Ch. The Lucan Marked me 17 The Lucan Marked me 17

Chapter 17 

Sienna 

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ร 78 

I felt her before I fully registered. She was back. 

A slow hum beneath my skin. A restless stirring in my chest. It started just before I opened my 

eyes that morning. I felt my senses snapping back stronger, and even though she had returned 

with an anxious energy, it still felt nice knowing I no longer had to deal with anything by 

myself. She brushed against my thoughts and a small relieved sigh escaped me. 

Things were much easier when you had your wolf around. 

She was stretching again. Testing her limbs. Breathing. I blinked up at the ceiling, my heart 

peacefully still in my chest. The ache I’d woken up with lately wasn’t there. Not entirely gone, 

but muted now. I laid in bed for a few more minutes, mentally preparing myself for the day 

ahead. Who knew what information I would receive from the customers at the shop today? 

I wasn’t sure if it was Mara’s warmth or just their own vulnerability to have some form of 

control over what happened in the future, but for whatever reason, they were extremely chatty 

when they came to the shop. Almost painfully so. Deciding not to lazy around and end up 

delaying Mara, I got up from the bed and freshened up. She was already at the small dining 

table when I came out of the room. 

She glanced up from her mug, her face tired in a way I didn’t see often. I didn’t ask what was 

wrong-she’d tell me if she wanted to. The silence between us was easy like that. I sat across 

from her and reached for a piece of toast. “You’re not dressed,” I noted after a few minutes. 

She already knew it, but she still looked down at the old sweater with fraying edges she had 

“That’s because I’m not going anywhere today.” She took a sip of tea, giving me a look. “My 

body is tired. I’m staying in.” I raised my eyebrow subtly. It wasn’t everyday she admitted she 

needed some rest. Usually she worked around the cabin and in the shop like she could never 

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Chapter 17 

tire. I didn’t directly work with the pack members, but even I was extremely exhausted by the 

time we closed for the day. 

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I nodded. “Good. You need rest.” 

“And you need a run,” she said simply. I wasn’t surprised she already knew I’d been debating it 

since I woke up. She’d reached a height with her powers that I could only dream of. She 

particularly seemed to be able to foretell almost anything that involved me. As though she 

was following my train of thought, her head lifted. “Your wolf decided to pop back in, huh?” I 

smiled widely. She returned my smile, taking a sip of her tea. “Congratulations.” 

Like she already knew I’d been debating it. 

“Thanks,” I replied breezily, glancing out the window. The woods looked the same as they 

always did, and yet not the same at all. I knew the difference was me. My wolf wanted out. I 

turned my attention back to my breakfast, finishing it in a heartbeat. “I’ll be back before 

lunch,” I said, already rising to my feet. 

She just waved me off. “Don’t wait on me.” 

*** 

Shifting into my wolf after a long time was easily the best feeling in the world. 

It all faded away. 

That crushing weight I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying. The heaviness of pretending I was 

fine when I wasn’t. Pretending I didn’t care. It all slipped off like a second skin the second my 

paws hit the forest floor. I ran. Hard and fast. Just the wind in my fur and my thoughts trailing 

behind me. He was getting mated. I shouldn’t care. I didn’t want to, I already told myself I was 

over it. Reminded myself that I’d survived worse. 

But the truth was-Logan choosing someone else wasn’t just a blow. It was a clean, sharp cut, 

and every time I thought about it, it sliced just a little deeper. My wolf didn’t like it either. It 

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Chapter 17 

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was the reason she’d returned with a restless energy. It definitely couldn’t be easy trying to 

come to terms with her mate leaving her for someone else. She understands me completely. 

He was supposed to be ours. 

And still he had chosen someone else. 

**** 

By the time I got back, my legs ached and my throat was dry, but the knot in my chest had 

loosened some. Mara wasn’t inside the house, so I knew she was probably tending to her small 

garden at the back of the cabin. I went straight for the shower, letting the hot water run until 

my fingers wrinkled and my heart stopped clenching. I stepped out, drying my hair and body 

and deciding to take a nap. 

I woke up hours later feeling a lot better. Mara was at the stove when I walked out of my 

room, humming softly under her breath. I slipped past her and she looked up, her eyes going 

over my appearance. “Grab the plates,” she said. I did. We worked in silence for a minute; 

passing things, setting the table, moving in sync like we always did whenever we were about 

to have a meal together. 

“You’re quiet,” she said. 

I looked up. I was? 

“I’m fine.” 

She made a non-committal sound at the back of her throat. I had to give her credit, she’d 

given me more than enough space ever since I’d been so down from hearing the news about 

Logan. “I don’t want to talk about it yet.” I adjusted. She didn’t insist on knowing. Just gave a 

slow nod and turned back to the pot. For now, it was enough that she let it be and didn’t push 

further. 

Maybe tomorrow, I’d be ready to tell her, 

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The Lycan Marked Me and Walked Away