Once in a while, Jeff let out a soft grunt as they walked back to the city. Rose trailed behind him as an unconscious Lucas was dangling from Jeff's shoulder. His arms were hanging downwards, dangling with the movement of Jeff. They walked in silence except for the occasional huff and grunt from Jeff.

After Azura had disappeared, they had waited for a while for Lucas to wake up. Rose had melted some snow and had used it to clean the wound on his head, but Lucas had not given a sign of life. He was breathing though, the only telltale Azura had not killed him with a simple blow to his head.

Jeff had not said many words since and Rose could tell he was angry. He had eventually just picked Lucas up as if the guy weighed nothing, tossed him over his shoulder and started walking. Now that they were walking, Rose did not know what to feel. She had been relieved to see Azura alive, but the way Lucas had been acting was absolutely terrifying. The warning Killian and Zahair had given her still lingered in the back of her head. One thing was clear, no-one could deny Lucas was not himself anymore.

Rose just watched Lucas's head bob up and down as he hung from the big man's shoulder. It was kind of hypnotic in a strange way and she did not know of anything else to do. At one point she caught herself even counting his head bobs instead of her own steps which eventually caused her to giggle when she realized. The look Jeff gave her immediately shut her up again as it was a look she had seldom seen from him.

After what had seemed like ages, Rose finally saw the city again. Jeff made sure to keep to the back roads again so he did not have to cross through the streets and Rose just followed until they reached the back of the two houses Lucas owned. Jeff paused and Rose trotted up next to him. She was thankful she had not been alone with the whole thing. The ease with which Jeff had carried Lucas all the way back was something she would not have been able to do at all. But as she glanced up, she noticed it had not been with ease at all. Jeff's face was covered with sweat, red and he was breathing hard. His chest was heaving as he gazed at his own house and that of Lucas.

"Jeff?" He looked down, almost startled by the small woman. "Can I do anything to help?" Her voice was drenched by guilt.

"Get Sheila to prepare a bed." He barely looked at her as he started walking again.

Rose nodded and sprinted ahead of him to the house to notify Sheila. Before she had even reached the door, Sheila already opened it, gave Rose one look before her eyes darted to her husband carrying Lucas and dragged Rose in.

"Get some blankets from upstairs, I've got a spare bed down here. Nina, can you grab a bucket of cold water and a cloth? They should be underneath the sink in the kitchen." Despite her pregnancy, Sheila wasted no time and moved around as fast she could to prepare a clear path for her husband.

Rose stared at Nina for just a second before she acted on what Sheila had ordered her to do. She darted upstairs and snatched some spare blankets from a wardrobe before heading downstairs while wondering what Nina was doing here. Sure she had been there when Lucas had started chasing Azura but she hadn't been that close to anyone present in the house.

Jeff had made his way inside already by the sound of it and when Rose made it to the spare bedroom, Lucas was already on the bed with Sheila next to him tending to his head injury. Jeff was standing in a corner while Nina looked as white as a sheet as she helped Sheila.

Rose shuffled in and handed the blankets to Sheila who draped them over Lucas. She tended to him for a few more minutes while Rose awkwardly watched them not knowing what to do. When Sheila was done, she sighed and stood up, stretching her back. Jeff immediately rushed over and wrapped his wife in his arms and gave her a small kiss before guiding her outside. It was all done in silence, Nina and Rose following the couple who sat down in the living room and followed their example.

"Rose, you got some explaining to do." Jeff finally looked her in the eyes as he spoke, his voice calm and steadfast and every trace of anger was gone.

Rose felt a small wave of relief crash over her now that Jeff seemed to have calmed down a bit. "Well... I told you guys Lucas was different ever since he came back!"

"I'm just completely confused by what I just witnessed..." Nina added. "I thought Lucas and Azura were a couple? I mean... It was clear how much he cared for her, it was why I distanced myself from him after seeing them together. And now Lucas just looked as if he wanted to kill her and Azura is gone and you drag him back unconscious?" She gestured to Jeff while her voice skipped the more she talked.

"I'm just as confused as you are, Nina," Sheila added. "I'm just glad you gave me a heads up about what happened outside. Gave me some time to prepare some stuff."

"Look!" Rose interrupted them, "All I know is that Lucas came back alone from his trip with Azura; Acted all weird and aggressive at times and claimed Azura was dead. When I told people he was acting weird, they told me he was grieving and to leave him alone but he only started to act more and more strangely. I know Lucas! If he had been telling the truth and was himself he'd been drinking his sorrows away instead of ignoring everything and pretending to be fine! Lucas never was the aggressive type, yet lately, he was acting like that all the time towards me in case you guys have forgotten!"

She took a breather and scratched her head while she looked back to the door where Lucas was behind. The rest remained quiet as Rose turned back again.

"I got a call from Azura... It scared the shit out of me, to be honest! I had tried so often to call her cell, but it was always turned off and suddenly my phone was ringing and it was her! I didn't pick up though... and she messaged me after. I believed she was dead like the rest of you and suddenly it turns out she wasn't! She asked me to meet up with her outside town and I have to admit, I was scared... but it was really her! She was with two other blue-eyed snow leopards but she wouldn't allow me to tell any of you afraid that Lucas would find out. She told me exactly what I was suspecting and she just wanted to get some stuff before she would try and fix the issue. That went south the moment Lucas was not at work as he was supposed to be."

"That still doesn't explain why he had his hands wrapped around her throat and desperately wanted to strangle her." Jeff sighed loudly and walked off to the kitchen without waiting for an answer.

The three women sat in silence for a short moment until Nina got up slowly. "I'm sorry... I probably should leave. I was just excited to see Azura and had hoped to maybe talk to her a bit."

"Don't be sorry, dear!" Sheila answered. "I was glad I had your company and you're always welcome here. Things are just... complicated and I bet we all don't even know what exactly is going on besides Azura and Lucas."

"Yeah! Lucas is just a tad brainwashed at the moment but things will smooth themselves out eventually!"

Both Nina, Sheila and Jeff, who had just returned from the kitchen stared at Rose, shock etched into their eyes.

"Brainwashed?" Nina tightened her lips and tried not to laugh. She shook her sandy blond hair out of her face as she failed to stifle the laugh that was bubbling in the back of her throat.

"Yeah Brainwashed! Azura said so herself! He killed her! Don't you guys see that now?! Lucas was the one who killed Azura and that's why he acted like he didn't care about-"

"That's enough, Rose!" Jeff's loud voice boomed through the room.

Rose felt herself shrink a little at the sound of it and let her body drop down to the back of the couch again. For a moment, she felt like a teenager all over again.

"Jeff, calm down." Sheila had gotten up and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don't raise your voice like that. I've had enough stress as it is and I don't want anymore." She had placed one hand on her growing stomach as she spoke.

"Nina, There are things going on here you might not understand. I'm sorry if things are confusing but this is not the time to explain everything. We'll take care of Lucas and I'll keep you up to date if you wish."

Nina nodded at Sheila while she grabbed her coat which was hanging off a chair. As Nina passed the door where Lucas was behind it was suddenly jerked open.

Rose let out a shriek as did Nina who jumped back. All four of them faced the door as Lucas opened it and stared at all of them before his eyes fixated on Rose.

The short woman slowly got up, fear creeping into her bones with the way Lucas was glaring her down. If looks could kill, she would not be here anymore, that was for sure but Rose was no longer certain he would not act on it as well. She did not trust him, never had since he had gotten back, but with what Azura had told her that mistrust had only increased tenfold.

"You should not have trusted Azura, Rose." The eery voice coming from his mouth did not sounds like him at all. Goosebumps raised all over her arms but she was too scared to look away.

"Lucas?" Nina stepped closer to him and placed her hand on his arm. "Calm down. You're doing fine, it wasn't Rose's fault for what happened."

He briefly turned to face Nina before he shook his arm loose. "She is the danger. She always was."

Who the 'she' was he was talking about, he did not say, but Rose felt a shiver ran down her spine with the way he said it. He had turned his sole attention back to her and Rose found herself taking a few steps back. Jeff had gently pulled Nina back and had placed a firm hand on Lucas's shoulder.

"Don't do anything stupid, Lucas. Go back to bed and get some rest. You hit your head pretty hard."

"Don't tell me what to do!" He sneered back, grabbing onto Jeff's hand and tried to take it away. "She needs to be taken care of!"

Rose was still in doubt about which 'she' Lucas was talking, but it was clear it was either her, Azura or both.

"I-I should go," She stammered and moved closer to the door while keeping her eye on Lucas at all times.

Sheila and Nina just nodded at her and as her hand reached for the doorknob Lucas attempted to lunge towards her. Jeff immediately wrapped his arm around Lucas, and with a loud grunt, worked him to the ground with a loud bang.

It was silent for just a moment before Jeff got up again. He scratched himself on the back of his head as he gave Sheila an apologetic smile.

"I think he's knocked out again. Rose, you'd best leave. We'll take care of him and bring him back to semi-normal. I do believe you but I don't know what to do about it right now. Best we can do is try to keep the peace here and keep a close eye on him."

Rose gave him a weak smile as she slowly felt some blood drain back to her cheeks after Lucas's short-lived outburst towards her. She barely dared to look at Sheila and Nina and sneaked out the door to some fresh air.