Chapter 28 – The Night Hunt

(Flashback from Luca's perspective) 

The night was thick, the kind of dark that pressed against your skin and whispered secrets you didn't want to hear. The forest was alive with the scent of damp earth and fear—not mine, but hers. She was human, sprinting through the trees like her life depended on it, and judging by the creature chasing her, it probably did.

Her scent hit me like a punch to the gut: terror, sweat, determination—but there was something else, something sharper, almost magnetic. My ears twitched at the sound of heavy, relentless footsteps crashing through the underbrush. Not hers. This was something bigger, darker. A growl rumbled through the night, vibrating up through my paws.

Then I saw it.

Glowing eyes cut through the shadows like embers from hell itself. The creature was a twisted nightmare, a swirling mass of shadow and fur, all malice and hunger. Not of this world. And it had its sights locked on the girl.

She was fast, I'll give her that. But it was faster.

The primal urge to hunt surged through me, but this wasn't about prey—this was about protection. She was close to the edge of the forest, just a few steps away from the open fields. If she made it there, she'd be out in the open, an easy target. I couldn't let that happen.

She stumbled, her scent spiking with fear. The creature lunged, muscles rippling with deadly intent.

No. Not on my watch.

A growl ripped from my throat, low and dangerous, cutting through the night. The creature hesitated, its glowing eyes flicking toward me.

'Yeah, asshole. Over here.'

My words came out as loud snarls, making it shift, sizing me up. I bared my teeth, stepping out of the shadows. My fur bristled, muscles coiled and ready to strike. The thing snarled, its breath hot and putrid. Good. Let it come for me.

A rustle of leaves to my left caught my attention. Ethan, my brother, moved through the trees like a shadow, silent but deadly. Marcus, my best friend, flanked me on the right. We didn't need words. We'd fought together too many times for that.

The creature lunged, and we moved as one.

The air crackled with tension as teeth clashed against claws. The Echo of the Cursed—that's what they called it. A monster born of darkness, without fear or conscience. It fought like hell, but we were relentless.

Despite the chaos, I noticed something that made my blood run cold: its eyes never wavered from the girl. She was all that mattered to it.

And maybe to me, too.

She bolted, taking advantage of the chaos. Her footsteps faded into the night, and relief mingled with frustration. She was safe—for now. The Echo realized it couldn't reach her with us in the way. It retreated, melting back into the shadows.

I didn't chase it. My priority had changed.

Her.

I tracked her scent to the edge of the forest, where she had collapsed, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her heart was still racing, adrenaline pumping through her veins.

I stepped closer, slow and deliberate, not wanting to spook her. Her wide eyes met mine, and everything changed.

It hit me like a thunderclap, a force so strong it nearly knocked me off my paws.

M-Mate.

The realization slammed into me, stealing the air from my lungs. How could this be? She was human—not one of us. This wasn't supposed to happen.

But it did.

The bond was there, unbreakable, and the force of it shook me to my core. How could the universe be so cruel? How could it tie me to someone from a world so different from my own?

Every instinct screamed at me to protect her, to stay by her side. It wasn't just duty—it was a need, a compulsion that went beyond anything I'd ever known.

I moved closer, unable to resist the pull. She didn't flinch, just watched me with those big, curious eyes. It was like she could see right into my soul, like she knew the turmoil raging inside me.

I did the only thing I could. I nudged her gently, encouraging her to sit down. She followed my lead, wincing as she put weight on her ankle.

It was too swollen, so discolored that it almost looked broken. Pain radiated off her in waves, and guilt twisted in my chest. I should have noticed sooner.

I licked her ankle, trying to soothe the injury. Her soft laugh caught me off guard.

"Really? A wolf doctor?" she whispered, her voice shaky but amused.

I huffed, rolling my eyes in a way only a wolf could. At least she wasn't screaming.

She leaned back against a tree, exhaustion from fear and adrenaline overtaking her. Her breathing slowed, eyes drooping until she was fast asleep.

I stayed by her side, ears pricked for any sign of danger. The forest was quiet now, but I didn't trust it. Not after what had just happened.

When I was sure she wouldn't wake up, I carefully nudged her onto my back. She was lighter than I expected, and I moved through the forest with ease.

The lights of the Inn glowed in the distance, a warm beacon against the cold night. She would be safe here.

As we approached, she stirred, groggy and disoriented.

"Am I too heavy?" she mumbled.

I couldn't help the animal scoff that escaped me. Really? This small, fragile human thought she was too heavy?

I huffed, rolling my eyes again. She seemed amused, a sleepy smile tugging at her lips.

But the moment shattered as Ethan appeared, rushing toward us like a protective idiot.

"Quinn! Are you okay? Damn, I was so worried," he said, voice dripping with concern.

Quinn. So that was her name.

It suited her—strong, beautiful, just like she was.

No. Stop this, Luca. Don't go there.

"Oh yeah, this is, uh, Lycan," Ethan said, throwing me under the bus without hesitation. "He's part of a search and rescue team for lost hikers."

Lycan? What kind of bullshit name was that? Search and Rescue? Moron.

I glared at him, but he just smirked, knowing exactly what he was doing.

Then, as if to really piss me off, he scooped Quinn up in his arms.

A low growl rumbled in my chest, possessive and instinctual.

'She's mine,' I thought, jealousy surging through me.

Ethan shot me a knowing glance, hearing my thoughts as clearly as if I'd spoken them aloud.

"Chill out, man," he muttered. In our mental link, he added, 'Just getting her inside, mutt. Don't go all alpha on me now.'

'Mutt? I'm going to feed you to my omegas you werecunt!'

I growled again, louder this time, but he smirked and ignored me, carrying her back to the Inn like it was nothing.

As they disappeared inside, I told myself I wouldn't—couldn't—get close to her.

But deep down, I knew it was already too late.