Chapter 8 - Luke
Giving Sera space feels more like enduring an open flame against my skin, but I do it anyway.
Regardless of the size, the cabin seems too small for what we are right now, so when she retreats outside, I try not to linger for too long.
I patrol the perimeter idly, taking a few moments to myself to just sit on the protruding rocks of the cliffside and digest everything.
I also try to convince myself that I’m not just tracking the steady pulse of her on the other side of that connection between us.
The bond doesn’t disappear with distance. Instead, it stretches and pulls, applying far more pressure than I’m comfortable with, only making it worse.
Our conversation on the dock this morning felt like progress, but it isn’t enough.
Trying to keep enough distance to make her comfortable isn’t how I’m used to doing things. Normally, I’m direct, with a clear objective and definitive threats. But now, none of those things apply.
The restraint is killing me slowly but surely. Every time she moves just out of reach, or her scent on the breeze is sent my way, I feel everything in me tighten up with the need to cut that space between us, and to claim what’s supposed to be mine.
But each time that word comes back to the surface, I push it down again.
I know she isn’t property, and she shouldn’t be reduced to something that needs to be marked and defended. Still, she’s my mate, and knowing she hates me is eating at me more than I want it to.
The bond doesn’t care about nuance or how it came to be. Instead, it just craves proximity and emotion. It wants to be nurtured, regardless of what either of us wants, and that need is getting harder to ignore.
As the hours pass and I find myself nowhere near close enough to lowering her guard yet, a small voice in the back of my mind quietly urges me to cut this whole thing short.
Tradition says we remain here for three nights and use both the cabin and the land as we wish, so long as it means growing closer.
It’s enforced intimacy and riddled with expectation, but that encouragement to bond is crucial for new mates. But in most instances, said couples have chosen each other. Typically, it doesn’t take much encouragement for them to skip right to the consummation.
In our case, that proximity is driving a wedge between us, and I know she feels trapped.
But if I ended the retreat too soon, it would leave too much room for speculation in the pack, and with their hesitation to bolster my cause concerning magic use, I can’t risk more doubt. It won’t help her, and it won’t help us.
By the afternoon, I’ve made my decision and call my siblings.
When I find Sera again, she’s standing just outside, arms crossed, while she watches as Eve and Isaac approach the cabin, and not far behind them, my buddies pour out of the Jeeps. I’m not surprised that they tagged along.
“What’s going on?” she asks me once I’m close enough for her to register, brows furrowing.
“I thought you could use a break from me,” I say lightly. “I invited some reinforcements.”
She looks at me with utter confusion in her eyes. “What about tradition?”
I shrug. “Tradition can be flexible, within reason.”
“Why?”
There are so many reasons I could give: because it looks like she’s suffocating, because the resentment is building every time she has to endure me near her, and because if I don’t do something soon, we’re both going to lose our minds.
Instead, I murmur, “Because this isn’t helping.”
Sera studies me, and a flicker of surprise passes through her features. However, she doesn’t voice her thoughts. Instead, she pulls back just a touch and watches as the others approach.
The retreat is supposed to be symbolic and more like a foundation for many years of connection to come, but I can’t stand for it to ruin everything before we’ve really had a chance to start.
Eve rushes forward first, like usual. She wheels a small overnight bag behind her and grins at us, all bright-eyed and full of warmth. She has always been like a star in her own way, and if anything, the pack sees her as a gem to be protected.
“We started packing the second I got your message,” she says, greeting Sera first with a brief hug that seems to startle her a bit. Then she looks at me. “Don’t worry…we told Dad we were going on a sibling bonding trip.”
Isaac scoffs as he adjusts the backpack on his shoulder. “I barely had my bag packed before you were pulling me out the door.”
Eve just gives a shameless smile, far too pleased with herself. “It sounded important.”
“Just promise you won’t be too overbearing,” I warn them, glancing between the two. They both just mirror that same knowing look.
“And your dad actually believed that lame excuse?” Dominic asks with a grin as he drapes an arm over Eve’s shoulders like a nuisance. “Must be losing his touch.”
“I was perfectly believable,” Eve scoffs to herself as she tries to shrug him off, glaring at him. “Get off me. You’re heavy.”
Unrepentant, Dominic chuckles and leans his weight against her. “You’re stuck with me now.”
Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I glance at Sera, catching the tangle of confusion and slight fear in her eyes. She doesn’t know any of the guys, and I can only imagine how intimidating they must look to her.
Before I can say anything, Eve slips out of Dominic’s hold and takes Sera’s arm, pulling her back toward the cabin with an excited smile. She has always loved coming out here, and now, I have the feeling she plans to take every advantage of having another woman in her life.
I silently hope that helps, if even a little bit.
A hand clapped against my shoulder jostles me, tugging me out of my thoughts while the girls walk away. I find Hunter’s smirk.
“So that’s the mystery woman we’ve heard so little about.”
Taking a slow breath, I brace myself, well aware that I have more than a few questions to answer. “Her name’s Sera. You’re not allowed to interrogate her.”
Dominic grins. “We wouldn’t dream of it.”
I already know he’s lying. They’re all curious.
“You survived the ceremony and all. Impressive,” Zane says coolly, glancing to the front door where the girls slipped through. “You didn’t consult with us.”
“At the very least, we assumed we would’ve been invited,” Dominic adds.
“I know I didn’t say anything, but it happened fast,” I admit, glancing between them with my arms crossed. “I hate to say it, but it was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
Zane lifts a brow. “Spur of the moment? Did you at least know her beforehand?”
“No.” When they give me questioning looks, I add, “It wasn’t a tactical operation. I didn’t think I needed to fill you in as it was unfolding.”
“Maybe not, but usually when one of us makes big moves, the others are told. This is kind of big,” Hunter murmurs.
“You bonded without a word to a woman you don’t know,” Zane states plainly, tone making it seem like I should’ve known better.
“And a witch at that,” Dominic contributes, looking both vaguely amused and a bit wary. He shrugs when I give him a questioning glance. “Eve filled us in.”
Of course she did. But, I guess that saves me from having to explain it myself.
“Yes, she is,” I confirm. “Dawson Voss was after Sera, so I bonded with her to protect her.”
Zane’s brows lift at that, as if the pieces have fallen into place for him. “You staked your claim, you mean.”
“Yes.”
He keeps that studying gaze on me. “And you trust her?”
The question isn’t as accusatory as it sounds, given how that’s just his tone, but if anything, it’s cautious.
None of them knows her, and they don’t know what she’s capable of. I can’t blame them for questioning her. But I don’t want that doubt lingering for long.
“I do.”
“Based on what?” Hunter asks curiously.
“Instinct. I saw a woman who needed help, and with Dawson involved, I connected the dots.”
“And that was grounds to bond with her?” Zane asks.
I usually pride myself on my patience, but their questions are starting to grate on my nerves. “Yes, it was. But what’s the difference between her and Lila?”
“Caleb knew Lila before us,” Hunter says, right to the point. “We don’t know Sera, and apparently, neither do you.”
The new connection in me tightens with irritation, as it doesn’t like being questioned or scrutinized, but I urge myself to calm down.
There’s no malice in what they’re saying, just reality. I’d do the same if I were in their position, and if one of them were to suddenly make such a drastic choice.
I take another breath to level myself out. “She’s not what you think, and she isn’t a threat.”
“We’ll trust your judgment for now, at least until we see for ourselves,” Zane says, tone just barely softening. “But if Dawson wanted her, then I imagine she’s better off as far away from him as possible.”
“You’ve never steered us wrong,” Dominic adds with a smile that cuts through the tension easily, and he claps a hand against my back. “We’ll take your word for it.”
A small part of me doesn’t like the thought of having to justify anything, but I know they mean well. We all have a stake in this island and our respective packs, and when something affects one, it affects the others.
“Good. Just try not to overwhelm her. She’s adjusting to a lot right now.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be perfect saints,” Dominic says, but the mischief in his eyes says differently.
“Right. Because you are the definition of a saint.”
He chuckles, and the group of us continues closer to the cabin while the sun bathes everything in a golden hue, preparing its descent for the night.
“Next time, though, maybe give us a heads-up before committing yourself to someone for life,” Hunter chides, more lighthearted now.
“Noted,” I return, lips pulling faintly. “Though, if I get my way, this will be the only time.”
“It better be,” Dominic says, close to a warning, but lacking heat. “And that fridge better be stocked. I’m starving.”
Falling into step, we head for the cabin as Dominic receives a wave of groans from us, all well aware of his habits.
“You and your goddamn stomach,” Zane utters.
Completely unbothered, Dominic launches into his usual defenses, but my eyes go straight to Sera once we’re inside.
The guys might be thinking to themselves that I’m in over my head here, but when I look at her, I know it’s worth it.
We might be far from solid, but I’m not willing to give up on her, or this.