CHAPTER 40: FOUND.

Luca leaned back, his back aching from sitting still on the chair for so many hours. Bella’s hand was light in his, almost weightless. He could hear her breathing, it was slow and steady now, but every so often there was a gasp sound she made that caused his chest to tighten.

He brushed his thumb over her knuckles. "You’re safe," he whispered again, even though she couldn’t hear him.

She was still deeply asleep. It’s been 4 hours now. Even though Rafe had assured him that it was okay for her to sleep that long, he couldn’t let her out of his sight.

The hideout remained quiet.

From outside came muffled voices, Cassian’s and Rafe’s. As always, they were arguing about something, though Luca couldn’t make out the words.

The voices faded as they moved further away, replaced by the crickets of the night.

Luca leaned back, letting his head rest against the wall. His mind kept replaying the moment Bella collapsed, the sound of her skull hitting the ground, the way her body went limp. He could still feel that panic clawing at him.

A faint shiver passed through her body. Luca sat up quickly, leaning over her. Her eyelids fluttered again but didn’t open.

"Shh... it’s alright," he murmured. He reached for the blanket and tucked it closer around her shoulders.

Something shifted in the air.

It was subtle, but the way the hairs on his arms rose, the faint prickling sensation at the back of his neck. His wolf sense was awake now, alert.

He tilted his head, listening.

Footsteps.

Not Cassian, not Rafe, not Killian.

He knew their footsteps. It didn’t sound like this.

Luca’s eyes moved toward the door. The handle didn’t move, but the sound of the steps stopped just outside.

He slid his hand from Bella’s and stood, every muscle tight.

There was a soft scrape against the wood.

His wolf surged beneath his skin, ready.

The footsteps retreated. Slow at first, then quicker, fading quietly into the distance.

Luca stayed where he was, watching the door.

A minute later, Cassian’s voice came from outside. "Luca? Are you there?"

"Yeah," Luca said, not taking his eyes off the door.

Cassian opened it and stepped inside, frowning. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Luca glanced at Bella, then back at him. "Someone was here."

Cassian’s brows pulled together. "Who?"

"I don’t know. They didn’t come in. Just stood there by the door. Listening."

Cassian looked toward the door, "Stood where? There? We were the ones outside the door."

"No. Not you or Rafe or Killian. I sensed a new kind of energy. It wasn’t positive energy, Cassian."

Cassian’s jaw tightened. "Then we’ve got a bigger problem."

His gaze lingered on the door, then flicked back to Luca.

"You’re sure you heard something?"

"I’m not just sure," Luca said. "I told you, I could feel them. Whoever it was, they tried hard to be discreet. I don’t think I would have noticed if it were not for my wolf sense."

Cassian stepped fully inside, shutting the door softly behind him. "Alright. Stay here. I’ll get Rafe and Killian. Don’t let her out of your sight."

"Wasn’t planning to," Luca replied.

Cassian left, his footsteps fading quickly down the corridor.

Luca sat back down, his eyes never leaving the door. His wolf was restless, pacing in the back of his mind. It wanted out, wanted to track whoever had been there. But Bella was right beside him, her skin still too pale for his liking. Leaving her wasn’t an option.

Then Killian came in next. He eased the door shut behind him, leaning against it with his arms crossed.

"You look wired," he said quietly. "What happened?"

"Someone was outside," Luca replied, keeping his tone low so it wouldn’t wake Bella.

Killian’s eyes flicked toward her before meeting Luca’s again. "You’re sure?"

"Everyone keeps asking if I’m sure, would I be making this up?"

He sighed. "I’m not imagining things. I felt them. Different scent, different energy. It wasn’t friendly."

Killian frowned. "You think it’s one of them from earlier?"

"Could be. Could be worse."

Killian stepped closer, lowering his voice further. "If they know where she is, we’ve got a problem. You can’t guard her forever in here."

"I’m not leaving her," Luca said flatly.

"I’m not saying you should," Killian replied. "I’m saying we guard her. You trust me to take a shift?"

Luca hesitated, then shook his head. "No."

Killian gave a short, humorless laugh. "Figures. You think I’d let anything happen to her? I was the one who—" He stopped himself, jaw tightening.

Luca studied him. "The one who hit her," he said quietly.

Killian’s gaze didn’t flinch. "And the one who’ll make sure no one else touches her. Ever again."

The room fell silent for a beat, the weight of his words hanging there.

Killian’s eyes drifted to the door, then back to Bella.

"She’s breathing easier now," he said quietly, "but if what you sensed is real, we can’t keep her here."

Luca’s grip on her hand tightened. "I’m not moving her while she’s like this."

"I’m not saying now," Killian replied, his voice low and steady. "I’m saying soon. You know as well as I do, this place used to be off the radar. Now it’s not. You can smell it, can’t you? The air’s different. Someone’s been tracking us."

Luca’s jaw flexed. "I’m not putting her out there in the open."

"Then find somewhere safer. Somewhere they don’t know." Killian stepped closer, lowering his voice even more. "Look, I may not be the best person to advise you right now, but sitting still is like sitting in a trap and holding the bait. If they want her, they’ll come back. And next time, they won’t stop at standing outside the door."

Luca glanced down at Bella, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "But she’s too weak to move."

"Then think about where you’re moving her, so when she’s ready, we don’t waste time deciding." Killian’s tone sharpened slightly. "You’re the strategist, right? Act like it."

It was quiet for a few minutes, then the sound of multiple sets of footsteps approached the door. Cassian flung it open, walking in with Rafe in tow.

Rafe’s eyes swept the room, then landed on Bella. "She’s still asleep?"

Luca nodded. "Yeah. But we might not be safe here."

Rafe crossed his arms. "What’s going on?"

Killian answered. "Luca says someone was standing right outside. Listening."

Rafe frowned. "Could’ve been one of the students."

"There are no others here," Luca said sharply. "No one knows this place. Just the four of us and it wasn’t one of us."

Rafe’s jaw clenched. "Then whoever it was now knows where we are now.."

The four of them fell silent, the weight of that thought pressing down.

"Alright," Cassian finally said. "Let’s go check the perimeter. See if we can pick up a trail before it totally disappears."

"I’ll go," Luca said immediately.

Cassian shook his head. "You stay with Bella. Rafe’s better at picking up traces anyway."

Luca started to argue, "but I heard their footsteps and sensed their energy. I should be able to recognise it again immediately."

"No Luca, you stay and watch Bella," Cassian argued.

"Yes, I think so too," Rafe chipped in. "Besides, I think she would feel more safe and relaxed if she woke up to see you."

He took one look at Bella’s still sleepy, peaceful face and it silenced him.

"Fine," he muttered.

Rafe grabbed his jacket and headed for the door with Killian. Cassian followed, pausing only to glance back at Luca. "Lock it behind us."

When they were gone, Luca slid the bolt into place. He sat again, leaning forward so his forearms rested on his knees, watching the slow rise and fall of Bella’s chest.

Then she stirred.

Luca was at her side in an instant. "Hey... easy."

Her eyes opened, unfocused at first, then slowly finding his face.

She blinked. "Luca..."

"Hey Bella, I’m right here ."

Her throat worked as if she wanted to say more, but instead she turned her head slightly toward the wall. "It’s not safe here," she murmured.

Luca froze. "Why do you say that?"

Her gaze flicked back to him, sharp now despite the weakness in her body. "Because... I saw them."

"Who?"

But her eyes closed again, as if the effort of speaking had drained her.

"Bella?"

Nothing.

The bolt on the door rattled.

Luca’s head snapped toward it. "Cassian?"

"It’s me," Cassian’s voice came through.

Luca unlocked it and pulled the door open. Cassian stepped in, alone, looking grim.

"Where’s Rafe and Killian?" Luca asked.

"Still checking the far side of the compound. But we found tracks."

Luca straightened. "What kind of tracks?"

Cassian’s mouth tightened. "Bare feet. Humans. But the gait... it’s wrong."

"Wrong how?"

Cassian glanced at Bella before answering. "Like they were half-crouched. Moving low, light. Stalking."

Luca’s wolf bristled at the word.

Cassian lowered his voice. "And the scent... it’s not anyone from here."

Before Luca could reply, a sharp howl split the night air outside, distant, but close enough to freeze them both in place.

It wasn’t a warning howl.

It was a signal.

Luca’s heart kicked hard against his ribs.

Cassian drew in a slow breath. "We’re not alone out here."