Iris:
"By comfort, I an I just want him to have soone to talk to," I corrected, holding his stare.
"Kash, co on. You’re acting like he’s going to eat alive," I protested, lightly punching his arm. "You’re making uncomfortable with that look."
"Fine," he muttered. "But rember, do not trust anyone."
He reached out and brushed the back of his fingers gently over my cheek. Then he picked up the children and walked away.
I returned to the guest house and saw Luca standing with my father and his father.
"Have you lost your mind?" Jas shouted.
His eyes landed on , and silence followed.
All three of them turned toward . Luca looked guilty.
He closed his eyes and turned his face away.
"Is everything okay?" I asked as I approached them, already sensing sothing was wrong.
"Yes, everything is fine. You’re back?" Jas asked, taking the lead in speaking to . From his tone, I could tell how awkward he felt. A hesitant smile lingered on his face.
"Yes, I saw Luca was ho, so I thought I should et him. Since he’s been very busy these days." I taunted, then steadily approached them.
The way Luca kept stealing glances at while his face remained clenched told he was in pain. Sothing was definitely wrong.
"Nothing happened. I’m just trying to find myself these days," Luca replied, once again avoiding my eyes.
I watched him silently for a mont, then nodded my head.
"Can I speak to you alone?" I asked him, and I noticed that not only his father but my father also seed against the idea.
Both of them looked at Luca in a strange way. As if they did not want us to talk privately.
"What happened? Is there a problem?" I asked my father. He suddenly shook his head.
"No, but what will you gain by listening to this fool? He’ll only stress you out. That’s what he does," my father remarked.
I noticed Luca did not like it. He was definitely going through sothing that needed to be addressed.
"It’s okay. Luca and I have beco friends. So I think we can talk," I responded, gesturing toward Luca to step outside.
I saw my father and Jas signal Luca not to go with . Whatever it was, it was serious, and I needed to know. So I stayed where I was, making sure they could not persuade him otherwise.
I an, no one could convince Luca of anything anyway.
He started walking toward on his own. As he reached , he slowed for a mont, took a deep breath, then headed outside briskly.
I cast one last glance at my father and Jas before following Luca into the garden.
"Is the weather getting warr?" I asked Luca, rubbing my hands together.
"Well, you can never tell with the werewolf community’s weather. Sotis it turns cold, sotis hot," Luca replied dryly.
We walked side by side through the garden, close but not touching.
"What happened to you?" I finally asked bluntly.
He took a deep breath and slowed down. As soon as he stopped, he turned to look at .
"Nothing happened. I’m completely fine," he answered softly.
I began shaking my head.
"No, Luca. Sothing happened, and you’re not telling . I know you’re hiding it from everyone else, but don’t hide it from ," I protested, looking at his face.
He held my gaze for a few seconds. Then he drew in another deep breath.
"I miss ho."
At first, I did not understand what he ant. Then I frowned at him.
"It’s okay. Everyone misses their holand. The freedom of transitioning and eting people who have known you since you were a child. I know it hurts," I said softly.
"I want to go ho," he stated abruptly.
I snapped my head toward him and stared at him with my mouth open.
"Luca, I know you’re emotional right now and you miss ho but—" before I could finish my sentence, he had already cut off.
"I want to go back ho. Sowhere I can transition. Sowhere I can start my life," he declared harshly, as if there was urgency behind his need to leave.
"But how will you go?" I asked him, not scolding, just genuinely curious.
"What do you an?" Luca questioned softly, his confusion sincere.
"You chose to co with us last ti. You rember you were captive. Why do you think they would let you return?" I asked honestly.
This question was tied to the suspicions I had started developing about him. Ever since he began making more frequent trips to the woods, I had been forced to wonder what was really going on.
What was he giving my mother, and my brother that made him believe they would allow him back?
"I’ll request it. That’s it," Luca responded.
But I was not satisfied. For soone as intelligent as him, that answer felt too simple, and it did not sit right with .
As soon as he said that, Luca started avoiding my gaze again. I kept watching him silently.
"I may not know everything, Luca, but I will suggest against it," I began, and this ti I was not going to let him interrupt . Even when I saw him open his mouth to comnt, I did not stop.
"Because I know I don’t know what kind of chaos they have created there," I continued, pausing to take a deep breath, knowing my mother.
"Luca, I know this much. They must have brought everything under their control. But the truth is, if you go back, it will create serious problems for you. They know you stayed with us for so long. I don’t know what kind of demands they will make," I warned.
"But Luca," I paused, straightening my back, "I will not allow you to play gas with . And this ti, if you side with them, you will be added to my list of enemies."
After saying that much, I took a few steps back. I saw the way he looked at , his eyes filled with emotion.
Then I turned around and headed toward the house.
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