The Lightning Wolf Chronicles (Evelyn and Nadia) novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30: This Isn’t Fair!

Evelyn’s POV

“Welcome to our secret hideout!”

:

Lucian pushed open the game room door with this dramatic flourish.

a

I slid down from his shoulder and looked around. The place was huge massive screen on one wall, gaming consoles below, comfy couches, bar setup, pool table. Basically a mini arcade.

“Holy crap,” Nadia whistled. “This is insane.”

“No girls have ever been in here before,” Magnus said. “You’re the first.”

“Ooh, that one!” Nadia pointed at the dance game on the screen.

The guys all looked at each other like she’d suggested we juggle fire.

“Dance game?” Lucian made a face. “We’ve never…”

“Perfect time to start then.” I grabbed a controller. “Can’t be that hard.”

Famous last words.

Watching Lucian – who could nail any combat move flailing around trying to match the screen was hilarious. We were all cracking up.

–

“Left foot! Your left foot!” Nadia tried to help, but she was laughing too hard.

“I know which foot!” Lucian panted. “This beat is impossible!”

He collapsed on the couch. “That game’s broken.”

‘Let me show you how it’s done,” Magnus stepped up confidently.

Five minutes later, he was done too.

“My turn.” I picked up the controller.

Maybe all that training paid off, because I picked up the rhythm easily. The music felt natural.

“Perfect! Perfect! Perfect!”

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Chapter 30: This Isn’t Fair!

The screen kept flashing those ratings while I heard shocked gasps behind me.

‘Are you even human? Milo threw his hands up. “That was expert level!”

I shrugged. “Just felt the beat.”

“Just felt the beat,” Orion walked over with this look in his eyes. “How about we try fighting games?”

“You’re on.”

Big mistake. Orion demolished me completely, pulling off crazy combos like it was nothing.

“This isn’t fair!” I protested. “You’ve obviously practiced this a million times!”

“Who said ‘just felt the beat’ earlier?” He had this smug smile going.

We kept rotating through different games. Elliot turned out to be scary good at shooting games, nailing headshots left and right.

“When did you get so good at this?” I asked.

“Play when I’m bored,” he scratched his head. “Didn’t think it mattered.”

Time flew by. Before we knew it, it was almost midnight.

“Movie?” Lucian suggested. “Something chill.”

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We all piled onto the couches – Nadia curled up next to me, the guys scattered around. Lucian picked some old comedy.

I found myself watching everyone more than the screen. Milo had this huge bowl of popcorn, cracking up at every joke. Elliot sat on the floor, occasionally glancing back to check on me. Orion perched on the armrest, supposedly watching but I could feel his attention

drifting my way.

This felt… normal. Good normal.

No pack politics, no bloodline crap. Just friends hanging out late at night.

Halfway through, exhaustion hit me. Today had been intense royal visitors, Sentinel news, everything. I tried to stay awake, but my

eyelids kept getting heavier.

“Sleep if you need to,” Nadia whispered. “We’re all here.”

I let my eyes close, consciousness fading. I felt someone tuck a blanket around me, heard the TV volume drop, felt gentle fingers brush

hair from my face.

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Chapter 30: This Isn’t Fair!

Safe. That’s what this was.

Lucian’s POV

Evelyn was out cold.

:

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She’d curled up like a tired cat, that white dress making her look smaller than usual. Nothing like the fierce girl who could take down

guys twice her size during training.

I grabbed a blanket and covered her carefully. She stirred a little but didn’t wake.

“She’s really asleep, Nadia said quietly. “Today was a lot for her.”

We all automatically lowered our voices. The movie kept playing, but nobody was really watching anymore.

“The Sentinel thing…” Magnus leaned back, looking troubled. “She really wants this.”

“It’s her dream,” Orion said. “We should support her.”

“Support?” I laughed, but there wasn’t much humor in it. “Easy to say. Can you actually handle her leaving?”

Orion went quiet.

These past few days, she’d become part of everything. Breakfast wasn’t breakfast without her quiet presence. Training felt off when she

wasn’t there.

“Maybe she won’t go, Milo said hopefully. “She said she could apply to come back, right?”

“You really believe that?” Elliot shook his head. “You know her. If she becomes a Sentinel, she’ll take the most dangerous assignments they

have.”

The room fell silent.

‘I have an idea,” Nadia spoke up suddenly.

We all turned to her.

“Instead of sitting here worrying about whether she’ll leave, why not figure out how to make her want to stay?” She looked serious. “You know what she told me today? She said she cares about all of you.”

“Really? Orion perked up.

“Yeah. But she also said she needs time to heal from everything that happened.” Nadia’s voice got softer. “So if you really don’t want her to leave, you need to show her this place is worth staying for.”

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Chapter 30: This Isn’t Fair!

“How?”

“Be real with her. Not grand gestures – just daily stuff. Let her know she’s not a burden. Let her know she’s family.”

Family. The word hit different than I expected.

“It’s late,” Nadia stood up. “We should get some sleep.”

“What about Evelyn?” I asked.

“Let her stay here,” Orion said. “Luc, your room’s closest. You mind keeping an eye on her?”

I nodded.

Everyone else headed out, leaving just me and sleeping Evelyn.

I turned off the TV and dimmed the lights, then settled back on the couch. Her breathing was steady, peaceful.

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