(Luca's perspective)
I heard them before I saw them. Laughter — light and airy, like bells chiming in the distance. Except it wasn't distant. It was here. In my house.
My jaw clenched so hard I thought I heard a crack.
The front door swung open, and there she was. Quinn. Arm in arm with him.
Cale.
I swear the world tilted on its axis. For a second, I thought I'd imagined it — like some twisted nightmare I'd wake up from, drenched in sweat. My wolf went absolutely berserk, howling and wanting to come out which confused the fuck out of me. My wolf didn't react this crazy the first time I laid eyes on Quinn years back. My grip on the bannister tightened and I wondered if the wood would snap beneath my hand. I didn't move. I just stood there, watching. She was different. No, not different — wrong. Everything about her posture, her smile, the way she kept her gaze forward as if she didn't even notice me standing there. It was like she'd been replaced with a hollowed-out version of herself.
But I knew better. I knew her.
Quinn. The girl who, five years ago and told me she loved me before she disappeared - before he took her. Her eyes had been full of everything I'd ever wanted but didn't deserve. I still remember the way she looked at me that night when we almost gave in to each other and I stupidly decided to be a bratty teenage fuck and pull away. Something I will regret forever.
Now? Now she was walking beside him.
Cale.
The name alone tasted like ash. His hand hovered just behind her back, like he had to remind her he was there, like she might forget otherwise. Possessive prick. She didn't flinch, didn't look back, didn't even glance up at me. Just walked in with her head high, like she'd convinced herself this was normal.
I saw it, though. The tension in her jaw. The stiffness in her shoulders. She was trying too hard. Trying to be the perfect Luna for him. I knew what that was — survival.
Stockholm syndrome in its purest form.
I tracked them with my eyes as they passed below me, barely able to hear anything over the thrum of my pulse. I caught Cale's glance, a smug, crooked grin tugging at the corner of his mouth like he'd won something. Like he'd won her.
My fingers dug into the bannister, my claws itching to break free. Not now. Not while Father was watching. One glance at the Former Alpha at the far end of the hall told me everything I needed to know. His eyes met mine, hard as steel. Control yourself, Luca.
*******************************************
The conference room was colder than usual, or maybe that was just me. Everyone filed in slowly, taking their seats around the table. I waited, watching Quinn like a hawk watches prey, daring her to meet my eyes. She didn't. Not once.
She sat across from me, two seats down, directly beside him. The tension in my chest burned hotter.
"Let's get this over with," my father announced, his voice as sharp as ever. "We have a schedule to keep."
I stayed quiet, arms crossed, leaning back in my chair with my eyes locked on Quinn. She didn't look at me. Not even a side glance. She just sat there, back straight, hands folded neatly in front of her like she was trying to play the part of the perfect Luna. For him. For Cale.
I hated it. Every damn second of it.
Half the meeting blurred into white noise. Discussions about the wedding, alliances, pack mergers, whatever. I heard it all, but none of it mattered. Casey sat to my right, her nails tapping against the table in an irritating rhythm. Every now and then, she glanced at me with that smug, I'm-your-future-Luna-so-you'd-better-get-used-to-it smile. Not until Cale spoke up, his voice like nails on a chalkboard.
"Well," Cale leaned forward, elbows on the table, fingers laced together like this was all so casual. "I think it's only fair I leave the wedding proceedings in capable hands." His eyes shifted toward Quinn, gleaming with mischief. "Our Luna can handle it from here. She'll be meeting with you frequently, Luca. I'm sure you two will work beautifully together."
My gaze snapped to him. What?
Before I could say anything, Quinn's eyes darted to him, her brows furrowing. "Excuse me?" she asked, her voice as sharp as a blade. "You can't be serious," she said, her tone clipped and sharp.
"Oh, but I am," Cale replied, leaning back in his chair like this was all a game to him. "You'll be spending quite a bit of time together. I'm sure you two will get along beautifully."
"I will not," she added plainly, her chin lifting slightly like this task was beneath her.
"Don't push it, girl," my father said, leaning forward with that do-not-test-me tone he always used. "You'll do as you're told. You're supposed to be proving you're fit to lead."
"Just who do you think you're speaking to Alpha Deacon?" Quinn questioned eloquently but dripping with distain. "I am not your daughter, nor your wife, therefore keep your orders for your subordinates."
My eyebrows shot up in surprise and couldn't help my little smirk creeping up from the corner of my mouth especially when you could see my father's face, seething in rage. He has never been spoken to like that by any woman - not even my mother who is even afraid of him so this was a small gratification, seeing a woman stand up to him. And not just any woman.
"Consider it a test of your capabilities," Cale added, his smile growing wider. "After all, what better way to show the packs you're worthy of the title of Luna?"
Quinn's lips pressed into a tight line, and I knew she wanted to argue, but she didn't. She sat straighter, chin still tilting up in defiance. Damn stubborn girl.
"I'll do what's required," she said with that edge in her voice that told me she wasn't happy about it, but she'd do it anyway just to spite them. That's the Quinn I know.
When the meeting ended, I stood up, ready to leave, but Quinn had other plans.
"Luca," she said sweetly, turning to face me like she suddenly remembered I existed. Her eyes were sharp, though. Calculating. "We'll meet next week to discuss the wedding details. I expect you to be prepared."
I tilted my head, eyes narrowing. "Prepared for what exactly?"
Her lips quirked into a smile that wasn't a smile at all. "To finally marry the girl you are destined to be with."
My fingers curled into fists at my sides. How dare she taunt me after I searched for her, my mate for five years. "Careful, Quinn. You're walking a line."
Her eyes cut to Casey like she wasn't worth the dirt on her shoe. "Casey, I assume you'll be attending the meetings as well."
Casey leaned back, her grin full of thorns. "Oh, not in particular. I have Beta duties, after all."
Quinn didn't even blink. She just smiled wider. "It's not me getting married here, its you so this should be included in your duties."
Casey sat forward, eyes narrowing, her voice dropping to a low snarl. "You were given this duty, Luna. Don't forget it. I just have to show up at the alter."
Luca. Fuming. Blood boiling. I didn't even realize I'd stepped forward until I was already there. "That's not how you speak to your Luna, Casey," I said, eyes locked on her like a wolf ready to snap. "Maybe you should learn some respect."
Casey's smile twisted into something ugly. "That's not how you speak to your future bride, Luca," she shot back, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
"I will if my future bride steps out of line," I snarled at her, clenching my teeth and darkening my expression. But she was intimidated by me at all. In fact, she looked like she liked the challenge when she smirked at my reaction.
"Enough," Alpha Deacon said, his tone firm but amused. He turned to Cale with a grin. "Let them squabble. It's good for them to get it out of their system."
Cale chuckled like this was all some great joke. "They'll figure it out. One way or another."
The two of them left, their voices fading down the hall, leaving me, Quinn, and Casey in that room together.
Silence. Thick, heavy, unbearable silence.
Casey leaned on the table, chin resting on her palm as she looked up at me like she was bored. "If you keep coming at me like that, people might think you actually might jump my bones any moment, not that I would complain, hot stuff."
Hot stuff? This insolent beta has another thing coming if she thinks I would even touch her.
Quinn snorted softly. She actually laughed. I felt my eyes snap to her like a whip.
"Don't flatter yourself, Casey," Quinn said, brushing past her with nothing more than a glance. "Luca is one of the most respected and feared Alpha's in the country. He would hardly stoop down to your level of degradation."
Casey's eyes flashed with irritation, but I didn't miss the flicker of something else — embarrassment, maybe? Quinn stood up, Casey's gaze following like she was ready for a fight. Mine followed her for a different reason - disbelief.
But Quinn didn't stop. She didn't look back. Not even once.
Her back was straight, shoulders squared like she owned the room. The way she walked out — calm, collected, every step deliberate — it made Casey's attempt at flirting with me look pathetic.
I loved that she complimented me which came as such a shock but at the same time I hated that it was her I was watching walk away and for one damn second, I wanted to follow. Slowly, she glances over her shoulder, just once. Our eyes meet. My stare is sharp, cutting through the space between us until she breaks eye contact and walks out the house.
Casey sidled up beside me, too close for comfort. "You know," she said softly, her breath brushing my ear, "if you're looking for someone who doesn't run away, I'm right here."
I didn't look at her. My eyes stayed on the doorway. The place Quinn had vanished from.
"Go find someone else to leech off," I muttered, shoving past her without a second glance.
But as I walked away, that one thought kept ringing in my head.
Why did it feel like I was losing Quinn all over again?