Chapter 8

Luca’s Pov

“You can't,” I dismissed. He must be joking because not in a million years would I let him touch her.

“What does she have to say about this?” I looked at Samantha, who just smiled back at me.

“I’m sure she’s fine with it. Aren’t you, love?”

Love?! Who says that?

I clenched my fists in anger before grabbing Samantha’s hand and walking out of the room-not bothering with the shocked expressions on Tyler and Clarisse’s faces.

I shoved Samantha against the wall when we got to the hidden part of the hallway.

“What was that about?!”

“What? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Is she kidding me? “You’re flirting with my right-hand man and my friend. That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“I met a handsome man who seemed interested in me and danced with him. It’s not a flirt, Alpha.”

She thinks he's handsome. What does she think about me?

Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she looked at me. I pushed closer to her, and with my raised hand above her head, cornered her against the wall. “I’ll let you go this time, but if you think you can do whatever you want and act innocent, you’re mistaken. Now, you’ll go to Tyler and turn him down.”

Her eyes trailed down to my lips, then back to my eyes. I swallowed… it’s hard not to show how much she affects me. Everything about her.

Everything she does.

“I’d do as you said, but let me remind you, Alpha—this is just a little agreement for us to sort out this mate bond. If you’re going to continue being a bitch about it, then you might as well reject me and let me go.”

Oh, I will. She’ll finally be out of my kingdom for good when this is over.

She looked back toward the ballroom. “You should go now. You don’t want to be late for your announcement, do you?”

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“May I have your attention, please?” Everyone turned at the sound of my voice.

“Thank you all for coming to this party. As your king and leader, I appreciate the trust you have shown me. Today was supposed to be the day I announce my chosen Luna to the pack-the day Silver Rose has a Luna,” I said, looking over at Clarisse, who held her dress in her hands as she already approached me.

“Unfortunately, that won’t be happening, as there has been a minor change.” She stopped and looked at me, confused.

“Today, Clarisse Basil, daughter of Alpha Basil of the Mystic Rose Pack, is not the one I will be choosing as my mate.”

“What are you saying, Luca?” Clarisse asked from where she stood.

“Instead, I have chosen who I want as my mistress. An elegant and gorgeous woman—Samantha,” I said, stretching out my hand. She walked over and took it.

“This is my muse—my woman. She belongs to me. I won’t be taking a Luna for the time being.”

Clarisse’s eyes darted between Samantha and me, burning with rage. I didn’t care about not choosing her—even if doing this publicly was going too far.

Melissa eyed me from the corner where she stood, and Tyler just watched silently—as he should.

“You said I was going to be your Luna! And now you’re choosing me over this stranger?! What do I have to do for you to choose me as yours, Alpha?” Clarisse stepped closer.

“I have done everything! I’m a suitable Luna—everyone here knows it! I waited for years until you saw me as a viable candidate! You don’t even look at me or acknowledge me, yet I didn’t care!”

Her voice echoed through the hall. No one dared say a word—not even Basil. He wouldn’t dare. He was alpha because of me, and if I didn’t want his daughter, then he should deal with it.

“You’re embarrassing yourself in front of all these people,” I said. Sam flinched at my words.

“Embarrassing myself?! You let me come here hoping for nothing?!”

“I don't answer to you, Clarisse.”

“Wow.” She turned her gaze to Samantha. Her already teary eyes held a red tint.

“You're no better than me… Who are you? Where are you from? You picked an outsider over me, Alpha Luca?!”

I looked ahead at everyone who was just watching the scene unfold. “You can continue your fun. That will be all.”

I dragged Samantha out of the room and into the empty hallway.

“Let me go!” she tugged her hand out of my grip.

“Why did you do that to her? Why did you embarrass her like that?”

“I don't see how that is your business, Samantha,” I replied.

“Wow… you're unbelievable…and heartless. You literally embarrassed a lady in front of your people. Why did you invite her? Why not call it off in the first place?!”

“What I say goes. Clarisse will have to deal with it–”

“Of course. All the rumors are true after all. You're a monster, Luca. A heartless monster who only cares about himself! You hurt her!”

My heart twisted in pain at her words. That shouldn’t hurt me. I don’t care about what I did to Clarisse, so why do her reprimanding comments hurt so much?

“Here I was thinking you were a good man because you saved me, not once, but twice. But you're nothing but the devil himself!”

She took a step, about to leave, and I stopped her. “You stay here! How dare you talk to me that way?! You should be grateful that I let you leave after rescuing you.”

“No, I'm not grateful. It would’ve been so much better if you had let me rot! You don’t deserve the praise, nor do you deserve the respect.”

“You may be a stranger, but you are in my kingdom, and you should be really careful what you say,” I fired, swallowing the heaviness down my throat.

“And you can go on and on. I regret having you as a mate! I regret ever meeting you, Alpha Luca! The worst mistake I have ever made was trusting you!”