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When Zac started to choke, Lucas leaped to his feet and practically vaulted over the table to get to the kitchen. He soon returned with some milk, offering it to the teen. "Sorry if you're not a fan of milk, but it's the best way to cut the heat -- "

He licked his lips, looked away for a moment, and then looked back to Zac. "I understand. I've basically offered to take up Michael's mantle, and be the one that...that has to kill, if killing is at all necessary. But," he lifted a finger, "I don't believe it's our only choice. It can't be. Nothing is that black and white and these things are all sorts of grey." Exhaling slowly, he turned the words over in his head that Zac had shared, and then nodded. "So you're suggesting someone take her place -- "

He cut himself off, eyes wide. "No. Your'e suggesting you take her place." The disbelief dripped from his words, shock rendering him still.

"What would getting Heliodora home do? What...what would that change?" He slowly sat down again next to Zac. "If I take Michael's place, it's more what he stood for than anything magical. I can't be a seal, I don't think." Lucas paused, listening again, his expression one of empathy. "Hey, Zac, you can tell me anything. I may not always agree but I'm not going to tell you what to do. You have to do what you think is right."

He gently clapped Zac's shoulder, squeezing soft. "If I could take Sunny's place, I would. We need her help more than anything - but I understand. That's a ******** 'scary thing to take on, but it's really big of you to try and find that resolution, especially when everyone else is just sorta...punch-drunk on killing." He was a soldier for crying out loud and even he was against the idea of killing.

"Just think it through, Zac. I'm not going to preach to you when I'm willing to do the same thing. But look at it this way -- if they're willing to kill, how would you feel if that willingness was turned to you? What do you think your family and loved ones would live with if it was your blood on their hands?" Lucas offered a small smile. "Not that your decisions should be based on them, but I just want to make sure you understand the gravity of what you're doing. It's not just going to change Heliodora's existence. You'll be changing the very fabric of the story."

The werewolf settled back against the couch, extending a hand to gently squeeze Zac's shoulder again. "Your life is important, too. And there's no length I wouldn't go to make sure you have the right to do what you want to do with it. You've got me on your side, hero. I'll be your Pax, if you need me."

"And maybe nothing will change," he countered softly, "and you'll be the one who has to die instead." Lucas looked sympathetic, adding, "I'm not trying to dissuade you. Just explore all the possibilities."

His hand moved to rub Zac's back, imparting the small comfort that he could. "There's no...there's no real right choices, Zac. We've been given this story that we aren't even sure is true, along with a few half-truths and a lot of half-assed information that we can't make heads or tails of. Honestly? I'm glad you're making your own decisions and not listening to what everyone else says." Grey eyes looked over the teen's face; if he could have made Zac forget all this, put him out of the entire thing, he would have. But now...now he was beginning to think that he had a greater ally in the young man than he'd originally believed.

"You've always been on my side, Zac. I appreciate it. I just want you to know that I'm on yours, and I'm proud of you, okay? I'm..." His gaze unfocused. "I'm having my own doubts and concerns. It's a bit of a grim comfort to not be alone."

Grey eyes flinched slightly at the mention of the spider, his smile a little tight. So he wasn't the only one who remembered that incident...just apparently the only one who learned something from it, and he hadn't even gone. "You've done plenty of good for me, for Autumn, for your dad. I get the feeling you don't see that though, for all the storm clouds you carry." Lucas gently tapped the bottom of Zac's chin in an encouraging gesture, expression softening.

"Doubts we're doing the right thing. Concerns we're playing into the wrong hands. It's nothing new. I've been doubting that the information you've all been told is right at all, ever since I met Autumn. But no one else seems to want to disbelieve or question." The wolf shook his head slowly. "And now, you're all making group decisions of who to sacrifice like a pig on a spit. Saving predators that have deceived us and tortured our friends. Zac, if that's the right thing to do? ******** being right by their rules."

He exhaled slowly then, curling his legs up on the couch to sit cross-legged, facing Zac. "I don't know what's right, I don't know what direction to fight in -- but I know there are people I want to protect, like you. So, maybe I can't spearhead things in the direction that can save the world, but I can help you, I can support you. I don't know that Heliodora is the key, and I still hold her and the other two - rest their souls - in suspicion. But all we've got to go on is ourselves and our beliefs, because we can't go by their song and dance anymore."

Lucas exhaled in a slow, tired sigh. "Zac, I'm relatively certain none of us are getting out of this alive. I think there's checkpoints we're all going to hit that will trigger the end for one or more of us...and honestly? I don't really know that living like this is a better option." He adjusted a little on the couch, brows furrowed. "I don't want to die, I don't want any of you to die -- but ******** if I wont give you a fighting chance. You're doing what you feel is best, not what everyone else is telling you, and that, my friend, is worth fighting for."

The werewolf shrugged, taking Zac's hand that was waved around and holding it in a platonic manner. There was no feeling of Pack, but there was still a sense of family. "It's interesting, that you want to protect them, when they're the reason this is all happening. I'm curious how -- if we keep failing -- their locks reset. Especially when they're dead."

Slowly shaking his head, he squeezed the hand he held. "I don't understand most of it, Zac, but I understand the bonds I've made and that no one is helping us but ourselves. Sign up for what you think is certain death, and I'll be at your back." His smile was small, then, a little sad. "I'd give anything to protect Sunny, to protect you, and protect Rylan. The latter wont allow it, the first doesn't need me, so, I gotta do what I can with the people I give a s**t about."

"That's the kicker," he agreed grimly. "Most people...this is just unleashing some sort of excuse in them. No one should ever feel comfortable taking someone else's life." Which was why Lucas had signed up to do it if it was what needed doing...

But he wasn't convinced. And through all the months that had tumbled by, there had been zero reinforcement, no breakthrough, and even less confirmation they were making headway. His doubts only seemed to be confirmed as the days ticked by.

The wolf looked at the young man there, his eyes filled with stars and the weight of death and loss heavy on his brow, and he wondered just what type of world would allow such a thing to be justifiable. Squeezing Zac's hand reassuringly, he offered his famous crooked smile. "Don't worry about the others. They're going to do what they want to do, irregardless of that. You and me, we're the researchers, and we'll do what's actually right and not just what we're told. That makes us special...and dangerous. Knowledge is power, always."