Fated reborn - Chapter 250: Chapter 250

Luciano's pov.
alright so we finally left the office, me, victor, and marcus. the sun was already kinda low, sky all orange and purple like it couldn't make up its mind. my head was pounding from all that talking, felt like we'd been stuck in that room forever, papers everywhere and voices just droning on. victor looked about the same, dark circles under his eyes, and marcus was just quiet, hands in his pockets like he was tired of everything too. none of us really said much, just a few grunts and nods, too tired to bother with words.
we headed down the steps, boots clunking all heavy, and the guards at the doors straightened up soon as they saw us, nodding real quick. "alphas," they said, voices all formal and stuff, and we just mumbled back, too wiped out to do more. air was cool at least, smelled like leaves and the kind of damp that comes before rain, and i breathed in deep, trying to clear my head a bit. didn't help much, but it was better than that stale office air.
our cars were parked out front, all lined up neat like soldiers, and i dug my keys out, metal cool in my palm. victor muttered something about needing a drink and marcus just huffed, shoving his hair back with a sigh. we split off, doors slamming with that solid thunk that makes you feel a bit more grounded, and i slouched into the driver’s seat, fingers tight on the wheel for a second. engine rumbled to life, low and steady, and i blew out a breath, rolling my shoulders and trying to get rid of the knots between them.
ride back to the pack house was quiet, just the road stretching on and headlights cutting through the dark. didn’t bother with music, didn’t really feel like it, just cracked the window a bit to let the air in and tried to keep my eyes open. whole world was dim, trees slipping past in a blur, and the headlights from victor’s car flashed in the mirror every now and then, comforting in a way i didn’t wanna think too much about.
when the pack house came into view, lights warm behind the windows and guards posted at the gates, something in my chest eased a bit, that tight feeling that’d been sitting there since this morning letting up. pulled up slow, gravel crunching under the tires, and parked next to victor’s car, engine ticking quiet when i shut it off.
the guards nodded soon as we stepped out, all straight-backed and formal, murmuring “alphas” like they’d practiced it. i just grunted, too tired to manage more, and victor waved them off with a half-hearted flick of his wrist, muttering something about needing a shower and a bed.
door swung open soon as we got close, one of the maids stepping back with a quick dip of her head. “welcome back, alphas,” she said, voice all soft and polite, and i just mumbled something that might’ve been a thanks, slouching past her with a sigh. house was warm, lights dim and shadows stretched long, and i kicked my boots off without bothering to line them up, leaving them by the door with victor’s. marcus did the same, dark eyes flicking around like he was half on guard still, shoulders all tight and tense.
we didn’t say much, just shuffled off to our rooms with mumbled goodnights that were more grunts than anything. my room was quiet, bed half-unmade and window cracked to let the cool air in. i dragged my shirt off, tossing it somewhere near the chair, and collapsed onto the bed face-first, sheets cool against my face.
for a second, i just lay there, eyes shut and breathing slow, trying to clear my head. everything was too loud still, thoughts all jumbled and messy, and i pressed my face into the pillow with a groan, rolling onto my back to stare at the ceiling.
my eyes slipped shut after a bit, breathing evening out, and somewhere between awake and asleep, i found myself thinking about lunawyn. the way she smiled sometimes, all soft and kinda shy around the edges, eyes warm and bright. way she laughed, head tipped back and shoulders all loose, like she didn’t have a care in the world.
It felt like i hadn’t seen her in a bit, too busy with all this alpha stuff and meetings that went on too long, reports and plans that never seemed to end. I felt like seeing her all the second of my life. something in my chest ached a bit, the kinda dull throb you can’t shake, and i blew out a breath slow, trying to push it down.
wondered what she was doing, if she’d already gone to bed or if she was still up, lights soft and book in hand. she liked reading before bed, always said it helped her sleep, and i could almost see it clear as day, her curled up under the blankets with that little furrow between her brows when she got to a part she didn’t like.
lips twitched a bit at that, something soft and tired pulling at my mouth, and i let my eyes slip shut, thoughts all tangled up in her.
the room was dark and quiet, house settling around me with those little creaks and groans that usually bugged me but right then were kinda comforting, steady in a way my thoughts weren’t. sheets were soft, pillow cool, and for the first time all day, that tight, heavy feeling in my chest let up a bit, breaths coming a little easier.
the last thing i thought about before sleep dragged me under was her, eyes bright and smile warm, and that soft, breathless laugh she always tried to hide behind her hand. and then everything went dark and quiet, and i let it.
"I'll surely make some time for both of us tommorow" I said to myself with a warm smile before closing my eyes.