Chapter 51
Nolan’s POV
I followed Alpha Luca through the winding corridors of the Crescent Moon pack house, my mind. racing with thoughts of Nesta and the urgency of my mission.
Luca had remained silent, his demeanour tense, which only fueled my suspicion that he knew more than he was letting on. Nesta was here but he won’t give her to me easily.
I wonder how she managed to curl herself around him to get this level of loyalty from an alpha. Did she get on his bed too like she easily let me have my way with her? That should be it.
We finally reached a secluded area behind the pack house, a training ground of sorts, and Luca stopped, turning to face me.
His expression was hard, his eyes burning with an intensity that suggested more than just a casual conversation was about to take place. He was going to take my ears off with his words.
“Why are we here?” I asked, my voice edged with impatience. “If you know where Nesta is, tell me. I don’t have time for games.”
Luca smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. “You think you can just waltz in here and make demands, Alpha Prince? You’re in my territory now!
“I don’t care about your territory. I care about finding Nesta.” A surge of irritation shot through me, but I kept my composure. Barely.
He took a step closer, his smirk fading into a serious expression. “I know who you are, and I know why you’re here. But if you want information, you’ll have to earn it.”
I raised an eyebrow, realisation dawning on me. “You want to fight.”
Luca nodded, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “I want to see if you’re worthy of the answers you seek.”
A mix of frustration and amusement welled up inside me. He really thought he could take me on. I instantly pitied him for his misguided challenge. Hasn’t he heard anything about me even once?
“You’ve chosen the wrong person to test,” I said, my voice low and dangerous.
Without warning, Luca lunged at me, his movements quick and calculated. Heasily sidestepped his attack, feeling a surge of adrenaline. He was strong, but I had faced far greater opponents.
We circled each other, his eyes narrowing with determination. “You’re not leaving here without a fight, he growled, launching another attack.
This time, I met his strike head–on, our fists Plachinh…
The power behind his blows was impressive, but I had trained for this my entire life. I blocked and countered his attacks effortlessly, my movements fluid and precise.
Luca growled in frustration, his attacks becoming more desperate. “Why are you even here?” he demanded between punches. “What makes her so important?”
I ducked under a wild swing, delivering a swift kick to his side that sent him stumbling back. “She’s my mate,” I said through gritted teeth. “And I won’t let anyone stand in my way of finding her.”
Luca recovered quickly, his expression shifting to one of surprise. “Your mate?” he echoed, hist attacks momentarily faltering.
I took advantage of his hesitation, landing a series of blows that left him reeling. “Yes. And if you have any information, you’d better tell me now.”
Breathing heavily, Luca finally lowered his fists, his eyes filled with a mix of respect and resignation. “Alright,” he said, holding up a hand to signal the end of the fight. “I get it. You’re serious about this.”
I nodded, keeping my guard up. “So, do you know where she is?”
Luca sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I might have an idea. But you have to understand, Nesta is under my pack’s protection now. If I give you this information, you need to promise not to harm her.”
I clenched my fists, trying to control the anger bubbling within me. “I don’t want to harm her. I just
need to find her.”
He studied me for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Follow me. I’ll show you where she’s been hiding.”
Luca might have been a formidable opponent, but he had made the mistake of underestimating me. Now, with his reluctant cooperation, I was one step closer to finding Nesta and fulfilling my promise to Rowan.
I watched as Luca executed an impressive turn when I thought he was done with his fight, his fist arcing through the air with practised precision.
The blow connected solidly with my shoulder, and I tsked, more in admiration than pain. What a nice alpha, protecting Nesta like that. But nothing was going to stand in my way.
“You’ve got skills.” I admitted, shaking off the hit. “But you need to understand something.”
He narrowed his eyes, preparing for my next move. “And what’s that?”
I moved in quickly, my fists a blur as I aimed a series of strikes at him. He managed to block most of them, but the sheer force drove him back.
“It’s either you give me Nesta,” I said between punches, “or I kill you and take Nesta. Your choice.”
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Luca’s eyes flashed with determination as he countered, his punches coming faster and harder. “I won’t let you harm her, he growled, his voice filled with unwavering resolve.
Our movements became a brutal dance, each of us trying to gain the upper hand. I admired his dedication to his pack and to Nesta’s safety, but my resolve was just as strong.
“You don’t understand,” I spat, ducking under a powerful swing and delivering a sharp kick to his ribs. “She’s my mate. I’ll do whatever it takes to find her. She is needed.”
Luca stumbled back, clutching his side, but quickly regained his footing. “And you don’t understand,” he shot back, his voice strained. “Nesta is under my protection. If you want her, you’ll have to go through me. She doesn’t want to be with you.”
“Fine,” I said, my tone icy. “So be it.”
The fight intensified, our blows becoming more ferocious. Every punch, every kick was a testament to our respective wills.
Luca was a formidable opponent, his strength and skill undeniable, but I was driven by a purpose that went beyond mere duty. Rowan wants me to prove that I can do this. And I will.
With a final, powerful strike, I knocked him to the ground, pinning him there.
“This is your last chance, I said, my voice low and dangerous. “Give me Nesta, or this ends now.”
He looked up at me, his eyes filled with defiance and something else–something that almost resembled respect.
“You’re serious,” he said, his voice a mere whisper. “You really are her mate.”
I nodded, my grip tightening. “Yes. And nothing is going to stop me from finding her.”
He relented. Luca and I trudged through the woods, the remnants of our fight lingering in the air. He led the way, his pace steady but cautious, as if weighing his next words carefully.
“You know,” he began, glancing at me from the corner of his eye, “Nesta is adamant about not coming with you. She doesn’t want to go anywhere with you.”
I stopped in my tracks, his words slicing through my resolve. “What do you mean?” I demanded, my voice harsher than I intended. “Why wouldn’t she want to come with me? I’m her mate.”
Luca sighed, turning to face me fully. “That’s just it. She’s terrified of you. She doesn’t see you as her mate, only as a threat. Whatever happened between you two, it’s made her unwilling to leave with
you.”
The anger that simmered beneath my surface flared. “She’s my mate,‘ I repeated, struggling to keep. my voice steady. “I have to protect her. She belongs with me.”
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He shook his head, a sad smile tugging at his lips. “Belonging isn’t the same as wanting, you know. You can’t force her to come with you. If she doesn’t want to go, what then?”
I clenched my fists, the truth of his words hitting me hard. “I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. “But I can’t leave her here. I promised Rowan I’d bring her back.”
Luca’s expression softened, a hint of understanding in his eyes. “Maybe you should focus on understanding why she doesn’t want to come with you. If you want her to trust you, you have to give her a reason to.”
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I looked away, the weight of his words sinking in. The thought of Nesta fearing me, rejecting me, was a bitter pill to swallow. But I don’t care.
“Alright.” I said, my voice firmer. “I’ll try to understand. But I still need to see her, to talk to her.”
To FORCE her.
Luca nodded, continuing down the path. “We’ll get there soon. Just remember, if you want her to come with you, you have to make her want to. Not because she’s your mate, but because she trusts you.”