(Quinn's perspective)
I'd barely made it past the doorway of the QW Inn before Luca's voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Wait," he called, his tone rough but low, like he'd swallowed gravel.
I turned, and he was already there, closing the distance between us in a few long strides. His eyes, that stormy blue-gray, locked on mine with an intensity that made me forget how to breathe for a second. Before I could process it, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tight against his chest. The warmth of him seeped through my clothes, and for a moment, I let myself lean into it. I'd never admit it out loud, but it felt safe—like standing in the eye of a hurricane, knowing the winds could tear you apart but not right this second.
"We're still connected," he said, not out loud but in my head. His voice echoed through the link like a soft thrum of static, brushing against the edges of my mind. It was surreal every time it happened, like sharing a secret world that no one else could see.
"I know," I replied, mentally nudging the words toward him.
He pulled back just enough to look down at me, his eyes still sharp, his jaw set. "I'm sending someone to watch you."
I tilted my head, confusion flashing across my face. "What? Why?"
"Because I don't trust Derek yet," he said plainly, his eyes narrowing like he'd already made up his mind. "I'll send someone I do."
At that exact moment, a voice I hadn't expected chimed in.
"Good idea," Trinity's voice echoed in my head, firm and clear like she'd been standing right next to us.
Luca's head snapped up, his eyes darting around before he locked them back on me. "Who the hell was that?" His voice had gone sharp, like a wolf's ears perking up at an unfamiliar sound.
I bit back a grin. "That's Trinity," I said, lifting a brow. "My wolf."
His eyes widened, and he blinked at me like I'd just grown a second head. "Wait… I can hear her now? How is that possible? I've never—"
"I didn't try talking to you earlier," Trinity cut in, her tone playful but certain. "Figured I'd let you two figure out your little love-hate thing first."
My face went hot, and I smacked at Luca's chest, as if it'd do something. "Don't look at me like that! She's her own person."
But he was still staring at me, stunned, his eyes darting between mine like he'd missed some crucial piece of a puzzle. "This… this is wild."
"Not as wild as me, darling," came a new voice, deep and rough as if it'd been dragged through gravel. It took me a second to realize it wasn't Trinity. No… it was him.
"Amarok!" Trinity's excitement practically vibrated through me, and I'd never heard her sound so… giddy?
"Hello, my sweetheart," Amarok's voice purred through the link, smooth and rich like he'd been waiting for this moment.
I'm pretty sure my jaw hit the floor. "Wait—who—what? Amarok? Luca, is that…?" I looked up at him, my eyes wide as saucers.
Luca's face was frozen in this half-scowl, half-shock expression that I'd probably laugh at later. "Okay, it's getting crowded in here," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can we… can we all calm down for a second?"
"Nice to meet you, Amarok," I said, trying to stay polite despite the absolute chaos going on in my head. "Please look after Luca for me."
"With pleasure," Amarok replied smoothly. "But only if Trinity promises to do the same for you, my moonflower."
"Consider it done," Trinity purred, sounding more smug than ever.
Luca's face twitched like he'd just bitten into a lemon. "Alright, that's enough of that. Everybody out of my head. Out. Out!"
I bit back a laugh but didn't bother hiding my grin. "Careful what you wish for, Alpha."
He groaned, running a hand down his face, and his eyes softened when they met mine again. For a second, neither of us said anything. It's weird, how silence can say more than words sometimes. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something—something real—but instead, he just nodded toward the road. "Go on. Get outta here."
I nodded back, swallowing the lump that'd suddenly formed in my throat. "See you, Luca."
He watched me walk away, and even though I wasn't looking back, I could feel his eyes on me the whole time.