Chapter 37
Ellie's POV
When wolves mate in their prime emotional state, especially during intimacy, they can leave an energy signature—invisible to human eyes but unmistakable to other wolves. It's not always intentional, not always controllable. And if Lucas had marked Samantha, even unconsciously...
I studied the smooth expanse of her throat, the vulnerable curve where neck met shoulder. Nothing. No shimmer of energy, no residual scent beyond normal contact.
My enhanced sense of smell confirmed it—she carried Lucas's scent, yes, but only surface level. Not the deep, binding scent that came from a true claim.
He kept control. Whatever had or hadn't happened between them, Lucas had maintained enough presence of mind not to mark her. That was... something. A small mercy in an increasingly complicated mess.
I closed my eyes again, letting the tension drain from my shoulders.
She kept talking, her voice a constant stream of shared memories and inside jokes, each one carefully selected to emphasize their connection. Lucas made occasional sounds of acknowledgment—"mm-hmm," "yeah"—but his heart wasn't in it.
My thoughts drifted to the deeper question her presence raised.
Months ago, I'd been terrified of my wolf nature being discovered. I'd seen it as a curse, a dangerous secret that could destroy everything. But time and experience had taught me something more nuanced: humans and wolves could coexist. The key wasn't hiding—it was finding humans capable of genuine acceptance.
Jackson proved that. Whatever he knew about me, about what I was, he'd never once tried to use it against me. Never threatened, never judged. Just... helped.
But Samantha? She was the opposite of everything Jackson represented. Manipulative, self-serving, willing to hurt others to get what she wanted. If someone like her discovered the truth about wolves, about our world...
The thought made my skin crawl.
Lucas had to know this, on some level. Had to understand that his choices didn't just affect him—they affected everyone connected to him. Our families, our pack, every wolf trying to live quietly among humans.
But he'd made his decision. And I couldn't—wouldn't—try to control it.
All I could do was protect myself and the people I cared about.
"Ellie?" Samantha's voice turned syrupy-sweet, dripping with false concern. "I know this must be hard for you. Seeing Lucas and me together, after everything you two shared growing up."
I didn't open my eyes.
"But people grow apart, you know? They change, find new connections. It's just... life." She sighed dramatically. "Lucas and I have been talking about the future. After graduation, maybe moving to New York together. He could try out for professional teams, and I'd support him every step of the way."
The music in my earbuds provided a soothing counterpoint to her voice. I let it wash over me, focusing on the steady rhythm rather than her words.
She doesn't know anything, I reminded myself. She doesn't know about the full moons, the transformations, the constant vigilance. She thinks she has him figured out, but she's only seeing what he wants her to see.
A small, cold smile touched my lips, hidden behind my neutral expression.
Let her plan her imaginary future. Reality had a way of asserting itself.
The SUV slowed, and I opened my eyes to see the familiar facade of Maple View Inn—Mapleton's only remotely nice hotel, its brick exterior warm in the late afternoon sun.
Samantha had fallen asleep at some point, her head resting against the window, breathing soft and even. In sleep, she looked younger, almost vulnerable.
Almost.
Lucas cut the engine and turned to look at me. His expression was defensive, prepared for conflict.
"Samantha's foster family..." He kept his voice low. "Margaret turned her old room into storage after she left for college. When she comes back, there's nowhere for her to stay. So I booked her a room here." A pause. "I won't be going to my dad's dinner right away. I need to make sure she's settled first. But I'll be there. You don't need to—"
"I'm not interested in your arrangements with Samantha." My voice was flat, matter-of-fact. As if I were commenting on the weather, not the wreckage of a fifteen-year friendship.
Lucas flinched like I'd struck him.
He got out of the car, moving around to the passenger side with careful gentleness. He unbuckled Samantha's seatbelt and lifted her out, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as she murmured something incoherent.
The image they made was deliberately intimate—her pressed against his chest, his arms secure around her, their faces close enough for a kiss.
Lucas turned back to me, still holding her, and gestured with his chin toward the trunk. "Can you grab her luggage?"
Time seemed to slow.
Every molecule in my body went still. I stared at him through the window, this boy I'd known my entire life, who was now asking me—with complete seriousness—to serve as porter for his girlfriend.
When I spoke, my voice was knife-sharp and clear.
"Are you out of your FUCKING mind?"
Lucas's eyes widened, shocked by the profanity. I rarely swore. He knew that.
I opened the car door and stepped out, slinging my bag over my shoulder with controlled precision. Our eyes met across the hood of the SUV—his confused and defensive, mine utterly cold.
"Ellie, I just thought—"
I turned my back on him and walked away.
Behind me, I heard him call my name once, twice. I didn't turn around.
There was a taxi stand across the street. I raised my hand, and a yellow cab pulled over within seconds.
"Where to, miss?" the driver asked as I slid into the back seat.
I gave him the Miller family address, then pulled out my phone, deliberately not looking back at the hotel entrance where Lucas still stood, probably trying to figure out what just happened.
A text from Lily: How's the ride? Surviving?
I typed back: Took a cab. Long story. Talk later.
As we pulled away, I caught a glimpse in the side mirror—Lucas still standing there, Samantha stirring in his arms, both of them looking absurdly helpless.
Good, I thought with cold satisfaction. Let him figure it out.
I was going to Richard and Caroline's dinner because they'd been family to me. Because they deserved respect and love, regardless of what their son had become.
But I was going on my own terms, in my own way, without apologizing for refusing to be treated like a convenient accessory.
The taxi merged onto the highway, heading toward the Miller house.