LOGINI reached out to Luca and whispered his name, “Luca ”For a second, his eyes softened. But it didn’t last. He quickly became distant again. Without saying anything, he got off the bed, picked up his clothes, and left the room.He didn’t slam the door. He just left it open.And that somehow hurt more.It reminded me that I had no privacy here. This wasn’t my place. Anyone could walk in anytime just like he did.I sat there, feeling empty and alone, then slowly got up from the bed.For the first time since joining the Howling Echo, I felt like I was being used. I knew I was under their control, but I thought Luca cared about me. Maybe I was wrong.A sharp pain in my stomach reminded me I hadn’t eaten. Still, I didn’t feel ready to go downstairs and see Luca again.I walked to the doorway, hoping to hear Cassius or Lucien talking. But everything was quiet. No sound at all.“I don’t understand why I have to go with you,” I said as we sat together in the Jeep.Cassius gently tapped my knee
This was the same Luca who once grabbed me by the throat and pinned me to a tree, speaking coldly about the people he had killed from my old pack. He was the same alpha who chased me through the forest, killed those sent after me, and told me I was the one in danger when Lucien showed up. He also claimed others were too dangerous for me.Now, as he moved with force against me, I realized something clearly this wasn’t about my pleasure. His actions made that very clear.Would he treat me gently like Lucien did? Or would he take what he wanted and leave me unsatisfied, not even letting me finish on my own?If that was his plan, I would wait for the right moment and take care of myself. I wouldn’t let him control what I could do with my own body.But still the thought of finishing because of him was very tempting. The way he moved, trying to find the right angle, made that feeling even stronger.Suddenly, he pulled away with a low growl and let go of my wrists. I gasped and quickly sat u
He gently bit my inner thigh, and something inside me reacted. My wolf wanted more, wanted him to claim me, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen yet.I looked down at him, meeting his intense gaze. “I told you you belong to us,” he said. “You agreed to that.”“I yes, but ”“That means no one else can touch you. Only us.”“That’s not true. I wasn’t with anyone ”His voice became firm. “Listen carefully. Your body and your pleasure are ours now. You don’t even get to touch yourself without permission.”I felt anger rise in me. “No one controls my body.”He growled softly but didn’t stop. Instead, he moved closer, touching me again, his actions slow and deliberate.“You don’t want this?” he asked quietly. “Or this?”I tried to steady my breathing. “I never said that ”Then he paused. “Am I going into heat?”“Not yet,” he said, still focused, his hand moving gently.“Then how do you know?”“Because if you were, you wouldn’t be arguing with me.”I looked at him, feeling my breath shake.
Still, the thought of other wolves being near her especially at that gathering filled me with irritation. I didn’t like the idea of anyone else getting too close.I slowly ran my fingers through her hair while she slept. Maybe it looked strange, watching her like that, but I told myself I was only making sure she was alright.I stayed by her side, finding a strange sense of peace just being near her. Something about Selena had changed me, even if I couldn’t fully explain how.One thing was certain what she decided to do next could affect everything for our pack. If she made the wrong choice, it could all fall apart.She saw herself as weak, but that wasn’t true. She held more power than she realized.Once her heat was over, Cassius should be the one to claim her. That would be the right path. But I wasn’t sure if my wolf or Lucien would agree to step aside.Keeping control was getting harder by the moment.Things would have been easier if she had joined Moonblessed or simply chosen Ca
As I ran my fingers through her hair, I realized I shouldn’t have suggested it. My wolf reacted, clearly pleased.I sighed quietly.After she finished washing, I wrapped a towel around her and helped her out of the tub. But when she stood in front of me in just a towel, my body tensed.Water dripped down her skin, and I had to force myself to look away.I needed to stop thinking like this.“Are you hungry?” I asked.She shook her head, then suddenly lost her balance. I caught her before she fell.“Dizzy,” she said.“That wine hit you hard,” I replied.“No food,” she insisted.I sighed. “Alright. Time for bed.”I helped her into bed and pulled the blanket over her. She laughed as I took the towel away.“You act like you’ve never seen me naked before,” she teased.Her words brought back a memory, but I pushed it aside.I hung the towel and turned back, hoping she would be asleep.She wasn’t.She looked at me and patted the bed. “Stay with me?”I stopped.Because I knew I wanted more tha
Luca POVI’ve never pretended to be a perfect man. I know my flaws. But when Selena smiled at me while I held her, something changed inside me. For the first time, I wanted to be better and that feeling scared me.Orion’s words about her had made me angry earlier, and I took that anger out on Cassius. It only made me feel worse and more confused.I carefully put Selena into the car and helped buckle her seatbelt.“You always take care of me,” she said softly. “Even in the car.”I smiled a little. At this point, the seatbelt was just to keep her from slipping around.She thought I was a gentleman, but I wasn’t. Cassius was the real gentleman between us.After closing her door, I moved to the driver’s seat. Just then, Shante came over and quickly handed me a container of food.







