Page 43 of Map of Pain
“Why aren’t I scared of you?”The question slipped out before he could stop it, quiet but clear in the night air.
Luka turned to him, his eyebrows raised before shifting into something soft and contemplative. He considered the questionseriously, then he shrugged, a gesture somehow more eloquent than words could have been.
The shrug said:I don’t know either. But here we are.
Nick found himself smiling at that explanation, and for the first time in years, felt excited about what might come next.
Chapter seventeen
Obedient, belonging, devoted, soft...
Luka
Luka watched Nick work the lock of room 17 at the Bluebird Motel with practiced precision, managing to jimmy the lock with thin metal tools he produced from his boot with surprising dexterity. When the lock clicked open, Nick pushed the door with his shoulder, holding it for Luka to enter first.
Luka typed into his phone, unable to hide his amused expression as he flashed the screen at Nick.
I meant check in at the front desk.
Nick shook his head, eyes serious.“Too risky.They’dhave security cameras and require ID.”He slipped inside after Luka, closing the door quietly behind them.“This is better.”
The room smelled of cheap detergent and the ghosts of cigarettes, overlaid with the musty scent of neglect. Luka remained near the door while Nick methodically checked every corner—under the beds, inside the closet, behind the showercurtain. His movementswerefluid and practiced, but Luka caught the subtle shift in his scent as the hunter took control.
Luka let Nick complete his sweep despite knowing right away by scent alone that there was no one else in the room. Nick needed the ritual, this reclamation of control after the vulnerability of their walk.
He held up his thumb and cocked his eyebrow when Nick finally stilled.
“Yeah.”Nick nodded, and Luka caught the faint return of jasmine as tension bled from his shoulders.“Keep the lights off. Less chance someone notices the room is occupied.”
Luka settled into the chair by the window, watching as Nick set proximity alarms using items from his backpack—half-empty water bottles positioned to fall if the door opened, a makeshift tripwire across the bathroom threshold. The hunter’s resourcefulness continued to impress him, but more than that, Nick’s scent was settling into something almost peaceful.
Home-making,his beast observed with satisfaction.
“I’m going to wash up,”Nick announced, grabbing clothes from his pack.
As the bathroom door closed, Luka pulled out the burner phone. Vincenthadbeen texting frantic messages to the phone, clearly not having been informed that Ophelia’s burnerwaswith him. Guilt twisted in his mind—not just about ignoring Vincent’s texts, but about Matteo. His twin needed him, and here hewasin a stolen motel room with a hunter who tried to kill him multiple times.
The video call connected after two rings. Vincent’s face appeared, scowling and drawn with worry.
“Ophelia? Where the fuck—”Vincent’s expression shifted from irritation to shock.“Luka? What are you doing with Ophelia’s drug phone? Where have you been? Your phone’s been off for days!”
Luka raised his hands to sign, but Vincent continued his tirade.
“Do you have any idea what’s been happening? Jae and Matoskah showed up at the farm asking me to help bury two Society bodies! Two! And no explanation except ‘Luka will call you.’ What the fuck?”
Adam appeared in frame behind Vincent, placing a calming hand on his shoulder.“Vincent, let him answer.”Adam’s eyes met Luka’s through the screen.“Are you okay? We’ve been worried.”
Luka nodded, hands moving to form a response.«There’s something I need to see through. I’ll be home in a few days.»
Vincent’s anger dissolved instantly into concern, his eyes narrowing as he studied Luka’s face through the screen.“What’s going on? I’ve never seen you like this.”
«Like what?»Luka asked, genuinely confused.
“Like...”Vincent gestured vaguely at the screen.“This. Secretive. Distracted. The only time I’ve seen you this way is when Matteo’s in trouble, but this is different. You look...”He paused, searching for words.“Content. Despite everything.”
Heat rose to Luka’s face—an unfamiliar sensation of embarrassment washing over him. His beast was restless in his chest, protective of the feelings hewasn’tready to examine under Vincent’s penetrating stare.
«How is Matteo?»he asked, changing the subject.
