CHOSEN

Chapter 7. Enemies

"Both of you better get home right now. We need to prepare. They’re on the move."

Lucas and Lucien exchanged glances before Lucien hurriedly stood up and went inside to inform Silas.

Lucas looked at me, then took a deep breath.

"What happened?" I asked, worry creeping into my voice.

"Our enemies... the rogues and human special forces, they’ve been causing trouble and getting bolder lately. Pack members have gone missing, only to be found dead—tortured, killed. And we still don’t know why. We found their base, just by the forest. They’re building an army, likely planning to attack the border patrol and kidnap more of our members—"

My gasp silenced him. I thought things like this only happened in fake news.

"Please be safe," I whispered.

We might never have a chance to be together, but the thought of him leaving tore at my chest.

My mother always said my face was an open book, betraying every thought and feeling. Maybe Lucas saw it now, because he stood and gently took my hand, leading me into the café.

After saying something to Lucien, both he and Lucas quickly started closing the café. Lucas turned back to me, his hands gripping my shoulders firmly as he stared at me, as if trying to etch me into his memory. His intense gaze only heightened my fear. Before I could say anything, he spoke.

"If I make it back safely, please don’t shut me out. Let me stay close to you. Even if it breaks my heart to see you with your husband, it’s better than being a stranger—"

"Luke," I interrupted, feeling the weight of his words but knowing they didn’t make sense.

It wouldn’t be fair to him. He could be happy with anyone he wanted. He was wealthy and handsome; only a fool would reject him. Why choose to suffer by watching his mate with another man?

"Listen to me first, Miss Nollan," he said, his patience thinning. "I once lost hope waiting for you, but you’re too precious to me. I’ll go mad if I can’t make sure you’re happy. Please."

A snarl rumbled in the back of my mind, surprising me. The sound of the beast I’d only recently realized was part of me. A surge of anger flared in my chest at the thought of him suffering. But I reminded myself that staying married was the right choice. It took all my strength not to kiss him after hearing his heartfelt plea. I swallowed hard.

Lucas smiled sadly, as if he could read my thoughts. His hand lifted, his thumb tracing my lower lip, sending a lovely spark through me that made my wolf purr softly. A moment later, I was wrapped in his embrace, a place where I felt safe, as if nothing else could harm me.

"Guys, stop it! You’re breaking my heart." Silas’s voice pulled me back to reality, and I jumped away from Lucas.

I glared at Silas. "We need to talk, young man. For heaven’s sake, I deserve to be called your aunt. How dare you have such indecent thoughts about us!"

Silas looked shocked by my outburst. A moment later, the Alexander brothers' laughter filled the air. That night, Silas left on Lucas’s motorbike while Lucas and Lucien drove home in a car.

***

I didn’t hear anything about them for the next two days. GP was closed, and I’d never felt this anxious. I’d been alone at home or managing the shop many times before, but it had never felt this empty. My worry for Dave was different from what I felt for Lucas because Lucas was facing something far more dangerous—something non-human.

I tried to keep myself busy, cleaning every corner of the shop until it was spotless, playing with the animals, but nothing could distract me. When that didn’t work, I video-called Fabian, though I avoided my mother. She’d see through me in an instant and know something was wrong.

My heart broke seeing Fabian’s cute face, and I was terrified that the problems in my marriage might be affecting him. What kind of mother was I? Meanwhile, as usual when hiking, Dave was unreachable for days.

I decided to close the shop early. It was better to sleep than spiral into paranoia. The evening sky was beautiful—pink and orange—when I stood up from the check-up table. I walked toward the door, wanting to spend a few moments breathing in the fresh air before locking up and heading back inside.

That night, sleep didn’t come easily. I woke several times, drenched in cold sweat. I’d never shifted before, but I could feel my wolf’s anxiety, its restlessness keeping me awake. Confused and exhausted, I struggled to understand what caused her behavior.

The sun hadn’t fully risen when I finally gave up on sleep and started my day. I soaked in a warm bath, hoping it would help me relax. Afterward, I stepped outside and froze when I saw a familiar Mercedes-Benz parked nearby. My heart leapt, expecting it was Lucas, but my smile faded when I realized it was Lucien who stepped out.

He looked disheveled, his face drawn and unshaven. His usual sharp, fashionable clothes were gone, replaced by an oversized T-shirt and basketball shorts. He wasn’t even wearing shoes.

"What happened to you, Lucy?" I asked, worry clear in my voice as I reached out to touch his cheek.

Tears shimmered in his eyes, and he closed them for a moment, as if willing them away.

"Can I take a shower and have breakfast here?" he asked softly, avoiding my question.

I nodded and led him inside, making sure everything he needed was ready in the hall bathroom before sending him in. While he showered, I reheated the lasagna I’d made the night before. Too lazy to cook from scratch, I figured it would do. I fetched some clothes—Dave’s clothes—for Lucien and returned just as the microwave beeped. I knocked on the bathroom door to hand him the clean clothes, then plated the lasagna.

Lucien sat by the pantry, eating hungrily. Every now and then, he glanced at me, perhaps wondering why I wasn’t asking more questions. But I wasn’t going to force him to talk if he wasn’t ready.

He stayed silent until finished washing the dishes, then turned to me, his expression different, as if he’d finally made a decision.

"Essie, pack some clothes. Go home with me."