Author''s note: This is from Luca''s point of view

    - - -

    I opened the door of my room and rage swelled inside me when I saw Ash sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at sleeping Zoe.

    She was sleeping on the bed, belly down, and the comforter covered her gorgeous ass and legs.

    "Get away from her.", I squeezed through my teeth while glaring at Ash.

    Ash turned toward me nonchalantly. "Good morning to you too." He glanced at Zoe. "It seems you had a busy night."

    I placed the tray on the side table and stood next to Ash who was acting like all this is normal.

    What the fuck is wrong with him? First, he was reading thoughts without permission, and now he started entering rooms and peeping at people? This is NOT normal! Did he forget what privacy means?

    ''He needs a beating'', Shadow growled in my head, his rage amplified mine, but I didn''t want to fight with Ash. I wanted him to leave.

    "I said. Get. Away. From. Her.", I said angrily.

    Ash smirked. "You know, Zoe is my girlfriend. We didn''t break up."

    I couldn''t believe him. "The moment she realized you are not mates, you broke up."

    "She kissed me. I wouldn''t call that a breakup."

    "Consider that a goodbye kiss." At this point, I was boiling with rage, ready to punch the bastard, but then Zoe stirred.

    I feared that she will turn, and he will get to see her beautiful breasts, so I swiftly leaped on the bed and pulled the comforter higher to cover her up.

    "Luca?", she called drowsily.

    "Shh…", I shushed her while tightening the comforter around her. "Ash is here."

    Zoe''s eyes sprang open, and she pushed herself into me for protection. I could see her clutching the comforter, and I knew that she wanted to dress up, but she had no clothes in my room and I had no intention of leaving her alone with Ash.

    I''ve got an idea.

    In one swift move, I removed my t-shirt and pulled it over Zoe''s head.

    She looked at me gratefully and pushed her hands through the openings for hands. With this, at least her top was covered, and her bottom was under the comforter.

    "Why is he here?", Zoe asked me.

    Ash cleared his throat. "I''m right here. You can ask me."

    Zoe turned to him. "Why are you here?"

    Before Ash could say anything, I did, "Ash said that you didn''t break up with him, so you are still his girlfriend."

    Zoe looked at Ash with an unreadable expression. "Are you serious?"

    "Don''t you think that I deserve an explanation?", Ash asked while his eyes darted from Zoe to me.

    I did my best to stay calm. Zoe''s proximity helped. She was sitting on the bed and leaning on me sideways. My arms were around her and her hands covered mine, silently assuring me that in this duel between Ash and me, Zoe was on my side. That was all I needed to calm down my anxiety, but my rage toward Ash was still bubbling in the pit of my stomach, making me itch for a fight.

    "What do you want to know?", Zoe asked Ash.

    "I need an explanation. Wouldn''t you want one if the roles are reversed?"

    Zoe nodded faintly and I struggled to control my temper. Why was she giving in to his unreasonable demands? What explanation?

    Things were very clear from where I was standing! Zoe and I are mates, and Ash should scram.

    Shadow agreed with me.

    "I''m sorry, Ash.", Zoe said, and I could feel through the bond that she really meant it. "You know that mate bond takes precedence over everything. For years, I believed that you will be my mate. Yes, I liked you. You are good-looking and funny and smart and…"

    Zoe groaned when I tightened my hold on her.

    "Sorry…", I grumbled. Did she really think that I will not blow a fuse when I hear her complimenting another guy? I''m right here!

    Zoe looked at me and patted my cheek to soothe my possessive jealousy before turning to Ash to continue with her explanation.

    "As I said, I was your girlfriend because of more than just my desire to be your mate. But the thing is that Luca was also always present." She turned to me and smiled. "He is undeniably good-looking and smart and caring and supportive, and I was confident that he is the best brother in the world. Any feelings that I had for Luca, I interpreted as an attachment to my brother but now that I know we are not related, I realize that what we have is much more than the mate bond."

    Ash frowned. "What are you saying?"

    "I''m saying that…" Zoe paused and took a deep breath before continuing, "If I knew that Luca is not my brother, even without the mate bond in the picture, if I needed to pick between the two of you, I would pick Luca. I''m sorry, Ash. You are a wonderful guy, and I''m sure you will make some girl very happy, but that girl is not me. I will pray to the Moon Goddess to bless you with finding your mate soon so that you realize how wonderful a relationship is when you find your other half."

    Ash was gaping at Zoe in disbelief, but I was probably more shocked than he was.

    Did I hear Zoe right?

    If I told her a few years back that she is not my sister, I would be the one dating her instead of Ash? If I had the courage to tell the truth, I would spare myself from years of agony whenever I saw them together, or hear them talk about each other and their cheesy relationship?

    To add salt to the wound, if I had enough guts earlier to come clean, we wouldn''t have this awkward conversation with Ash and there wouldn''t be a need to explain to others that we are not siblings.

    I let out a long breath. "I''m sorry guys. This is all my fault. If I had the courage to say the truth earlier, all this would be avoided."

    Ash sneered. "What would be avoided? You would steal my girlfriend earlier?"

    Zoe rolled her eyes. "I''m not your girlfriend, Ash. Not anymore. Please, don''t spoil what we have."

    I could see a vein popping on Ash''s forehead angrily.

    "What we have?", Ash squeezed through his teeth. "Who is WE you are talking about? It''s easy for you to talk. You got a wolf and swapped a guy, Luca got the girl, but what about me? I lost you, everyone is laughing at me, and you think that your shallow apologies will fix it?"

    I raised my hand to get Ash''s attention. "We will talk when you cool off."

    Ash stood up and glared at me. "Look who is acting as a responsible grownup the moment he found his mate. It seems that our friendship doesn''t mean much if you can push me on the side so easily."

    "I''m sorry…"

    "I heard that already!", Ash snapped at Zoe. "Is that the only thing you know how to say? You are sorry? How does that fix anything?"

    "What is your problem!?", I raised my voice. "Why can''t you understand that Zoe and I are mates and there is nothing you can do about it? Or do you want Zoe to reject me as her mate so that you can fulfill your wish to sleep with her? Do you think that without me in the picture, she will pick you?"

    Ash''s eyes flashed with malice. "We won''t know unless we try."

    I''ve had enough. I knew that Ash was spouting nonsense only because he was angry and hurt, and that given enough time his ego will deflate and we will be able to hold a normal conversation, but I also had a limit of how much bullshit I can swallow.

    Even if I ignore everything that happened before this morning, Ash entered my room uninvited and stared at naked Zoe. What would happen if I came later? Would it end with Ash staring at Zoe, or would he give in to his disgusting desire to touch her?

    And he is acting like he owns the place, like he owns Zoe. That''s not happening.

    "Get out!"

    Ash sneered. "Make me."

    I pulled Zoe away from where Ash was standing before I stood up and walked toward him.

    "This is my room. Mine and Zoe''s. From now on, I forbid you from coming here. If you want to talk to us, you can call us on the phone or meet us in the common area."

    Ash''s hands were balled into fists. "How convenient."

    I realized that he wants a fight. He probably came here without any intention to talk. I was an idiot for believing that his ego can be soothed overnight.

    Zoe explained the situation, I explained it, and I know that Ash is not stupid, but his judgment is clouded and it all went over his head.

    Well, maybe I can punch some sense into him. Shadow agreed.

    Sorry, Zoe. I was planning for a romantic morning, but there will be no romance until I take the trash out of our room.

    Ash smirked mockingly. "It seems that your balls grew after spending the night with Zoe."

    He was delusional, but I had no intention of correcting him. Actually, I wanted to egg him more. "Don''t act like you don''t know. This was not our first night together."

    Ash''s expression flared with rage and he lunged at me.

    "STOP!", Zoe screamed, and I found it difficult to move like my whole body was stuck in tar.

    ---

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