Emily’s POV
For the remainder of the day, I had not heard from or seen Alex, and I was beginning to worry.
My insides were feeling strange because Alex’s emotions were seeping into our bond.
Luke reassured me, saying not to worry, but I could not shake the unholy sense that something was seriously wrong.
I was not sure how to put it, but at times it seemed like Alex was in excruciating pain or hurting, and at other times he was frustrated and angry, and he was making a great effort to keep his feelings outside the bond.
I sighed.
It was already past 3 p. m., and Luke took me down to the gym to start warming up for my fight starting at 5 p. m.
My stomach started to churn, and I started to feel a little uneasy.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Angelica. Even though I knew she was an Omega, I could not get rid of the unsettling feeling I had.
I could not stop asking myself why she would challenge me to a duel if she knew I was stronger.
What was she planning?
Do I need to worry?
“She is just a little maggot full of arrogance,” Willow growled. “Who is unable to keep her paws to herself?”
Now that we were marked, Willow became enraged at the mere thought of Angelica.
“Alpha Alex is in good hands,” Luke suddenly said, startling me.
I suppose he saw me struggling and assumed it was about Alex.
I forced a smile, knowing that Luke would notice it.
Thinking of Alex, I let out a sigh.
It was an impossible struggle to avoid thinking of him; our bond ensured that he would be on my mind all the time.
What was he doing?
What was keeping him, and why was he trying to keep me blocked off?
“Alpha Colt is with him,” Luke said, as if reading my thoughts.
My eyes darted back to him.
Why was it so crucial that Alex and his father spend the entire day together?
And what exactly was it that they were doing that made Alex so uneasy?
“Alpha Colt is attempting to figure out how to assist Alpha Alex in managing his rage,” Luke continued.
So Luke knows where Alex is and what they are doing.
Was he instructed not to tell me?
“Will they be long?” I asked.
“He will be on time for the duel,” Luke said, unconcerned.
I nodded and made my way to the treadmill, thinking that maybe jogging would help me get rid of this unsettling sensation and clear my mind.
Luke grabbed his boxing gloves, pulled them on, and moved in the direction of the boxing bag. He appeared to be more focused than I was, and the first punch reverberated throughout the empty gym.
In an attempt to give me some privacy, Luke had earlier chased the pack members out of the gym.
“What is wrong with Alex’s temper?” I asked as I adjusted the treadmill’s speed and timer. “Every Alpha has a short fuse. They are wired that way. Why does everyone believe Alex suffers from a rage issue?”
Luke glanced at me and dropped what he was doing. There were already tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
“You are right, Luna,” Luke said, clutching the boxing bag between his arms to stop it. “However, Alpha Alex thinks something is wrong with him. He says that he gets angry for no apparent reason.”
“I don’t understand what you are saying,” I admitted.
Alex seemed to be fine.
“I haven’t seen him getting angry or upset for no reason,” I continued. “And the times he did get angry, I accidentally provoked it.”
Luke came closer, leaned in, and peered into my eyes.
“Alpha Alex has lost all self-control over his rage since your return, Luna,” he said. “He is not himself. Alpha fears that he will harm you soon, and he does not want that to happen. He cherishes you.”
“So he went and sought help?” I asked.
“Yes,” Luke answered, nodding his head. “He is trying to find a solution to the problem.”
“Is it serious, in your opinion?” I asked worriedly.
Perhaps my presence is what is setting Alex off.
Am I unintentionally harming Alex?
Am I negatively impacting Alex’s mental well-being?
Should I leave?
With a gentle smile, Luke shook his head.
“My opinion,” he uttered, arching his brows and flashing a brazen smile. “Alpha Alex feels overwhelmed by everything that is going on. He will find his answers and solve his issues.”
“Hopefully,” I uttered, feeling anxious and apprehensive. “I don’t like what I am feeling right now.”
I could barely breathe, and my insides felt twisted as if they were put under a lot of pressure.
“It will pass,” Luke remarked, as if it were insignificant. “Just like any other issue.”
Was Luke hearing me?
I resumed my treadmill run while Luke went back to his boxing bag.
I was never a big fan of treadmills; I much preferred running outside in the open, taking in the fresh air and the surrounding scenery.
I stopped using the treadmill thirty minutes later, got my towel, and dried off.
Luke finished boxing, got closer, and squirted water into his mouth.
“Can I ask you something?” I said.
“You just did?” He said, playfully.
He erupted into laughter when I rolled my eyes at him.
For the most part of the day, Luke has been this way since we left my parents’ café. I suspected he was told to try to divert my attention.
“Go ahead, Luna,” he said, once he had his laughter under control.
“The fact that you still have not found your fated mate has been bothering me. How do you handle that?”
Luke had a range of emotions on his face as he walked over to the bench to sit down.
“I think I sensed my mate only once,” Luke said.
I recoiled in surprise.
“I have not told anyone,” he continued. “I believed my mind was playing tricks on me.”
“What happened?” I asked, curious to know.
Luke’s eyebrows were knit together, as though he were searching for the right words.
“There was a rogue attack on the neighbor’s pack,” Luke replied somberly. “The attack was severe, and among all the blood and corpses, I could smell a hint of lilies. It vanished after only a brief moment.”
Luke closed his eyes and swallowed hard.
“The intoxicating scent haunted me for months,” Luke remarked. “Driving both my wolf and me crazy. At one stage, I believed I was cursed to not find my mate.”
Luke inhaled deeply and turned to face his hands.
“But I know she is alive,” he remarked. “She is just missing.”
“Maybe, just like your sister, she fell prey to a rogue attack?” I wondered out loud.
Luke remained silent for a moment before responding.
“That might be the only logical explanation,” he said, looking up. “I have not experienced or sensed the loss of my mate or sister.”
Elite wolves, particularly Alphas and Betas, were connected to the pack and sensed death within it; however, things were a little different when mates were involved. The mate would receive a glimpse of his mate’s passing from the goddess.
Luke would be no different.
I nodded in understanding. Not knowing what happened to his loved ones must be frustrating.
Luke’s eyes went glassy, and I knew immediately that someone was mind-linking him.
When his eyes turned normal, he lifted his gaze, and a grin followed on his lips.
“That was the council; they are ready and are all patiently waiting for you,” he said. “They just want to know if you are ready to put this so-proclaimed Luna bitch in her place.”
Luke’s description made me laugh.
“Were those their actual words?” Incredulous, I asked.
Luke grinned more widely.
“Not exactly in those words,” he said as he stood up. “But it was closer enough.”
Rolling my eyes, I moved in the direction of the door.
“Remind me to never ask you to convey a message,” I called back over my shoulder when I got to the door.
Luke merely laughed.
If only I had known that Luke’s role in my life would involve more than just passing along messages.
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