Chapter 6 Guardian angel

LUCAS' POV

I sat in the dimly lit living room, fingers pressed against my temples as Gavin paced in front of me, his expression tense.

"You won't believe who I saw today," he said, raking a hand through his hair. "Alpha Ares. At Noah's school."

My stomach clenched at the mention of that name. Alpha Ares Luther. The strongest Alpha of our time, the one cursed by fate, the one who is feared and respected by wolves and Alphas alike.

"What was he doing there?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. He's obviously looking for his mate.

"He's a lecturer," Gavin said. "Lucas, we can't keep running. Maybe it's time we let Ares know about Noah. He's her mate. He can protect her better than we can. And he's already close to her, it's only a matter of time before he realizes the truth."

I shot up from my chair, my wolf growling inside me. "No," I said firmly. "We move again. We leave before he figures it out."

Gavin groaned in frustration. "Lucas, listen to yourself! We can't keep uprooting Noah's life every time we feel threatened. She's not a child anymore!"

"She's our responsibility, Gavin!" I snapped. "I promised I would protect her, and that's exactly what I'm doing."

A voice cut through our argument like a blade.

"Move again?"

Gavin and I turned sharply to see Noah standing in the hallway, arms crossed, her stormy gray eyes burning with defiance.

"We need to,"

"No," she said, cutting me off. "I'm not moving again."

Her voice was firm, unwavering. She had always been stubborn, but this time, there was something different in her tone. A finality.

She held my gaze for a moment longer before turning on her heel and disappearing into her room, leaving the tension between us thick like a storm about to break.

I exhaled slowly, frustration clawing at my chest.

"You can't keep treating her like she's fragile, Lucas," Gavin muttered. "She deserves to live, not just survive."

I clenched my jaw, unwilling to respond.

Gavin sighed and gave me a long, unreadable look. "You know, while you've been busy keeping Noah safe, you've forgotten something–or someone–else."

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

His gaze softened, but there was disappointment in his voice. "Your mate, Lucas. The woman you abandoned because you were too busy protecting Noah."

I stiffened. His words hit deeper than I cared to admit. Was I being too hard on them? On myself?

My thoughts drifted back to that night.

22 YEARS AGO

The air was thick with tension, the scent of blood and desperation filling the small house.

Outside, the full moon stood bright, casting its silver glow over the trembling walls. Inside, a woman's agonized screams echoed through the night, raw and unrelenting.

A little boy, six years old, stood in the corner of the dim room, clutching his younger brother, who sobbed against his chest.

"Mom..." young Lucas whispered, eyes wide with fear.

Then, through the chaos, another sound broke through.

A baby's cry.

The wails of a newborn filled the air, drowning out the pain and fear, and in that moment, everything else seemed to pause.

Little Lucas and Gavin hesitantly stepped forward, peering inside the candlelit room.

Their mother lay weak on the bed, her breathing shallow. But in her arms was a tiny, delicate baby swaddled in soft cloth.

Their mother lifted tired eyes to them, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Lucas, dear," she called.

"Yes, Mom," little Lucas answered, stepping closer, his small hands trembling.

Her lips curled into a weak smile as she gazed down at the baby. "Her name is Noah. Promise me... promise me you and your brother will protect her."

Little Lucas swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't understand why his mother's voice sounded so final, but he nodded.

"I promise, Mom. I will protect her with my life."

A tear slipped down her cheek as she weakly placed the baby into Lucas' arms.

"Run," she whispered. "Run far away with your siblings, Lucas. They will come for her, but don't let them get to her."

Little Lucas frowned, confused. "Who will come?"

But his mother didn't answer.

She exhaled one last, trembling breath, and then... silence.

Little Lucas didn't move. Didn't blink. Didn't breathe.

His mother was gone.

A crushing, suffocating weight settled on his small shoulders. He felt Gavin's tiny hand grasp his sleeve, heard his little brother sniffle, but all he could do was stare at the fragile life in his arms.

His sister

Noah.

Staring at her, he knew he'd won the sister lottery.

That night, little Lucas lost a mother.

And gained a responsibility that would define the rest of his life.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

A deep ache settled in my chest as the memory faded.

Noah wasn't just my sister. She was a promise. A vow.

And I wasn't going to break it.

Later that night, I found myself standing in the doorway of Noah's room. She was curled up against Gavin, her breathing slow and peaceful.

Gavin caught my gaze before carefully shifting her onto the bed. I watched as she stirred slightly but didn't wake.

As we stepped out of the room, Gavin crossed his arms, already anticipating my words.

"If you came here to ask me to convince her, don't bother," he said. "I'm not going to."

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. "That's not why I came."

He raised an eyebrow.

I hesitated before finally saying, "I'm sorry."

Gavin blinked, clearly surprised.

"For being too hard on you both," I admitted. "For making all the decisions without listening."

Gavin let out a small chuckle. "Damn right, you've been unbearable."

I shook my head with a faint smirk, but then my expression grew serious. "The Alpha summoned me."

Gavin stiffened. "Ares?"

I nodded.

He didn't say anything for a moment before sighing. "Be careful, Lucas. You might not be able to keep running this time."

~~~

I was already sitting in the kitchen when Noah came downstairs. She looked fresh, her black hair slightly tousled from sleep, but her expression was unreadable.

She walked past me without so much as a glance.

"I'll be having a sleepover at my friend's dorm tonight," she said, to Gavin. Completely ignoring me.

Gavin gave her a surprised look, but before he could ask anything, she was already heading for the door.

"Noah," I called.

She paused for the briefest moment.

Then, without acknowledging me, she walked out.

I felt something crack inside my chest.

I had always protected her.

But now... I was suffocating her