After leaving the chief’s house, Luke made his way back home.
He still felt guilty about the whole situation and the fact that he had ruined the trip for Roxanne. However, Thea was too important to ignore. She was a key piece in helping him obtain something worth a fortune.
He had promised Roxanne that Thea would never come between them, and he intended to keep that promise. Even if he had to be a little strict, he would make sure to keep that troublesome woman under control.
"Gary," Luke called as he reached the barter hub along the way.
"Ah, Luke. How was the meal?" Gary asked as he stepped out of his hut.
"Delicious. Um, I was wondering, when can we move into the new house?"
Gary smiled. "I’ve already sent someone to clean the place. You can move in by tomorrow."
Luke hummed. "Then we’ll probably start moving once we return from the trip."
Gary nodded. "Whatever you prefer. Just make sure to let me know beforehand. I’ll send a few people to help carry your things."
Luke smiled. "Thanks, man. You’ve been a huge help. Let me know if you ever need anything from me."
Gary chuckled. "Sure."
Soon, Luke left and headed home.
....
Since it was a sunny day he rushed back home quickly.
And the moment he stepped inside, his mood instantly soured.
"Luke," Terek called.
"What is it?" Luke asked, not a hint of warmth in his voice.
A moment later, Gustav stepped out of his room, followed by Lex, as though both had expected the two of them to cross paths.
Gustav looked visibly tense, while Lex seemed ready to step in if things turned ugly.
To Luke’s surprise, Terek simply asked, "Can you do me a favor and talk to Zuri for a while?"
Luke raised a brow. "She still isn’t talking?"
Just then, Ginna and Monica also walked out, likely having heard the front door open but seeing no one head toward the kitchen.
"She’s been talking," Terek admitted, "but I can tell she isn’t doing well. I’m not good at understanding people, but you are."
His gaze then shifted to a certain brown-haired woman.
"Monica."
"Yes?" Monica asked, growing flustered as everyone’s attention suddenly fell on her.
Terek spoke in a quieter voice. "Forgive me for the way I spoke to you. I shouldn’t have meddled in your life, and I shouldn’t have disrespected you."
Monica exchanged a glance with Luke before replying, "It’s okay. But please don’t blame anyone for what happened. Whatever decision was made, it was made with everyone’s consent."
Terek nodded, though Luke could tell the man was still struggling to accept reality. Luke didn’t give a damn about that anyway.
"Alright, I’ll go see her," Luke said before turning to Monica. "Have you packed everything?"
Monica nodded with a smile. "Yes. Laila is prepared too."
Luke smiled back. "It won’t take long."
He walked past everyone and entered Terek’s room, where Zuri sat quietly by the window, doing nothing.
Her vacant gaze suggested she was lost in thought, and her pale complexion made it obvious she hadn’t slept well the previous night.
Luke gently closed the door behind him and walked over.
"Zuri," he called softly.
The woman flinched in surprise.
For someone as skilled as a warrior, failing to notice another person approaching was enough to show just how deeply she had been lost in her thoughts.
"Luke?" Zuri asked. "When did you get here?"
"Just now." He took a seat beside her. "What were you thinking about?"
"Ah... it’s nothing." She forced a faint smile. "I was just thinking about how I almost got myself killed yesterday."
Luke wasn’t surprised.
Taking her hand, he said, "You can be honest with me. At least when it comes to this, we’re the only two people who can be completely truthful with each other."
Zuri’s brows rose. "You haven’t told Monica about this?"
Luke shook his head. "Not everything. She only knows that I saw something, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the whole truth." He let out a quiet sigh. "Just like you."
Zuri fell silent.
From everything she had seen over the past two days, Luke and Monica had grown far closer than they used to be. Yet despite that, Luke had still chosen to keep such a heavy secret from his mate, carrying the burden alone without forcing it onto her.
"I really need to learn from you," the redhead murmured quietly.
Luke chuckled. "Didn’t I tell you? The moment you step out of that big guy’s shadow, you’ll learn a lot more."
Zuri’s shoulders slumped at those words.
"Actually... I chose to explore that side of the forest because I wanted to hunt the Hunter Killer and earn Terek’s recognition."
Luke’s brows rose in surprise.
He had always wondered why Zuri had gone to the eastern region. He had assumed it was for the same reason he went there, because the other areas were too crowded.
It turned out to be something entirely different.
"Even though I’m his life partner and his comrade on the battlefield, I still couldn’t earn his respect or recognition." Her voice grew quieter. "That’s why I made such a foolish decision. I tried to take down the Hunter Killer all by myself."
Luke frowned in confusion. "But why do you need to do something extraordinary just to earn his recognition? I mean, I respect Monica for who she is. I don’t expect her to suddenly accomplish something impossible or make me a fortune before I can respect her. I appreciate the effort she puts into the little things she does every day. And I love her for all of those reasons."
Zuri sat there in stunned silence.
Those words were coming from someone so much younger than her.
She had always tried to become the perfect mate for Terek. Someone who could not only manage the household but also stand beside him as an equal on the battlefield.
That was why, even after exhausting days of training, when everyone else had gone to sleep, she stayed awake to learn new recipes, practice sewing, and weave baskets, all in the hope of becoming someone Terek would truly acknowledge.
Yet here was Luke, considering Monica special simply because of the person she already was.
The warmth and sincerity in his eyes made it impossible to doubt a single word he had just said.
Lowering her gaze, she whispered, "Monica is lucky to have you as her mate."
If only she could receive even half the attention Luke gave his own mate. Half the respect he showed her.
Until she witnessed Luke and Monica together, Zuri had believed her own life was normal.
"Ah..."
Suddenly, Luke gently cupped her cheek, making her look at him.
His eyes were filled with warmth as he said, "I feel sorry for you, Zuri. That man doesn’t deserve all the effort you’ve put in just to be seen by him."
Her cheeks grew warm.
Her heart began to race.
Hearing someone finally acknowledge all the hard work she had poured into her life, while looking at her with such gentle eyes, was enough to shake her to the core. There was no way she could remain unaffected.
That’s why, when he leaned forward and suddenly claimed her lips, resistance was the last thing on her mind.
The contact was soft and warm, a gentle press that lingered just long enough to let her feel the heat of his breath mingling with her own.
At that moment, she had no idea what to do—her lips remained still and uncertain beneath his, clumsy and new to this sensation.
Luke didn’t pull away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and deepened the kiss with quiet passion, his mouth moving more insistently against hers.
His hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, drawing her closer as he coaxed her lips apart with gentle pressure.
The kiss grew hotter, more passionate, his tongue teasing the seam of her mouth in a slow, seductive glide.
Zuri gasped softly into the kiss, completely lost. Her hands rose instinctively to clutch at his shirt, fingers trembling as she tried to follow his lead.
Her cheeks burned, and a quiet, needy whimper slipped out when his tongue brushed hers, sending sparks racing down her spine.
She somehow knew this was bad and she shouldn’t be doing this with him but her mind was too fuzzy to think straight.
For a few heated moments, the world narrowed to the slick, intimate dance of their mouths. Luke’s free hand rested on her waist, pulling her flush against him as he savored the sweet innocence of her response.
He kept it controlled, passionate but not overwhelming, letting her feel every deliberate stroke and teasing nip.
And when he finally parted, he saw a gasping, needy woman who looked at him with her eyes half closed.
What he truly desired right now was impossible to happen. So he just leaned forward and whispered, "If you need someone to talk to, you can come to me."
Saying so, he got up and left.
Zuri stared at the door with a complicated gaze.
Surely, now though, she wasn’t going to think about the incident anymore.
....but rather the strange heat pooling between her legs.