Chapter 32 Luca
“Aria, look at me.”
She was curled on the edge of the couch, knees tucked under her, fingers wrapped around a mug she hadn’t touched. The tea had gone cold hours ago. The house was quiet except for the ticking clock, each second loud and too late for pretending I could keep circling the truth.
She looked up at me with expectation not fear and that was worse.
“You’re once bled in my house,” she said. Her voice was flat, measured, but her grip on the mug had gone tight enough to blanch her knuckles. “And healed too fast the next day. Every time I panic, you show up like some mysterious saviour.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Whatever you’re hiding, it’s not nothing anymore.”
I leaned back against the wall, letting my hands brace me. My wolf stirred beneath my skin. He didn’t like this conversation neither did I, but I couldn’t walk away.
“You’re right,” I said. “It’s not nothing.”
She waited. I swallowed. “I’m not human.”
The words landed, and then she laughed. A full loud chaotic laughter that rattled the walls. She leaned back tears forming in the corners of her eyes as the sound tore out of her. She was laughing like the universe had just told her the funniest most absurd joke in existence.
“OH MY GOSH!!!,” she gasped between breaths, clutching her stomach. “You’re… you’re not human! Oh yeah and I’m Keke Palmer! Ha! What is even happening right now? Are we filming a movie? Did someone forget to tell me?”
She doubled over again unable to stop. I didn’t flinch but let the laughter wash over me wild and relentless. My wolf growled softly beneath my skin irritated by the noise.
She's our mate, remember? And human too.
“You’re serious?” she asked finally when she noticed my serious expression, still giggling and wiping her eyes. “This isn’t a joke? You actually mean this?”
“Yes.”
Her expression changed slightly. Awe mixed with disbelief. “Oh my gosh! This is so messed up.”
She laughed again, incredulous. “I can’t even process this. Not human? That explains nothing but everything and that’s hilarious.”
“Because it’s true,” I said quietly and firmly.
Her humor faltered fading into something else. “So what now? You expect me to just nod and accept it? Sit down and be like, ‘Cool, got it, not human, moving on’?”
“No.”
She snorted. “Good cause that would’ve been insane.”
I stepped closer careful to maintain a safe distance. My wolf surged at the nearness. I could feel his anticipation like electricity under my skin.
“I’m dangerous,” I said.
She chuckled once and replaced it by a raised brow. “To who?”
“Most people.”
“And me?”
“No.”
She studied me, searching for the smirk that wasn’t there. “You say that like it’s guaranteed, like it’s supposed to reassure me?”
“It know it shouldn’t but believe me.”
She crossed her arms shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re not human and now I’m supposed to think staying near you is safer. This is ridiculous.”
“Still true.”
Her gaze dropped to mine and I felt the warmth from her stare washing over me and could swore that my wolf purred. “You’re really serious,” she said.
“Yes.”
“Figures.” She let another laugh. “You are just unbelievable.”
Her hand hovered then lightly touched my chest. That simple contact sent a pulse through me. “Whatever you are,” she said quietly, voice trembling under disbelief, “you’re still Luca.”
I covered her hand with mine. Her breath hitched and lips parted. The bond between us pulsed electric. I hadn’t told her everything but that was enough.
She studied me for a long moment, then leaned back slightly trying to reclaim some normalcy. “So what happens now? You just live in the shadows and let me deal with this?”
Her humor returned and sarcastic. “Because honestly, I’m laughing but I think I’m going to cry in a second.”
“You’re already involved in something big and been targeted.” I said. “If I don’t give you something real, you’ll dig until you find the wrong answers and that could get you killed.”
Her eyebrows shot up in sarcasm. “Well, that’s really comforting.”
She studied my face. I could see her trying to read me, measure the truth and trying to decide if this was all some elaborate joke.
“You’re holding back,” she said again
“Yes.”
She stepped closer enough this time, the heat of her, the subtle rise, and fall of her chest all grounding. My wolf growled low.
“You don’t get to protect me by lying,” she stated.
“I’m not lying. I’m choosing when to tell the truth.”
“You’re very confident about what would destroy me,” she replied soft but firm.
“I have to be.”
Her hand brushed mine again lingering. The warmth shocked me grounding me in a way nothing else could. I pressed back slightly, careful not to startle her. “Whatever you are,” I whispered, “you’re still the one thing I shouldn’t want.”
I could feel her stilling, her breathing many inches high. A distant noise outside caught my attention with a branch scraping against the window and my body tensed.
Aria noticed and her eyes flicked to the window. “What was that?”
My wolf prowled beneath my skin, alert and ready. I stepped between her and the window, protective. “Stay close,”
Her hand slipped into mine and the shock of contact surprised both of us. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said, humour lacing her words even as tension crept in. “Even if you are a freakish being.”
“I wouldn’t let anything or anyone touch you,” I promised.
Her eyes softened slightly, disbelief still lingering, but trust beginning to bloom. “Then you better start telling me more, Luca. Because I can’t just sit here and pretend this is normal.”
“It will be, eventually,” I said. “When you’re ready.”
“I’m ready now,” she said, though the edge in her voice told me she knew she wasn’t.
“I don’t think you are,” I said quietly.
She opened her mouth to argue then closed it leaning into me slightly. “Then promise me something,”
“Anything.”
“No more appearing at my door and scaring me with injuries.”
I gave her a small smile.
“And no more pretending this is normal.”
“Alright.”
Her hand stayed in mine, the warmth, and human reality pulling both of us in the middle of the chaos that was already closing in. The world outside our door was dangerous, the hunter was closing in, and secrets still hung heavy between us but that bound us closer than either of us realized. And deep inside, my wolf smiled, certain that the rest was only a matter of time.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
OH HELLO??? LUCA CONFESSING HE’S “NOT ENTIRELY HUMAN” BUT NOT GIVING THE FULL WEREWOLF TEA YET??? This boy is drowning in feelings, fear, and responsibility and still choosing Aria as the one person he trusts with even a sliver (yeah pun intended, lol😂) of the truth. We LOVE character growth. We LOVE internal conflict. We LOVE a man whose biggest enemy is his own loyalty.
Keep commenting, my lovelies😘.