“That answers a few questions.” I say turning my attention back to him and Izzy. Although Izzy is no longer here. I look around and spot her helping Penny build a camp fire. So, it’s just me and the giant.
“Shall I show you around?” Lukas asks.
“Yeah sure! Lead the way.” I’m excited to see more of the ranch and the forest. I’ve never seen something more enchanting in my life.
Chapter 14
My tour with Lukas is really enjoyable. He’s so easy to talk to and his baritone voice is amazing to listen too. He really cares for the environment and knows everything about the animals that live here. I quickly learn that werewolf senses are super heightened compared to a human. They can see and hear for miles. He gets so animated when he tries to point out animals nestled in the trees. I haven’t the heart to tell him I could feel them there already. His excitement at being back amongst it all is adorable. We laugh as he tells me stories from before aboutthe pack when it was in its prime. He talks about it like it was only yesterday. My heart aches for him as he speaks of those that were lost. His parents being two of them. He quickly steers the conversation back to lighter subjects like the whereabouts of things around the ranch.
He also tells me about everyone. Penny and Jason are mated and now that the pack is safe again they might start a family soon. Jason has a degree in medicine and is like the pack doctor. Not that his skills are needed all that much as Lycans apparently heal very fast.
Izzy loves gymnastics and ballet. With her lithe body and incredible grace it's easy to see how skilled she must be. She had an older brother, but he along with her parents, were sadly victims of Hades attack. She seems so carefree that it breaks my heart that she's suffered such loss. It shows her strength that she still has her positivity though. She's definitely a 'glass half full' kinda girl.
Caleb, the tech nerd, is the only one of the pack now that wasn't born a Lycan. He knew Carter for years through his work then one day by chance, Carter found him being attacked by a vampire with long red hair. The vampire ran when faced with my dad and Caleb was left dying. Carter bit him and turned him in order to save his life. Apparently it took a while for Caleb to get used to his new powers and life here but he soon got the hang of it and became very good friends with Lukas.
There are 10 cabins in total all nestled in little nooks and crannies in the trees. There’s the occasional fire pit in places and delicately carved statues dotted around everywhere depicting native animals but mostly wolves. The overgrown gravel path winds through and around the entire ranch. We follow it up to a barn and stables where they used to keep livestock like cows, goats, pigs and chickens. It’s more or less undamaged if a little over grown. We also find a little play park with a zip wire andswings. It’s not hard to imagine before when kids would have played here. I go over and sit on one of the swings and Lukas sits in the one next to me. At first it creaks and I look at him wide eyed.
“It’s won’t break. My dad and I built this thing.” He says chuckling.
“How old would you have been then? 8, 9?” I try guessing his age and subtracting 18 years.
“Umm… try more 23 ish I guess.” He gently pushes off the floor and swings back and forth.
“I’m sorry what? That must make you…..41!” I try to do the adding up as quick as I can in my shock.
“No I’m more like 88.” He laughs.
I stop swinging and stare at him. He doesn’t look anywhere near 30!
He laughs again and plants his feet into the ground to look at me. He wraps his arms around the swing chains and clasps them together between his knees casually. “OK, so werewolves age very differently to humans. Once we come of age at 18 and we have our first shape-shift the ageing process slows down. This is because of our fast regeneration and healing. Our bodies don’t age as quickly. It works out 10 years ages us by about 1 year.”
I stare at the ground by my feet. “I feel like a kid now. Everyone around me is at least 80 years old! Wait what about my dad! I thought he was 40 something!?”
“He’s gotta be around 420.” He says matter of factly. “But Gwen is a lot older than she looks too. Nymphs can live longer than werewolves. It all depends on how strong they are. The earth regenerates you and keeps your body healthy. You could look exactly as you do now in 50 years’ time.”
“You learn something new every day I guess, but that seems like an understatement!” I laugh.
“You’re definitely a fast learner though. Not many nymphs could defeat that Vampire dickhead on their best day let alone in their first week. It’s seriously impressive.” He smiles warmly at me with a look of awe in his eyes.
I smile back and stamp down my annoyance at him calling Alistair a dickhead. No doubt he deserves it, but after what I put him through… I think he’s paid his due in pain and punishment.
As the guilt of what I did to him comes back so does the agony in my chest. I feel it building, like when you feel cramp starting in your leg. You know it’s going to hurt and there’s nothing you can do to stop the wave of pain. It catches my breath and I lean forward pressing my hand into myself.
Lukas is instantly at my side with his hand on my shoulder. “Krista what’s wrong?” he asks full of concern.
“It’s nothing, just give me a second.” I wince and take in a deep breath. Trying to pull the doors closed on my connection to Alistair but it’s like they’re being pulled open by another force.
Lukas moves to kneel in front of me with a hand on my knee and the other still on my shoulder. He tilts his head to look up at me his eyes wide with worry. “This is not nothing. I’m calling Carter.”
He goes to stand and I grab his hand pulling him back down. “No don’t! I’m fine.” I take a deep breath as I finally pull the door closed and the agony ebbs away. I breathe deeply and sit back up on the swing. “I’m fine honestly. It was probably heartburn.”
He looks at me with one eye brow raised clearly not buying my excuse.
“Like really bad heartburn…” I murmur.
His arm drops from my shoulder but he doesn’t get up. “Mm-hmm if that’s what you’re going with I’m not gonna push you. Just fair warning. In a pack where everyone has supersensitive hearing and a sixth sense for lies, just know the truth will come out eventually.” He warns.
I bite the inside of my mouth and shrug. I can feel the weight of his hand still resting on my knee as his bright green eyes are peering into mine. I feel like he can see into my soul. His eyes are so mesmerising and expressive. I see darker shades of green around his pupil the colour of pine needles whilst the outer edges are like lush meadow grass. He’s close enough that I can smell his aftershave. It’s fresh and inviting with warm woody undertones. Everything about him feels safe and comforting. The way his every mood is expressed on his face makes him seem so honest and caring. There are strands of hair that have worked their way free of his hair tie and they frame his face in a way that makes him look a cross between a Viking and Geralt the Witcher. It’s definitely a very sexy look although I’ve never been a fan of guys with long hair before. He pulls it off very well though.
