Alina rushed over, and I quickly pushed Luke into her arms.
They stumbled, clinging to each other. Alina’s hands rested on his waist, her face flushed. “Your muscles are just as strong as I remember… so firm, so powerful…”
Luke coughed awkwardly, but there was an unmistakable pride in his eyes.
Alina turned to me, apologizing repeatedly, “Emma, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked Alpha to fake-bond with me just to fulfill my mother’s wish.”
“If you’re angry, you can hit or scold me, but please, don’t take it out on Alpha.”
“You just pushed him so hard—what if you hurt his waist?”
“Afraid I’ll hurt his waist? Well, why don’t you give him a nice massage yourself?”
Luke’s face, once proud, suddenly turned to anger. “Emma, you’ve gone too far. My relationship with Alina is pure. How can your mind be so full of dirty thoughts?”
I ignored him and turned to leave, but Alina suddenly dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around my legs.
“Emma, once the ceremony is over, Alpha and I will reject each other immediately. I’ll give him back to you!”
“For Alpha’s mother, I’m willing to do anything!”
I tried to walk away, but Alina clung to my leg tightly. When I pulled slightly to free myself, she suddenly let go and tumbled down the three-step staircase.
The fall wasn’t serious, and I saw Alina use her elbow to push herself up and roll again.
Luke was clearly concerned about her fall. He rushed to me and turned hostile. “Emma Klein, the only reason I haven’t locked you in the basement until Alina and I are officially bonded is out of respect for my mother!”
I ignored his threats, turned around, and shut the door in their faces. No matter how much Luke banged on the door, demanding I apologize to Alina, I didn’t respond.
Finally, I heard their car drive off. My phone rang—it was Sophia, my best friend, calling to discuss my plans to leave.
“Luke just talked to me,” I said.
“Let me guess—nothing good,” Sophia replied.
“He said he acctually want to bond with me, he just wants me to wait a bit longer.”
“Emma, listen to me. If someone keeps telling you to wait, it’s not because they’re busy. It’s because you’re not a priority.”
“You want to spend Valentine’s Day with me? Babe, we’re in love. When people are in love, every day is Valentine’s Day. But today, I’m busy fixing Alina’s pipes before she drowns.”
“Want to have the marking ceremony? Oh, my pack’s not stable yet. There are too many enemies. Once my pack is stronger, I’ll give you the grandest ceremony!”
“Emma, you’ve been in Luke’s house since you were three. Now, you’re 25. Even if you wait 30 more years, he’ll still tell you to wait.”
“He may have a thousand reasons, and you could come up with a hundred thousand reasons for him, but the truth is one.”
“To him, you’re not even as important as Alina’s mother.”
“He is not that into you.”
