Chapter 20

Samantha’s Pov

I felt hot all over.

Luca’s lips on mine were the personification of blazing fire. He nibbled and sucked my bottom lip—the tug should have hurt.

But my core tightened at the contact. I pulled him closer by the neck and ground my front against his. I could feel his hard cock beneath his sleep pants.

“Hmm,” he chuckled with his eyes closed, teeth biting my lips.

“You love it, don’t you? I can smell your arousal, Vespetta. You want me to take you right here; I bet you’re already dripping for me. Your little pussy is begging to be stretched by my cock, isn’t that right, baby?”

I shouldn’t let him. Even though he is my mate, he simply isn’t who I choose. He isn’t who I want, but I can’t control myself or the moan that slipped out of my lips after.

In a swift movement, Luca pushed me onto the bed. His hand snaked around my neck in claim. His eyes were open and fixed on me. The dark hint around those grey eyes showed something darker. He wasn’t angry.

He was frustrated, and he was letting it out on me.

“Bring out your tongue,” he ordered, and I did as he said. He sucked on my tongue, and maybe that should have been disgusting?

My wolf growled at the back of my head. She wanted her mate. She wanted to be claimed by him as much as possible. Still holding him by the neck, I pulled and whimpered.

“Please,” I begged when his hands touched my core. I didn’t know what I was begging for. He chuckled and slipped a finger into my folds.

“You’re all soaked for me. Bet you could handle two fingers or three. And if you take it like a good girl, you’d be able to handle my cock.”

Oh goddess. How does he say those things so comfortably? The foul words he spat out of his mouth were extreme and so wrong, but somehow I listened and unconsciously rocked my hips into his hands.

He flicked, scissored, and finger-fucked. But I needed more. I wanted more—I didn’t know what I wanted, but I wanted it.

“More… I need… please, Luca.” I kissed him, bit his lips. My hands found their way to his chest—clawing and scratching. It was just not enough!

“Tell me what you want, baby.”

“I need more. Please, I n–need it,” I begged, and his eyes turned to one of realisation.

“You’re in heat.”

“W-what?” I asked absentmindedly.

“You're in heat, Samantha…” I continued kissing him, not minding what he said—something about my wolf wanting to mate with his.

“We should stop.” He pulled back and kept a safe distance between us.

“Why?”

“I can't… we can't complete the bond.”

I swallowed painfully, stood up straight, and tried to put my dishevelled hair back in order.

“You keep saying that, yet you don’t do anything.”

His eyes, that were full of lust and frustration, suddenly held nothing but emptiness.

“I can’t.”

“You’re stalling… You know what? I’m trying to help save Silver Rose any way I can, but you’re just being a pain in the ass. I don’t know why I came in here.”

“Samantha—”

“Don’t… it’s enough already,” I said, looking anywhere but at his beautiful face. Why did it even bother me? I don’t care about him or his stupid pack. I bet I’m just a substitute and our bond didn’t really matter to him.

“I’m just going to go,” I said, and walked out of the room with the clawing pain in my chest and that hollow feeling following me.

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I trained and trained and trained until dark. I had already decided to skip training that day, but it was better than crying over Luca’s words. There was no need to avoid him like he’d done to me. If he thought I couldn’t handle rejection, then he must be mistaken.

I walked down the old, dark halls of the castle. The maids had retired to bed, Mikala included. Maybe I’d busy myself with a book until I fall asleep. The halls were eerily quiet and only illuminated by dimly lit candles. It shouldn’t scare me, but somehow it made my skin crawl. I looked over my shoulder—something I’d been doing frequently because I felt like I was being watched.

Nearing my door, I bumped into something—no, someone—on the floor. The lights helped illuminate the features of a woman. Her head was down, her black hair covering her face, and she looked like she was already asleep.

Subconsciously, I bent to my knees and tapped her. “Hi…”

She startled awake at the sound of my voice, allowing me to see her face clearly. It was the same maid from earlier today, the one who looked oddly familiar.

“I think you’re at the wrong door. The quarters are that way,” I said, pointing with a warm smile.

“I’m sorry, m’lady. I must’ve fallen asleep,” she replied. Somehow, her apology felt off, like she didn’t mean it. Who would fall asleep by a door? The maid quarters were far from mine, and they all retired to bed at the same time.

“It’s okay. It’s just a mistake. I’m sorry for hitting you, really.”

“You don’t have to apologise, m’lady,” she smiled, but it didn’t feel homely or warm. It creeped me out instead. Her gaze felt heavy and made me uncomfortable.

I swear to the goddess I’ve seen her before. But where?

“You may leave.” She moved aside and watched me as I opened my door.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, turning when I felt her stare behind me.

“Oh… don’t mind me. You really look like someone I know. You’re like a carbon copy of her. I’m sorry if this is odd, but I couldn’t be quiet about it.”

“Well, people have familiar faces, so maybe it’s just a coincidence. I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen you before,” I replied.

“Yes. It could be a coincidence. I’ll be leaving now, m’lady. Have a good night’s rest.” She turned and walked down the hallway.

Now that I think about it, aren’t the maids younger in the castle? She looked mature and definitely older than me. So far, I’ve only seen Madame Cherie as the older maid in the King’s castle; the other girls are younger or just a few years older than I am. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.