POV: LUCI
I stood there long after she ran.
The room had gone quiet.
Marcus was standing near the door pretending not to look at me.
He was failing.
I sat back down slowly.
My fingers tapped once against the armrest.
Then again.
Marcus finally spoke.
“Should I bring her back?”
My eyes moved to him.
He immediately straightened.
“No.”
His brows lifted slightly.
I ignored it.
I looked toward the door.
She had looked terrified.
Not of me.
Not exactly.
More like
confused.
That reaction earlier…
That wasn’t normal.
She reacted.
Her wolf reacted.
For a second.
Then nothing.
No recognition.
No bond.
No pull.
Impossible.
I had never heard of anything like it.
The first moment I saw her at the restaurant three weeks ago—
I knew.
Mate.
Instant.
No hesitation.
My w
