Alpha's Vet

Hole in the Wall

Chapter 12 – Hole in the Wall

Lucas POV

It’s as if she’s been in every room of this house already. I don’t know how she does it, but her scent trails me everywhere I go. I know she’s downstairs with Roxy and Jacqui, yet I can smell her here, in my room.

Two cold showers since waking up, and my body still refuses to cooperate. My d*k has apparently decided that restraint is for the weak. I need to go for a run, let the fur burn off some of this energy. I have a list of tasks a mile long, and she cannot distract me the entire day.

Time for another cold shower. Jacqui will mind link me later with their latest scheme, and now I owe her a favor. Hate owing favors… but this one wasn’t voluntary.

How am I supposed to work if she’s in the house all day? How do I even think when she’s around?

Lara POV

I shower quickly in Jacqui’s room. I have no idea where Roxy sleeps, but she’s been around most of the time. Is this normal? People don’t usually just… hover like this, do they?

Jacqui lends me clothes: green short shorts and a white tank top. Plain, but wow. The top accentuates all the right things, and my inner critic protests, Stop it, Lara. Way out of your league. Big handsome men are off-limits today.

Roxy knocks but doesn’t wait for an answer. “Wow, you look hot in that top! Let’s get some food.” I can’t help but blush. Compliments are foreign to me; in my home, nothing was ever good enough. I know people are being honest here, but my brain doesn’t always believe it.

We head downstairs into a huge room. Long tables stretch out like a dining hall, like Hogwarts’ Great Hall, just smaller. A big table at the end looks like it’s for someone important, but I don’t dare ask.

Jacqui sits on the right side near the kitchen door; a few familiar faces are scattered around. Most have brownish auras like Jacqui and Roxy, some normal. I wish I understood my gift better—I can see the auras, but the colors still confuse me.

I’m relieved when we reach the table. The stares from everyone in the room have been uncomfortable, oppressive even.

“Hi everyone!” Roxy jumps into the nearest seat and ushers me in. Introductions follow. Most are familiar, which helps.

Then a guy with messy blond hair slides in beside me. “Hi, my name’s Zac. And who’s this beautiful girl?”

I blush. “Hi… I’m Lara. Nice to meet you.” He’s confident, a little self-absorbed, but nice overall.

A growl echoes from the main door. Low, threatening. I whip my head around, heart in my throat. Lucas. He’s back. Standing in the doorway like a predator ready to strike, eyes fixed on Zac. Everyone else bows their heads. The tension is suffocating. My weirdo meter spikes. I can’t look away.

“Zac,” he barks. “Go do a run of the perimeter.”

Zac scrambles to obey. Lucas doesn’t glance at me as he exits. My stomach twists. Hunger, but not for food. I don’t want breakfast anymore—I want to go home, but I promised Roxy.

“Sorry, everyone, I need to study. Can you show me where I can set up my laptop?” I direct the question to Jacqui.

She hesitates slightly, like she’s considering where to send me. “Same place as last night is fine,” she says finally. No need to make it more uncomfortable than it already is. I fetch my laptop from the car and set up.

Lucas POV

I wanted to rip Zac’s head off. Sitting that close to my mate—my mate. I can’t even look at her without losing control. I would have carried her out of that room without explanation, without care for anyone else’s opinions. It would have been for her, and no one else.

And now… a big hole in my plan. This woman, my mate, is going to be the death of me. I need a strategy. I need to spend time with her, hear her speak, see her—without letting anyone else know how dangerous this is for me. She must think I live in some weird, tightly-knit community.

I’m grateful Jessy’s gone for a few days. I don’t want her clinging to me while my mate is in the house. I may need to move her to another pack before I officially claim Lara.

But first… work. And then I will find her. I can sense her still in the house—it’s maddening, but calming. I know I hurt her by ignoring her earlier. How will she react when she eventually goes home? I can’t even think about it.