Chapter Three

~~Luca~~

I didn’t even want to come here today.

But losing a stupid game of rock paper scissors to my brothers meant I had to show up. Triplets, yeah. Same face, different attitude. And somehow, I got stuck as the “representative” at this pack’s fancy ball.

Lucky me.

My brothers are annoying as hell, and if there’s one thing they love more than teasing me, it’s making me suffer through boring ceremonies like this.

So yeah, I came here already pissed.

What I didn’t expect… was her.

The moment she walked in, everything else went quiet. My wolf who barely reacts to anything went insane. Her scent hit like lightning. Sweet. Warm. Wild. It wrapped around me, and I swear the air changed.

I just stood there, watching her. Waiting for her to notice me too.

But she didn’t. Her eyes were only on the couple by the dancing floor area…  why though.

She walked in like she was trying to disappear, shoulders tense, smile forced. Everyone stared, but she didn’t see me.

All of a sudden she tripped on her dress

then the boy the alpha-to-be, Jay ran towards her to save her… like he fucking touched what was mine and my brothers

That was it.

My wolf snapped.

Every instinct in me screamed MINE. My skin burned, my muscles locked, and for a second, I thought I’d shift right there in front of everyone. My brothers would’ve killed him if they were here, watching another wolf touch what was ours? Not a chance.

Before I even realized it, I moved. One second she was about to hit the floor when the shitty boy pushed her off his arms… the next she was in my arms soft, warm, trembling.

And gods, she fit.

I didn’t expect that.

Considering she was… well, not the usual slim type we’d seen around court. She was curvy chubby, I guess but she fit perfectly. Like her body had been carved to fill the empty space I didn’t know existed in me.

Her scent hit me again, stronger this time, and my wolf went wild, growling with possessive hunger.

Mate.

It wasn’t just a whisper. It was a command from the universe.

The crowd faded. The noise vanished. It was just her those startled eyes, those soft lips, that shock running through her like she didn’t understand what just happened.

She looked up at me, and my world tilted.

That was our mate.

The one the Moon Goddess made for us.

And she smelled like something I didn’t even have words for sweet, stubborn, and broken all at once.

My brothers were going to murder me if I let someone else touch her.

Because there I was, holding a girl who didn’t even know what she was, and my wolf had already claimed her in front of half the pack.

And honestly?

I didn’t care.

Because in that moment, all I could think was…

Finally.

Finally, I found her.

She just stared at me. Wide-eyed. Breathless. Like she couldn’t decide whether to thank me or bolt.

I opened my mouth to say something anything but before I could, she mumbled something that sounded like, “Oh, hell no,” spun on her heels, and ran.

Actually ran.

Right through the crowd.

My wolf growled softly in my head, half amused, half smitten. She runs cute, he said, voice dripping with pride. Like a startled bunny with attitude.

I blinked. “Did you just say bunny?”

Yes. A chubby bunny.

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “You’re supposed to be a terrifying beast, not a fanboy.”

Don’t judge me. Look at her. She tripped twice and kept going. That’s dedication. I love that for us.

“Love that for us?” I repeated, rolling my eyes. “You sound like my brother Leo when he’s drunk.”

Well, Leo now have a mate who smells like cinnamon and chaos.

I smirked, trying to spot her through the crowd. “You’ve got that right.”

We should follow her, my wolf urged. She might fall again. She’s fragile. We must protect.

“I think she’s more likely to kill me if I chase her,” I muttered, watching her silver gown disappear down the hallway.

Still worth it, he hummed. She’s ours.

I sighed. “You’re getting sappy, and it’s weird.”

You’re welcome, he said smugly. I contain multitudes.

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “You’re insane.”

I’m in love.

“Same thing.”

The wolf snorted in agreement.

I straightened up, still half-smiling despite myself. The ballroom buzzed again people whispering, wondering why the Supreme Alpha just caught a random girl like it was a scene from a rom-com gone wrong.

Time to make things worse.

I opened the mind link with my brothers.

Boys, I said, keeping my voice casual.

Two voices answered at once.

You better not have embarrassed us, Leo said.

Is the party over yet? Luke added.

Please tell me you didn’t start a fight,he added.

I grinned. Relax. I didn’t fight anyone.

A pause. Then Leo’s voice, suspicious. You sound too happy. What happened?

I leaned against a pillar, eyes on the door where she’d run out. I found our mate.

Silence.

Then chaos.

You WHAT? all three shouted through the link at once.

I winced, rubbing my temple. Yeah, yeah, calm down. She’s here. And before you ask, yes she’s perfect.

Perfect how? Luke demanded. Like strong perfect, or sexy perfect, or “she’s gonna ruin our lives” perfect?

I smirked. All of the above.

Leo groaned. Oh, Goddess. Who is she?

I hesitated for a second, then said, You know the future alpha’s girlfriend?

No.

The sister.

Another beat of silence.

Then Leo again, flatly. Luca… what the hell did you just do?

I chuckled. “Apparently? I caught destiny. And then she ran away.”

And you just let her go?

“I’m not a psychopath,” I said out loud, drawing a few confused stares from nearby wolves. “She looked terrified. I’m not chasing her down like a creep.”

My wolf huffed. But she runs cute.

I grinned, ignoring the laughter that came through the link.

“Don’t worry, boys,” I said, heading for the exit. “I’ll bring her home with me.”

Because the truth was, I didn’t need to chase her.

Fate had already caught both of us.