Chapter 44 – The Pull of Absence

(Luca’s perspective)

I couldn't shake her words from my head.

"Are you happy now? Was this all just to get under Ethan's skin, or are you really just that cruel?"

Her voice echoed in my skull like a bad song stuck on repeat. Cruel? Did she actually think that about me? That I could mess with her feelings just to screw with Ethan? The sting of it cut deeper than she'd ever know. If she could see inside my head—if she knew the way she lived in my every thought—she'd never doubt that I meant every word I'd said about us being mates. This wasn't some game. It wasn't a twisted pleasure in messing with her emotions. She didn't understand, or maybe she just didn't want to.

Fine. If giving her the cold shoulder would make her figure out her feelings and make her realize that I am not just a stupid boy with a crush, then that's what I'd do. Even if it gutted me every time I saw her.

The last few days had been brutal. Each time she passed by, each time I caught her looking in my direction, it felt like someone was driving nails through my chest. There was this invisible pull between us—a bond that defied every shred of self-control I had. I'd catch her biting her lip or looking down when I walked by, like she was just as torn up by this as I was. But I couldn't give in. She needed to figure it out on her own.

The night we shared was burned into my memory. Her breath hitching, her heart racing, the way her lips felt under mine. We were tangled up on her bed, and how wet she was for me—my moon god, for one fleeting second, I let myself believe this was it. That she finally understood. My wolf roared inside me, desperate to claim her right then and there. Every instinct screamed to make her mine. But I forced myself to stop. If she weren't ready, it would ruin everything.

I pulled away, leaving her lying on her bed with wide, questioning eyes. Walking out of that room was the hardest thing I'd ever done.

When she cornered me in that closet, I almost lost it. She practically threw herself at me, her eyes wild with frustration. "What if I'm starting to figure it out?" she had whispered, her voice raw and unsteady.

It took everything in me not to drop the walls I'd built. I wanted her in every way possible. But I needed more. I needed certainty.

So I left her there, watching her frustration mix with confusion as I walked away. Seeing her unravel was supposed to give me satisfaction, but all it did was make me want to end this silent torture and pull her into my arms and tell her everything.

The next day at lunch, Marcus shot me a deadpan look. "Dude, this is getting ridiculous. You look like you're going through withdrawal. Just talk to her."

"Not how this works," I muttered, stabbing at my food.

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, right. Because playing these emotionally stunted games is so mature."

"Shut up, Marcus."

He grinned, leaning back with his hands behind his head. "Whatever, man. But you're both miserable, and everyone can see it."

I forced myself to take a bite, even though it tasted like cardboard. "She'll get there eventually."

Marcus snorted. "Or she'll punch you first and kiss you after."

A smirk tugged at my mouth despite myself. "Wouldn't mind it."

"Wow," Marcus said sarcastically. "So romantic. You're killing it, man."

My gaze drifted to her despite myself. She was across the cafeteria, staring down at her lunch, pushing food around her plate. She looked as miserable as I felt. This wasn't supposed to be like this. But if she didn't know what she wanted, I'd make her see what it felt like to lose me.

God, it was harder than I thought. Each time we brushed past each other in the hall, my resolve crumbled a little more. One morning, her arm brushed mine, and I swear sparks ran up my spine. Our eyes met, and for a split second, I couldn't look away.

Marcus groaned beside me. "Pathetic," he muttered.

I forced myself to break the gaze, glaring at Marcus as I walked on. My heart was still racing, my hands shaking with the effort.

Then lunch came, and everything went sideways.

Nick came barreling down the hallway toward our table, panic written all over his face. Nick was usually excitable, but this was different. Whatever he was about to say, I knew it wasn't good.

"Nick, what's got you buzzed?" I asked, trying to sound casual, even though the look on his face set me on edge.

He took a second to catch his breath, eyes darting around the room. "It's Quinn."

My chest tightened. "What about her?"

He swallowed, looking me dead in the eye. "She's... gone."

No. Please say No.

"What do you mean, gone?" My voice was sharper than I intended.

Nick shifted uneasily. "She didn't come to her last few classes. I checked with Kimmy and the others, and they haven't seen her either."

I pushed my chair back, the air around me turning tense and charged. "You're saying she just disappeared?"

"Maybe, yeah," he nodded, worry etched all over his face.

Marcus clapped me on the shoulder. "Alright, man, looks like you've got to stop playing hard-to-get and actually go after her. She's not just any girl to you, and you know it."

I clenched my fists, torn between frustration and the gnawing worry building in my gut. "I can't just... Look, I'm supposed to be teaching her something. I can't just—"

"LUCA," Marcus interrupted, his voice deadly serious. "Lessons or not, you can't ignore the fact that she's missing."

He was right. All my carefully laid plans, the boundaries I'd set to protect us both—none of it mattered. Because if anything happened to Quinn, I'd never forgive myself.

Without another word, I pushed away from the table, my heart pounding. I didn't have a plan, didn't know what I was going to say if I found her. But I had to go to make sure she was safe.

As we bolted down the hallways, my wolf stirred, restless and ready, sensing the fear I was trying to keep under control.

I just hoped I wasn't too late.