Chapter 7 The shot

Chapter 7- Luca

The guards rushed in immediately, ready to strike her down.

“Stand down.” I ordered.

They stood still instantly. With my other hand, I slipped two fingers between the chain and my throat, creating just enough space to breathe. Then I grabbed the chain properly, turned sharply, and dragged her forward with ease.

She slid across the floor but didn’t stay down for long. In one smooth motion, she snatched the dagger from my belt, trading it for the chain.

She was fast for someone in her condition.

I turned again, facing her fully now, letting the chain drop from my hand. She stood ready with some determination. The guards moved again, but I stopped them with a look.

“Is that all you’ve got, princess?” I taunted.

She seemed to gather every last bit of her strength. She snarled, her body starting to shift, and lifted herself off the ground, aiming the dagger straight for my chest.

I was ready to move, but then I saw her expression change mid-air. Her eyes widened, and a grunt of pain escaped her lips. She had been hit.

In a split second, the transformation failed, and she landed heavily in my arms, fully human again. From the doorway, I saw Lucy with her crossbow still raised.

“Luca, Alpha,” she corrected herself.

I didn’t answer. My attention was on the woman bleeding in my arms. Renee’s breathing was shallow, her eyes glistening. She tried to move, but couldn’t even lift a finger. A tear slipped down her cheek.

I took the dagger and from her slowly, “Take her to the clinic, and make the doctors treat her wound now.” I ordered the guards.

They hesitated. “That’s an order,” I barked.

They obeyed immediately. There was disgust all over Lucy eyes as the others carried Renee out.

When the room was empty, she turned to me. “Are you okay?” she asked softly.

She reached for my neck, for the bruises the chain had left but I stepped back instinctively. It was strange. Lucy had treated wounds far worse on me before, yet this time my body flinched away from her touch.

Her hand froze midair, the hurt flashing briefly in her eyes.

I sighed and stepped closer, letting her feel the faint marks. But she didn’t. She just bowed slightly. “Alpha,” she said coldly, and turned to leave.

“Lucy,” I called after her.

She stopped.

“You will face your Alpha when he speaks.”

Slowly, she turned around. Her eyes were wet with tears she didn’t want me to see.

I stepped closer and wiped them away with my thumb. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, sir,” she replied.

“I know you’re angry,” I continued, “but”

“Why would I be angry?” she cut me off sharply. “I’m just your soldier.”

“Cut it off, Lucy,” I said, gripping her shoulders gently but firmly. “Do you know how much I trust you? I need you to trust me and my judgment just a little.”

Her voice cracked. “You don’t understand. You just stood there, that woman was about to stab you. Did you want to die? What do you expect us to do if you gamble your life like that? What do you expect me to do?”

I sighed, wiping another tear from her cheek.

“I understand you, Lucy. I really do. And I’m fine. In fact, I’ve never been more myself.” I gave her a small, tired smile. “But different battles require different approaches. And that’s where I need you to trust me.”

She stared at me for a long moment then finally, slowly, she nodded.

I pulled her into a tight hug. She stood stiff for a moment before melting into it, her arms sliding around me slowly.

“Trust me,” I whispered.

“I trust you,” she murmured back.

When we let go, I smiled faintly. “I still prefer Luca, by the way. This whole ‘strict Alpha’ thing doesn’t suit me as much as I thought.”

She smiled and reached up to touch the bruise on my neck.

“You need to treat this,” she said softly.

“Are you kidding? I’m Luca.”

That earned me a quiet laugh. Then she nodded, the hurt in her eyes softening a little.

“I need to see how bad her wound is,” I said. “She can’t die now.”

I made it sound like I had some grand plan for keeping Renee alive, but the truth was, I just didn’t want her to suffer more than she already had.

“Okay,” Lucy replied slowly as I turned toward the door.

The estate clinic was quiet when I arrived. The scent of blood, herbs was all over the air.

I saw her in a corner lying on her stomach, her back exposed where they had cut through her torn clothes to clean the wound. Dried tears stained her cheeks.

“Alpha,” the doctor greeted shakily, bowing slightly. “Thank the gods it didn’t go too deep. Since the arrow hit her in wolf form, the damage was less severe. But to prevent infection, she’ll need to rest for a few days, if you permit it.”

I looked at her sleeping there, her face peaceful for once.

“Alright,” I said quietly. “You can leave.”

He nodded and hurried out.

When we were alone, I stepped closer. My hand hovered near her wound, wanting to touch to make sure she was really alive but I stopped myself. With a sigh, I turned to leave.

Then I heard a low whisper clear enough for me to hear. “I’ll still kill you.”

I turned. Her eyes were barely open, glassy with pain and tears.

“Either I die,” she breathed, “or I kill you. Both of us can’t live in this world, too small for us.”

I studied her for a moment, almost amused. “Really?” I asked softly. “Then maybe next time, don’t hesitate when you get your chance.”

She gave a smirk. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good,” I said, turning again toward the door.

But before I could take another step, I heard her voice again.

“I’m hungry,” she said.

I turned back.

Her eyes were still closed, her lips trembling as she repeated softly this time, “I’m hungry.”

For the first time with her, I didn’t know whether to laugh or to worry.