The Lucan Marked Me - Novel Short

Ch. The Lucan Marked me 21 The Lucan Marked me 21

Chapter 21

Sienna

Lunch was almost ready.

G78

I adjusted the flame under the pot and wiped my hands on a towel. The quietness in the

kitchen lasted for only a few more seconds until the front door creaked open, followed by

small, hurried footsteps. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. That was Elias’s run.

Eager and enthusiastic.

“We’re home, Sienna,” Mara called from the door, her voice warm but tired. I peeked around

the corner just as Elias barreled into the kitchen, his curls a mess, cheeks flushed from the

sun. “Hi, Mom!” My heart lurched in my chest at the bright smile he gave. He was growing so

fast; it felt like I’d just had him the day before.

“Hey, baby,” I smiled, reaching out to ruffle his hair before nodding toward the hallway. “Go

change out of your academy clothes, okay? Lunch will be ready in five.” His eyes moved the

pot on the stove, lighting up with excitement.

“Yes, ma’am,” he chirped, disappearing down the hallway like a dart. I waited until I heard the

door to our room click shut before turning back to Mara. She was already watching me, her expression unreadable. She took a seat by the small dining table, slowly lowering herself into

the chair. She was almost always exhausted these days, and it wasn’t the physical kind either.

I already knew what she wanted to say even before the words came out. “You’ve noticed it,

haven’t you?” she asked.

I didn’t need to ask what it was.

I sighed, giving her a small nod. “His powers are getting stronger.” I stated, echoing the

reason for all her worrying these past few days.

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Chapter 21

She nodded. “The other children can sense it too. He tries to hide it, bless him, but it’s only a

matter of time before one of them really finds out and starts asking questions. And once they

do…he’ll start asking too.”

My stomach tightened. I turned back to the stove, checking the stew just to have something to do with my hands. “I’ll handle it,” I said softly. It was the same thing I’d been telling myself

ever since the day I’d discovered I was pregnant. Terminating the pregnancy had been out of

the question.

I’d known I wasn’t going to punish an innocent child for sins they didn’t commit.

“And when he asks about his father?” Mara presses further, her tone gentle. Her question

caused my chest to constrict.

I didn’t meet her gaze. “I’ll handle that too.”

There was a long pause, before Mara broke the silence.

“Or,” She began carefully, “you could consider reaching out to Logan.”

“No.” The word left my lips before I even registered it, my tone as sharp and final as the slam

of a door. She didn’t say anything more, but I could feel her eyes digging into my back. Logan.

Even hearing his name still made something twist in my chest. It had been five years. Five

whole years since he’d sent me away from his pack.

Since he left me with nothing but a broken heart, a child, and questions he never stayed long

enough to answer. Sometimes, in the quiet moments between sleep and waking, I let myself

imagine what it would’ve been like if he’d chosen me. If he’d fought for me. For us. But he

hadn’t. And I had no intention of letting that wound reopen.

I could raise our son just fine on my own.

It didn’t matter that a part of me-some bitter, restless part-hoped the goddess was making

him feel it. The loss. The absence of what he threw away. Whether or not he regretted it, I

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Chapter 21

would continue to do just fine on my own. Elias came back out then, freshly changed into one

of his oversized graphic tees and pajama pants, his curls damp from a quick splash of water.

“Smells good,” he said, climbing into his usual seat at the table.

“It’s your favorite,” I told him as I brought over the pot. Mara stood to help serve. It wasn’t

long before we were all settled at the table, silently digging into lunch. I was halfway through

my plate when Elias’s voice cut through the silence.

“Mom?”

I looked up. “Yes, baby?”

His brow was furrowed the way it always was when he was thinking hard. “Why do I have to

hide my powers?”

Just like that, the atmosphere in the room changed. The spoon in my hand froze, same as the

blood in my veins. Across the table, Mara met my gaze. She hadn’t been wrong. Elias was

already beginning to ask questions. I put my spoon down gently, wiping my hands on the

napkin as I gathered my thoughts.

“Because not everyone will understand them,” I said carefully. “There are people out there

who are scared of what they don’t know. Scared people do stupid things, and I never want you

to get hurt because someone else is afraid of what makes you special.”

He looked down at his bowl, frowning in that way that told me he was trying to make sense of

the words I had spoken. When he lifted back his head, there was another question in his eyes.

“But…they’re mine, right? My powers? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No, sweetie.” I reached across the table to squeeze his hand. “You didn’t do anything wrong.

You see…sometimes, even good things have to be protected. Especially when they’re strong and powerful like you.” I concluded, lightly tickling his tummy.

He seemed to accept that, at least for now, nodding slowly before returning to his food. I

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Chapter 21

subtly let out a relieved breath, knowing this wouldn’t be the last time we had this

conversation. It was only the beginning. His questions would get more frequent, and

eventually, he’d want answers I’d spent five years avoiding.

Answers that carried the name of a man I wasn’t ready to say out loud. Yet.

Or ever.

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