Chapter 11
Duncan was furious as he stormed back to his lodge. He wanted to rip Vex’s head off. If Tia’s wolf had not been strong enough to fend them off, they would have killed her. Neither Vex nor Kyle were staying at the lodge. If they were, Duncan would have known. He would have been watching, and that is what they were trying to avoid. It was such a sneaky, cowardly attack. Her death would look like her mate brutalized her if they had succeeded. Mate attacks were rare but happened frequently enough for werewolves not to question it. Sadie’s pack set up extra security, and Luca flew in from Washington State. Duncan left the girls under the watch of Beta Cory while he quickly grabbed his stuff from his lodge and headed back to move in with Sadie.
Duncan should spend time with his new mate, getting to know her, instead of dealing with the attack’s aftermath. Tia planned to leave early to give them time together without distraction, but Duncan refused to let her go unless Luca accompanied her. Fortunately, Sadie and Tia were getting along well. It allowed him to take care of a few things. He looked forward to having Sadie all to himself. The feel of her touch and the closeness of her body drove him crazy. Dante wanted to mark her. He was a mess of whining and barking when Duncan left her side.
You can’t leave our mate! She is not safe!
She is safe with her brother. Don’t struggle with me, and you can see Safa tonight.
Dante wants to see Safa. Do it quickly, or I will take over!
He backed down, but Duncan could still feel his nervous tension.
As Luca exited the plane, the hosting pack’s alpha met him at the gate.
“Zeta Luca, I am Alpha Tristan from the Wood River Valley Pack. I am sorry we have to meet under such circumstances.”
Luca nodded. The alpha signaled for his companion to take Luca’s bag, and they headed for the exit. Then, he continued, “I informed the Elders about the unprovoked attack on your Alpha’s Daughter.”
She healed quickly and is currently in the lodge with my Beta. Nobody has seen either werewolf since the attack.
“Were they scheduled to attend the hunt?”
“No, they were staying in a chalet outside our territory. By the time we located it, they were long gone.”
“I don’t sense they are in the area anymore. Alpha Bran will find them once they reach Washington. They are on high alert across the state. I appreciate your quick response, and I suspect the rest of the event should go smoothly.”
They rode silently until Luca noticed the Alpha watching him curiously. “Is it true what they say? Can Zetas read your mind?”
Luca laughed. “No, I can not read your mind, but I can read emotions.”
“Do you feel everyone’s emotions at once?”
“At first, yes, but then I learned to filter through it and focus.”
“Fascinating. I have never met a Zeta before.”
“Few werewolves have.”
Tia appreciated the distraction of spending time with Sadie. She was fun and had an effervescent personality. She would make a great Luna for the pack. However, Tia could not stop wondering where she would fit in after all the excitement settled. Bran and Carina had already been planning their trip around the world. Once Duncan returned, he would take over as Alpha, and Sadie would become Luna. Alpha Bran and Luna Carina would leave on their trip, and Tia would again be in limbo. She knew Duncan would never kick her out, but she also knew she would have to find her path.
Duncan returned with his bag, and he and Sadie went to their room to settle in. A knock on the door interrupted Tia’s thoughts. It was Luca. Glad to see him, she gave him a big hug.
“I am glad to find you in one piece.” He said.
“Not thanks to our friend Vex!”
She winked at him. “Your extra training paid off. I left him in a far worse condition.”
He chuckled, pride beaming in his eyes. “That’s my girl!”
“You could fend off an Alpha & his Beta; that is impressive by anyone’s standards. However, don’t get a gigantic head. Vex won’t make that mistake twice.”
Tia nodded.
“Don’t worry when we return home. We will increase your training. You’re capable of a lot more, and we don’t want you surprised again.”
She rolled her eyes. “Enough talking about Vex! Do you want to meet our new Luna?”
He offered her his arm, and as she took it, he said, “Lead the way.”
Sadie and Duncan were heading back downstairs to meet with Tia when they ran into her and Luca. Duncan greeted Luca with a handshake before pulling him in for a hug. Sensing Duncan’s noticeable relief, Sadie looked the Zeta over. He was a big werewolf, well over 6 feet tall. His black curly hair hugged his face, and his amber eyes gazed at her. Realizing that everyone saw her staring, she blushed and looked away.
“Sadie, this is Zeta Luca. Luca, this is Sadie, our soon-to-be Luna. If she agrees to be my mate at the binding ceremony.”
Luca smiled warmly and offered his hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
She took it and smiled brightly. “I have so many questions. I have never met a Zeta before.”
“You are welcome to ask them anytime. I am an open book.”
Tia stepped forward and locked her arm in Sadie’s.
“The questions will have to wait because it is time for us to get ready for tonight’s festivities. You gentlemen will get dressed in Duncan’s room, and Sadie and I will work our magic in my room.”
Duncan looked a bit disheartened.
Tia laughed, “She is all yours after the ball; until then, no sneaking downstairs for a peek.”
Sadie blew her mate a kiss before being whisked off to get ready.
As the girls disappeared upstairs, Duncan and Luca exchanged glances, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. They headed to Duncan’s room to prepare, but Luca’s mind lingered on Tatiana’s arm, linked with hers, as she led him to meet Sadie. The easy warmth of her laughter still echoed in his mind.
“Something on your mind?” Duncan asked, noticing the rare, far-off look in Luca’s eyes.
Luca smirked, shaking his head. “Just glad everyone’s safe. But Tia… she’s been through a lot, Duncan. She’ll need protection even when we’re back on pack territory. Vex won’t let this go.”
Duncan nodded, jaw clenched. “I know. And I’d trust no one else to protect her.”
Luca recalled how Tia leaned into his embrace, her smile softening when he called her my girl. He couldn’t deny her strange pull on him, a connection that had slowly grown over the years. Yet he pushed the feeling aside, reminding himself of his duty to protect her.
She’s Duncan’s family, he reminded himself, almost like a mantra. Don’t complicate things.
But later, as Luca adjusted his tie, he heard a soft knock at the door. Opening it, he found Tatiana standing there, dressed in a flowing gown, her hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. He stared, the words catching in his throat as he took in her beauty.
“Luca,” she said softly, almost hesitating, “I just… wanted to thank you. For being here, I feel better knowing you're around.”
He smiled, warmth spreading as he reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“You don’t have to thank me, Tia. I’ll always be here for you. You know that.”
As her eyes met his, a quiet, vulnerable expression crossed her face, lingering longer than usual. She took a breath as though gathering courage. “I… feel different around you,” she whispered, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Safe. After the attack, nothing felt safe, but you always do.”
Luca’s hand lingered on her cheek. “Tia…” he murmured, his voice a shade deeper, filled with an emotion he’d kept buried.
They stood silently for a heartbeat, and then, almost without thinking, he leaned down, his lips hovering just above hers. His voice softened to a whisper. “I won’t ever let anyone hurt you.”
Their eyes met, the tension thickening, but before he could close the last sliver of distance between them, footsteps echoed down the hall, snapping them back to reality.
Tia pulled back, her gaze shy but warm as she looked up at him. “We should go,” she said, but her hand lingered in his for a moment longer before slipping away.
Luca closed his door, the faint scent of her lingering in the air. His pulse still thundered, his wolf stirring restlessly inside him. He shouldn’t have let the moment get so close or let his guard slip. But Tatiana had a way of pulling something raw and unrestrained from him, something he hadn’t felt in years.
He adjusted his tie again, his reflection staring back at him, but the smoldering memory of her gaze refused to leave his mind.
The festivities had already begun downstairs, laughter and music floating through the halls. Yet Luca felt utterly unbalanced for the first time in years, as if the ground beneath him had shifted.
You’re letting her get to you, he told himself.