally leaves my line of sight, I knock on the door that had been left open in the corridor. I don't want to go inside without permission.

"Lucas, come in. I overheard you talking to Alice." Kayla sighs as she settles down on the bed and motions for me to follow suit, but on the bed across from her.

My gaze focused on her, and I had to fight Aric to let me speak; he wanted to grab her and kiss her instead of talking.

"Kayla, I had to say goodbye before I left." Even though I'm not touching her, I already feel that energy pulsing throughout my entire body. There is no way to change the fact that she has my heart.

"I wanted to say goodbye too." I felt my chest rejoicing at her words. Her voice soothes me a little.

"Kayla, I'm aware that Mia and Aric both desire each other intensely." I sigh and muster the courage to express everything that's on my mind and heart.

"I'm fully conscious that you are committed to someone else, and I will never ask you to compromise who you are, your values, or the King. I had to let you know that you have enriched my life; you have given color to it. My heart lives today because you are part of my life now. Before, it was only beating to keep me alive; it was just surviving."

"Lucas, I..." She wants to explain that all this is our mate bond, that I belong to Alice, but I don't want to hear it. I am aware of it all. I genuinely tried, but I am unable to feel anything for Alice; I can't pretend, and I can't be someone I am not.

"Kayla, please refrain from interrupting me. I need to say this." My gaze focused on hers, begging for her to listen to me, at least once.

"We all know that the mate bond is powerful, but what I feel can't be limited to that. I love everything about you, especially your grace, your composure, and your concern for others like you do about Alice's feelings. I see all the qualities I look for in a partner when I look at you. But my feelings go far deeper than that. I feel emotions when I look into your eyes that I never knew I could feel. Every time I see, smell, hear, or touch you, new feelings are born and grow." My heart swells as her eyes shine. I am unable to stop. She must understand how I feel about her and us.

"You can predict how I will feel even before I do. Your hand fits in mine perfectly, as if you were the other piece of the puzzle that I am." I try to link my mind and emotions while I close my eyes.

"I know, I know... mate bond... yeah... and I hope that one day I won't feel ashamed of all these words." I inhaled all the air my lungs could receive.

"Leon is very lucky to have you. I can only hope he can cherish you as I would." I gave her a small smile, reassuring her that I was being honest.

"You are fragile, but at the same time, you are stronger than any of us. You are sweet but fierce in defending your own. If one day this can be true, for us, I will be the happiest werewolf in the world. However, if your place is next to Leon or another, then I want you to know that, even if I stay with Alice, a part of me will always look up to you."

I stood up and addressed Kayla, who had tears in her eyes. I can't decipher if she was moved by my words or because I spoke of Leon. I signed, thinking about it.

I gave her a tender kiss on the forehead and walked out the door while inhaling her wild berry scent to carry it with me and remember her.

I don't want to leave with the anguish or pain brought on by the truth of what she is about to tell me if I stay, since nothing she can say will make me feel any differently.

I closed the bedroom door. I lean against the door with my back and, for the first time in my entire life, since becoming an adult, I let the tears pour down my cheeks. My body is collapsing under the weight of the emotional whirlwind I am experiencing...

Kayla POV

I heard Lucas coming; I could tell by his unmistakable smell and the footsteps I heard in the hallway.

I hid in the bathroom because I wanted Alice to open the door. I would come out next for a brief goodbye. But when I heard him say he wanted to talk to me, I won't deny I felt some happiness.

The thought of the risks that both of them would encounter while traveling, kept me from sleeping.Being aware that their lives may be in jeopardy makes my heart constrict.

Thea being away from me is something that scares me. I know she is with Alice, but Alice has always been close to me. It will be the first time that Thea will really be apart from me. I miss her so much. Her words of encouragement aided in the resolution of problems. I sigh, thinking about it.

Mia is quite upset. She doesn't want Lucas to leave, and even less so with Thea present. Her possessive side has been very difficult to deal with. I've been thinking about Lucas all night, how he didn't blink when he realized the truth, how he accepted being on the front lines of a war, without the answers to all our questions. He has my utmost respect. I can only thank him.

I struggle with the emotions I'm experiencing and the thoughts Mia keeps dumping into my head. The idea of him leaving doesn't exactly make me joyful. I feel as though I am once again losing someone important to me.

I listened to everything Lucas said after he came in. I still tried to interrupt, to tell him that it's a mate bond, but he asked me not to. And after all, I think I owe him at least that much, to listen to him.

According to Natalie, a true queen should keep her feelings to herself and only share them with her closest friends and family members. And today, all of my defenses collapsed. My body erupted in tears in response to Lucas' comments. I sobbed because I wanted to hold him but was unable to do so. I also wanted to express my admiration for him. However, I can't. I am aware that Mate Bond is screaming, and I must protect us from further misery. The only regret I have now is that I didn't tell him how much I also respect him for being the noble leader and werewolf that he is, because I know that won't change even if our wolves go back to their original owner.