Nine
Luther’s POVN
I wasn’t expecting Emira to say all that. I stood there frozen as I watched her walk away and get into the car. Her words kept ringing in my ears–raw, honest. For the first time, she actually let me see how she felt.”
My wolf stirred, restless. “Go after her,” he urged. But even if she was my mate… she wasn’t the woman I loved./
Diana was. Sweet, gentle, kind. Everything Emira wasn’t.
I chose love over fate.§
I headed to my car where Federick, my right hand, was waiting. “Take me to the tattoo parlor,” I ordered. It was forbidden in our pack to get tattoos–but for Diana, I’d break any rule.
Federick looked stunned. “Alpha… your parents-”
“I said drive!” I growled. “I’m the Alpha. Do as I say.”
He didn’t argue after that.
At the parlor, I had Diana’s name inked over my heart. I should’ve felt proud. But as the needle hit my skin, all I could see were Emira’s eyes–hurt, cold, burning with the pain she never deserved. It unsettled me. I tried shaking it off. Replaced her face with Diana’s. Her soft smile. Hef laugh. The way she made me feel wanted.
But Emira’s eyes… they wouldn’t leave me alone.
After the tattoo, I told Federick, “Take me to Waxum pack. Diana wants that ivory bracelet.”
I remembered her words clearly: “I’ll fall for a man who tattoos my name over his heart, and brings me the ivory bracelet no one has ever claimed from Waxum. If someone does that, I’ll give him my heart forever.”
I smiled at the thought. But deep down, something just didn’t sit right.
“You sure about this, Alpha? Starting a fight with Waxum?” Federick asked as we neared their borders.}
“Are you questioning my strength?” I snapped.<
He went silent.
When we got there, the Waxum pack let us in after knowing who I was. I demanded a challenge for the bracelet from their Alpha–Benedict. He didn’t expect it but agreed. If I lost, I’d surrender half our territory.
The fight was brutal. Benedict was no joke. I left with cracked ribs, a black eye, a busted jaw, and a torn wrist. But I won. Barely.
The next morning, Diana posted it all over social media. The Alpha of the Blue Crescent pack gave her the ivory bracelet. I smiled as I pocketed my phone.
Then I walked into Emira’s house.”
We crossed paths.
She looked at me like I was a stranger–emotionless. That warmth she used to greet me with? Gone. I didn’t want to admit it… but I missed it. Her teasing. Her smile. The way she used to flirt without effort.
“What happened to you?” she asked, her tone flat.”
“Accident,” I lied. My jaw ached, eye swollen, stomach bruised, wrist in a cast.
She didn’t even blink. Just walked past me like I didn’t exist.”
And that–that—hit harder than any punch I took yesterday.”
“Beta Emira,” I said, following behind her. “I’m asking for a few days off to heal.“N
She stopped. I stood right behind her.
“I won’t be able to protect you for a while,” I added.”
“Okay.” One word. Cold. Empty. Like I didn’t matter. And I didn’t like it. What had caused her so much change?}
She pulled out her phone and called someone. I heard one word that made my ears twitch–wedding.
Who the hell’s getting married?}
She ended the call before I could ask.
“Beta Emira,” I called out again.
