Chapter 54: The Rising Threat Lucas POV

After days of journeying through the thick, unforgiving forest, the peaceful border town tucked away in the shade of rocky cliffs was a pleasant sight. I looked around the empty streets, observing the few people moving about, mainly wolves. My gut rumbled as the aroma of grilled meat and subtle spices filled the air from a nearby inn. Anna was strolling softly next to me, her eyes darting to every shadow as she held her blanket closely around her shoulders.

I spoke quietly as I noted, "We'll rest here for a bit. We've been putting too much pressure."

She gave a nod but stayed silent. Everything, including our escape and the threats that were still following us, had become too much to bear. She carried a lot of weight on her thin shoulders, as seen by her heavy silence.

We were getting close to the inn when I smelled something familiar, and it stopped me cold. Instinctively, my muscles clenched, and my gaze moved to the group of men in the town square, standing by the well. They were identifiable, clad in the black and silver leathers of Moonstone warriors. One of them turned, his eyes meeting mine, and my heart fell.

"Lucas," he snarled and advanced. His voice was a mix of anger and disbelief. "It's unbelievable."

Beside me, Anna froze, her coat closing over her. I moved slightly ahead of her so she wouldn't be seen.

I said to her, "Remain behind me." She didn't deny it.

With two more on either side, the man—Niall, one of the more experienced fighters—strode in our way. Their postures were hostile, and their feelings went from shock to fury.

Niall spat, "You have some nerve showing your face here. After all that you've done."

Even though my hands were balled into fists at my sides, I calmly replied, "I'm not here to cause trouble. All I want to do is get through."

Niall squinted his eyes. "Go through? You left your pack, Lucas, and abandoned us to bear the effects of your treachery. You're now going with..." Disdain flashed over his face as his eyes shifted to Anna. "A damned omega? You've sunk farther than I ever dreamed."

Behind me, Anna tensed up, but she stayed silent. No amount of protest could have trumped her stillness. Like a literal burden on my chest, I could feel her pain and disgrace.

I yelled, "Leave her out of this. This is between Moonstone and me."

"You believe that improves it?" Garret, another fighter, scoffed. "You're protecting her after leaving your family and your duty? Lucas, you've gone wild. You have been labeled a criminal by the Alpha."

"I'm not a traitor," I stated strongly. "The whole story is unknown to you."

Niall pushed back, saying, "Then come back and explain yourself. If you're so naive, face the Alpha. But you won't do that, as we both know, since you are guilty."

I looked about, seeing the townspeople's growing interest. This was quickly getting out of control and becoming unaffordable.

"I'm not going back," I firmly stated. "And I will not allow you to take me."

"You have no other option," Niall stated in a somber tone. He lunged for his blade's handle, and I realized we were running out of time.

I came forward and warned Anna to keep back. "It won't be long."

She paused, then took a small step back, her eyes wide but determined. As I fought the fighters, I could feel her eyes piercing my back.

Niall landed the initial blow quickly, carving my way through the air with his blade. I turned to dodge the blow and punched him in the ribs in return. He stumbled back from the hit, but Garret was already snarling at me. He dropped his weapon as I barely avoided him and kicked him in the knee.

"Cease this!" Anna's words echoed, but no one paid attention. Words could not stop the fight that had been simmering for so long.

Niall bounced back fast, growling as he charged at me. We struggled, trading blows in a vicious fight that left us both covered in blood. When Garret joined in, I was briefly overpowered and knocked to the ground by their combined strength. But with a rush of energy, I fought back because I was desperate and had trained for years.

"Lucas, you're making a mistake!" Struggling to his feet, Niall yelled in a strained voice. "This course you're taking will only end in disaster."

I retaliated with a strike that left him falling and said, "That's my decision to make."

The third fighter, a younger man I had never seen before, paused, his gaze flitting between Anna and me.

With a cautious tone, he questioned, "Why are you protecting her? All of this is because of her. She is doomed."

"She's not cursed," I stated in a chilly tone. "She is more valuable than you all put together."

Before I could stop myself, the words came out, and I could feel Anna's piercing, curious eyes on me. However, there was no time to think about it. Holding his own sword to his neck, I disarmed Niall with one more frantic shove and pushed him to the ground.

"Go," I snarled. "And don't pursue us once more."

Niall nodded, but his eyes were burning with rage. He spat out, "This isn't over. This will be communicated to the Alpha."

I let him go, but the three warriors backed off, their faces threatening revenge. I turned to Anna and wiped the blood from my face as they vanished into the distance.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

She didn't reply right away. Rather, she gazed at me with an expression in her eyes that I couldn't quite recognize. At last, she spoke, her voice trembling and low.

"Lucas, why are you actually here?" she asked. "Why are you keeping me safe?"

Her comments were like a kick to the stomach. My mouth opened to reply, but nothing came out. The intricate, entangled truth was too risky, too complicated to tell. And I knew then that any trust we had built was in jeopardy.