THE HEIR'S MATE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

"Hi," greeted Lukan as he entered Lyla's room in the library, a playful smile on his lips. Lyla sighed, watching the man stroll in as if he owned the place. His casual confidence irritated her, especially in this quiet sanctuary.

"I'm too tired to chase you away, Alpha Lukan," she said, leaning back in her chair. Her voice carried a mix of annoyance and resignation. "You clearly know this is not a place you can just come and go, yet here you are." She wondered how Lukan always managed to access this restricted area. This part of the library was not open to the public like the rest. Her eyes flickered to the hidden door he must have used, curiosity mingling with exasperation.

Lukan shrugged, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Then maybe you can stop pretending not to know me outside the library," he suggested, stepping closer and handing her a steaming cup of chamomile tea, just the way she liked. The rich, herbal scent wafted through the air, mingling with the faint smell of old books and polished wood.

Lyla accepted the tea, feeling the warmth seep through the cup into her fingers. The gesture softened her annoyance slightly. "And get beaten by your groupies? No, thank you," she replied, taking a cautious sip. The soothing aroma of the chamomile helped ease some of her tension, and she felt a bit more at ease, despite the intruder in her sanctuary.

Lukan found a chair and sat down without waiting for Lyla's permission, making himself comfortable. "How is Elias doing?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity and concern.

Lyla sighed, her shoulders sagging a bit. "Better. All his wounds and broken bones have almost healed completely. Auntie is the greatest healer, after all," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. Her thoughts drifted to Elias's fragile state, and she felt a pang of worry.

Lukan raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story. "I'm kinda sensing there will be a 'but'," he said, leaning forward with an inquisitive look.

"Well," Lyla hesitated, taking another sip of her tea to gather her thoughts. "He can't remember what happened. When he, you know, changed. And it seems to frustrate him," she said, her voice tinged with worry. The memory of Elias's confusion and frustration haunted her, making her heart ache.

"Why don't you guys just tell him then?" Lukan asked, genuine curiosity in his eyes. He couldn't understand why they would withhold such crucial information.

"We will. I mean, Elias's parents will do it soon. But it won't be a nice conversation for Elias to have. One question will lead to another, and I'm afraid it will be too much for Elias to handle. He's really soft-hearted," Lyla sighed, a hint of sadness in her voice. She could already imagine the pain and confusion on Elias's face.

Lukan frowned, his concern deepening. "Has Elias happened to, you know, change before this?" he asked again, his voice softer this time.

Lyla nodded slowly, her mind drifting back to the past. "I've only seen it happen once when he was ten," she began, her voice calm but tinged with a hint of sadness. "It was a disaster. He transformed suddenly and lost control. He caused a lot of damage. After that, he developed amnesia and forgot everything from before he was ten. Even now, those memories haven't come back. It's like a part of his childhood is just...gone."

She took another sip of her tea, the warmth helping to steady her. "His parents decided to take him out of the pack and engage him in their adventures. They trained him, hoping that exposing him to different environments and situations would help him gain control over his abilities."

Lyla paused, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup absently. "According to Finn, he's changed a couple of times during his training. Each time, it was a struggle, but he managed to regain some semblance of control. The sad part is, that he would forget about it afterward. It's like his mind refuses to hold onto those memories. Maybe it's a defense mechanism."