Chapter 54

Luka’s POV

I sat on my plush gray sofa, legs curled to the side. With a blanket draped over my shoulders, I gazed out the window to the setting sun.

The weather was changing, and winter would soon be here. Noah went into town to check things out and pick up some food. I suspect that he wanted to give me time to think about what happened with Caleb.

The bond rested heavily in the center of my chest, and I knew Caleb was sad or disappointed. I couldn’t tell which. The mate bond was something I hadn’t mastered, having only been in place for a short time.

I read a story in Caleb’s study in which a King and his Luna shared such a strong mate bond that they could speak to one another through it. When I read that, I thought the reason had to be that they loved each other so much.

I touched my chest, feeling the beat of my heart and Caleb’s. They didn’t beat as one. Two rhythms out of sync. The pack was no different. Red Moon saw me as low status, and that was all they would ever see. The Alphas tolerated me because of Caleb and the mate bond, but nothing more.

At least at Long Lake Pack, I knew exactly what to expect. They would never be kind, and they would always be ready to punish and starve me. They never gave false hope as the Red Moon pack had.

I wanted Caleb to want me, not to need me. With need, there was no choice. But wanting someone and going after them was something more. And I deserved more.

A knock came from the door, making me jump. I climbed to my feet and wandered over. I opened the door, shrieked, and slammed it. Declan. What the heck was he doing here? I thought he left for Long Lake Pack territory.

A knock came again. I placed the chain on the door, not fully trusting him, and cracked it open. Declan was leaning against the frame, looking too large.

“What do you want?”

“I heard you were back. I wanted to give you one last chance to come with me.”

“No, thank you.”

He grinned that sickeningly sweet grin that was anything but sweet.

“You’re going to regret it and come crawling back.”

Wrinkling my nose at him, I sighed. He was persistent, if anything. Seeing him sparked a thought.

“Declan, where did your father find me? When I was an infant? Did he ever say?”

Declan straightened, actually looking as if he was trying to recall the past. “I think he said the woods. Someone dumped you.”

My nostrils flared at him. About ready to slam the door in his face. Noah strolled up with bags in his hands. I pulled the chain and opened the door. Declan raised a brow as Noah walked in the apartment.

“Goodbye, Declan.” He leaned forward, and the door nailed him in the face. I giggled when I heard him cursing outside. Noah gave me a mischievous smile of approval.

“I caught some of that conversation. A past admirer?”

“Oh, no. When I turned eighteen, his scent called me. He was my mate, but he was also the man who made my life miserable in Long Lake Pack.”

Noah set grocery items on the counter, looking domestic. It made me blush. He was handsome and easy to be around.

“Did you reject him?”

“Yes, but it is a long story, and I’m not sure you would really want to listen to it.” I went to help him make dinner. He poured me a glass of wine and shooed me out of the kitchen. “I want to make you dinner. Let me please. Tell me this long story.”

I took the glass, swirled it, and began at the beginning, sitting back on the sofa. It was good to go over all the things that had happened since leaving Long Lake Pack with Caleb, from the challenges I faced getting stronger with Olivia around, breaking the bond to Declan, and having my wolf finally awaken, to dealing with the Elders and Emma while trying to become Luna material.

Finally, Noah called me over to my small table and set our plates down. The smell of the food made my mouth water. It was a dish I had never seen before.

“A traditional Omegas meal.”

“What is in it? It looks like a casserole of some kind.”

Noah glanced at the ceiling and pinched his chin. “I guess you could call it that.”

We ate in silence. It was nice that Noah didn’t feel the need to fill it. Once we were done, we did the dishes, and I sat on my balcony. I wanted to go see Jordyn and Devin down the hall, but I wasn’t sure they would like to talk to me.

“What are you thinking about?” Noah asked, coming closer.

I sipped my wine and took in the late rays of sunlight; the oranges, reds, and purples were wonderful to see.

“Are sunsets as beautiful in Omegas as they are here?” I felt the heat off Noah’s body. I didn’t breathe. He placed his hands around my waist and pulled me into him. I didn’t know what to think. And I found I didn’t want to. I relaxed against him. He rested his chin on the top of my head.

“They are more radiant because the energy of our world is higher; it is how we can pass through the gate between worlds.”

I rested my head against his chest and pulled his arms around my middle, needing something to hold onto or perhaps wanting something to hold on to me.

“Then how did the Alpha pass through the gate to steal me away?” It was something I had been thinking about.

“It is said that some wolves have a higher frequency than others here. They can raise their energy with potions or meditating and slip between worlds by mistake.”

Noah began to sway behind me, then took my glass of wine and set it down. He started humming, and we danced. I knew he was trying to make me feel better, so I let him.

Caleb’s POV

My teeth ground against each other as rage crawled through my chest, a dark monster ready to kill all before it. Logan howled, ready under my skin to deal damage. My emotions were out of control.

I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to shift, to leap up the balconies to get to Luka. To bite the head off of Noah’s body. I needed to calm down, but how? I couldn’t go wild. I was a King. I looked away from them, anguish burning me inside out.

Yet my gaze found them again. Dancing, enjoying each other's company. That should be me. I should be with Luka. I pulled at my hair and paced, just out of sight.

I hated myself for not being stronger for her. Disgust coated my insides like mucus. I had to get away before I hurt someone. I turned myself over to my demons and shifted. Logan howled long into the night air and then raced for the apartments.