Chapter Twenty-One—Lucas

Pained ripped through Lucas’ heart. He’d bit Sweeny when he promised he wouldn’t. She didn’t know what was coming for her. A rougarou was a lifestyle change—and with her powers, he didn’t know how they would clash.

He leapt into the driver’s seat of his Hummer and tightened his fist around the steering wheel. The air conditioner blasted against his face. He needed to cool down. How could Theo let Sweeny do this?

Sweeny walked over to her side and climbed inside.

Gran bandaged her up good, but Lucas could smell her blood. The sweet warmth of his mate. Ultimately, that was his goal—to turn his mate, but not like this. Not like some bloodthirsty maniac. In some old house on an elderly woman’s couch?

Theo’s truck pulled off, rattling down the road, but Lucas didn't follow.

He couldn’t move, his eyes shifted toward Sweeny’s who stared ahead. “I can’t believe this happened to you,” he said.

She looked over. “It’s not your fault. We needed your wolf to come out—he did. I was gonna end up this way anyway, right? We have to worry about saving this town before we worry about anything else.”

Lucas backed his truck up and started down the road. Sweeny’s phone rang in her pocket and she dug it out.

“Hey Hattie—”

Sweeny pressed her closed fist against her forehead. “I was at Kurt’s but I wasn’t there for him.”

Lucas cringed. This was not the time for a girl fight.

“Hattie, I would never go after Kurt. I don’t know where he is—Theo and I needed some help from his Gran. Some stuff for Science class.”

Hattie’s voice rose higher.

Lucas slammed his fist against the steering wheel, anger rising. He grabbed the phone and put her on speakerphone.

“Hattie, now isn’t the time for your attitude, yeah? Sweeny’s with me.”

“Then why did Sarah Beth call and tell me they were together in his yard?”

“Because they were,” he hissed. “Don’t call back. We’re up knee deep in shit.” He pressed the end button and tossed her phone into his back seat.

Tears whelmed in her eyes.

“Ah, cher,” Lucas said, placing his palm on her thigh. “Why you crying?”

She looked up with dark eyes. “I want you so bad. Is this normal? I feel like heat is in my blood. Stop touching me before I erupt.”

Lucas squeezed her thigh before removing it. “It’s normal. Once this is all over, we can spend time together.”

“I want to have sex,” she almost cried. “I want it so bad that I feel like I’m going to wither away if I don’t have it.”

He nodded, trying to hide his smile. The changing process was mixed with many emotions. It’s like a roller coaster for the first few months. Not to mention them being mated meant more in the werewolf world. Mating was the equivalent to being married. He didn't think to tell her because he wanted to wait, and now didn't seem like the time either.

“We will do whatever you want once this settles,” he said. “Things are going to be an adjustment, yeah?” he said. “That’s if things don’t affect you differently because you’re already what you are.”

She wiped her nose with her hand. “I’m scared to deal with this. I don’t know how to kill a witch or a demon. Do we even have a plan?”

“We’ll talk about a plan once we get home, yeah? Don’t you fret, cher. We’ll get through this.”

Sweeny sniffled but dried her eyes. “I’m a bad witch,” she whispered to herself. “I can do this.”