Savage Bonds

Cool Off

Luka couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Could only watch as Asher's hands roamed over Juni's body like he had every right to touch her.

The possessive fury that erupted in his chest was unlike anything he'd ever felt before.

"Luka, you need to calm down." Jake's voice was distant, meaningless noise compared to the roaring in his ears. "Your eyes are glowing. People are staring."

"I don't give a fuck." He said in a dangerous voice.

The music shifted to something heavier, the unmistakable opening of "Stranglehold" filling the bar with its dark, seductive rhythm. Asher pulled Juni back against his chest, and she moved with him like they'd done this a thousand times before.

His hands were everywhere, and Juni was encouraging it, grinding against him in a way that had Luka's claws extending involuntarily.

Then Asher leaned down and said something in her ear. Whatever it was made Juni's eyes flash with determination before she turned in his arms and kissed him. Deep, demanding, and very public.

Something inside Luka snapped.

This was torture, watching them practically f**k on the dance floor.

"That's it," he growled, shaking off Jake's restraining hands along with two other pack members who'd been trying to hold him back. "I'm done watching this shit."

"Luka, what the hell, man?!"

But he was already moving, cutting through the crowd like a blade. Other couples scrambled out of his way, recognizing the danger in his stride. He didn't care about the whispers, didn't care about the phones already recording. All he cared about was getting Asher Morgan's hands off Juni.

He was halfway across the dance floor when Jake caught him, joined by Marcus and Derek, two of their friends who knew this needed to be de-escalated.

"No," Jake said firmly, planting himself in Luka's path. "We're leaving. Now."

"Get out of my way." Luka's voice was barely human.

"Not happening." Jake nodded to the others, and suddenly Luka found himself being physically dragged backward. "Your dad's already gotten three calls about tonight Luka! You want to add starting a pack war to the list?"

"I don't give a f**k!"

"Yeah, well, I do." Jake's grip was iron. "And so does everyone else who'll have to deal with the fallout of your tantrum."

Luka struggled against them, his wolf raging at being denied. He could still see Juni over Jake's shoulder, pressed against Asher, swaying to that goddamn never-ending song. She

glanced his way once, just once, and the dismissive look in her eyes made him snarl.

"She's laughing at you, man," Marcus said. "You're making it worse."

"Let them have their night," Derek added. "You can figure your s**t out tomorrow when you're not about to shift in public."

But Luka couldn't stop fighting them, couldn't stop the primal need to get to her. It took all three of them to wrestle him toward the exit, and the entire bar was watching. Phones out, recording every second of the future alpha losing his f*****g mind over a girl who wanted nothing to do with him.

"This isn't over," he snarled as they hauled him outside into the cool night air.

"Dude! Take five minutes. Jesus Luka, what is going on with you?" Jake said, not loosening his grip. "Cool the f**k off before you get us all banned from the only neutral bar in three territories."

The door swung shut behind them, cutting off the music, but Luka could still feel her in there. Still picture the way she'd melted into Asher's arms. Still see that dismissive look that said he was nothing to her.

Jesus Christ, how long is this f*****g song? Even outside, he swore he could still hear the bass line thumping, mocking him.

"I'm going back in," Luka said, shrugging off their hands now that they were outside.

"Like hell you are," Marcus said. "Not until you get your wolf under control."

"Onyx is fine!" He snapped

Like hell I am. We're going to kill him. Onyx growled in his mind.

"Your eyes are f*****g glowing, man." Derek gripped his shoulder. "And your claws are still out. You walk back in there like this and you're proving every s**t thing she said about you."

That hit home. Luka looked down at his hands, sure enough, his claws were extended, and drops of his own blood where he'd clenched his fists too hard.

"Five minutes," Jake repeated. "Walk it off. Get your head straight. Then maybe—MAYBE—you can go back in and act like a normal person instead of a psychopath."

"She's in there with him."

"Yeah, and she chose to be," Jake said bluntly. "You running in there like a rabid dog isn't going to change that. It's just going to make you look more pathetic than you already do."

Derek crossed his arms, studying Luka with something like pity. "You know she's going to kick your ass if you don't quit, right?"

Luka stopped pacing to stare at him. "What?"

"Juni. She's going to lay you out flat if you keep pushing." Derek shrugged. "Girl's been training with Elora for years. She doesn't f**k around."

"You're joking." Luka looked between them like they'd lost their minds. "She's half my size."

"So?" Jake raised an eyebrow. "Size doesn't mean s**t and you know it. Besides, you saw how fast she moved at the pool table. That wasn't luck."

"You think I'm scared of Juni Sullivan?"

"I think you should be," Marcus laughed. "Imagine that you have a tigress by the tail. f**k a wolf. She's gonna eat you alive Brenner."

Luka scoffed, resuming his pacing. Juni might have some training, but she was still just... Juni. The coffee girl. The one he'd overlooked for years. She wasn't a threat. She was just a stubborn asshole. Right?

"This is f****d," he muttered, running his hands through his hair. "This whole thing is fucked."

"What's f****d is you losing your mind over a girl you forgot even existed until tonight," Marcus said. "Jake told us what happened. You really didn't recognize her? Everyone knows who Juni is after what happened with her parents. You should be grateful more than anyone. God, no wonder she hates you."

"I..." Luka stopped pacing. "I don't know what's happening to me."

"Well figure it out fast," Derek advised, "because your dad's already heard about your little display. You know how fast news travels."

Fuck. His father. That was going to be a fun conversation.

The song finally—FINALLY—ended, and Luka immediately moved toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Jake demanded.

"Back inside. I've cooled off."

"Have ya though?"

"I'm not going to do anything stupid," Luka lied through his teeth. "I just wanna talk to her."

He wasn't giving up.

Not even close.