Chapter 11

LUCA’S POV

The moment I stepped out of the bathroom, the scent of fresh citrus and steam clinging to my skin, I felt a presence.

My eyes immediately locked onto her.

Isabella.

Standing in the middle of my bedroom, staring at me like she had never seen a man before.

Her lips were slightly parted, her chest rising and falling in an uneven rhythm.

I hadn’t seen her in over a week.

And now she was here.

In my space.

Uninvited.

I let my gaze roam over her, taking in her disheveled hair, the oversized shirt she wore that hung off one shoulder, revealing a hint of smooth skin.

Something inside me coiled tight.

I growled low in my throat, taking a slow, deliberate step toward her.

“What are you doing here?” My voice came out rough, edged with something dark and unrestrained.

She flinched slightly but didn’t step back.

Brave.

Or foolish.

I watched the way she swallowed hard, her throat working as if she were trying to find words but couldn’t.

That only made me more interested.

She had invaded my space.

She had no idea what kind of man I was.

She had no idea how much danger she was in.

With calculated movements, I prowled toward her, closing the distance between us in slow strides.

She took small steps back as well.

She must have realized she had nowhere to go because her back hit the edge of the wall.

I didn’t stop.

Didn’t hesitate.

Bracing one hand beside her head, I leaned in, pinning her between the cold wall and the heat of my body.

Her breath hitched.

My lips curled up in a smirk.

“Do you have any idea,” I murmured, my voice laced with quiet danger, “how reckless this was?”

Her eyes flickered, darting to my mouth for a split second before she quickly looked away.

She was trying to be unaffected.

But she wasn’t.

I could feel her pulse racing beneath her skin.

I could hear the rapid beating of her heart, the way it stuttered when I bent closer, when my breath brushed against her cheek.

If I wanted to, I could claim her right now.

She wouldn’t stop me.

Her body was betraying her, drawn in despite the logical part of her brain probably screaming at her to run.

She was playing with fire.

But I liked watching her squirm.

“You walked into a man’s room in the middle of the night, alone.” My fingers flexed against the wall. “You do realize what could happen, don’t you?”

She shivered.

Not from fear.

No—this was something else.

Something deeper.

Something she didn’t want to acknowledge.

Her breath came out shaky, but still, she said nothing.

I smirked, lowering my head until we were barely an inch apart.

Her eyes widened, her pupils dilating as if she were drowning in something she didn’t understand.

"Say something, dolcezza," I whispered.

Her lips parted, but it took her another agonizing second before she finally choked out.

“I’m on my period.”

Silence.

The words sliced through the heavy tension like a machete.

For a moment, I didn’t register what she had said.

And then, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over my head, I stiffened.

Her period.

Fuck.

I inhaled sharply, the dark fog clouding my brain instantly clearing.

What the hell was I doing?

I took a quick step back, putting distance between us, and raked a hand through my still wet hair.

She was watching me, her lips still slightly parted, confusion flickering across her face.

I had let myself get too close.

Too comfortable.

This girl was testing every ounce of restraint I had, and she didn’t even realize it.

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to regain control before meeting her gaze again.

“I’ll take care of it,” I said, my voice sounded gruff.

She blinked, as if only now realizing how close we had been.

The way her cheeks flushed told me she wasn’t unaffected either.

But I wasn’t going to entertain this any further.

Not tonight.

“Leave.” I ordered.

She hesitated for half a second, then turned and hurried out of the room.

The moment the door shut behind her, I exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over my face.

Fuck.

I needed to get my shit together.

I walked over to my bedside drawer, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, put a stick to my mouth and lit it.

The smoke intake calmed my nerves and when I exhaled I felt calmer.

Fuck that girl is doing things to me… and she doesn't even know it.

I made my way over to my balcony but walking felt quite uncomfortable…

I looked down below to see the reason why… Mr Luca Jr. down there was standing at full attention.

"Fuck!" I hiss. "Time to get back into the cold shower I guess." I mumbled to myself.

All thanks to you Isabella. All thanks to you.

What was she even thinking walking in here with only that oversized t-shirt on?

She's not a werewolf so she doesn't know the kind of effect she has on me. 

I'm even very well reserved but she seems to be testing that reservation. Until I get to my limit… 

I hope I reject her before anything I'd regret happens…

'No Luca, you don't. Be honest with yourself, you don't even want to let her go, much less reject her.'

Damn… fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

I walked into the bathroom to clear my head and try to get this thing down here to relax.

I stood underneath the shower for a while but nothing seemed to be working.

I growled and put on a night robe. I should probably take a walk. 

Patrolling my territory wouldn't harm anyone now would it?

I walked down into the garden, the memory of her standing there taking in the entire sight of my wet body, was making me wish I hadn't tied that towel around my torso.

What the fuck are you even thinking? She'd run away at that sight.

I took a stroll around the garden, and over to the pack house. It was calm and silent, everyone must have been asleep or pretending to be.

I walked into the kitchen and decided to take some whiskey. That could help me get sleepy a bit.

I opened the fridge and took out the entire bottle. I made my way back to my villa and poured out the contents of the bottle.

Little by little I drank until the entire bottle was empty and I still didn't even feel the least bit of tipsiness.

"Fuck." I muttered and walked down to my bed. If the sleep didn't want to come, I'd force it.