Chapter 58 Chapter 58
Luke stood in Stetson's office; his expression carefully neutral even as his mind raced with the implications of what his Alpha had just proposed.
The plan was insane. Reckless. Dangerous in ways that could get them both killed, or worse- destroy everything they’ve worked for.
"It's the only way," Stetson said, his voice carrying a finality that left no room for argument.
Luke was silent for a long moment, weighing the risks, calculating the odds, running through every possible scenario and outcome. Finally, he sighed, seeing the determination in Stetson’s eyes.
"Agreed," he said. "I'll start getting things in place to execute the plan. I'll need to prepare my passport. Arrange the logistics."
Stetson leaned back in his chair, looking more tired than Luke had ever seen him. "I can't believe I'm going back to Romania. Back to the pack."
The words hung heavy in the air between them—a admission of defeat, of surrender, of returning to a cage he'd spent five years escaping.
But sometimes the only way forward was backward.
Zarlia's hands shook as she dialed Caroline's number again. It rang four times before her friend finally answered, but the connection was terrible—filled with pounding bass and shouting voices.
"Hello?" Caroline's voice was barely audible over the noise.
"Caroline? Where are you? I can barely hear you!"
"I'm—" The sound cut out, then came back. "—wallowing in alcohol! Sorry, it's loud in here!"
"Are you at a bar?" Zarlia's chest tightened with worry. "Caroline, I need to talk to you about Luke. It's important—"
"Hold on!" More muffled sounds, like Caroline was moving away from the speakers. The noise decreased slightly. "Okay, that's better. Sorry, Zarlia. Today was just... it was a nightmare."
"What happened?"
And Caroline told her everything. The confrontation with her family, Patricia's ultimatum, David's obsession, the slap, walking away from the Martinez name and fortune. By the end, her voice was thick with emotion and alcohol.
"I'm so sorry," Zarlia said softly. "Caroline, you did the right thing. They were trying to control you—"
"I know," Caroline interrupted. "I know I did the right thing. It just... it sucks, you know? Losing your family. Again. I thought maybe this time..." She laughed bitterly. "Doesn't matter. I'm coming back tomorrow. Early flight. I just need to get drunk enough to forget today happened first."
Relief flooded through Zarlia. "Good. That's good. But Caroline, listen to me. About Luke—you need to stay away from him."
"Why?" Caroline's voice was wary now. "What's wrong?"
Zarlia hesitated, knowing this conversation would change everything. But Caroline deserved the truth.
"Luke isn't stalking you," Zarlia said carefully. "He's stalking me. Through you."
Silence on the other end.
"What?"
"Luke works for Stetson. He's been keeping tabs on me by watching you. And Caroline..." Zarlia took a deep breath. "He's a werewolf too. He's dangerous. Loyal to Stetson beyond reason. He'd do anything—and I mean anything—if Stetson asked him to. You need to be careful around him. You need to stay away."
More silence. Then Caroline's shaky exhale.
"Fuck," she whispered. "Fuck. Zarlia, I—I almost—"
"I know. But you're okay. Just stay away from him until you get back here, okay? Promise me."
"I promise," Caroline said, her voice small. "I'll be careful. I'll... I'll call you when I land tomorrow."
"Okay. Be safe. I love you."
"Love you too."
The line went dead.
Caroline stood outside the bar, the cold night air doing nothing to sober her up. She ran her hands through her hair, pulling at the roots like the pain might ground her somehow.
A werewolf. Luke was a werewolf. And he'd been using her this whole time.
She'd almost gotten herself killed. She'd kissed his throat. She'd invited herself into his apartment. She'd been playing a game she didn't understand with someone who could tear her apart without breaking a sweat.
"Idiot," she muttered to herself. "You're such an idiot."
She needed another drink. Maybe five more drinks. Enough to drown out the voice in her head screaming that she was attracted to a monster, that even knowing what he was hadn't killed the flutter in her chest when she thought about him.
Caroline stumbled back into the bar, ordering shots she didn't need, drinking them anyway. Everything in her life was a mess. Her family hated her. She was broke—or would be soon, once the last of her gallery profits ran out. Her best friend was pregnant with a werewolf baby and slowly dying. And she'd developed feelings for a supernatural stalker who was probably reporting her every move to his Alpha.
Perfect. Everything was just perfect.
The alcohol hit her system fast and hard. The room started spinning, faces blurring together. She barely registered the hand on her elbow, guiding her toward the exit.
"Come on," a familiar voice said. "Let's get you home."
Caroline looked up, squinting at the face that swam in and out of focus. "Do I know you?"
"It's David, sweetheart. Your fiancé, remember?"
That should have alarmed her. Should have made her pull away, run, call for help. But her brain was too foggy, her body too uncoordinated. She let herself be led to a car, helped inside, driven through streets she didn't recognize.
The elevator ride to her apartment was a blur of David's hands on her waist, his breath on her neck, his voice in her ear saying things that made her uncomfortable in a way she couldn't quite articulate through the alcohol.
"You're so beautiful when you're like this," he murmured, pressing closer as the elevator climbed. "So soft. So vulnerable. You should let me take care of you, Caroline. I could make you so happy." He slipped his hand beneath her skirt.
The elevator dinged, doors sliding open.
And there, standing in the hallway like a dark omen, was Luke.
His eyes locked onto Caroline immediately, then shifted to David with an intensity that would have frightened a sober person. Caroline just blinked, her alcohol-soaked brain taking a moment to process.
Then she smirked. Because of course Luke was here. Of course her stalker showed up exactly when things got weird.
"Who are you?" Luke asked, his voice flat but carrying an undercurrent of danger.
"I'm her boyfriend," David said, puffing up like he was trying to make himself larger. "And it's none of your business. Come on, Caroline—"
"Her boyfriend," Luke repeated, taking a step closer. "Funny. She's never mentioned a boyfriend. And I'm pretty sure I'd know if she had one."
"And who are you? Another stalker?"
"I'm her neighbour," Luke said. "Which makes her my responsibility when she comes home drunk at—" he glanced at his watch, "—two in the morning with strange men."
"I'm not strange, I'm her—"
"You said you were her boyfriend," Luke interrupted smoothly. "So answer me this. What's her favourite colour?"
David blinked. "What?"
"Her favourite colour. Simple question. Any boyfriend would know."
"I... blue? Everyone likes blue."
"Wrong." Luke's smile didn't reach his eyes. "What about her coffee order? How does she take it?"
"With cream—"
"Wrong again." Luke was right in front of them now, and something in his posture made David take an instinctive step back. "You're not her boyfriend, I AM. You're not even her friend. So I'll ask one more time. Who are you?"
"I'm—we met at a party—"
"And she was drunk then too, wasn't she?" Luke's voice dropped lower, taking on an edge that made the hair on Caroline's arms stand up even through her haze. "You seem to have a pattern. Following drunk women. Taking advantage when they can't think straight. What were you planning to do once you got MY GIRLFRIEND inside her apartment?"
David's face turned red with anger. “So you’re the one trying to steal my fiancée, you piece of—“
Luke's fist connected with David's jaw before Caroline could even process the movement. David crumpled, hitting the wall before sliding to the floor.
"Get out," Luke said quietly. "And if I ever see you near her again, I won't stop at one punch."
David scrambled to his feet and ran, disappearing into the stairwell without looking back. He swore to come back for Caroline no matter what but Luke might not be so linnet.
Luke turned to Caroline, who was leaning against the wall for support, her heels dangling from one hand.
"Can you walk?" he asked.
"Probably not," Caroline admitted, her words slurring together.
Without another word, Luke scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her in one arm while taking her heels in his other hand. Caroline's head lolled against his shoulder, and she giggled.
"My hero," she said, patting his chest.