Chapter 2

Lana

“I need a fucking distraction. This can’t be happening,” I muttered to myself as I pushed away from the vanity where I’d been overthinking. I hadn’t slept since yesterday’s boardroom drama about werewolves and getting bonded.

Tonight was Lisa’s gala… a gathering of elites I never wanted to be part of. But I needed the distraction, even if it meant pretending to be the well-behaved Vale heiress under the same roof as my father and his vulture of a wife.

I still hadn’t signed the papers yet, and the thought of it was rotting me from the inside. And somehow, Luca still found a way to crawl into my mind even after I tried so hard to push him out. I hated that, despite everything, my heart still stuttered when I heard his name.

I arrived late which was unlike me. The flashing paparazzi triggered my headache, but I smiled like I wasn’t slowly losing myself. Was this because of the bond? No, don’t let that get to you, Lana. I brushed the thought as I played the perfect Vale daughter. I tried hard to pretend but the ache wouldn’t go away.

“Are you alright?” A deep, masculine voice asked as I turned to see a tall, golden-haired man with a sharp jawline and dark eyes.

“I…I’m fine” I lied with a smile on my face.

“I’m Adrian Stones. Lisa’s older brother.” He handed me a glass of champagne as his fingers gently brushed mine. “I couldn’t help but notice you from across the room. I had to see if you were real.”

He kissed my hand softly and held my gaze. For a moment, I let myself smile. He was a perfect distraction and just maybe I could forget everything for just one night. But the pain in my head increased and pulled harder than before.

“Agh!” I gasped. The champagne glass slipped from my fingers and everything else became blurry. I could hear voices echoing around me.

“Is she okay?”

“Lana you good?”

My knees gave up before I could get myself and fortunately, someone caught me but I didn’t see who it was before blacking out.

***

My chest rose and fell fast as I woke up from what felt like a nightmare. What happened? And where was I? This was not the gala and definitely not my house. I sat up slowly as the sheets slid off my legs. A very familiar scent hit me and I groaned.

“Can’t believe I’m thinking about Luca even now.” I thought to myself. Why was his scent so strong? I turned slowly toward the door but someone was leaning against the wall. His wet dark hair clung to his face like he’d just stepped out of the shower. His icy blue eyes were locked on mine and his shirt was unbuttoned halfway, revealing a sculpted chest that shouldn’t have still had that effect on me. Luca was here…

“You pushed too far,” he said calmly, stepping forward. “Your body shut down.”

No, it couldn’t be. That voice was deeper now, but it was him.

“Luca?” I whispered, uncertain if this was a dream or reality.

He stepped into the light fully. “Have I ever told you how much I love the way you say my name?”

My throat tightened. He looked… different. More devastatingly handsome than I remembered. And those eyes…

“What the hell am I doing here?” I snapped, trying to find my voice.

“I felt your pain.” His voice was still calm. “And somehow… I found you.”

I scoffed. “So what, you care now?”

His lips twitched, amused. “Don’t get it twisted, Lana darling. My wolf cares but I don’t. Personally, I couldn’t care less if you drowned in your bathtub or got eaten alive.”

His words hit me harder than they should have.

“Your wolf,” I said with rising anger. “Right. I almost forgot that you’re a werewolf. And a part of you forgot to mention that before you shoved your wolf dick inside me.”

He didn’t flinch…. Asshole. “I didn’t think it was relevant,” he said, stepping closer. He lifted his hand and brushed the back of it across my forehead, like he was checking my temperature.

And even now… I felt a spark, like electricity under his touch. I closed my eyes without thinking as my breath hitched, shamefully so.

“You still react like that when I touch you?” he murmured, leaning in until I could taste his breath.

I opened my eyes to meet his hungry gaze but before I could say anything, the door creaked open. A woman walked in wearing lingerie, and her face was smudged with lipstick.

“You coming, babe?” she asked.

Babe? Of course. This was my cue to leave.

“You know what?” I said, ignoring the woman I just saw. “I need to go home. Call me a car, Luca. It’s the least you can do.”

But his arms folded, and the muscles in his chest shifted beneath the thin fabric of his shirt.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

I stared at him. “Excuse me?”

“The contract’s been signed.”

My heart dropped. “No, that’s not possible. What are you talking about? I haven’t signed anything.”

“But your father did,” Luca replied in a more serious tone. “And if he hasn’t told you…he revoked your CEO title and handed it to Courtney.”

No, he was lying. There was no way my father did that. I know my father hated me but he raised me to be the perfect heiress.

My knees almost buckled. “You’re lying.”

“Am I?” he said, his gaze never wavering. “You trusted your father way more than you should have.”

“No.” I shook my head, stumbling backward. “I worked for that title. I earned it. There’s no way”

“It’s already done Lana and now there’s no going back,” Luca growled but I shoved past him, stumbling toward the door. The pain returned and I couldn’t walk anymore. I collapsed but Luca caught me in his arms.

“There’s just…” I whispered weakly, vision dimming. “No way…”