Chapter 28

Lucian’s pov

I leaned over the table, my eyes scanning the map spread across its surface. The study was too dim for me to actually read the map, and if I was actually paying attention to it, I would have turned on more lights.

But I wasn't paying attention. My mind was a storm, a tangled mess of memories, frustrations, and the ever-present weight of responsibilities.

I'd ended training with Selene when we hadn't actually achieved anything. I knew she was worried—I could read the confusion and anger on her face very well—but I hadn't bothered to explain myself even when she asked.

I let out a low, feral sound, wishing I could stop being distracted by the shadows that clawed at me. I shut my eyes and opened them again, and finally, I could see the map before me, but my focus did not last long.

I was reminded of a time when I was in this very stance, studying this map but with a whole different agenda in mind. I had no desire to relive those moments, so I shifted away from the table and looked around, searching for something to distract me.

My eyes fell on Raven who, as usual, had books before her. I hadn't even meant to be in the study, but she was so engrossed that she did not acknowledge me, and I did not want to bother her.

Now, however, she was looking right at me, an inscrutable expression on her face. "Lucian—"

"Don't even think about it," I said, knowing that she was about to get me talking.

"You are letting them take over. You're not doing the technique I taught you," she continued anyway.

Her technique involved meditation, which I had no patience for right now. "The technique does not work!" I snapped.

"but it did last time," she countered. "Or do you want the other solution?"

The last time I had relapses that were so severe that I was losing my sanity, she had to find a way to keep me in my werewolf form just to stabilize my mind.

It had worked, but it came with repercussions. For the next few months, I was acting feral even in my human form—the effect of being trapped by my werewolf instincts for too long. I had no desire to go back to such a place.

"I will be fine."

Her eyes flicked towards the map. "Graystone isn't going to wait for you to put yourself together."

A growl rumbled deep in my chest at the mention of his name. "I know that. Do you think I don't know what's at stake here?"

"He's testing us, testing me, and if I don't respond, he won't stop. He'll keep pushing the limits until he gets what he wants."

And what he wanted was my pack—there was no way I was not going to respond.

Now Raven looked terribly concerned. "Well then, what are you going to do? You can't just stay here staring at the map while your mind is very far away."

"How did you know I wasn't actually reading it?" I demanded.

"I called your name twice but got no response." She sighed with a shake of her head. "You have to do something, Lucian. And you know what to do."

I clenched my jaw, my gaze returning to the map. Graystone's pack was smaller than mine, but it was just as ruthless. Alpha Graystone had a reputation for cunning and brute force.

He had been circling the edges of my territory for weeks now, sending scouts to test our borders and stir unease among the wolves. But he hadn't attacked, though all he was doing was a calculated move meant to provoke a response.

And it was working. Heads were starting to turn, and my pack members were now looking at me to make a move first.

"This is not like the last time," I muttered, more to myself than to Raven. "I can't just walk into his territory and tear them all apart."

"Why not?" she asked. "You're strong enough. I'm sure you can take down Graystone without much of a force. Take some men with you to handle his guard, but leave him to yourself."

I shook my head. I wasn't going to have the blood of another alpha on my hands. The memories of the last time I went that ferocious still tormented me—I definitely was not going to add another one to this.

"I don't want to be the first one to strike, especially not when he hasn't declared war yet."

Raven wanted to say something, but I cut her short. "He's looking for a weakness," the pitch of my voice lowered as I considered what I was saying. "He thinks I've gone soft. He thinks because of her—"

"Because of Selene," she finished, her tone measured. "You must have gone soft. Maybe they're right—she is distracting you. The Lucian I know would not give a second thought before putting Graystone in his place."

I glared at her, making an effort not to clench my fists. "She's not the reason for this."

"But she's not helping either," Raven said with a shrug.

The door swung open, interrupting her and causing both of us to look towards it. Darius strode in, hands deep in his pockets and his usual smile on his face. He really loved attention—I bet he was having a field day having us stop our conversation just to watch him enter.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said, moving right towards the table and sitting on the chair I should have sat on.

I frowned at him. "What do you want?"

"Don't need to sound so gruff, brother. Just came to find out how you're planning to handle our dear friend Graystone." Leaning forward, he added, "I assume you have a plan, though? Or are we just going to wait for him to come knocking on our door?"

"We are not waiting for anything," I said. I still hadn't forgotten Darius's encounter with Selene, and it still made me annoyed despite the fact that, to my knowledge, he hadn't spoken with her since then. I sure hoped my guess was right.

"Good." His smile returned. "The last thing we need is for the pack to start questioning your strength."

I barely resisted giving him a punch now. Why was he bringing up more issues for me to think about? The funny thing was that I hadn't even considered that. There was much more at stake than Graystone invading my pack. I could lose my authority before he even began.