(Quinn's perspective)
The words had barely left my lips when I saw the flicker of hesitation in Luca's eyes. His fingers, which had been brushing tenderly against my cheek, stilled. It was as if time itself had paused, wrapping us in a bubble where nothing else existed—not the looming threat of Cale, not the weight of the world we'd been carrying on our shoulders, not even the desperate howls of Trinity and Amarok that still echoed faintly in my ears.
"Quinn," he murmured, his voice low and heavy with emotion. "You don't know what you're asking."
But I did. I knew exactly what I was asking. My heart was thundering in my chest, a wild, chaotic rhythm that matched the storm brewing inside me. I reached up and placed my hand over his, grounding myself in the warmth of his touch. "Yes, I do, Luca. I know what this means. I know what it'll bind us to. But I can't…" My voice broke, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I can't live another day without knowing you're truly mine."
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked like he was about to argue. But then his eyes softened, and he pulled me closer, resting his forehead against mine. "You're already mine, Quinn. In every way that matters. Do you think this mark will make me love you more? Because I'm telling you right now, that's impossible."
"It's not just about love," I whispered. "It's about strength. Unity. You said it yourself—Cale is a threat to everyone, and he won't stop until he's destroyed everything we care about. If we're going to fight him, we have to do it together. Fully, completely, without any reservations. Mark me, Luca. Bind me to you. Let's face this as one."
He closed his eyes, a pained expression crossing his face. "You don't know how much I want to," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "But if I mark you, Quinn, there's no going back. It's permanent. It's forever."
"I'm not afraid of forever," I said, my voice firm. "I'm afraid of losing you. Of being forced to marry Cale and living the rest of my life as his prisoner. This is my choice, Luca. My decision. And I choose you."
His gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw the war raging inside him. The battle between his desire to protect me and his need to claim me as his own. Finally, he exhaled sharply, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "You're sure?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded, my heart pounding. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
His lips found mine in a kiss that was both tender and desperate, as if he were pouring all his emotions into that single moment. I felt his hands slide down my back, pulling me closer, and I melted into him, letting myself get lost in the warmth of his embrace. When he pulled back, his eyes were blazing with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
"This is going to hurt," he warned softly, his voice tinged with both concern and anticipation. "But I'll be with you every step of the way."
"I trust you," I said, my voice steady despite the nervous fluttering in my stomach.
He guided me to sit on the edge of the bed, kneeling in front of me as he tilted my head to the side, exposing the curve of my neck. His breath was warm against my skin, and I felt a jolt of electricity course through me as his lips brushed against the sensitive spot just below my ear.
"Ready?" he murmured, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper.
"Ready," I replied, my voice trembling only slightly.
The next moment was a blur of sensations. I felt the sharp sting of his teeth breaking the skin, followed by a rush of heat that spread through my entire body. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced—a mix of pain and pleasure so intense it stole the breath from my lungs. My vision blurred, and I clung to Luca's shoulders, grounding myself in his strength as the bond began to take hold.
And then it hit me. A wave of energy so powerful it felt like I was being set on fire from the inside out. I gasped, my body trembling as the connection between us solidified, linking our souls in a way that was both exhilarating and terrifying. I could feel him—his emotions, his thoughts, his love for me—and it was overwhelming in the best possible way.
When it was over, Luca pulled back, his lips stained with my blood. He looked at me with a mixture of awe and reverence, as if I were the most precious thing in the world. "You're officially mine now," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "And I'll protect you with everything I have. No one will ever take you away from me."
Tears filled my eyes, and I reached up to touch his face, my fingers tracing the lines of his jaw. It was my turn. I reached for his neck, kissed his neck first and once my canines became sharp, I bit into his neck and surprisingly his blood tasted incredibly sweet. He roared as he experienced the same things I just did as I felt his shoulders tremble.
As he looked into my eyes and roared again but with one word that held true to its meaning; "MINE!" I gave him the biggest smile that I could muster.
"And you're mine," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "Forever."
For a moment, we just held each other, the weight of what we'd done settling over us. But then a sudden, piercing howl shattered the silence, and we both froze. It wasn't Amarok or Trinity. This was something else—something darker, more menacing.
Luca's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he listened intently. "We have to go," he said urgently, rising to his feet and pulling me with him. "Now."
"What is it?" I asked, my heart racing as I clung to his arm.
"Cale," he said grimly, his jaw tightening. "He's here."
Panic surged through me, and I felt my knees go weak. "How did he find us?"
"It doesn't matter," Luca said, his voice firm as he guided me toward the window. "What matters is getting you out of here. I'll hold him off as long as I can."
"No!" I said, gripping his arm tightly. "I'm not leaving you."
"Quinn," he said, his voice softening as he cupped my face in his hands. "If anything happens to you again, I won't survive it this time. Please, just go. I'll find you, I promise."
Tears streamed down my face as I realized there was no arguing with him. He was determined to protect me, even if it meant sacrificing himself. "I love you," I said, my voice breaking.
"I love you too," he replied, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Now go."
I hesitated for only a moment before climbing out the window, my heart pounding as I landed on the ground below. As I ran into the darkness, I heard the sound of a door crashing open and a guttural growl that sent chills down my spine.
Luca's voice echoed in my ears, fierce and unyielding. "You'll never touch her again, Cale."