I make some suggestions about bringing clothing and medical supplies. How the omegas have probably been through hell, and based on what Katie said to Caleb, they won’t want to be separated.
“We could bring a bus?” Ryan suggests. “Keep them together, and the rest of us travel in convoy.”
“That makes sense,” I agree. “I think we need to recognize how traumatized these shifters will be. And especially if it’s an all-male rescue party. Anything that would help them feel safer would be good. What about bringing Doc? He could wait away from the building until you’re sure it’s safe?”
“That’s a good idea,” Luca agrees, and my slut of a wolf preens at the barest praise.
There’s something more going on with Caleb. I feel it in my bones. But we’re all on the same side. And he wasn’t lying when he said Katie was alive. I could scent his despair, but no sign of lies.
A knock on the door precedes Emily’s sweet scent, and I open the door to let her in. She gives me a quick hug before heading to Jackson and climbing into his lap. She wraps her arms around his neck and nuzzles against him. All of Jackson’s remaining tension evaporates as soon as his mate is in his arms. That’s what I want.
Someone who is so completely right for me. Someone who makes everything better. Could Luca ever be my person like Emily and Jackson are for each other? Doubtful.Highlydoubtful.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sofia
Luca follows me out of the pack house towards the training arena, his steps steady and far too sure of himself for someone who’s just fucked with my head so much. I’ve been avoiding training for days now—since I moved in with Luca—and I can’t exactly tell everyone how competent and badass I am if I’m not training. Not proving myself.
“Isn’t Jackson leading training today?” I ask, glancing back at Luca over my shoulder.
“I said I’d cover for him. Let him take a day to come to terms with finding out Katie is alive.”
I blink as I process those words. So much more like the old Luca. He used to do stuff like that all the time. For Ryan, Jackson, his parents… for me. He used to notice things. Anticipated what others needed without them having to ask.
“That was… nice of you.”
“I can be nice when I want to be.”
I stop dead, forcing him to pull up short so he doesn’t barrel into me. “Just not to me, huh?” My eyebrow arches, daring him to deny it.
“Oh, I could beverynice to you. You only have to let me.” His mouth curves in that infuriating smirk of his. The one that promises sordid fantasies and filthy satisfaction come to life.
Ugh, unbelievable.
“Why is everything about sex with you? Do you think that is all I have to offer a mate?” I snap, pushing his chest with my hands and forcing him to back up. My voice cracks sharper than I mean it to. The question tastes like ash in my mouth, and I hate that it betrays how much his behavior has actually hurt me. I don’t want him to know. I’ve spent years not letting him know how much he was hurting me. But I can’t keep it in anymore.
His smile vanishes, and the blue of his eyes darkens into something fierce. “Is that what you think?” His voice is dangerous, a low growl undercutting his words as his wolf pushes forward. “Sofia, you’re infuriating. You’re stubborn, hotheaded, a brat who tests every last nerve I have. And you’re so damn quick to throw yourself into danger I could—”
“I get it,” I snap, cutting him off and turning away from him before he sees how his words have landed. Before he can see my hurt, my tears. He keeps showing me why I can’t want him. Why my wolf is wrong about him. This is exactly why he’s completely unsuitable. His wolf wants me, but his human doesn’t even like me.
“No, you don’t get it,” he snarls, crowding me against a large oak tree. Before I can step away, he pushes me against the rough bark of the oak. His hands capture mine, pinning them above my head. I kick my leg back and connect with his shin up but then he plasters his body against mine with his chest to my back, cutting off my leverage. My wolf preens under his dominance even as my human self wants to bite his head off.
“I love how fiery you are,” he growls, his breath hot against my ear as the tingles of our mate bond run from my wrists down through my arms. “I’m pushing the sexual side of thingsbecauseyou are so damn stubborn. You won’t let your mind consider me. But your body wants me. Craves me. Knows that no one else could ever make you feel as good as I could. I pushed you away before Sofia. You were too damn young for me. I couldn’t bear how much I wanted you. If you had been older, if you weren’t Ryan’s little sister, I never could have waited. But even while pushing you away, arguing with you was still the highlight of every damn day. Being in your presence. Getting to be in your orbit. You’re so damn smart, you care harder than anyone I’ve ever met. You drive me fucking insane, but don’t think for a minute that I don’t love every ounce of that insanity. You’re so damn perfect, Sofia Rivera. And I will never stop fighting you—or fighting for you. Because you. Are. Mine.”
His body heat presses into me, his scent wrapping me up until it’s all I can breathe. The bark of the tree cuts into my palms, and it’s the only thing that keeps me grounded. Stopping me from letting him take me right here and now.
Goddess, I want to give in. Just once. My wolf all but howls her agreement.
“I can’t do this,” I mutter, shaking my head but not fighting to push him away.
“I’m not giving up,” he says fiercely, dropping his forehead against my shoulder. His hands trail slowly down my arms, brushing my sides, lingering on my hips. “I’m not leaving you. Not ever again. Even if you tell me you want nothing to do with me.”
My breath hitches. That’s what I wanted to hear. What I thought I needed. But it’s not enough to feel real. To feelsafe. I can’t let myself believe it. No matter how much I want to.
“We need to get to training,” I mutter.
He turns me around and cups my jaw, and I don’t want to look at his eyes, afraid of what I might see when I do. But he won’t move until I do. Why am I so afraid to look him in the eye? I’m an alpha wolf, and it’s only Luca. I’ve known him my whole life. What’s the danger in looking him in the eye?
