Chapter 57: Silent Bonds Lucas POV

Anna and I had been quiet for a long time, as tense as a bowstring about to break. Although she hadn't spoken it directly, her circumspect looks and terse answers revealed her suspicion, which hung over her like a shadow. After the mayhem I had pulled her into, I couldn't hold it against her. The widening gap between us, which I was unsure how to close, still worried me.

After hours of walking, we finally came across the house. Its old wooden walls bent slightly, as though they were weighed down by the passage of time, and it was hidden under a canopy of overgrown trees. At least for the night, a safe haven.

With a flat voice, as though she didn't care, Anna stated, "It looks empty." Instead of even looking at me, she scanned the woodland around her.

I said in an indifferent tone, "Empty is good. We should check inside."

She gave a nod, and we walked toward the cottage together. I pushed the creaking door open and saw a single room with a filthy table, a cracked hearth, and a rickety bed frame without a cushion. It wasn't much, but it was better to the open forest.

Before I could respond, Anna suddenly turned on her heel and stated, "I'll secure the perimeter."

"Wait, Anna—" I began, but she had already left, the woodland floor muffling her movements.

I raked a hand through my hair and groaned. Every step we took had caused her to pull away more. The growing distance between us made me want to give her more room, but it felt like a burden on my chest. I would lose her—not to Oliver or his hunts, but to her own doubts—if I couldn't get in touch with her quickly.

I started to protect the cabin by checking the only window and leaning a chair against the door. Twilight had turned to night by the time Anna came back, and the room was covered with long shadows. She entered silently, sat at the table, and started sharpening a little blade she had picked up on the way.

I pulled out the second chair and sat down across from her, saying softly, "Anna. We must speak."

The blade was perched mid-stroke as her hands froze. She didn't raise her head. "About?"

"About us," I answered. "About why you don’t trust me."

Then her eyes snapped up, guarded and sharp. "You're making things up."

I leaned forward and said, "Don't do that. Don't ignore me. Speak up if something is upsetting you."

Her fingers clenched around the knife handle as she paused. She finally let out a sigh and put down the blade. "All right. Lucas, would you mind telling me the truth? Why do you feel the need to keep me safe? What do you stand to gain?"

The charge hurt, but I kept a neutral look. "I told you. I'm working to protect you."

"And I'm meant to think that?" She replied, raising her voice. "You suddenly appear, help me in getting away, and now we're racing for our lives with no end in sight. You haven't really explained much about yourself or your original motivation for being in Nightshade. Please pardon me if I seem a little unsure."

I forced myself to remain composed as I balled my hands beneath the table. I said, "I think you're worth protecting, which is why I'm here. Because Oliver's abuse of you is wrong."

She shook her head and laughed bitterly. "Lucas, you don't even know who I am. So why put everything on the line for an unknown person?"

"I'm not a stranger," I mumbled. "No longer."

She gazed at me, looking for something I wasn't sure she would find in my eyes. The hush lingered, uneasy and weighty. At last, I spoke again, but with a softer tone.

"I was devoted to my Alpha and my pack when I was in Moonstone," I started. "But blind spots are a part of loyalty. The cracks aren't obvious until it's too late."

Her face changed as, in spite of herself, a flicker of interest appeared in her eyes. "What happened?" she asked in a wary tone.

I leaned back, breathing slowly. "I was sent to Nightshade on orders to investigate a possible threat. That threat was you."

Her eyes widened, and she tensed, but I lifted a hand to stop her. "Let me finish. I didn’t know anything about you then, just that you were marked and that it made you dangerous. But the more I knew, the more I understood how incorrect we were. You weren’t a danger; you were a victim."

Her skepticism returned, and she scowled. "And you simply chose to change sides? Like that?"

"It wasn't that easy," I noted. "I had to reject everything I had ever known in order to leave my pack. On the other hand, I couldn't watch Oliver ruin you. Not when I could have been of help."

Her eyes got a little softer, but they were still wary. "Now what?" she asked. "You believe you can outrun them indefinitely?"

"No," I said. "However, I'll stop at nothing to protect you. Even if you have to fight them. Even if it means giving up my life for you."

Her breath caught, and I briefly believed I spotted a weakness in her protection. However, she averted her eyes and spoke in a barely audible whisper. "Lucas, I didn't request any of this. I didn't ask for your sacrifice or safety."

"I understand," I answered. "However, Anna, you are no longer alone. We're all in this together, whether you like it or not."

With the exception of the crackle of the little fire I had managed to light in the hearth, the room became quiet. I didn't press her, and she didn't answer. It was impossible to win several fights in a single night.

I sat by the fire and stared into the flames while she lay down on the temporary bed with her back to me. I had opened up to her, but it was insufficient. Not quite yet. There was still a gap between us, but I would continue to work toward closing it. Because I would put everything on the line for her, even if it meant going down a road I might never get back from.