aya’s face lit up with joy as she saw Lucian. “Lucian!” she exclaimed, rushing into his arms for a warm hug.
Katie watched. Curiously.
Lucian cleared his throat, his eyes finding Katie’s. “Ah, Maya and I go way back,” he said, hi voice a little awkward.
Maya smiled widely. “We were each other’s first. First girlfriend, first boyfriend.”
Katie’s expression changed, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Oh really,”
Lucian quickly introduced her to Maya. “This is my wife, Katie,” he said, his arm wrapping aroun her waist.
Maya’s face fell, and she apologized profusely. “Oh, Katie, I’m so sorry. That’s so many years ag and it’s been so long since I saw Lucian.”
Katie smiled politely. “That’s fine,” she said. “Nice to meet you. We’ve heard you’re a uniqu healer.”
Maya nodded. “I’ll do my best to help Lucian’s mom,” she said.
In that case, you need to come with me right away. My mom’s not getting any better.”
The group hurried out, heading to the pack’s location.
Maya worked her magic, healing Lucian’s mom. Then everyone else who had been poisoned. Th
tmosphere transformed from tense to joyful as people began to recover.
.ater on, Maya’s body slumped forward. She seemed exhausted.
.ucian swiftly scooped her into his arms, cradling her like a child.
He carried her into one of the inner rooms. He was a bit worried.
Had they drained all her energy? He hoped not.
As he laid her down on the bed, he transformed into his wolf form.
A majestic, big grey wolf.
Katie watched in silence.
His wolf’s tongue gently lapped at Maya’s hand, its saliva working to ease her pain.
Katie’s eyes followed Lucian’s movements, her expression unreadable.
After a few moments, Lucian shifted back into his human form.
She handed him his leather trouser pants, her eyes averted.
‘Thanks,” he said, his voice low and smooth.
As he dressed, Katie’s gaze remained fixed on Maya, who was now resting peacefully.
Lucian’s voice broke the silence, “You can look now, I don’t bite.”
Katie’s eyes flicked to his face, trying to ignore his shirtless torso.
“Maya was weak, so I had to help her,” Lucian explained.
She gave a nod.
Katie remembered he must have misunderstood the scene with Liam earlier. She had to correct
- it.
As she began to speak, Maya stirred awake.
Lucian crouched beside her, holding her hand.
A pang of jealousy hit her. But she quickly suppressed it.
“Thank you, Maya,” Lucian said softly. “You saved the lives of my pack. I’ll be eternally grateful.”
Maya smiled weakly. “It’s nothing. Consider it a favor from an old friend. Plus, you helped me
too.”
Katie chimed in, “Maya, thank you so much. If you hadn’t been there-”
Maya cut her off, “Well, thank the goddess I was here.”
Katie couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling Maya’s presence gave her.
Lucian asked Maya if she needed anything, and she smiled warmly. “Do you still remember m Favorite, Lucian?”
He creased his forehead slightly as he thought back.
Pancakes,” he said suddenly, a hint of a smile on his face.
Maya’s eyes widened in surprise, and she smiled widely. “You still remember,”
.ucian chuckled. “Yeah, because you almost had my head if I didn’t remember things about yo
>ack then.”
Maya laughed, a warm, throaty sound. “Yes, I’d love to have pancakes. It’s been a while.”
Lucian nodded, his face serious once more. “Okay, I’ll have the maid prepare it right away.”
He turned to Katie, his eyes questioning. “How about she stays the night and rests? Would that ›e okay with you if she stays at the mansion with us?”
Katie’s eyebrows rose, and she hesitated for a moment. “At the mansion? Why can’t she stay a he pack house?”
.ucian’s expression turned serious. “She’s a unique healer, and I wouldn’t want her to be i
arm’s way. It’s better that she’s at the mansion where I can keep an eye on her, at least now tha she’s just arrived.”
Katie rubbed on her bare arms uncertainly. Lucian continued, “If it’s not okay with you, she car emain in the pack house.”
Katie forced a smile, trying to hide her unease. “Oh, no, no, no, it’s okay, it’s fine. She can come to he mansion with us and just spend the night.”
Lucian’s gaze piercing. “Are you sure it’s okay with you?”
Maya chipped in, her voice gentle. “It’s okay if you don’t want me around. I know you don’t know me, so you won’t want a stranger around your home.”
“Come on now, you’re not a stranger.”
Maya’s smile was wry. “But yeah, I am to her. And it’s totally okay.”
Maya was trying to make Katie feel like the bad guy.
So she quickly said, “You know what, it’s okay, Maya. You are more than welcome to join us at
the mansion.”
Lucian smiled his thanks.
As they arrived at the mansion, Maya’s favorites were being prepared by the maids.
They all sat down to eat, and Maya kept bringing up things from the past, making Katie increasingly uncomfortable.
Katie got up finally, her voice a little strained. “I think I’d like to go and have a rest now.”
Lucian immediately held her hand, his eyes concerned. “Are you okay?”
Katie nodded, trying to smile. “Yeah, of course, I’m fine.”
But suddenly, she felt like vomiting. She rushed out of the room, her hand covering her mouth Lucian’s concerned voice followed her, but she didn’t look back.
Katie ran into the bathroom. Then leaned over the sink, her body trembling.
As she splashed water on her face, Lucian rubbed her back, his touch gentle.
He handed her his handkerchief, and she cleaned her face, her hands shaking.
‘Are you okay?”
‘Yeah, maybe I ate something bad.”
‘I hope it’s not food poisoning.”
Katie shook her head. “Don’t worry, I just need to lie down.”
Lucian’s eyes lingered on hers. “I’ll join you soon. Do you want water or anything?”
Katie forced a smile. “No, no, it’s okay. Don’t worry, just go back and keep Maya company fo
10w.”
Lucian’s reluctance was evident, but he finally left.
Katie waited until she heard the door close before she rummaged through the drawers.
She had been feeling off lately, and she already knew she had missed her period twice.
She pulled out a pregnancy test strip and followed the instructions.
Her hands trembled as she waited anxiously for the results.
As she stared at the strip, her heart racing, two strong red lines appeared. Katie’s eyes widenec in shock. She was pregnant.
Pregnant. She was pregnant.
