Fated reborn - Chapter 231: Chapter 231

Luciano’s POV.
I didn’t think I heard right at first.
But the second my gaze landed on her, I knew I did.
Trini.
The name slipped from my lips without thought, barely more than a breath, but Victor said it at the same time.
She was standing just at the top of the stairs, frozen like a deer caught in headlights, her wide eyes darting between us. For a moment, nobody moved. The world seemed to slow, to shrink down to just her and the way her scent lingered in the air, warm and familiar.
Then she did the last thing I expected.
She turned and ran.
Not just a hesitant step back—not a slow retreat. No, she bolted. Her nightgown billowed behind her as she dashed up the stairs, bare feet barely making a sound against the wood.
“What the—” I started, but she was already gone, disappearing around the corner faster than I thought possible.
Silence stretched between us.
Dorian looked just as stunned as the rest of us, his gaze locked on the staircase like he couldn’t quite believe what just happened. Victor rubbed his jaw, exhaling sharply.
“Well,” he said finally, “that was… a reaction.”
I blinked. “You think?”
Marcus, who had been watching the entire thing with a sharp, assessing look, leaned back slightly. “She ran like her life depended on it.”
Dorian still hadn’t moved. His hands were clenched at his sides, his jaw tight, like he was holding himself back from chasing after her right then and there.
Victor crossed his arms. “She’s shy,” he mused, more to himself than anyone else. “That was probably too much all at once.”
I dragged a hand down my face, still processing. “So what now?”
Dorian exhaled slowly, finally tearing his gaze from the stairs. “We give her space.” His voice was measured, controlled, but I could see the way his muscles were still tense, like every instinct in him wanted to do the opposite.
Victor nodded. “Let’s sit.”
It took a second, but we all moved, stepping back into the dining hall and returning to our seats. The food was still there, still warm, but none of us were thinking about eating anymore.
Nobody spoke right away.
I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling before shaking my head. “Didn’t think I’d see something like that tonight.”
Victor smirked slightly. “You and me both.”
Dorian was quiet, his fingers tapping against the table. He looked deep in thought, his expression unreadable.
Marcus finally broke the silence. “She recognized you.”
Dorian nodded once. “Yeah.”
“And she ran.”
A muscle ticked in Dorian’s jaw. “Yeah.”
Victor raised a brow. “That mean something to you?”
Dorian exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “It means she felt it. The bond.” He shook his head slightly. “She probably wasn’t expecting it.”
“Neither were you,” I pointed out.
Dorian huffed a quiet, humorless laugh. “Fair enough.”
Victor leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “So what’s the plan?”
Dorian didn’t answer right away. He seemed to be turning something over in his mind, considering his words carefully. “I’m not chasing her down tonight.” His voice was firm, decisive. “She needs time to process.”
Marcus hummed. “Smart choice.”
I smirked slightly. “That mean you’re not gonna spend the whole night pacing?”
Dorian shot me a look but didn’t respond.
Victor shook his head. “She’ll come around. Just gotta give her time.”
That was easier said than done.
The energy in the room had shifted, that undercurrent of anticipation still thick in the air. Even as conversation started back up, even as we settled into the familiar rhythm of easy discussion, there was an edge to everything.
And it wasn’t just Dorian.
Victor was thinking. I could see it in the way he kept glancing toward the stairs like he expected Trini to come running back down at any moment.
She wouldn’t.
Not tonight.
Time passed. Plates were cleared, the fire in the hearth crackling softly as the night deepened.
Eventually, one by one, we started drifting toward sleep.
Marcus was the first to rise. “I’m turning in.”
Victor followed soon after, stretching before pushing his chair back. “Same.”
I rolled my shoulders, the weight of the day finally settling in. “Guess that makes three of us.”
Dorian was the last to stand. He didn’t say much, just nodded as we all made our way toward the stairs.
The pack house had quieted. Most of the others had already gone to bed, the halls dimly lit with only a few lanterns flickering along the walls.
The scent of pine and burning wood lingered, familiar and grounding.
Nobody spoke as we climbed the stairs, each lost in our own thoughts.
But just before we reached our rooms, Dorian exhaled.
“I’ll see her tomorrow.” His voice was low, steady.
Victor gave him a look but nodded. “Yeah. You will.”
I clapped Dorian on the shoulder before heading to my own room, my mind still replaying the way Trini had looked before she ran.
Something told me tomorrow was going to be interesting.
I pushed my door open and stepped inside, letting it close behind me with a quiet click. The exhaustion settled in fully now that I was alone, the weight of the day pressing down on my shoulders.
Standing in the center of my room, I let out a breath and shook my head, a small, tired smile tugging at my lips. What a night.
Trini’s reaction still played over in my mind—the way she froze, the way she ran. I hadn’t expected that. None of us had.
I ran a hand down my face, then started pulling off my clothes, tossing them onto the chair in the corner before heading into the bathroom. A long bath was exactly what I needed.
The warm water did wonders, easing some of the tension in my muscles. I leaned back, closing my eyes for a moment, letting myself relax. But even as I did, my thoughts kept circling back to everything that had happened.
Dorian wasn’t gonna get any sleep tonight. I knew that much. He was probably still thinking about her, still restless, fighting the urge to go looking for her.
I prayed this whole thing worked out smoothly. The last thing we needed was more chaos.
When I was done, I slipped into my nightwear and walked back to my bed, sinking onto the mattress with a sigh. Lying on my back, I stared at the ceiling, letting my mind wander.
I knew this wasn’t gonna be easy.
I turned, reaching for my phone, turning it on. The brightness made me squint, and I groaned, quickly shutting it off again.
Letting out a long sigh, I muttered to myself, “There’s gonna be a whole lotta drama tomorrow.”