Chapter 116

Harper’s POV

The clearing is quiet and calm this morning, just what I needed. Warm sunlight seeps in from above the trees, creating a peaceful glow across the lagoon. Early morning mist still hangs in the air, making the grass wet beneath my bare feet.

I stretch, inhale deeply, and try to steady myself.

Today is the hearing.

Unable to sleep, I came out here before dawn, hoping the lagoon would provide a space for me to start the day without stress. And it worked. I feel more relaxed here. Maybe it’s because I have space to think, or because it’s far away from the judging eyes of the pack.

It also gives me the privacy I need to shift. I haven’t shifted since my run with Lucas outside the witch’s cottage, and I can feel Erie pushing for freedom from within. She’s just below the surface, impatient and curious for a chance to roam, but I didn’t want to cause any trouble.

I can only hope that Lucas is right when he says the pack will welcome me back.

It’s a constant worry that I realize I’m not hiding well, so I try to clear my mind. Closing my eyes, I reach within and feel for Erie. She’s there, like a heater just below the surface. And that heat spreads through my body. The unfamiliar yet comforting feeling of the shift rolls beneath my skin.

However, it doesn’t fully come forth. Not like my first shift where Erie practically burst out of me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her while rubbing my chest.

“We need more practice,” Erie whispers in my mind. “I’m still weak from not shifting for a year.”

“Will that change soon?”

“With practice,” she says softly.

Nodding, I sit back on the grass and sigh. The wolves watch me from their scattered positions around the clearing. The golden eyes of my new companions blink at me, and I wonder what they’re thinking. I thought that they would leave eventually, but after their display of bringing meals in the form of dead animals, I’m not so sure.

“Are you not worried?” I ask them, even though they can’t talk. Again, I receive silent stares. They’re calm and unbothered, like they know the outcome of the trial already. Should I take their ease and confidence as a good sign?

Standing, I walk over to the lagoon and dip my toes in. The cool water sends a shiver up my spine. I let my foot slice slowly through the water, and I watch as my reflection blurs.

“I wouldn’t mind gaining an extra few ounces of confidence… if you have any to spare,” I whisper. Honestly, I don’t know how today will end. Either, I’ll be proven innocent, or I’ll be sentenced to a punishment I don’t deserve.

In a few hours, the Council could decide that I’m a threat worth killing.

Lucas swears we have everything needed to battle any accusations they throw at us, but I can’t stop this dreadful feeling from filling me. It makes my stomach flip and twist.

Leaves flutter and grass crunches behind me. The thumps of heavy footsteps move toward me, but I don’t need to look to see who it is. The tension in my body eases, the nausea from worry fades, and the dread of facing the council slowly weakens.

I recognize his presence.

“You’ve been out here for hours,” Lucas says, stepping into the clearing. He moves easily, walking with the same strength and steadiness as usual. As he walks closer, Lucas scans my body. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but the way his eyes soften makes me feel truly seen.

“I needed space to think,” I tell him, taking his offered hand. I place my cold hand in his much warmer one, loving the way he instantly pulls me closer.

Having Lucas here is the best worry killer. I think I always knew that—even if I didn’t admit it—and now, I let myself fall into his arms as he circles them around me. The weight of his arms around me and the warmth he provides battles with the anxiety swirling in my body.

“Well, you’ve got plenty of protection and privacy,” he mutters, his eyes flicking toward the wolves around me. They’re like sentinels watching for danger.

“They never leave,” I point out. “Their presence makes me feel safe and loved, but it also feels like I’m on display when people watch us.”

“I’m glad they’re here,” Lucas says, brushing a finger along my jaw and making me look up at him. “You’re protected with them around.” The air shifts with his words and touch, and the air around us grows heavier with his spicy scent.

My head spins from the combination of his scent and the tingles racing across my nerves.

Lucas firmly yet gently grips my chin to keep my gaze on his as he speaks, “You’ll be protected today, too. I’ll be with you the entire time, and I’m bringing men with us. Loyal men who don’t easily give in to gossip and rumors.”

“The warriors who helped us before?”

He nods.

“They’ll be with us, ready to guard you if anything happens.”

My breath stutters at his words, my heart kicking into a faster pace. “If anything happens?”

“Nothing will happen,” he promises quickly, brushing a thumb along my cheek. “We will make our case, present the evidence, and give the Council everything we have on Logan’s crimes. Once they hear what we have to say, they’ll know you’re innocent. You’ll be free to stay in the pack with no worries.”

Bright blue eyes stare down at me, and I don’t know what makes me say it, but I ask, “And what if I don’t want to stay?”

Instantly, the warmth in Lucas’s eyes disappears. His entire body goes rigid—his jaw clenches, his eyes flash gold, his shoulders tense up. Then, my back is against a tree, and he’s pinning me to his chest by an arm around my waist.

“You want to leave me?” The growl vibrates through me, and Erie takes notice.

Instead of feeling fear at the dark tone, something else sparks within me. Heat. Excitement. Desire. They mix and meld, pooling in my chest as my heart races.

Lucas is so close, his body pressing against mine. His touch leaving a trail of burning desire for more.

“I…” My voice cracks in a breathless puff. I can’t think. My hands land on his shoulders, but I can’t push him away. I have no strength or desire to move away from him, but at the same time, he’s too close. It’s overwhelming.

I try to gather my senses, but the soft, slow trail of his thumb dragging across my bottom lip nearly has me whimpering. Heat floods my system, and the flare in Lucas’s eyes tells me he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Say it,” he orders softly.

“I-I don’t know,” I barely manage.

I can feel myself teetering on the edge of the unknown ledge in our relationship, but it doesn’t frighten me. I don’t know who will fall first, but I know he won’t let me fall alone.

And his next words confirm that.

“Whatever happens today,” Lucas whispers, leaning closer. My eyes fixate on his lips as he speaks, “You’re not alone. I’ll be with you.”