Chapter 10

Samantha’s Pov

“What did you just say?”

“Killain is not the true Alpha, I am. My parents were killed in an ambush—”

“Your father was Alpha Duncan,” Luca said in realization.

“Yes…”

“But you bear a different surname… If I'm not mistaken, you should be answering Black because Duncan and Rick were brothers.”

“Yeah… I had it changed because I hid all my life.”

I looked at Luca who had his eyes glued to my face, watching me in disbelief. Who was I kidding? Did I really think he would believe me?

“You don't believe me…”

“No, I'm just trying to… process all of this.”

“And you still do not believe it, do you?”

“Duncan and his wife…and daughter were killed in that ambush. No one knows who set them up—I bet it was that prick, Rick—still…”

“His Beta, Morris, saved me. He promised my mother he would keep me safe and that is exactly what he did. Rick knows, but he thinks I'm not a threat to him because I altered my scent.”

“You were protecting yourself,” he said.

“Yes… and I hate how I got so distracted and believed Killain and I could have something different. We could rule differently. He is a liar—just like his father. I never want to hear his name again.”

My mate bond with Killain was broken, and that means every connection to him was gone. All I can feel when I think about him is anger and pain—lots of it. What good is it relieving the amazing memories just to be back to the real truth of him abandoning me?

“You didn't expect this, did you?” I asked.

“No. I knew you were hiding something but not this,” he straightened, “what good does this information have? Maybe you are the true Alpha of Blood Rose—”

“Not maybe, I am.”

“Whatever. You're still in my territory and your stay, our bond, does not benefit me.”

“I smell an ultimatum,” I said and Luca smiled while he ran his tongue over his teeth.

“What do you want?”

“You have gone too long without everyone noticing who you are. That includes masking or altering your scent, which would also mean not shifting in front of your pack.”

“Yes?”

“I doubt it'll be difficult for you to shift,” he announced.

He is wrong though. It could be a struggle but I haven't forgotten the ropes. “I don't need your help in teaching me how to shift.”

“I'm not teaching you, look at it as me helping you get back to your feet.”

I folded my arms around my chest, with my left leg crossed over the other. “Shifting isn't a chore but it's also not a difficult task.”

“When did you last shift into your wolf? When last did you let Aldrina walk free?”

It's been so long… I attained my sixteenth year, and it was my birthday. Dad and Mom had promised to help me shift so they took me into the woods that day. I shifted the first time, and it was painful… too painful but their support made me want to go again and again until I got it right.

“How long?” he asked.

“Age sixteen,” I responded.

“That would mean you won't know how to do it now, am I right?” He smirked.

God, I hate when he is right.

“What's your point, pretty boy?” I said, not minding the little blush that crept up his cheeks before he walked closer to the bed.

“I help you in shifting to your wolf form, make you stronger and become your old self again, and in return, you become my muse. Once we are done with all this, we break the mate bond.”

“Why not break it now?”

“I have my reasons,” he grunted hastily.

“You do know I can break the bond, right?”

“Yes, but I won't accept it and you'll just be in pain,” he lifted my chin for me to look at him, “I'm sure you wouldn't want that, Vespetta.”

Oh my God… He is so close, and it makes me feel so hot all over my body. I looked at him as he gazed into my eyes with so much intensity. It made me swallow, and I bet my head would go into a fuzzy spiral.

“Why do you call me that?”

“'Cause I can,” he said and painfully stood straight. My skin turned cold the minute his hands were off my skin.

“So, do we have a deal?”

“Does my opinion really matter? You seem to be making a lot of deals with me, Alpha, I might actually think you don't want me to leave.”

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Next Morning…

The smell of tea and freshly made pancakes teased my nostrils. I hadn't eaten last night, but I wasn't very hungry either. I bet the pancakes would taste so good… the syrup tasted amazing even with my eyes closed. It was like I was actually tasting them.

I licked my lips again—savoring the drops of liquid falling onto them. I rolled my tongue over my lips once more. Wait… that’s not right. Usually, syrup tastes sweet; this one, however, did not. I opened my eyes and was met with a brooding naked figure standing over me, a coffee mug pressed to his mouth.

“I was thinking my theatrics of waking you up wouldn’t work.”

I jumped at the sound of the voice. Luca stood in front of me, coffee in hand—butt naked.

“Ah!” I covered my eyes with my hands in reflex.

“Ouch,” he said.

“Why aren’t you putting on clothes or at least a robe?!” I exclaimed.

“I like drying fresh…”

“What? Who does that?!” I screamed, burying my face in my hands. “Go put on something! I need to open my eyes.”

“Oh, don’t worry, love, I promise you it’s not something you haven’t seen before,” he said comfortably.

“Please, that would be invading your privacy.”

“You sleep in my room—that is invading my privacy,” he stated. True, but this is so much different!

“Just put on some clothes, please?”

He sighed. “Alright.”

“You can remove your hands now,” he said.

“Really?”

“Yes, Samantha, I have a robe on.”

I removed my hands from my face and was still met with a butt naked Luca, flashing his teeth—standing right in front of me.

“You liar!” I threw a pillow at him and dared myself to let my gaze roam over his buff shoulders and broad chest, down to his torso. I swallowed as my eyes drifted lower... and lower until they reached where his manhood stood firm. Oh God. He was big, manly and I unconsciously licked my lips and kept looking.

“Eyes here, Vespetta,” he said, and I snapped my eyes back up to a smiling Luca.

He chuckled, as if relishing my discomfort, as if he knew how much his body was a big distraction. Why did the hairs on my body stand up-or why couldn’t I form words? Definitely the mate bond.

“Still not looking, Vespetta.”

“What?! What?!”

“Go shower and change. Then meet me by the garden when you’re done.”

“Why? Where are we going?”

“Your first shifting lesson starts now. Be quick, I hate lateness,” he finished, turning his back to me—giving me a clear view of his behind as he walked into his dressing room.