CHAPTER FOUR — “THE SCENT OF BLOOD AND FURY”

The silence after the crash was worse than the noise itself.

Aria paced the glass-walled room like a caged animal, fingers twisting, breath uneven. She tried the door again even though she knew it was locked. The guards outside didn’t even glance at her; they stood like statues, waiting for orders from their Alpha.

Alpha.

Luca’s last expression flashed in her mind—eyes gone gold, jaw locked with wolfish fury, body coiled like he was seconds away from ripping someone apart.

A chill moved down her spine.

Something was wrong. Something serious.

Then the sounds reached her.

A shout.

A heavy thud.

A gunshot—sharp and echoing.

Aria froze.

“Luca…” she whispered before she could stop herself.

Her heart hammered against her ribs so hard it hurt. She pressed her palm to the glass, trying to see anything—any sign of what was happening. But the windows only reflected her own fear back at her.

Minutes stretched.

Then footsteps thundered down the hallway.

The guards straightened instantly.

A moment later, the door slammed open, and Luca stumbled inside.

Aria gasped.

His shirt was torn at the shoulder, blood staining the fabric. A deep gash marked his arm, and his chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven breaths. His eyes—no longer fully human—glowed with a low, burning gold.

He had shifted partially.

The wolf was right beneath his skin.

“Luca—” she rushed toward him.

“Stay back,” he growled.

She stopped. But her eyes swept over the blood on his arm, the bruises forming on his ribs. “You’re hurt.”

“It’s nothing.”

But the quiet shake in his fingers told her he was lying.

“What happened?”

He wiped blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. “An intruder. Someone got past the gate. They weren’t after the house—they were after you.”

Aria’s breath caught. “Me? Why?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t be bleeding,” he snapped.

She flinched, and immediately, regret softened his eyes. He exhaled slowly, lowering his voice.

“They weren’t human. At least, not fully. One of them had eyes like an omega wolf—but wrong. Unstable. Drugged.” He shook his head. “Something is stirring out there. And you…” His gaze locked on her with a force that felt like gravity.

“You walked straight into the center of it.”

Aria swallowed. “I still don’t understand what that has to do with me.”

“You will,” he murmured.

He moved toward the table, gripping the edge as though steadying himself. His breathing was off—ragged, too fast.

Aria realized why.

He was fighting the shift.

His wolf, agitated by the attack and the blood, wanted control.

“Luca,” she said softly, “you need medical help.”

“What I need,” he growled, “is for you to keep your distance.”

But his knees buckled suddenly.

Aria lunged forward, catching his arm. He hissed, not from pain, but from the shock of her touch.

“Don’t,” he warned, voice low and dangerous.

“You’re going to pass out.”

“I don’t pass out.”

“You look like you’re about to.”

A dark, humorless smirk twitched his lips. “You really like provoking me.”

“Stop talking and sit down.”

He didn’t argue this time. He sank onto the edge of the table, breath sharp, jaw clenched. Aria grabbed a clean cloth from the shelf and moved toward him.

“I said stay back,” he growled again—but it lacked its usual edge.

“You’re bleeding,” she said firmly, stepping between his legs to reach his arm. “Let me help.”

His eyes lifted to hers—hot, wild, too intense.

“Aria…”

“Hold still.”

She pressed the cloth to his wound. Luca inhaled sharply, muscles flexing beneath her hands. The warmth of his skin shocked her—he felt hotter than any human should.

His voice dropped to a low rumble. “Your scent… you’re too close.”

She froze. “My scent?”

“It pulls at my wolf.” He closed his eyes, breath shuddering. “You don’t know what that does to me.”

Her cheeks warmed but she didn’t move away. “You’re the one bleeding all over your designer floor. Focus.”

His eyes opened slowly, gold swirling like fire. “You think I’m worried about bleeding?”

His gaze dipped to her lips.

“You’re the real danger standing in front of me.”

Heat spread through her chest.

“Just… let me clean it,” she whispered.

Aria wiped the blood from his arm, her fingers brushing his skin—firm, warm, tense with restrained power. Luca’s breathing grew heavier with each touch. His wolf was pacing inside him—she could feel it.

When she reached for another cloth, Luca caught her wrist.

His grip was warm. Strong. Too strong.

“Aria.”

Her name left his mouth like a warning and a plea at once.

She met his eyes.

And her breath vanished.

The gold in his gaze was fading, replaced slowly by something softer. Darker. Human. His wolf was retreating—but not entirely.

“You shouldn’t care if I’m hurt,” he muttered.

“I don’t,” she lied softly.

A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. “You’re terrible at lying.”

Before she could respond, the door burst open again.

Elena rushed in. “Alpha, the perimeter is secured. But we found something—”

Her eyes landed on Aria standing between Luca’s legs, his hand gripping her wrist, his breath uneven, the air thick between them.

Elena went very still.

“So,” she said carefully, “I see the problem has… escalated.”

Luca’s jaw tightened. He released Aria slowly. “Report.”

Elena stepped forward and placed a small metal object on the table.

Aria frowned. “What’s that?”

“A tracker,” Elena said gravely. “We found it near the gate. It wasn’t meant for the Alpha.”

She turned to Aria.

“It was meant for you.”

Aria felt the floor tilt under her feet.

Luca rose sharply, ignoring the pain in his arm.

His voice came out low, cold, lethal.

“Someone is hunting her.”

“And they know she’s here,” Elena added.

Luca’s wolf flashed again—rage tightening his whole posture.

He stepped in front of Aria, shielding her instinctively.

“No one touches her,” he growled.

“No one gets near her.”

His head lowered slightly, like a predator claiming prey.

“She’s under my protection.”

Aria’s heart hammered.

Protected.

Or claimed?

She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the difference.