Chapter 25: The Weight of the Truth. Lucas POV

I was looking at her through the trees, the heavy air pressing against me. Anna's sobbing shook her shoulders as she knelt beside the marked tree, piercing the forest's silence. What I previously feared was proven when the relic in my fingers blazed hot and faintly glowed toward her.  

The enemy. The danger. Anna.  

My feet wouldn't budge, so I tightened my hold on the knife strapped to my side. I finally understood the mission, the reason I had gone to this pack, but I was unable to make sense of it. Anna wasn't a potential threat. She was a person. A broken, sad girl who isn't dangerous at all.

As my heart raced in my chest, I stumbled backwards, trying to calm down my fast breathing. Thank God she didn't see me. I turned around and slid back into the bush, being careful not to fall on any trees.

When I got back to my room, I laid down on the bed and stared at the artifact until its light went out.

"What on earth is happening?" I said and ran my hand through my hair.

I pace around the room because what I had seen was so heavy on my mind. Why her? Why would Anna be named in the relic and the elders' prophecy? She wasn't a wolf who wanted power, a bad guy, or a killer.

However, that mark...

I couldn't get the picture of her hand with that small glimmer out of my head; it matched the emblem etched on the tree. It was evidence of something more important, but what?  

Confusion and guilt swirled till they mixed together. Anna's cries reverberated in the background as I relived Leo's execution, his limp body swinging. Was I punished for this? Some perverse vengeance for accusing Leo and leaving her to bear the consequences alone?  

It was tough to fall asleep. Anna's face appeared each time I closed my eyes. Not only in the forest, but at every turn since I got there: her silent resistance, the melancholy she hid, her quick looks.  

The relic was on the table when I finally fell asleep, perhaps tempting me to use it once more.  

Morning came with the sun spilling through the cracks in my blinds. My body was stiff from unresolved tension when I woke up. I was meant to accompany Oliver on his patrol cycles, so there was no time to slouch.  

Although the pack was humming with activity, I was unable to focus. She resembled every omega completing their duties. Every set of tired eyes and every head of dark hair blended together until I nearly bumped into her as I turned a corner.  

Anna.  

At first, she was too preoccupied with whatever task she was running to notice me. Feeling like a guilty dog caught stealing, I ducked into a nearby alcove and pressed my back against the wall. What had gone wrong with me?  

I couldn't face her, even though I had no reason to avoid her.  

As she passed, her earthy, gentle scent hung in the air, and I stayed in the shadows. Something inside of me was twisted by it, a battle between duty and instinct.  

It didn't get any better for the rest of the day. She was always there when I turned a corner. close to the kitchens. close to the practice area. even using Maia to scrub the stone floors. She was a constant reminder of the secret I held, as if to mock me.  

But I wasn't uncomfortable merely because I saw her. It was my feelings. It seemed harder to see her as a threat the more I tried to focus on my goal.  

I had had enough by noon. I needed clarity and space.  

I chose to get some bread and sit on the ledge outside my quarters instead of attending the customary meal gathering. My worries were not much calmed by the cold breeze.  

"You've gone soft," I mumbled to myself, as I gazed at the item beside me.  

The adjective "soft" wasn't suitable. Perhaps lost. Perplexed.  

I was surprised by the sound of footsteps. Expecting Oliver or one of his henchmen, I turned suddenly. However, it was her.  

Anna.  

Her steps were deliberate and slow as she approached with care. Her arms were tightly crossed, as though she were covering herself, and she exuded a worried aura.  

I stood, not sure if I should run away from her or greet her.  

"Lucas," she stated in a quiet yet forceful tone.  

My throat became suddenly dry as I swallowed forcefully. "Anna."  

She wasted no time. "Have you told him?"  

It was a surprise question. "What?"  

"Oliver," she said with a stronger tone. "Have you told him?"  

The weight of her question struck me as I looked at her. Inform him? She stood there, shivering with dread and rage, anticipating the worst of me, even though I hadn't ever considered the option.  

I was able to say, "No."  

Her gaze remained tense despite a small relaxation of her shoulders. "So why do you avoid me?"  

Uncertain of how to reply, I blinked. How could I explain the internal conflict without revealing everything?  

"Anna, I..."  

"No," she said, taking a step forward. "Lucas, I'm sick of your games. You act as though I don't exist one moment, and then you're following me around like a ghost the next. What is it? What are you looking for from me?"  

Her voice faltered, showing the vulnerability underneath her incisive comments.  

"I don't want anything," I murmured, saying more softly than I meant to.  

She looked at me with a confused and angry look on her face. "So why are you behaving this way?"  

I was unable to reply.

She shook her head, her lips pressing into a narrow line. "This is not something I have time for."  

"Wait, Anna..."  

"No," she yelled, her voice cracked. "You are responsible for whatever happens to me now. It's your fault, Lucas, if Oliver knows and I end up dead."  

The comments were like a kick to the stomach. She turned and left before I could respond, her footsteps reverberating down the hallway.  

Her words were ringing in my head as I stood motionless. It would be my fault if she died.  

And I wasn't sure if I could handle that for the first time.