His Stray

Chapter 22

5 years prior

Celia stood at the edge of the lake, arms crossed tight over her chest, her foot tapping impatiently. The late afternoon sun dappled through the trees, glittering across the water. Normally this place calmed her, but right now it only made her more restless.

She’d waited nearly twenty minutes, stewing the entire time over what she’d overheard at school. Teegan and Ava, again, of course, giggling in the hallway about Lucas and how “incredible” he looked during training, how broad his shoulders had gotten, how he was probably the best-looking guy in the whole pack.

And it wasn’t just them. Everywhere she turned, some girl seemed to be whispering or glancing his way. It was like all of a sudden, everyone had woken up and realized how handsome Lucas was. It made her stomach twist in a way that was hard to understand, and even harder to admit.

She jerked when she heard twigs snapping behind her. Lucas stepped into the clearing, hands shoved in his pockets with that easy grin that usually made her heart flutter.

“Hey. Sorry I’m late. Landon kept me after training to go over some moves, he said, his hair damp with sweat, shirt sticking to his chest. He had grown a lot over the last few years, nearly taller than a lot of the men in the pack. He had gone from lanky and awkward to solid and broad. His muscles strained under the thin fabric, the exact sight all those girls were drooling over. It only made her mood worse.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t realize you were so busy these days,” she muttered, turning away to stare at the water.

Lucas frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Her voice was sharp. “Just that it must be hard being the center of every girl’s universe right now.”

His brows shot up. “What?”

“Oh, come on, Lucas. Don’t play dumb. You didn’t hear Teegan practically squealing over how ‘perfect’ your arms looked? Or Ava bragging about how you helped her carry book to the library?”

Lucas blinked, clearly thrown. “I was just being nice. I didn’t think…”

“Of course you didn’t.” Celia let out a bitter laugh. “Why would you think about anything when you can just smile and have every girl in the pack lose her mind over you?”

“That’s not fair, Celia.” His voice was tight. “I can’t help what other people say.”

“No, but you sure enjoy it, don’t you?” She snapped her head to look at him, eyes flashing. “You like all the attention. You like that every girl wants you now.”

Lucas stared at her, hurt flickering across his face. “Where is this coming from? You’re my best friend. I don’t care about them like that.”

“Oh, please. We’re barely even friends at school. You can’t be bothered to look at me when you’re around your precious crowd.”

“That’s not true!” he protested, taking a step closer.

She took a step back. “Whatever, Lucas. Just go back to your fan club.”

Then she turned on her heel and stormed off in the trees, her heart racing for all the wrong reasons. She didn’t wait to see if he would follow. If he called after her, she didn’t want to hear it over the pounding in her ears.

She didn’t know why it hurt so badly. Or why it felt like something was cracking inside her chest. She only knew she needed to get away before he saw the tears starting to well in her eyes.

**

Lucas leaned back against the brick wall outside the lunch hall, half-listening to Nolan and Reese argue about who was going to win the regional matches. The sun was out, most of the kids were scattered around the courtyard, and it was one of those rare days he didn’t have extra training, so he was trying to enjoy it.

Or he would have, if Ava wasn’t practically draped over his arm. She laughed at something Nolan said, then laid her hand on Lucas’s forearm, her glossy nails skimming lightly over his skin.

“You’re so quiet today, Lucas,” she purred, tilting her head so her long hair spilled over her shoulder. “Thinking deep alpha thoughts?”

“Something like that,” he said, managing a crooked grin.

Truth was, he was distracted. His eyes kept flicking past Ava, scanning the crowd for Celia. He hadn’t seen her all morning. They hadn’t talked in three days, not since she had nearly cried in the clearing. He couldn’t figure her out. Part of him liked the idea that she was jealous of other girls, but another part was frustrated. It wasn’t like he could control what people said, and she was being ridiculous for blaming him.

He didn’t notice other girls, not the way he noticed Celia and the curves she had developed. The soft swell of her breasts pressing against her shirts. The way her hips swayed when she walked. The way her honey-blonde hair caught the sun and shone like gold. And her lips, so plush and tempting he wanted to press his own to them every time he was near her.

“Lucas,” Ava sang, giving his bicep a little squeeze. “You’re not listening at all, are you?”

“Sorry.” He forced his eyes back to hers, offering a sheepish smile.

“Oh, leave him alone,” Nolan laughed. “Probably daydreaming about his next big spar. Or about you, Ava.”

Ava giggled, biting her lip as she tilted closer. Lucas tried not to wince. That was exactly the kind of comment that would start rumors. He was about to shrug her off when he caught a flash of gold hair across the yard. Celia. Her blue eyes met his for only a second before they narrowed, her mouth twisting into a hurt scowl. Then she spun on her heel and stormed back inside.

Shit.

Lucas didn’t even think. He peeled Ava’s hand off his arm and muttered a quick, “Be right back,” ignoring the teasing shouts from his friends. He pushed through the doors into the cool hallway, his heart pounding for reasons he didn’t want to think too hard about.

He spotted Celia just before she turned the corner. “Celia, wait.”

She didn’t stop. If anything, she walked faster.

“Celia!” He caught up to her and wrapped his hand around her wrist, tugging her back. “Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

“Let go,” she snapped, trying to twist away.

“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

She let out a humorless laugh, eyes flashing. “Why don’t you go back to Ava? You two seemed real cozy out there.”

Lucas blinked. “That’s what this is about?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Lucas,” she bit out. “You didn’t exactly look miserable with her hanging all over you.”

“She’s just... friendly.” He winced. It sounded weak even to him. “It’s nothing.”

“Right,” Celia scoffed, yanking her wrist free. “Because girls like Ava always drape themselves all over guys they see as nothing.”

Lucas let out a low groan, then grabbed her hand again, pulling her into the small space under the back stairwell. It was dim and smelled faintly of damp stone, but at least no one could see them there.

“Celia, stop,” he said, lowering his voice. “Look at me.”

She refused, glaring at the wall instead.

“Come on,” he murmured, brushing her chin with his thumb until she finally met his eyes. “I don’t want Ava. It was just talking.”

Her throat moved as she swallowed, her eyes suspiciously bright. “Then why was she hanging all over you? Why do you let her if it doesn’t mean anything?”

“Because...” He hesitated, sliding his hand from her chin up her cheek, feeling the soft heat of her skin. “Because it’s easier than making a scene. I’m supposed to act a certain way. People expect it. If I don’t, my dad will start asking questions.”

She let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping. “Yeah, I know.”

He took a step closer, cupping the back of her neck to hold her gaze. “You don’t need to worry so much,” he whispered. “I don’t want just any girl.”

A soft, broken laugh escaped her. “You’re so stupid sometimes.”

“Yeah.” He gave her a crooked grin. “But you still like me.”

“Unfortunately.”

He huffed a laugh and leaned down, brushing his nose against hers in a way that made his stomach twist. Then he wrapped his arms around her, tucking her against his chest. She melted into him almost immediately, her fingers bunching in the back of his shirt.

That was exactly when a throat cleared behind them. Lucas jerked, turning just enough to see Ava standing a few feet away, her mouth slightly open, eyes wide.

“Oh,” she said, voice small. “Sorry. I didn’t realize...”

Celia pulled away, her cheeks bright red. Lucas held her for another heartbeat, then let go. “It’s fine, Ava.”

Ava lingered a moment too long, her eyes darting between them, before she turned and hurried off, her footsteps echoing down the hall.

Celia wouldn’t meet his eyes. She ran a hand through her hair, biting her lip. “I should get to class.”

Lucas nodded, throat tight. “Yeah. Me too.”

She slipped away without another word, leaving Lucas standing under the stairs with a strange, hollow feeling in his chest.