Chapter 12 Finally
Finally
The next few days passed in a blur. Elowen brought me knitting supplies, and I discovered how nice it was to sit on the deck and work on the baby beanie she had requested. Sometimes she sat with me, sometimes Jem did.
I helped Holt in the kitchen, even though I knew nothing about cooking. It was therapeutic to stir a pot of boiling pasta or cut fruit and vegetables into little pieces. Holt spoke quietly, and I appreciated his gentle nature.
But being in the common area meant exposure to Harper and Rae. Any time they passed me, they hissed insults like vampire slut or blood whore. I ignored them, but it made my heart race every time.
The truth was, I knew my days were limited, and I wanted to enjoy them before I was cast out to live on my own or find a pack that wanted me.
Luca reluctantly spent his mornings going over data with Cade and Finn, and whoever else was helping at the moment.
One morning, I sat and answered dozens of questions from Finn and Luca as they documented everything I knew about the vampires.
I hoped that would lead to Cade warming to me, but he still refused to speak to me and his stares felt as if they would pierce me through the heart.
In the afternoons, Luca took me walking in the woods around the lake, showing me more of their home. The rest of the pack ran past us, or we watched them training, honing their bodies for the next raid.
All the while, I was careful to minimize how much I touched Luca.
After seeing Cade claim him so thoroughly, it felt weird, and Luca was respectful of the distance I put between us.
We ate with the rest of the pack at picnic tables on the deck, and despite Harper, Rae, and Cade, I was beginning to feel like I belonged.
In the evenings, we played games with Jem and Finn, and Elowen insisted I watch a movie with her.
At night, Luca curled around me, but I refrained from starting discussions that might lead to flirting and touching.
He didn’t request to scent-mark me again, and I ignored his dick pressing into my ass, no matter how much I wanted to grind against it.
I should have kicked him out of my bed entirely, but knowing I would lose him soon, I couldn’t help myself.
One morning, Luca returned to my room after his shower, rubbing a towel through his hair.
“It’s the full moon tonight.”
I almost missed the statement as my eyes tracked the water drop trailing down his tattooed throat.
“What?” I yelped, adrenaline flooding my veins. “Today, seriously?”
“Yeah, I thought you knew, sorry.” He tossed the towel over the chair in the corner and climbed onto the bed with me.
I stretched to grab my bookmark from the side table and save my place. Setting the book aside, I frowned at Luca.
“I don’t know anything about what to expect, and it kinda scares me,” I admitted.
Sighing, Luca flopped on his back and hooked an arm around my hips and ass, pulling me against him. I tipped over and he tucked me against his side.
“It’s going to be fine. Don’t worry. We just go into the woods, and Cade will say his Alpha mumbo jumbo, and then we shift and go for a run as wolves.”
“You make it sound so simple,” I said, grabbing his hand off of my stomach before it crept lower. “But we’re talking about turning into an animal.”
Luca’s head popped up and he scowled at me. “We aren’t animals. We’re just animal shaped,” he said with a chuckle, breaking his serious facade. “But seriously, don’t say that, it’s pretty offensive.”
“But you call each other wolves, don’t you?” I asked, my eyebrow arching at the inconsistency.
“Yeah, short for werewolves.”
“Okay, fine,” I huffed.
Luca took a slow breath. “So, normally you can wear whatever clothes to the full moon, but since it’s your first shift, it’s tradition to wear something white. I think you should dress however you’re comfortable, but gotta admit, I would love to see you in something special.”
“I can do that,” I said without giving it much thought. Wearing white wasn’t a big deal, and if I wanted to fit in as a werewolf, it wouldn’t hurt to follow their traditions.
“Great, because I ordered you something.”
Luca released me and rolled off the bed. He yanked open the bottom drawer of the dresser and pulled out an item wrapped in sparkly tissue paper.
“You did not,” I said, staring at the gift in his hands.
“I couldn’t resist. You don’t have to wear it if you hate it, but it’s yours.”
Unable to wait, I tore the thin paper to reveal silky white fabric.
It slipped over my hands and pooled in my lap.
Carefully, I pinched the two thin shoulder straps and lifted the dress until the fabric shimmered with reflected light.
It was shapeless and smooth, and slightly stretchy, so I knew it would cling to my hips and breasts, which were filling in after a week of eating well.
“Thank you, Luca,” I said, looking up to meet his clear blue eyes, like a winter sky.
“You’re welcome.” His hand drifted up to cup my cheek. “You deserve it. You deserve everything.”
My heart ached, wanting everything with him. With his warm palm cradling my face, the last of my defenses dissolved.
“I want you,” I whispered, turning my face to kiss his hand. “I can’t keep pretending otherwise. Even if it's just for one day, I don’t want to deny myself any longer.”
Slowly, I dragged my gaze up his tattooed chest to his beautiful face. His lips were parted in surprise.
“Please,” I said, putting a whine into my voice.
Luca lurched forward, holding me to him as we tumbled back onto the bed. His mouth crashed into mine, that ring pressing into my bottom lip as his tongue swept into my mouth.
He pushed me back into the pillows, arms bracketing me. I reveled in the feel of his lips on mine, so silky and perfect. Gently, his hands brushed my hair back and framed my face, like I was precious to him.
I held my breath as he sucked my bottom lip into his mouth and nibbled before pulling back. His lips skimmed my cheek and down to my jaw, kissing the pounding pulse point there. Sparks exploded in me, radiating out from every place we touched.
A deep groan ripped through him as he scraped his teeth over the same place he had scent-marked me, followed by a slow lick.
“Luca,” I pleaded, unable to stand the all-consuming need throbbing in my body. It felt like I would die if I didn’t have all of him. I wanted everything.
“Fuck, Summer, you don’t know how much I wanted this,” he growled. The sound vibrated through his chest, and I squirmed.
His hand slid down my side to slip under my thigh and part my legs further, until he could grind his hips between them. My eyes rolled back at the pressure.
“Yes, just like that,” he hissed, dragging his massive erection against my sensitive core with the movement, even through both of our clothes. “You smell so good, I can’t stand it.”
My hands fumbled for his waistband. Maybe a few days ago, I would have taken my time, but now my desire for him was so overwhelming, I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe.
“I need you right now,” I gasped.
Luca caught my hands, grabbing both wrists with one of his, and held them between our chests. His forehead dropped to mine and he groaned again.
“I have to go. I’m late already. Cade needs to finalize the plans for the next raid. We’re stronger right after the full moon, so he wants to be ready to go. I’m sorry.”
My growl of frustration brought a smile to his face. I pushed my hips into his, demanding more.
“I want to take my time with you, Summer.”
“You can take your time later. Right now, I need you.” My words were almost a snarl.
“Tonight, we will run as wolves together. And when we wake up in this form again, I’m going to take you back to this room and fuck you so thoroughly you won’t know your own name. Okay?”
His words sent a swoop of pleasure through my stomach, and I sunk my teeth into my bottom lip. “Yes, please.” I stretched out the word, begging again.
Luca’s eyes squeezed shut. “Don’t do this to me. I’ve been dying to have you since the moment I saw you. But I won’t be rushed.”
“Fine. One day,” I said shakily.
“The longest day of my life,” he muttered.
“At least you taught me how to blow off some steam on my own,” I teased.
His expression hardened. “I want you to make yourself come after you’ve put on the dress. I want to smell it at the full moon.”
“Everyone else will smell it too then,” I argued, wrinkling my nose at the thought.
“Who gives a fuck? Archer and Elowen will be going at it like bunnies in the forest anyways. Everyone will be minding their own business.”
“Hold up. I was not told this was a sex thing,” I said, my eyes widening. Tipping my head sideways, I held up a finger between us.
Luca chuckled, pressing a kiss to my fingertip before he climbed off the bed. “They’re fated mates. So it’s their wolves that are mated, just as much as they are. They can’t help it.”
“Will you and Cade?” I asked, hating myself for bringing it up. But he seemed unbothered.
“Nah, he’s usually busy watching over everyone.”
Luca reached down and adjusted himself through his sweatpants. I couldn’t help my gaze dropping. Thinking of what was under the fabric, I licked my lips.
“I really have to go,” Luca said, giving me one last heated gaze before he strode from the room.
I fell back onto the bed with a snort. That was a massive failure. I finally lost my mind and didn’t even get laid. But tomorrow was looking bright.