Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sofia
“What’s going on?” Luca asks the second Emily, and I step into Ryan’s office for a strategy session. His eyebrows shoot to the sky as his gaze bounces between me and my brother.
“Emily and I are here for the strategy meeting,” I say, planting myself right beside Ryan’s desk and lifting my chin. “Emily can give insight into what we’re dealing with, and I can help with… everything else.” I cross my arms and cock my hip, daring him to challenge me.
“You have a problem with that, Beta?” It’s only been a few days since his promise not to humiliate me in public again, and this is his first test. The first opportunity for him to do better than before.
Luca lets out a slow breath before shaking his head. “No, I guess not,” he says. “As Ryan mentioned, there’s no safety risk in his office.”
I’m not sure if he believes it, or if he’s trying to convince himself. It’s the truth. But his discomfort seeps out of him. He’s trying, though. And that means something.
Emily goes to sit beside Jackson, and he pulls her into his lap instead. They still have the shine of a newly mated pair. Not able to take their hands off each other. Struggling with separation. My heart clenches watching them. Wondering if Luca and I will ever have that ease.
We have sexual chemistry in spades. He is trying to listen to me more, and he has been attentive, even when I didn’t realize it, like with paying attention to my favorite foods and how I take my coffee.
And I’ve seen him being kinder to others lately, even before we started sleeping together.
He’s been taking on more of Jackson’s load regarding training too, helping his parents around their home, he’s even being less of an ass to Simon.
It helps. And now that I know he doesn’t actually hate me, arguing with him is a lot more fun. Pushing him and the way he challenges me. It’s a different dynamic now. One that’s fun and sexually charged. Not hurtful and dismissive.
But I guess we’re still figuring out how to act around each other. Yesterday, we had dinner with his parents because, apparently, Sunday family dinner is a regular occurrence for the Taylors. While I was still trying to take things slowly, his mom was talking about pups.
“Give us a chance, Mom. Sofia is only twenty-one. I’m sure she wants to live her own life a bit more first. Plus, I’m not ready to share her.”
It was nice that he had my back. Instead of leaving it to me to try to explain myself. And really nice that he isn’t in a rush. I’m not even sure if I want kids.
Luca lets out a low growl when I drop into a seat beside Ryan. And really? He’s starting already.
“Problem, Beta?” I ask, forcing myself to sound calm.
But I can already feel the rage beginning to grow.
Coursing through my veins, into my extremities.
He can’t even pretend he’s okay with me having a conversation about the rescue mission.
He’s going to lose his damn mind when he realizes I’m going on the mission.
“Just unimpressed with the seating arrangements,” he murmurs under his breath even though we’re all shifters and can hear him as clear as if he shouted. The seating? What the hell is he talking about? I always sit here.
“For fate’s sake, Fia. Your mate’s sulking because you’re not sitting close to him,” Ryan says dryly, leaning back in his chair and massaging his temples with his index fingers.
My jaw drops when I finally realize what’s happening.
He’s not pissed about me being here; he’s pissed I didn’t sit beside him?
A bark of laughter erupts from me before I can hold it back, and Luca shoots me a dark look.
Full of promises of retribution when he gets me alone. My core tightens at the thought.
But still, I stand and walk over to him before sitting on his lap. His arms lock around me instantly, a rumble of satisfaction vibrating in his chest.
Emily’s mouth hangs open, and I get a twinge of embarrassment. I haven’t told her what’s been happening over the past few days, so this is a huge escalation, and while I’m certain Emily would support me with anything, she isn’t a huge Luca fan. And I can’t blame her for that.
I haven’t been his biggest fan either.
“So, let’s do some planning. Where are we with the warriors?” I say, trying to redirect the conversation away from Luca and my PDA.
Ryan and Jackson start laying out the roster—half our warriors will stay behind to defend the pack while the rest will come with us.
We’re expecting resistance but not a full-scale battle.
The monsters holding the omegas keep them under lock and key, but they’re not starving them.
They’re being fed, given basic care… stripped of dignity and abused once a month at the events we don’t know much about.
Caleb still hasn’t told us exactly what happens at them, and we haven’t pushed. I guess we’re afraid of what we’ll learn. And I suppose it’s not our priority. We're sure it’s awful. What’s important now is getting them out.
Emily and I report on the supplies we’ve been gathering.
“We’ve got sweats, hoodies, and blankets ready,” I say.
“Basic medical supplies and toiletries, too. Nothing fancy, just enough to give them some comfort once they’re free.
And Doc’s agreed to travel with us. His full team stays here, but he’ll handle triage on-site. ”
“That’s great, Fia,” Ryan says. “Thank you. You too, Emily.”
Emily’s cheeks flush under the praise of her new alpha, and it’s freaking adorable.
“Caleb’s brothers will move in at the same time from the rear,” Jackson adds. “The warriors will hold the perimeter and pick off any strays that get past us. Our goal is clean and fast—get the omegas out, kill every warrior on duty, and vanish before reinforcements arrive.”
The words hang heavy in the air. Kill every warrior.
It’s not the kind of battle we can half-ass.
Luca’s arms tighten around me, grounding me in the planning and logistics.
The meeting goes on for another half hour, and as time goes on, I almost start to feel bad that I’m hiding my plan to be there from Luca.
He won’t be okay with it. I’m sure of that.
As much as he’s showing he values me and my opinion more, he’s still protective and overbearing.
I’m not sure that will ever change. Could he ever be okay with me being in any level of danger?
I think that might be the last piece of the puzzle.
Like maybe if he can trust me to take care of myself, then I can trust him that he really has changed.