Chapter 13
The following day, Sadie left Duncan asleep in bed and snuck down to Tatiana’s room. She wanted to talk to her before everyone else woke up. She knocked gently on the door and walked in, forgetting Luca was also in her room. To her shock, she found clothes and blankets strewn across the floor, an overturned champagne bottle, and a very naked Luca wrapped around an equally naked Tia. She stood there with her mouth hanging open. Luca’s butt was fantastic, as were his back, his arms, his legs. Duncan looked like a Greek god, but Luca was a super-sized version. As she turned to go, she kicked the overturned bottle. Luca let out a growl and flew off Tia, grabbing Sadie’s arm and spinning her back around. As they stood there face to face, both of them suddenly noticed his lack of clothes. Sadie’s eyes shot down between his legs as her face blushed. Parts of him were wide awake and super-sized indeed.
“I think you may want to put that away.”
Luca looked mortified as he searched for something to cover himself. Tia had wrapped herself in a sheet and giggled as she threw Luca his pants.
With her face still burning, Sadie looked at Tia and said, “I will come back later.” She turned and darted out of the room.
She ran upstairs and flopped beside Duncan, burying her face on the bed.
“What is it?” Duncan asked groggily.
Sadie moaned, “I went to talk to Tia, and I walked in on two naked people in a very compromising position.”
“Did you go into the wrong room?”
“No, it was, without a doubt, your sister and Luca.”
Duncan sat up with a start. “No, there has to be some mistake. You are telling me you found Tia and Luca naked in her room?”
Sadie looked up at him. “There was no mistake. Why didn’t you tell me they were together?”
He looked angry as he jumped up to put his pants on. “I didn’t tell you because they aren’t together. You must have misunderstood what you saw, but I am going down to figure it out.”
She looked at him, “I know what I saw, Duncan, and I think you should wait to go down there. I already barged in on them. They don’t need you doing it as well.”
After Sadie rushed out of the room, Luca threw up his hands.
“What, don’t people knock in Idaho?”
Tia burst out laughing. Luca looked utterly bewildered.
“I am glad you find this funny. Sadie is the last person we want to see this,” he said, motioning toward the state of the room and their undress.
“Why? I would prefer it be her over my brother.”
“Precisely! Now everyone will know, and I can imagine this will not be received well back at home.”
“You are adorable when you are embarrassed, but I am a grown woman. Nobody will say anything.”
“I am also the Zeta, and you are the Alpha’s daughter.”
As he finished, someone knocked loudly at the door. Still shirtless, Luca opened the door. Before anyone could say a word, Duncan punched Luca in the face. He spun sideways from the impact. His blood splattered on Tia. Unaware of who was at the door, Tia shifted. She was about to charge when Dante burst through the door growling and leaped onto Luca. Luca shoved him off hard and sent Dante slamming against the wall. Tia stood between them, baring her teeth at Dante in a warning. He snarled back but didn’t move.
Luca wiped the blood from his lip and said, “So much for nobody saying anything.”
Tia shifted back and glared at Dante. “Give Duncan back control, now!”
She continued, “What the hell is wrong with you?” As she checked Luca’s bloody lip. It was already healing.
Duncan snarled, “Luca, you keep your hands off my sister. She is not your mate.”
Tia turned back to him and said, “Grow up, Duncan! I am not a little girl anymore. It is none of your business who I sleep with.”
“It is my business if he is my Zeta!”
“Whoa, there, big guy! You are not Alpha yet,” Luca countered.
His tone incensed Duncan, who stared daggers at him.
Trying to defuse the situation, Tia mind linked Duncan. Please leave and let us get dressed. We can talk about this later after we have all calmed down.
Duncan stared icily at Luca, then stormed out of the room.
Tia shrugged at Luca. “What was that?”
“It was your brother being protective. You have not found your mate yet, and he does not want me to impede that.”
“Well, that is my concern, not his, and what about you? You lost your mate. Are you supposed to be celibate for the rest of your life?”
Luca suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Tia was stunned. “Am I the first since your mate?”
He nodded. “Yes, but that is not uncommon.”
She considered it for a moment.
“Why me? Why now?”
“I don’t know. I guess I was ready. Do you regret it now?”
“No, of course not. Do you?”
“You should know by now that I rarely act without considering the consequences. I don’t regret it.”
She leaned in and softly kissed his lips, “Zeta, I could never regret being with you.”
He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Why is that?”
“Because you have the finest ass I have ever seen, and I am nowhere near done with you yet.”
Duncan felt his emotions heighten. He could not believe Luca had slept with Tia. How could he trust him as his Zeta when he couldn’t trust him with his sister? Pacing the floor. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he did not notice Sadie had left. What was Tia thinking? He honestly understood neither of them at this point.
Sadie’s voice startled him. “You went down there, didn’t you?”
He looked over to find her leaning on the door frame, watching him.
“Of course! Did you think I wouldn’t? I mean, what were they thinking?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe Luca and Tia were thinking, I am single, you are single, we are both adults. Let’s have some fun!”
“Fun! You think this is fun?”
Sadie snorted, “No, you now is not fun. You, last night in bed, were fun. Is it so hard to imagine that maybe Luca and Tia needed some companionship also?”
“That is different. You are my mate.”
“Yes, I am. You are lucky to have me because not everyone has a mate. Does that mean they don’t deserve to find some bit of happiness?”
Duncan slumped on the bed, unsure why he was so mad.
“Tia has a mate somewhere. Luca has already found his. How is that going to work?”
Sadie sat down next to him. “I don’t know, but that is for them to figure out. Your job is to support them. I know you love both of them. Would it really be such a bad thing for them to find happiness together?”
Duncan sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples as Sadie observed him.
“I’m trying to wrap my head around this, Sadie,” he said, barely above a whisper. “Luca has always been someone I trusted. But Tia? She’s my sister. How am I supposed to trust him to protect her and still serve as my Zeta if he’s…” He trailed off, the thought too raw to finish.
Sadie placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Duncan, Luca’s proven his loyalty a hundred times over. But I understand why this feels different.”
Duncan looked at her, his eyes stormy. “How is he supposed to put his duty to me and the pack first if he’s… if he’s in love with her?” His jaw tightened. “How can I know he’ll do what’s necessary when it’s Tia on the line?”
Sadie sighed. “Maybe you’re right to be cautious. But whatever is between Luca and Tia isn’t just going to go away. And if your family finds out, they’ll question everything he’s worked for.” She hesitated, then added softly, “Including his loyalty to you.”
Duncan clenched his fists. He hadn’t even considered the implications beyond himself. The family, the pack—they’d all scrutinize Luca’s every move, wondering if he could still be trusted to put the Alpha first, to serve without bias. And if word spread beyond their pack… Luca’s position could be jeopardized.
Luca was quietly gathering his things in Tia’s room, considering his next move.
“Well, everyone found out about us a little sooner than we would have liked, but we are adults and very capable of making our own decisions.”
Luca glanced over at Tia, conflicted.
“Yes, but your brother is right! You have not found your destined mate, and you are so young. I won’t stand in the way of that.”
“Luca, I started a rogue, and I doubt there is a destined mate for me. I prefer to be the maker of my destiny, and I choose you,” she said. “I don’t care what the others think. My only concern is what you think.”
He looked at her, torn.
Tia took his hand in hers. “Whatever this is, we face it together. I’m not letting you take the fall for this.”
Luca paused, his gaze softening as he squeezed her hand. But even as they shared a moment of silent resolve, they knew the truth was out. And soon, everyone they cared about would have an opinion.