Chapter 58 – Marked by Another

(Luca’s Perspective)

She was here.

The moment Quinn walked into the gala, everything in me froze. It was like time screeched to a halt, and the air thinned until I couldn’t breathe. The sight of her—her scent—hit me like a punch to the gut. That familiar sweetness, laced with something darker now, something sharp. It was her. It was Quinn.

But not the Quinn I remembered.

Ethan must’ve felt it too because his head snapped toward her as fast as mine did. His golden eyes flashed for half a second, and then he turned to me, his face pale. “No way,” he muttered under his breath.

I didn’t respond. Couldn’t. My heart was pounding so loud it drowned out the chatter and the soft music playing in the hall.

She was walking beside a man I didn’t recognize—a tall, arrogant bastard with an air of possession. He had his arm looped through hers like she was a trophy. Her chin was held high, her movements slow and deliberate, but I knew her well enough to see the tension in her shoulders. She didn’t want to be there.

“Luca,” Ethan whispered harshly, grabbing my arm. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

Too late.

Every instinct in me was screaming to get to her, to drag her away from that guy and demand to know what the hell was going on. What was she doing here? Why was she with him? And why did she look so... broken?

But Ethan was already one step ahead. “Don’t even think about it,” he said, his voice low but firm. “You’re not causing a scene tonight. Not here.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to breathe. My wolf was clawing at the surface, desperate to break free, to tear that bastard limb from limb for daring to touch her. But I couldn’t just rush in, not without a plan.

So, I waited.

I watched her the entire night, looking for an opening. She barely left that guy’s side, and when she did, it wasn’t for long. He was glued to her like he knew someone might try to take her away. Like he knew.

Ethan stayed close, too, probably to keep an eye on me. He kept shooting me those warning glances, but I ignored him. I didn’t care. I wasn’t leaving that place without talking to her.

Finally, when the guy was deep in conversation with a group of alphas, I saw my chance.

“Ethan,” I said, my voice tight. “Get Dad to introduce himself to that prick and keep him busy.”

Ethan hesitated, his brow furrowing. “Luca, this is a bad idea.”

“Just do it.”

He sighed but nodded, disappearing into the crowd. Moments later, our father strolled up to the bastard, his booming voice and commanding presence drawing the guy’s attention. Perfect.

Quinn was standing off to the side, watching the interaction with a faintly confused expression. Before she could figure out what was happening, I was there, grabbing her wrist and tugging her toward the terrace doors.

She resisted at first, her eyes widening when she saw who it was. “Luca?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise.

I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. My throat was tight, and my pulse was racing as I pulled her outside, away from the stifling heat of the hall.

The cool night air hit us as the doors closed behind us. She yanked her arm free, spinning to face me. “What the hell are you doing?”

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t. I just stared at her.

She wasn’t the same girl I remembered. The light that used to dance in her eyes was gone, replaced by something guarded, something cold. She looked older, more refined, and even more beautiful, but there was a hardness to her now. A strength I hadn’t seen before.

And then it hit me.

“You’re a wolf,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Her lips parted, but she didn’t deny it. Instead, she looked away, wrapping her arms around herself like she was trying to shield herself from me. “Yes,” she said finally, her voice barely a whisper. “I was... turned.”

The world tilted. My vision blurred, my wolf howling in rage and sorrow. “Who?” I demanded, my voice low and dangerous. “Who did this to you?”

She didn’t answer, but she didn’t have to.

“Him.”

Her silence was all the confirmation I needed.

“I’ll kill him,” I growled, my fists clenching so tightly my nails bit into my palms. “Quinn, come with me. Now. I’ll get you out of here. We’ll—”

“No!” Her voice was sharp, cutting through my fury. She stepped back, shaking her head. “I can’t, Luca.”

“Why not?” I snapped. “Quinn, you don’t belong here. You don’t belong with him. You’re my—”

“I’m not your mate anymore!”

The words hit me like a blow to the chest.

She was trembling, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “He marked me,” she said, her voice breaking. “When he turned me... he marked me. I’m his now, Luca. Not yours.”

“Bullshit,” I snarled, stepping closer. “That mark doesn’t mean anything. You’re still mine. You’ve always been mine.”

She shook her head, her expression pained. “You deserve so much better.”

“I don’t want better!” My voice cracked, the desperation I’d been holding back spilling out. “I want you. I’ve been looking for you all this time, Quinn. I never stopped.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she might give in. But then she stepped back again, shaking her head.

“I can’t, Luca,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”

I reached for her, my hand brushing against her cheek, but she pulled away. “Quinn—”

“I have to go,” she said quickly, her voice trembling. “Before he finds us.”

And just like that, she was gone, slipping back inside before I could stop her.

I stayed there on the terrace, my chest heaving, my mind racing.

Then I heard it.

His voice.

Low, menacing, dripping with cruelty.

“You think I didn’t notice, Quinn? You think I don’t see the way you look at him?”

I moved closer to the doors, my wolf straining to hear every word.

“You belong to me,” the bastard growled. “And if you so much as breathe in his direction again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

The sound of something breaking—glass, maybe—followed his words. I clenched my fists, my vision tinged with red as my wolf pushed harder, desperate to take over.

Breathe. Control. Not yet.

But I couldn’t look away.

And I couldn’t stop the rage that was building inside me, threatening to consume us both.