Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Sofia
Being outsmarted by Luca Taylor is a new low for me.
Ugh, I can’t believe I let him bait me into this situation. Once I had accepted moving out as being the best thing for Ryan, there was no going back. And the worst part is, he’s right. Going anywhere but here—my mate’s place—would raise questions that we can’t answer yet.
If the elders find out that Ryan is headed towards moon madness, they’ll push for a change in pack leadership immediately. And that could lead to the madness taking hold even sooner.
But shit, moving in with Luca was definitely not on my bingo card for this lifetime, and yet, here I am, walking between my brother and my nemesis-slash-wannabe-mate, while the two of them carry bags of my things like I’m some fragile princess.
I tried to argue—said I could grab stuff as I needed it—but apparently that wasn’t an option. Neither was carrying my own damn bags.
As if I’m not a fully grown alpha shifter.
Back to being Luca’s princess. Full circle to the days he insisted on opening doors and making me sit out sparring sessions because “someone might hit me too hard.” Goddess, I was so obsessed with him back then.
I didn’t see how it made me look. I was so infatuated that I rarely spent time with anyone my own age, so what did it matter if they thought I was a pampered pack princess?
Another plan that royally backfired on me when Luca fucked off to beta training and came back with a brand-new personality—one that hated me. I had to make new friends, and it’s not easy when you find yourself alone at sixteen.
Ryan drops my bags outside the door and pushes his hands into the pockets of his dress pants. “Okay, so I’ll leave you crazy kids to it,” Ryan says with a grin.
“It’s really messed up how invested you are in your little sister’s sex life, dear brother.” My voice is flat, my expression deadpan. He grimaces, which gives me the smallest sense of victory.
Luca brings the bags inside, like he’s giving us a moment to say goodbye. Which is ridiculous on all levels. The cabins are a two-minute walk apart, and I work with Ryan. It’s not as if we’re separated by oceans.
“Seriously, Ryan, you need to keep me updated on what’s going on with you and I will be checking in daily. You can’t leave me,” I say, my voice breaking a little despite my best effort to sound steady. “You have to fight this. The pack needs you. I need you.”
“I’ll try,” he says, staring into my eyes, conveying his honesty, and I believe him.
I wish I knew if it’s because he genuinely will or because I need to believe he will.
“But I don’t know how long I have. Luca will have to be the one to put me down if it comes to it.
Promise me you’ll be there for him if that day comes.
Promise me you’ll at least try to see if you can accept him. ”
“It won’t come to that,” I choke out. My breath comes hard, as if the weight of the sadness is crushing my lungs.
Heaviness spreads throughout my body, making it difficult to move or even think clearly.
Tears well, blurring my vision as I struggle to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I can’t lose him.
“Promise me.”
My breathing hitches, but I won’t deny him. I can’t. Not when his eyes tell me how much he needs this. Needs to believe that the pack will be okay, even if he’s not. “I promise.”
Ryan nods once before turning and walking away from me. I take a breath and push down my emotions. Something I’ve gotten good at over the past few years. I draw on every ounce of my strength, push my shoulders back, and raise my chin.
I can do this. I am an expert compartmentalizer. It’ll be fine. I can pretend publicly that Luca and I are together until we get those omegas out or I convince Ryan to take a chosen mate. It’ll only be a couple of weeks. I can pretend I don’t hate Luca for two weeks. Hopefully.
I’m so fucking pissed at Ryan. But more than anything, I’m hurt.
He should have told me.
But he didn’t. He was going to leave me. Same as Mom and Dad. Same as Luca.
I brace myself before stepping through the front door. My wolf bristles, already snapping at the memory of how this place smelled the last time I was here. I might not have any interest in Luca, but that doesn’t mean I want to be smelling the many, many females who have gone before me.
But instead of the mixture of scents…
Everything is different from only a few days ago. It doesn’t make sense. There’s new furniture—the couch, the rug, and even the pillows are different. And the smell. When I inhale, the sting of bleach hits my nose first. And then Luca, just Luca.
My wolf preens, smug, her tail wagging in my head. See? He scrubbed this place clean for us. Our mate is good to us.
I push her back down. I already know she’s ‘team accept the bond.’
“You redecorated,” I say, looking around. It’s not a question, but more of an observation. Luca nods and steps in my direction, his eyes locked on mine.
“I did. Thought you might appreciate it when I got you back here.”
“Ah yes. Furniture that wouldn’t smell like all the females you screwed while avoiding me. How sweet of you.”
“Careful, Princess, you almost sound as though you care,” he says while tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Sorry, force of habit. I’m trying to drop the nickname.”
I hate that I don’t hate the gesture. Not the tucking my hair back, nor the effort to listen to me and stop calling me that nickname.
I hate that a part of me wants to lean on him for support like I used to.
It was kind of sweet to get rid of his old furniture.
It’s not like he owed me anything before we were mates.
Anything other than not being a complete asshole to me.
Which he was.
Repeatedly.
A knock at the door makes me jump away from him, breaking me out of a trance. Shit, the bond is messing with me already. I need to shake this off. Stop letting the bare minimum sway me. Because I am not that girl. I refuse to let myself fall for him.
Luca smirks at me, like he knows he’s getting in my head. And I hate that he’s right. He strolls to the front door before opening it wide, ushering in his parents.
“Sorry, sweetie, I know you said to wait, but we’re just so excited!” Luca’s mom gushes. She’s pulling me into a tight hug before I have time to understand what’s happening. “We’re so happy to have you in the family, Sofia. I’ve always wanted a daughter.”
Her blue eyes, so similar to Luca’s, gleam with unshed tears, and that coupled with her beaming smile has my stomach churning. Rejecting Luca is one thing, but Mrs. Taylor is such a sweetheart. A fierce warrior in her own right, but also kind and loving.
I can’t help the twinge of guilt at how I’m going to reject her only child and what that will do to her. I glance over her head at Luca, unsure of how to handle the situation. His dad is patting him on the back as if he has achieved something worth congratulating.
And rather than helping me, Luca is beaming. Carefree. Genuine. A smile I haven’t seen in years. I want to slap it right off his stupid, beautiful face.
“Um, we haven’t accepted the bond,” I say tentatively. Of course, they’re already aware we haven’t. Our scents haven’t changed. We don’t bear each other’s marks.
“Yet,” Luca adds. “We’re going to spend some time getting reacquainted with each other again first.”
“Oh, but you’ve always known each other. Why the wait?” Mrs. Taylor asks. Her voice falters, and I can’t watch her lip quiver. I glare at Luca. It’s not fair of him to get her hopes up this way, only for me to smash them to the ground.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’ve got some making up to do.
Well, a lot of making up to do, actually.
But I promise you’ll be the first to hear when I win my mate over.
” Luca speaks softly. Like his mom is an injured animal that could bolt at any moment.
Or perhaps that’s me. And I’m not sure how his words lands with me.
It’s the closest he has come to admitting fault.
Nearly an apology, but not quite.
“Come on, my love,” Mr. Taylor says, placing his hands on his mate’s shoulders.
She melts into him, and my heart clenches at the comfort his touch brings her.
That’s what I want. A mate bond where I can rely on the other person.
A mate who is steady, who offers constant support and won’t up and leave me.
“Let’s leave them to it,” he says, urging her towards the door.
“Lovely to see you, Sofia. You’ve grown into an impressive alpha female, and we will be proud to have you as part of the family…
when you’re ready.” He smiles at me, and a lump forms in my throat.
I watch them walk away, hand in hand, until Luca stands beside me and puts his arm around me. I roll my shoulders to shrug him off.
“You’re setting them up for heartbreak,” I mutter.
“What happened to giving us a try?”
I shake my head and let out a humorless laugh. “You’re joking, right?”
His brows scrunch in confusion, creating deep furrows on his forehead. The muscles around his eyes tighten, causing his gaze to become more intense and focused.
“The ends justify the means with Ryan,” I say.
“I’m okay with upsetting him down the line if it keeps him sane.
And unless you want to take your best friend out and step up to the role of alpha, I suggest you make this look convincing.
Think you can pretend to tolerate my presence until Ryan gets over himself and takes a chosen mate? ”
I raise an eyebrow in question and take in the intensity of how he is gazing at me. Time stretches, and the silence between us becomes uncomfortable. But he continues to glare at me.