To Love Luca

Chapter 7

The following couple of days were filled with uneasy tension. My boss insisted I didn't come to work for the rest of the week so I don't make any costumers uncomfortable and now I was stuck miserable at home. Ryland wasn't speaking much to me but he would give me random hugs or grab my hand and squeeze it tightly. I don't think he knows what to say. He has a lot to process I guess.

Magnus decided that it would be a grand idea to have a movie night to ease the tension in the house. I've barely spoken to him since our car conversation and he definitely hasn't addressed anything said since. Aiden, Levi, and Cassiuis have practically ignored my presence. I could tell Aiden was feeling guilty for letting his wolf take over every time he saw the faded bruises on my face. Wolves are supposed to heal faster than humans but I had always healed slower compared to the others. Compared to them my abilities were more sluggish. Levi seemed to once again be indifferent to me but Cassius still held a look of disdain towards me.

We were about to finish the first movie and everyone had been docile so far. No arguments no bickering. We all just sat and watched I was sure part of it was due to the pure exhaustion everyone felt after this week. The movie ended and just as I was preparing to ask what we'd watch next Magnus clasped his hands and stood up.

"Alright let's head to bed everyone I'm tired," Magnus stretched out while yawning. Everyone stood up from the couch. I glanced at the clock to see the red numbers glowing. 8:30

"You're tired at only 8:30?" I exclaimed out in accusation.

"I've been feeling exhausted lately" Magnus sighed. For only a moment I felt guilty at my suspicions. He works harder than all of us to keep our lives together on top of dealing with everything that happened this week. Sure we work too but Magnus does all the stuff that none of us bothered to learn to do. Taxes and banking and all that other shit.

"Well not everyone else has to go to bed too, and you should relax more you always seem stressed." I mumbled out. Magnus gave me an unreadable look before pulling me into his embrace. Again that tingling sensation ignited through my body, still, I said nothing about it.

Azrael went and began to descend the stairs, everyone else following suit except Magnus who was waiting to put me to bed.

"Are you all going to bed seriously?" I felt the anger begin to rise in my stomach as the warm feeling from Magnus' embrace rapidly subsided. They expected me to do this for the rest of my life? Let them micromanage me for a reason they refused to tell me?

"Bud we are tired,'' Levi sighed out while ruffling my hair.The first time he'd spoken to me in three days and it was like I was a child. If he really thought I was a child then why the hell did he jump me with Cassius and Aiden.

"Well, let me stay down here and watch TV since I'm not tired," I tried to reason since there wasn't a TV in my room.

"Luca, you know the rules. Everyone's rooms get locked and we all go to bed at the same time. It's for everyone's protection," My head snapped towards Magnus as he spoke. The fact that he thought I truly didn't know that I was the only one 'locked' in my room at night demonstrates how delusion he is about what he thinks is right and what the reality is.

"Protection from what? It's been 11 years and nothing has happened. What are you trying to protect me from?" I felt the wind pick up in the room as my anger boiled over.

"You? It's for all of our safety, not just you Luca." Magnus gritted out.

"Then why am I the only one whose room gets locked at night?" I challenged.

"What?" His voice came out unsure, almost surprised.

"No one else gets locked in at night. Just me," I started again, more confident as I spoke this time around. The others looked uncomfortable as I peered at them. Their gazes adverted my own, afraid to give away the truth with their eyes. But I already knew, I didn't need them.