Chapter 86 Luca
The forest at night wasn’t forgiving. Shadows clung to the trees like they had a reason to exist, twisting and stretching with the sway of the wind. The path I followed was a trail worn into the earth covered in leaves that crackled under my boots. My senses were on fire, every sound a potential threat and rustle a whisper that someone was closer than they should be.
Sienna had agreed to meet me here alone which made my wolf twist in my chest with both anticipation and irritation.
Alone? Just the two of us. I don’t like the tone of “just the two of us” in her voice. It carried secrets and the weight of things she refused to say aloud.
I reached a clearing where the moon spilled silver over the earth. I could smell the damp earth, the crushed leaves, and something else. The lingering edge of her scent mixed with something sharper I couldn’t place, which made my stomach twist.
She was there before I saw her, of course. That’s always how it was with Sienna—her presence announced itself subtly, like the world tilted slightly toward her even when she didn’t know it. Her braids caught the moonlight, soft brown against the shadows and her bag was slung carelessly over one shoulder, her posture casual but the slight tension in her shoulders betrayed her.
“Luca,” she said. “You wanted us to meet.”
“Yeah,” I said, stopping a few feet from her, letting my wolf settle just enough to stay calm. “We need to talk. You’ve been avoiding things.”
My teeth itched to say more, to snap and tell but I held it back.
She tilted her head, a small smirk teasing at the corners of her mouth. “I’ve been busy.”
I exhaled slowly, keeping my voice even. “Busy? Sienna, people are getting hurt or could get hurt. And you’re acting like this is a game.”
Her smirk faded ater eyes darkened slightly. “You don’t understand—”
“I understand enough,” I snapped, more than I meant to. Immediately, I regretted it because her eyes narrowed. “You’re lying, I can tell. And I need you to be honest now.”
There was a long pause filled with only the sound of the wind through the branches and the distant call of a night bird.
“I’m not hiding anything,” she said finally. Her tone was okay but it didn’t match the tension I could smell. There was fear there and something else. Guilt? Maybe.
I shook my head slowly. “That’s bullshit, Sienna. Your facade doesn’t match your story. I know when you’re lying.” My wolf growled under my skin angry and itching to lash out. “I’ve known for weeks.”
She stiffened, then sagged slightly as if the fight had left her drained. “You can’t always trust what you smell,” she whispered.
I stepped closer. “I don’t need excuses. I need the truth. Where were you a month ago? What are you hiding?”
Her gaze flicked past me toward the tree line and I followed it with my eyes and froze. I knew someone was watching and listening.
I didn’t let her see the subtle shift in me. “Sienna, if this is another game—”
“It’s not,” she said quickly.
I lowered my voice. “Look, I’m not here to yell but I can’t ignore this anymore. You’ve been careless, Sienna. Someone could get hurt or worse. And I can’t let that happen.”
She swallowed hard. “I know.”
“Good,” I said, exhaling through my nose. “Because I can handle a lot. But I can’t handle lies not from you.”
She nodded, biting her lip. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far.”
“Then start telling me the truth. Everything.” My voice was firm. I wanted her to understand that I wasn’t asking this because I wanted to punish her. I wanted to fix it or prevent the disaster before it started.
She hesitated, then reached into her bag, just a little, her fingers brushing the edge of something hidden. I didn’t need to see the object. I could smell it, the faint metallic tang mixed with a signature scent.
“Show me,” I demanded, stepping closer.
Her hand froze. “You can’t...” she whispered.
I raised an eyebrow. “I can handle it.”
There was a long pause then she exhaled, slow and trembling, and pulled the object free enough for me to see a small silver blade tucked into a sheath.
“You brought this?” I asked. “Sienna. Why?”
Her eyes darted to the shadows again. “I—I needed it for protection.”
I felt my eyes widen. “Protection? Or hiding something bigger?”
My hands itched, wanting to snatch it and take control of the situation. My wolf growled under my skin, frustrated that I was holding back. Silver always sets us on an edge.
She flinched at the tone of my voice. “It’s complicated!”
“Everything you do is complicated,” I yelled. “I can’t guess anymore. I need answers.”
She sighed, shoulders dropping slightly. “Fine. You’re not going to like the answer but I didn’t bring this to hurt anyone.”
I narrowed my eyes, reading between every word. Her words were true in a way, but the intent behind them was slippery.
“Look,” I said finally, softer now trying to calm the storm inside me. “You don’t have to explain everything tonight. But I need you to trust me enough to stop hiding things especially from me. I can’t protect you if I don’t know what’s real.”
She looked at me, eyes wide and conflicted, and then down at the blade. Slowly, she nodded. “Okay.”
“Good.” I exhaled. “That’s a start. That’s all I’m asking for right now.”
We stood in the clearing for a long moment with me acutely aware that Quinn was out there watching and listening and I didn’t let Sienna know I’d sensed him.
Finally, I stepped back, signaling the conversation was over for now. “I’ll figure this out,” I said. “But no more secrets again after tonight.”
She nodded again, and for the first time, the corner of her lips twitched into a real nervous smile. Whatever Quinn was planning, he wouldn’t have the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Luca’s instincts screaming, Sienna’s secrets dangling like a knife, and Quinn lurking in the shadows is everything you live for. I tried to keep you on the edge of your seat without spilling all the tea. Can’t wait to see how you react when things go even further next chapter. Drop your thoughts and who else felt like they were holding their breath the whole time?