Chapter 17

Lia~

The scent led us to the school about five minutes ago but neither Jackson nor I have been willing to go inside yet. I'm worried about Lucas and what he must think of me. I figured the moment I saw his car parked here that he was running the course. Our school has a very complicated, somewhat unnecessary, obstacle course that was built about 50 years ago on the grounds just outside the walls separating the school from the forest, grounds the school obviously owns. It's a brutal course consisting of dead weight dragging, net climbing, rapid river crossing, vine-swinging, and other challenges. Lucas loves the course for some reason and does it whenever he's upset, probably to let off steam.

I walk around the school towards the start of the track. I pick up Luc's scent even before I spot him on the vine swing. He's on the fourth vine-swinging towards the last one, his sweaty muscles rippling even in the cold while his curling hair clings to his forehead and the side of his face. He launches himself off the rope and grabs at the last one but his grip loosens at the last second he falls. My eyes go wide and I gasp. The fall is at least two stories high meaning he could break something or worse. The thought shocks me out of it and I run just in time to catch him with my magic, a golden sphere now surrounding him. Luc opens his eyes in shock, probably waiting for the impact, and sees me. His eyes go soft before he seems to remember why he's here and they go cold again. Raeya whimpers and I slowly lower him to the ground before letting him go. He gives me a rigid nod before stalking off in the direction of the school, gym bag in hand.

I run after him, stepping over large rocks and avoiding fallen trees and low-hanging branches. We stay silent for the rest of the walk to the school building when he takes a sharp turn in the direction of the locker rooms. I sigh in frustration and grab his arm, gaining his attention. The sparks from where my hand touches his arm are electric and send currents buzzing through my veins. I ignore them though and focus on the person in front of me, my hurt and extremely angry mate. "Lucas will you stop ignoring me for one second and give me the chance to explain?" he snaps his eyes to me from where they were watching where we made contact, almost as if trying to see the sparks.

He looks hurt and confused, my poor mate, "No, Lia, I can't. I can't understand how he knew what you are but I, your mate and boyfriend, have yet to figure that out! I've known you for longer than I can remember and you still don't trust me even after finding out we were literally paired by the gods to be together. How can you ask me for a second to explain when you've had a lifetime?" his words stun me and I gape at him. I know his words are true but it's a big pill to swallow hearing it out loud like that. I hear footsteps behind us and I know it's Jack just by the scent. Even after all these years, I'd know it anywhere.

" Lucas, dude, don't blame her, at least let her tell you the truth." Lucas considers Jackson's words before nodding at me to continue. They both focus their eyes on me but where Jackson's gaze is knowing and reassuring, Luc's is cold and almost hesitant. I sigh. I know I have to do this. Lucas is my mate, one I'm going to fight for, so he deserves to know the truth about who and what I am. I lift my hand and utter a spell, instantly decorating the interior of the room with golden protection symbols, symbols only I can see. They're in case any supernatural is curious enough and happens to be walking by. I focus back on the boys, both still giving me the same looks as before. I turn to Lucas and instead of just telling him, I show him. My eyes shine gold-flecked blue, "My wolf," I close my eyes and let them shine purple, "My witch". I lower my gaze and take a deep breath. My eyes turn to blood red, almost black and I can feel my vampire side peeking through. I raise my head and Lucas gapes at the sight, "My vampire". I know my eyes are surrounded by black veins and my fangs are visible. Luc looks like he's about to faint. "Don't fret, our mate loves us and he would never abandon us because of what we are. Something tells me the goddess has a special plan for him" Raeya, once again making an appearance with an ominous comment and then disappearing before I can question it. Lucas takes a deep breath and then another. He seems to be trying to compose himself. I don't blame him for freaking out though, someone, something, like me shouldn't even exist and now he's mated to me, bonded together by forces he still doesn't understand.

Another moment passes and I start feeling worried. I lower my gaze and my wolf whimpers. Usually, she's the one always reassuring me but even she feels dejected. What if he wants to reject me? I never told him about rejection so would he even know how to do that? Should I tell him? I shake the thoughts away. If he wants to reject me I should tell him. It's not fair to him that I keep him tied to me forever if he doesn't want to be with me, that would be cruel.

Lucas clearing his throat brings me back to the present, "So what exactly are you?" his voice is strained and I can sense his anger. I take a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the questions that I can sense are on his mind, "I'm a tribrid, Lucas. It means I'm part witch, part vampire, and part werewolf. I am the daughter of the species."

Instead of questions, I'm met with silence. Jackson left minutes ago leaving Luc and me in the locker rooms, alone. His eyes give nothing away as he looks away from me, arms crossed, and sighs, " I need to process all of this so can you just leave please." his words shock me and it feels like someone drove an ice pick through my heart. I hear light footsteps running past the lockers but I ignore them.

I stare at Lucas with wide eyes, trying to read anything from his expression. I briefly consider reading his mind but shake the thought away. He's my mate, it wouldn't be fair to him for me to read his thoughts like that. I wait for him to take it back, to tell me he doesn't mean it, "Luc, you can't mean that!" the locker slams shut making me yelp. He looks angry but at the same time defeated.

"Look, Lia, after everything that's happened I need a minute to process what the fuck is happening in my life! After what you told me and what I saw I need a minute and the fact that Jackson guy knew but I didn't, just shows how little you trust me so yes, I mean it so just leave!"

I run out of the locker room, almost bumping into some girl on my way out. My vision is blurry from trying to hold back my tears as I run to the stairwell and sink down onto the steps. The moment I do, all hell breaks loose and I start bawling my eyes out. I can't believe he said that to me. My mate told me to leave him alone. And Jackson, he's jealous about Jackson?! He doesn't even know Jackson and I were together so why is he so hurt? My body shakes with my sobs as I sink even further, the wooden floor, cold against my skin. "You should go talk to mate, make him understand why you didn't tell him, " Raeya tries to convince me. I sniff and wipe away the tears with my sleeves, "What's the point, he won't listen anyway," I hear her huff inside my head as she takes control and forces my body up before giving back control to me, "Mate loves you, he's just hurt because he thinks you don't trust him. Show him you do trust him and tell him everything," I know she's right, she's always right. I raise my head high and march back towards the locker room ready to demand he listen to me.

I round the corner," Lucas you need to listen t-" the words die in my throat at the sight in front of me. A girl seated on his lap with her tongue down his throat and her fingers in his hair. I catch a glimpse of her face and realize it's the same girl from before, the one I almost ran into when I came out of the locker room. They haven't even noticed me and if they did they're not showing it. He makes a low sound in his throat, a groan of pleasure when she starts moving against him, pulling on his hair. I'm frozen in place, shocked by what I'm seeing. Suddenly a blinding pain erupts around my stomach and I buckle under its force, falling to the ground. I gasp and let out a scream of agony which goes unnoticed by the pair in front of me. Tears prickle my eyes and I can't breathe, I can't hear, I can't see anything besides his lips on hers and the look in his eyes when he told me to leave. I hear a gasp behind me before someone picks me up and runs with me in their arms, away from Lucas. I can feel the bond getting weaker and weaker, and how it's affecting Raeya.

I'm suddenly outside under the shade of a tree and for the first time since walking in on that disaster, I can breathe again. My eyes adjust to the bright light and I see Cammie's worried eyes looking at me from where she's sitting right next to me, "Leia, can you hear me? What happened in there?" I break down and tell her everything, from the fight to me walking in on him cheating. I still can't tell her what I am, it would be too dangerous for her to know before I'm queen. Cammie wraps her arms around me and I cry into her shoulder. I can feel the anger rolling off her in waves. Her wolf wants revenge and would have no problem killing both Lucas and that girl for hurting her queen, not to mention her best friend. I hear her growl lowly, "I'll kill that bastard and the bitch he dared use to cheat on you!" I grab her arm before she could actually go kill them.

"Camille, remember we're on human territory and Lucas is a human so you can't kill him without probable cause. I'm not so sure about the girl though, her scent was weird and I couldn't place what she was. He may have been my mate but I am a queen first and I will respect the rules of the council. As my beta, you will too." her wolf whimpers and shows her neck in submission. I get up and dust myself off. I see Jackson walking towards me slowly with a smile on his face but that quickly changes to a scowl when he gets a good look at me.

He's at my side in an instant and pushes Camille away from me, his arms wrapping around me protectively while stroking my hair, "What did that asshole do to you?!" he looks ready to kill while Camille recovers and growls at his disrespect towards her while he bares his fangs, daring her to try anything.

I decide to defuse the situation before something really bad happens, "Stand down both of you!" they both freeze in place and bare their necks in submission to me. I'm shocked that my power affects Jackson and gasp when he, along with Cammie, bows to me. I don't dwell on it though because they're both still sending each other death glares. I take a deep breath and address the situation, "Jackson, this is Camille, my beta and future queen beta of the werewolves. Camille, this is Jackson, my old friend from when I stayed with the royal clan of the vampires. Both of you are good friends and I would appreciate it if you two tried to get along." my voice is clear as day and powerful, my alpha status showing through it.

I start feeling dizzy as I sway from side to side, no longer having the strength to keep myself upright. My legs give way under me and I fall. I brace myself for the impact but it never comes, instead, Jackson's scent envelopes me, earning a low growl from Cammie. I smile softly at both of their protective nature's before my eyes start closing, Jackson's heartbeat lulling me to sleep. I hear both of them calling my name, at least I think they're calling my name. It's too late though, I let the darkness swallow me as I succumb to its call.