The mansion was too beautiful for danger to exist inside it.
That was Talia's first thought as Luka pulled her deeper into the warm glow of the grand room. Gold fairy lights dripped down the tall glass windows. The fire in the black-marble hearth painted his sharp jaw in moving amber. Christmas garlands wrapped around the carved beams overhead, softening the edges of the place that looked more like a billionaire's private resort than a home.
And yet
Danger prowled outside.
She felt it in Luka's grip.
In his voice.
In the stillness of his body.
He stood in front of her, tall and immovable, every muscle tight beneath his shirt. "Stay here," he murmured, not releasing her hand. "Don't move unless I say so."
Her heart hammered. "Luka… what's out there?"
His eyes glowed faintly…not fully shifted, not human either. "Vampire scouts. Testing the borders. Testing me."
She shivered.
He noticed instantly. Luka stepped closer, his chest brushing hers, shielding her with his body. Not in a romantic way ….at least she tried to tell herself it wasn't but in a way that made her entire insides melt.
"Daddy Wolfy's right here," he murmured, low and rough. "They won't touch you."
The nickname made her knees weaken embarrassingly fast.
"Luka…" she whispered.
He cupped her cheek with one careful hand, thumb brushing lightly across her skin. "Little bunny, breathe."
She tried. Failed. Tried again.
Then he leaned in, forehead resting against hers, grounding her with nothing but heat and presence.
"Good girl," he whispered when her shaking slowed.
Her spine tingled.
He wasn't even trying to be seductive just… protective and somehow it was worse. Better. Too much.
A low growl rumbled in his chest. Not at her. At the danger. "I hate that they followed us this far. Hate that they know where you are."
"Me?" she whispered. "Why would vampires come for me?"
Luka didn't answer immediately.
Instead he guided her backward until she felt the soft velvet of his massive sofa behind her knees. She sat because he wanted her to. Because he needed her to.
He crouched in front of her, level with her eyes, both hands on her knees. Warm, steady, alpha-calm despite the fire raging inside him.
"Talia… you're prey-kind."
She blinked. "I'm… what?"
"It's rare," Luka said, voice gentler. "Only a few humans have the scent. It's like…" He hesitated. "Like sugar and moonlight. It calls to every supernatural instinct."
"So they want to eat me?" she squeaked.
He huffed a breath… half a laugh, half frustration. "No. Well… not eat." He grimaced. "They want you because your kind amplifies magic. The taste of your blood, your scent"
"Luka!"
"it's intoxicating."
"Oh my god!"
He reached up, brushing her shoulder. "To vampires," he clarified. "Not to me."
She didn't believe him for a second.
Not after the way he looked at her.
Not after the way he reacted when she touched him.
Not after everything he'd said to her tonight.
But she didn't call him out. His jaw was too tense, his eyes too sharp, his focus flicking toward the windows every few seconds.
"Stay here," Luka murmured, rising to his full, impossible height. "Don't approach the windows. Don't speak unless I call you."
"Luka"
His head snapped down to her. Amber eyes. Wolf eyes. "Little bunny."
Everything in her froze.
"Listen to me."
She nodded slowly.
"Good."
He strode toward the closest window, silent despite the heavy boots, moving with a predatory grace that made her breath catch. He pressed a hand to the glass. Snow swirled outside, catching on the tall iron fence that separated the mansion from the forest.
Talia crept up behind him, staying several steps back like he'd said. She could only see his reflection… sharp jaw, tense shoulders, eyes glowing faintly gold.
Then he whispered, "There."
His voice dropped an octave. Dangerous. Ferocious.
Talia's stomach dropped. "What do you see?"
"A scout." His breath fogged the glass. "Thin. Old. Broken aura. He's not here to fight… just to watch."
"Why does that sound worse?"
Luka didn't answer.
He widened his stance, muscles shifting beneath his shirt as if preparing to pounce. "I should go out there."
"No!" She grabbed his arm before thinking.
The moment her fingers touched him, his body stilled completely.
Not human still.
Predator still.
Slowly, Luka turned to her. He looked down at her hand on his arm, then up into her face.
"Talia…" His voice wasn't soft. It was… wrecked. "You shouldn't touch me like that."
She yanked her hand back as if burned. "Sorry I didn't mean I just"
He stepped closer.
Too close.
He braced one hand against the wall by her head, caging her in without touching.
"Little bunny," he murmured, "if you keep reaching for me… I won't be able to let you go."
Her breath hitched. "Maybe I don't want you to."
A low, deep growl spilled from his chest. Heat rolled off him like a wave.
"Talia…"
He looked like he wanted to devour her…not sexually, but instinctively. Claim her. Keep her. Protect her. It was written in every tense line of his body.
Just before he leaned in, something hit the window outside.
Talia jumped.
Luka snarled.
He moved so fast she barely saw it…grabbing her waist, pulling her behind him, shielding her with his entire body. His arm wrapped across her front, pinning her gently but firmly against him.
"Stay behind me," he growled.
The window rattled again… softly, almost teasingly.
A shadow drifted across the snow outside.
Luka's breathing changed. Slow. Controlled. Deadly.
"They're testing how close they can get," he said. "If they break the boundary, I'll have to answer."
Answer?
She didn't want to know what that meant.
"Luka… I'm scared."
He looked over his shoulder at her, and his expression softened instantly. "Come here." He pulled her fully into his arms. "I've got you."
Talia pressed her face into his chest. His scent… cedar, heat, wolf-flooded her senses. She felt him lower his head, nuzzling the top of her hair in a way that felt instinctive. Protective. Claiming.
His voice vibrated against her. "No one touches what's mine."
She froze. "Yours?"
He stiffened, realizing what he'd said.
"That's the wolf talking," he muttered.
"And you?"
Luka hesitated.
Then he cupped the back of her head, pressing a soft kiss into her hair.
"I'm trying not to want you," he whispered. "But you're making it impossible."
Her entire body warmed.
"Luka…"
Another shadow flashed outside.
He pulled away only enough to look at her face. "I need to go out and chase them off."
Fear surged through her. "No. Please. Don't leave me alone."
He growled softly. Not at her….at the situation.
He brushed his thumb along her cheek. "I'll be right outside. A minute. Two at most."
"And if something happens?"
He tilted her chin up. "Nothing will happen to you. Not while I exist."
Then he kissed her forehead.
Slow.
Lingering.
A promise.
Her voice trembled. "Daddy Wolfy…"
His eyes darkened instantly. "Talia."
"You come back."
"I always will."
Then he strode to the door, grabbed a long black coat, and looked back at her one last time as if memorizing her face.
The door opened.
Cold rushed in.
Luka stepped out into the snow.
The door closed behind him with a final, terrifying soft click.
Talia stood in the silence of the mansion, heart thundering, breaths shaky.
Then
A howl tore through the night.
Not vampire.
Wolf.
Alpha.
Her Alpha.