His Stray

Chapter 20

7 Years prior

Lucas stalked down the path that led from school to the pack house, his hands shoved deep into his pockets and his head down. He was so wound up he felt like he might actually punch the next tree he passed.

He couldn’t stop replaying what he’d overheard by the lockers. Teegan’s shrill laugh. Ava giggling right back as they talked to a small cluster of girls.

“She said she likes Landon,” Teegan had practically squealed. “Can you imagine? As like a freak like Celia even stands a chance.”

“Still,” Ava had said, sounding thoughtful, “I guess I can’t blame her. Landon is… well. You’ve seen him.”

Their laughter had burned through Lucas like acid. His chest was tight with it. He didn’t even fully understand why it bothered him so much, only that it did.

He kicked a rock off the path, sending it skittering into the trees.

“Whoa. What did that rock ever do to you?”

Lucas jerked his head up to see Landon striding towards him from a different road, his bag over one shoulder. He was taller than most of the adults already, broad-shouldered and easy in his own skin. Lucas’s mood only soured further at the sight of him.

“Go away,” Lucas muttered.

Landon fell into step beside him anyway. “Rough day? Heard you bombed that algebra test.”

Lucas didn’t answer. He also didn’t correct Landon. He’d got top marks on that test. Instead, he balled his hands into fists inside his pockets.

Landon gave a small laugh. “You’re a terrible liar, you know that? What’s actually eating you?”

“Nothing,” Lucas snapped.

“Bullshit. You’ve been pissed off since you left school.”

Lucas’s heart hammered faster. Something squirmed inside him, hot and liquid that he couldn’t quite put to words. Before he could think better of it, he swung and shoved Landon square in the chest.

Landon barely moved. He blinked down at Lucas, eyebrows rising. “What the hell was that?”

Lucas swung again, this time with a clenched fist. It landed on Landon’s shoulder, which was about as effective as punching a wall. Pain bloomed in Lucas’s knuckles and he let out a frustrated growl.

“Lucas, cut it out!” Landon grabbed his arm easily, twisting it behind his back and steering him off the path. In seconds Lucas was face-down in the grass, his brother’s knee pressing between his shoulder blades.

“Get off me!” Lucas snarled, struggling uselessly.

“Not until you stop being a little psycho. What is wrong with you today?”

Lucas’s breathing was ragged. His face burned. “Just… get off.”

Landon eased up, rolling him over. Lucas shoved at his chest again, but Landon caught his wrists in one hand and pinned them over Lucas’s stomach.

“Talk,” Landon demanded, eyes sharp.

Lucas glared at him, humiliated and aching in ways he couldn’t untangle. “I heard some girls talking. Saying Celia… that she likes you.”

Landon’s brow furrowed. Then his mouth twitched, like he was trying not to laugh. “That’s what this is about?”

Lucas scowled. “Shut up.”

“Lucas.” Landon sighed. “Celia doesn’t like me like that. Trust me. She follows you around like a lost puppy. Always has.”

“That’s not true,” Lucas muttered, but his stomach flipped all the same.

“It is. And anyway, she’s thirteen. You’re both kids. Even if she did have a crush on me, she’d grow out of it.” Landon let him go, sitting back on his heels. “You need to chill out before you break your hand on someone’s jaw.”

Lucas rubbed his wrists where Landon had held them, refusing to meet his eyes. His face still burned, but the knot of worry in his gut had loosened, just a little.

Landon ruffled his hair roughly. “Come on, little brother. Let’s get home before you try to pick a fight with someone who’ll actually hit you back.”

Lucas scowled, but after a moment he fell into step beside Landon.

**

Celia was just laying down for bed when she heard the window pop open, the heavy wood scraping as the glass slid up. Cool night air swept into the room. She sat up, watching as Lucas hauled his lanky frame through the opening.

He seemed taller every day, all long limbs and awkward angles. Even his face was changing, losing its boyish roundness and settling into sharper lines. She wasn’t sure when she started noticing these things about him, but it made her stomach do an odd little flip.

“Are you okay?” she asked as soon as he straightened.

He gave her a puzzled look in the dark before closing the window. “I’m fine. Why?”

She shrugged. “You usually only come here at night when there’s been fighting.”

He looked at her for a long second, something unreadable in his eyes. “No fighting tonight. I just… wanted to see you before bed. You weren’t at the clearing today.”

“Mom needed help in the kitchens.” She shifted and patted the spot next to her.

Lucas hesitated. His expression was strange, almost uncertain, before he finally crossed the room and sat down. The mattress dipped under his weight.

“So then what’s up?” she asked.

He picked up Rusty from her bedside table, stroking the stuffed wolf’s head. Up close, she could see worry lines creasing his forehead as he gnawed at his lower lip.

“Do you like Landon?” he blurted. His cheeks went red the moment the words left his mouth. He met her eyes for a heartbeat before looking away.

“What?”

“I…” He hesitated, still worrying at his lip. “I overheard some girls talking today. Saying you like Landon.”

Celia flinched like she’d been slapped. “Who said that?”

“Teegan and Ava,” he muttered, still staring down at Rusty.

She rolled her eyes. “Goddess, don’t they have anything better to do?”

“So you didn’t say that to them?” His gaze lifted again, almost… hopeful.

“They were talking in the bathroom about who was hotter, you or Landon.” She dropped her head back into the pillows with a groan.

“And what did you say?”

“Lucas, it’s stupid. They were being stupid.” Heat rose up her neck, and she was grateful for the dim light that might hide it.

Lucas leaned closer. “What did you say, Celia?”

She let out a sharp sigh. “I said Landon.”

He went still.

“But I didn’t mean it,” she rushed to add, turning her head to look at him. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I only said it so they’d leave me alone. I didn’t want to be part of their dumb conversation.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “Right. Sure. I get it.”

But she could hear the hurt in his voice.

Neither of them said anything after that. Lucas settled back against the headboard, shoulders stiff, still clutching Rusty. Celia pulled her blanket up to her chin, feeling strangely hollow.

A few minutes later, Lucas lay down beside her without a word. They faced opposite directions, backs almost touching, but not quite.

Celia stared at the wall, confused by the ache in her chest. She didn’t understand why it felt like she’d done something wrong, or why it mattered so much that Lucas wouldn’t look at her.

Eventually, she closed her eyes, willing sleep to come and hoping everything would feel normal again in the morning.