Chapter 2 Luca
The scent hit the moment I cracked my window like a slap of city rain mixed with fresh cotton and something sweeter underneath. It was a human and a female one. My wolf lunged so hard my vision flashed amber. Oh no! I wasn’t gonna shift because of a mere human! I gripped the sill, knuckles white, and forced down air through clenched teeth.
Down in the driveway next door below, the new family was still unloading. The mom was on her phone, her laughter too loud for Silverpine and the girl had her hoodie up with long brown hair catching the dying sun, posture screaming “I already hate this place.” My heart slammed against my ribs not normal border-alert adrenaline but this was raw and possessive. Like my wolf had just decided she belonged to us and the rest of the world could burn. I slammed the window shut and really hard.
“Lucaaaa!” Lila’s annoyingly shrill voice ricocheted up the stairs, followed by pounding footsteps. My door flew open the next minute and my sister burst in without knocking, phone already out like she was live-streaming my misery. Of course she never knocks but what do I expect from a fifteen year old.
“You’re doing the pacing thing again,” she announced, pointing at the rug tracks I’d brought in since I was twelve. “And your eyes are literally glowing. You're in wolf mode, big bro. So spill!”
Before I could snap back, Mason sauntered in behind her uninvited, as always with apple in hand, chewing like he owned the place.
“Glowing eyes? Damn, cousin, you’re already feral over the new girl?” He leaned against the doorframe, smirking. Damn werewolf hearing!
“I smelt her too. Bet she’s plotting her escape route as we speak.”
I shot them both a glare that should’ve melted steel. “Out, both of you!”
Lila flopped onto my bed, kicking her sneakers off. “Nope! This is prime entertainment. The future Alpha undone by a human with good hair? Iconic! Not gonna miss it for the world.”
“Oh wait! I should probably text Ashley on Snapchat, she's gonna love the gist!” My sister still chattered on, tapping away at her phone.
“She doesn’t have good hair and don't you dare involve me in your gossips, ” I muttered then immediately regretted it when Mason barked a laugh.
“Oh, he noticed the hair!” Mason crowed, tossing the apple core into my trash can from across the room. “Two points. Shit! You’re so screwed, man.”
Lila clutched her stomach, cackling. “Wait till Dad hears the big perfect Luca’s distracted by some human girl in hoodie. My! He’ll lock you in the basement till graduation.”
“Try me,” I growled. “One word to anyone and both your phones go in the lake.”
Mason raised both hands. “Rest easy, Alpha-in-waiting. We’re just saying what your wolf’s screaming plus you were staring out the window like a lost puppy.”
“I was assessing a potential threat,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Sure,” Lila drawled. “A threat with nice hair.”
They both dissolved into irritating giggles. I rubbed my temples, the migraine already building behind my eyes. Heaven knows I hated these two! My wolf was pacing inside me like a caged animal, claws scraping, and whining to go back to that window. I used all my will power to push it down and drown out the urge.
Lila’s laughter faded first. She sat up with her legs crossed studying me with that annoying little-sister insight she’d developed way too young. “For real though,” she said quieter. “You’ve been edgy all week with rogues pushing the southern ridge and Dad riding you about leadership, now this pull? You sure you're okay?”
Mason sobered too, crossing his arms. “She’s right too, Lu. Your wolf’s never this loud over a random human. You think she’s your—”
“Don’t,” I cut him off, instantly. “She’s human and that’s it! I would hear no more of the matter.”
But the word tasted like a lie because the truth was clawing up my throat. Her scent didn’t just register, it fit like a missing jigsaw piece snapping into place. My wolf didn’t want patrols or council meetings right now, he wanted to vault the fence, knock on her door, bury his face in her neck and—.
I shut it down quickly and really hard again. Snarling to him, I asked, What the fuck is wrong with you?! Mason exchanged a look with Lila. “Rules say humans should always stay out,” he said carefully. “You know what Uncle Dorian would do if he caught even a whiff of this.”
“I know the rules,” I snapped. “Better than either of you. Now shut the fuck up!”
Lila tilted her head, her green eyes assessing or is that a smirk I saw?. “Then why’s your wolf throwing a tantrum?”
I didn’t have an answer just the pounding in my chest and the itch under my skin that said tomorrow first day of school I’d see her up close. In the halls and probably the same class breathing the same air and sharing the same space.
Mason clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Get some rest, man. Tomorrow’s gonna be long and interesting, you bet.”
Lila hopped off the bed, smirking again. “If you start doodling her face and longgg curly hair in your notebook, I’m framing it ASAP!”
“Out!” I repeated, taming my anger in.
They left laughing the door clicking shut behind them. I paced three steps to the window and three back. Her light flicked on next door. The curtains were half-drawn and a silhouette moved reaching up and pulling them closed. My wolf whined achingly, I dropped onto the bed staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow I’d keep my distance. Prove to my to Mason and Lila most importantly, to myself that one human girl wasn’t going to crack everything I’d spent nineteen years holding together.
But my wolf was already laughing. Oh sure, Luca!
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Hello my dearest readers,
I’m Zara and this is my first story on this app, and I’m really excited (and a little nervous, lol😂😂) to share it with you. I’ve poured a lot of time and love into these characters and this world to bring it alive, so I hope you enjoy the ride. Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave your thoughts as the story continues. Love y’all ❤️💋.