And Then There Were Four novel Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Joining Forces

Lucas.

Since my conversation with Sansa, I contemplated a lot about what she said. Every day I spent out here on the training fields working out and staying in shape to take my mind off Cassie, I found my irritation growing hearing the other guys talk about their entry into the games. Each of them thought they had a chance with her, and it made me laugh while listening to them.

Cassie was a complicated woman for sure, and the more I thought about the little time we did spend together, the more I realized I was making a mistake by not trying like she wanted. Even my beast had retreated to the depths of my soul, refusing to acknowledge me over my refusal to take my stance with her.

We weren't mated anymore, but that didn't stop my desire to have her.

She was like a breath of fresh air every time I saw her from a distance, and I wanted more than anything to be close to her, but my fear of the darkness taking over me again prevented me from doing so.

Was I a fool... perhaps?

“Lucas...*’ The sound of an annoying male voice I was all too familiar with caused me to tense as I turned around to see Silas striding towards me in dress pants and a green shirt rolled up to his elbows. The man looked like he had just stepped out of a photo shoot and as much as the other men around me smiled, waving to him, I couldn't share their excitement.

Instead, I scoffed and turned back towards my stuff scattered on a bench and began shoving it back into my duffle bag. If Silas was coming to talk to me, I was planning to make it short, sweet, and to the point... I didn't want to talk to him.

“Lucas, I need to talk to you.“

Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I smirked, shaking my head. “Yeah, well, I don't have shit to say to you, Silas. Go find someone else to fucking bother.’

The moment I went to walk away, he snatched my arm, pulling me back to him. My eyes narrowed as I scowled at him. He had some nerve fucking touching me, and as he glared at me, all I wanted to do was fucking hit him. "I said I need to fucking talk to you, Lucas.’

'Yeah, I fucking heard you," I replied, ripping my arm from his grasp, “and if you fucking touch me again. I’ll knock your fucking teeth out of your mouth.'

The growl that came from deep in Silas' throat was enough to make the beast in me pause for a moment in shock. I had always seen Silas as a playboy asshole who wanted everything that everyone else had and would do anything to get it.

'Look, I'm not here for casual fucking conversation, Lucas. So cut the shit and just listen to what I have to say," he replied as I rolled my eyes with irritation. I didn't want to hear what he had to say, but it was quite obvious he wasn't going to let me go if I didn't stay and listen.

'Fine-' I gritted out as I dropped my bag upon the ground and crossed my arms over my chest, 'make it quick. I don’t have all day.’

Laughter escaped Silas as he shook his head. "Yeah because you have a lot going on lately, don't you? Working out all day... keeping to the ground... avoiding your mate.'

“Fuck you, Silas," I snapped, pointing at his chest. "You have no fucking clue what you' re talking about. She isn't my mate anymore, and that's for the best.'

'The best for who? You?“ he replied just as quickly, 'don't pretend that you're doing this for anyone else but yourself."

There was no point in arguing with him over this, and it was clear he had his view on me. As much as I wanted to bust him in his mouth for speaking to me the way he was, I didn't. I stood there staring at him with a newfound hatred I never knew I could feel.

'Again, go fuck yourself, Silas. What is it you fucking want so we can end this charade?'

Silas stared at me for a moment as if he had a stick up his ass all a sudden when it came to explaining why he chose to harass me today. Yet, letting loose a deep breath, he ran his hand through his hair and gave in. 'You need to enter the games... Cassie needs you.'

Laughter escaped me as I bent down to pick up my bag, shaking my head. "No fucking way.’

'Excuse me?" he replied quickly as I turned and made my way toward the exit of the arena, not bothering to answer his question. Sansa had already tried that shit, and now here he was, trying that shit with me. I couldn't join, no matter how much people thought I should.

'I'm not doing it, Silas," I replied from over my shoulder. "You do it."

'She's in danger, Lucas. Danger is coming, and I can only protect her so much. I need someone on the inside to help me protect her."

Silas' words stopped me in my tracks as my heart clenched. Cassie was in danger, and I didn't know what he meant by that, but I needed to know. No matter how much I want to keep my distance because of my own issues, I couldn't allow her to get hurt.

She meant too much to me.