“He’s right.” Luca’s quiet voice is muffled. When we both look up in surprise, he moves awkwardly, rubbing his hands over his arms, avoiding our gazes. He’s wearing a pheromone blocking mask, probably borrowed it from Riley. It helps keep out most of the pheromones, though it doesn’t keep all of them out. The way his bitter caramel scent spikes with each breath, he’s clearly still struggling.
“It’s not your fault for finding me. I’m really grateful you followed me and rescued us. The Hearts are the ones who’ve been causing all the mess and all the pain. None of it is your fault.” He finally looks up, but his voice is tight and he’s gripping onto his arms hard.
“Without you, these kids would have had their childhoods cut short. Their lives would have turned into a living hell. But, because of you, they might actually have a chance at a somewhat normal life.” He covers his mouth and nose with a shaking hand. “I’m sorry.” And then he flees from the office.
Vera jumps from my lap, her eyes wide, her pheromones fluctuating between pain and confusion. “Wait!”
Luca’s footsteps on the stairs are loud.
She glances at me, tears in her eyes and I nod in the direction of the door.
“Go after him. See if you can maybe have a conversation with him on the balcony or somewhere else where there aren’t so many pheromones around.” It’s been clear from the start how much they want to be together, even if it hurts them.
The Hearts may have tried to traumatise Luca so that he wouldn’t be able to be with his pack, but they clearly underestimated him. They clearly underestimated how headstrong the guy is, even if it means hurting himself. We’re going to have to keep a close eye on him to make sure he doesn’t push himself too far, that he doesn’t accidentally hurt himself in ways that can’t be healed.
Though, to be honest, that’s a balancing act most people in our pack struggle with.
Vera leans close, giving me a soft kiss. “You come too?”
I touch her cheek, shaking my head. “I’ve got work to do and I think it’s more important that you talk to him first.” I’ve already heard more than enough for one night. It’s more important that Luca and Vera get used to each other first now. Explore how close they can get before things break down, so that we can help Luca get better in ways that work for him.
“Okay. But I’ll be back soon to check on you.”
“I know. I know that you will.” I kiss her again, longer this time, before I let her go. “See if you can talk to your new mate, get to know each other.”
Her fingers linger on my chest for long seconds, like she’s thinking something over, but then she nods decisively and gives me a tight smile. “I won’t be long.”
“If I need you, I’ll know where to find you.” Then I reach up, touching my earpiece. “And I’m always here if you need me.”
She glances from me to the door and back, and I nudge her with my knee. “Go on. Go find him. His family will arrive soon and things will get a lot more hectic then. Make use of the time you’ve got, while things are still relatively quiet.”
“Right.” She glances back at me one last time, her hand on the wall next to the door, before leaving the office.
My chest hurts as I look after her.
The Hearts may not have fully succeeded breaking Luca, making sure that our pack will be in a lot of pain once he joined us, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t have a long road ahead of us, before everything is settled. And in that time, I’ll have to watch my mates struggle, breaking my heart every minute, until we get there.
I take a couple of long breaths, trying to release the tension in my shoulders and back, as I look at the screens in front of me.
Anger keeps rising in me when I don’t make an effort to suppress it.
With Vera around, it’s easier to control, but now I’m alone, it comes back to the surface.
I put my hand on my lower belly.
I’m sorry, baby. Your father is not the composed man in charge of a massive organisation that some people in the pack seem to think I am.
Right now, I’d give anything in the world to go back to the brothel where I used to ‘work’, where they held Luca, and kill every single person there.
Rip out the throat of every bastard there, with my teeth, making them suffer as long as possible before they die.
Letting them know why I’m doing this, letting them know it’s because they hurt my mates, my pack.
And once I’m done with that, I’ll hunt down every one of their family members and take them out too, take out every person connected to them, take out the roots of the evil they bring into the world.
I’m sorry, baby. Your father is not a good person.
I hope that you’ll never have to see this side of me and I especially hope you’ll never have to meet the person I am right now. Someone with only death and destruction on his mind, filled with fury at the vile things some people think they can get away with because nobody stands in their way.
