(Quinn's Perspective)
I couldn't breathe. Luca's eyes pinned me in place, a predator locking onto its prey, blazing with unrestrained fury.
"Luca, don't," I whispered, my voice trembling but resolute. My pulse roared in my ears, each beat a desperate countdown. His lip curled, a low growl reverberating from deep within his chest. It wasn't just Luca standing before me—it was him and Amarok, their anger fused into one volatile force. His eyes glowed red, smoldering like embers ready to ignite. My heart clenched painfully as his voice thundered through my mind, relentless and sharp.
"Don't lie to me, Quinn. I know." I swallowed hard, fighting to keep my expression neutral.
"Know what?" I shot back, my tone more defensive than I intended.
"Don't play dumb. I know Cale stabbed you." A cold chill swept over me, locking my body in place.
For a fleeting moment, I forgot how to breathe. Damn it. How did he find out?
Forcing myself to straighten, I met his gaze head-on. "You don't know what you're talking about."
His snarl deepened, and the sharp crack of his knuckles as he clenched his fists sent a fresh wave of unease twisting in my stomach. Amarok's presence pressed against the edges of Luca's control, his anger radiating through their shared bond. My fingers twitched with the urge to touch Luca, to ground him, but I kept them clenched by my sides, resisting the pull of the storm brewing between us.
This wasn't the time or place.
We were still in the meeting with Cale and Deacon, and the tension was thick enough to suffocate. I could feel Cale's sharp gaze on me, narrowing as if he sensed the crackling energy. I had to act fast, get Luca alone before this exploded.
"I want to see the venue," Luca declared suddenly, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. Deacon barely looked up, his tone dismissive. "We have plenty of time for that, son."
"This meeting is about arranging alliances and drafting marriages I had no say in," Luca shot back, his smirk daring anyone to challenge him. "Clearly, you don't need me here. Quinn can show me the venue. If I don't approve, you'll have to start over from scratch." He leaned back, casually folding his arms. "And if you have to start over, the wedding will be delayed."
The word "delay" instantly stiffened both men in their seats, their previously relaxed postures snapping into focus. Cale glared, his voice sharp.
"Quinn, take him where he wants to go. And this wedding better not be delayed, or else—"
"Or else what, Cale?" Luca interrupted, rising to his full height and towering over Cale. His eyebrows lifted mockingly. "Do not threaten any woman, least of all your Luna, in my house."
The satisfaction bubbling in my chest was hard to contain, but I managed to keep my expression neutral. Cale's forced smile was a small, petty victory, but I savored it.
"I was merely stating," Cale said, his tone strained, "that if this wedding is delayed, rescheduling will be a nightmare. My Luna has worked tirelessly to make it perfect." Luca nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he strolled toward the door.
I followed, not too quickly, trying to maintain a sense of calm. But before I could escape, Cale grabbed my wrist. "You'll take my Beta and Gamma with you," he said, his grip tight enough to send a message. "And I expect you back in two hours."
I bit back my irritation, nodding with a forced smile. Adding a cherry on top, I leaned in and kissed his cheek, earning a look of startled confusion. His face was priceless, but I didn't wait to enjoy it. I bolted, determined to make the most of those two hours.
The tension between Luca and me was suffocating as we drove to the venue with Kimmy and Derek close behind. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, the cords of his forearms taut with restrained anger.
"Amarok," Luca growled inwardly, the command resonating through their bond. "Can you sense Trinity now that we're close to her?" The air around us seemed to hum with static as Amarok's guttural voice broke through.
"Barely. She's there, but faint. Deeply buried, trying to heal." The mention of Trinity sent a pang through my chest. I didn't need Amarok to tell me how bad it was—I felt her absence like a gaping hole. "She could've died," Amarok snapped, his voice heavy with both grief and anger. "Do you even understand what that means, Quinn? This isn't some game. You're not invincible, and neither is she. You need to stop treating this like a test of your damn ego and start realizing what's at stake!"
His words hit hard, leaving me reeling. I swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to keep tears at bay. "I know," I said hoarsely, my voice barely audible. "I know I screwed up."
"Screwed up?" Amarok's growl was thunderous, reverberating through me. "Cale didn't just stab you, Quinn. He stabbed Trinity who bore the brunt of that blade to save your life."
Luca's gaze burned into me, his towering presence suffocating. His disappointment hit harder than any blade ever could. "You let him live," Luca said, his voice low and lethal. "After what he did to you and to your wolf."
"You think I wanted this?" I fired back, my words trembling. "Every time I see him, I want to end him. But I can't. Not yet. Because if I act now, it all falls apart. He's watching me, Luca. Every move, every breath. If I slip, people die. You know that." Silence stretched between us, charged with unspoken truths.
"We can't wait," Amarok growled. "He's a threat to her, to all of us. Kill him now."
"No," I said firmly, my voice cracking under the weight of everything I couldn't say. "Not yet." Luca's jaw flexed, his eyes blazing.
"If you won't do it, I will."
"No!" I grabbed his arm, desperation bleeding into my voice. "Luca, trust me. We have to keep to our plan."
His expression hardened, his icy gaze cutting through me. "Your plans are getting you hurt, Quinn." I swallowed, holding his gaze. "I'm not asking you to trust my plan. Trust me." For a fleeting moment, something softened in his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Fine," he said, the word heavy with reluctance. "But if your plan fails, Quinn or if he hurts you like that again…" His voice dropped, his tone lethal. "I won't hesitate."