Chapter 310

I watch Luca's face change as he realizes that he's causing a scene, and that this does indeed look like a press setup. Luca coming running out of the house to clasp my face in his hands, when he could have easily just let us come inside?

Yeah, it really does look to everyone here - the press included, probably - like he deliberately came outside so that the press could get a shot of us on the front porch.

But no one else can feel Luca's emotions like I do right now - he's devastated, completely out of control of how he's feeling. Which, I mean, really could affect his choices, right?

"I'm sorry," Luca mutters, his eyes back on me now as he drops my face and stumbles back towards his screen door, yanking it open. "Please - yes, come inside _"

We do, and I duck my head, staying close to Rafe's side, hoping that the paparazzi didn't get anything that they could use. I mean, it's not like anything bad happened - but if pictures of me on Luca's porch this morning come out with Rafe and Jesse by my side? Who knows where social media is going to take it.

The speculations, I'm sure, are already wild.

Jesse closes the door behind him and shakes his head at Luca, clearly pissed off. "What the hell was that all about?" he asks, gesturing towards the press.

"They've been here all day!" Luca explains, shooting out a hand, I think desperate to be believed. I watch him closely, and honestly I don't think that he's acting - not at all. He seems to me to be really upset. I take a step towards him, wanting to comfort my mate, but Rafe reaches out to touch my arm just slightly - asking me, silently, to hold back for a minute.

I hesitate, but do as Rafe asks, letting my brother take charge. "You're not an idiot, Luca," Rafe says, his voice low, his eyes narrowed. "You're a celebrity - you know how press works. You know not to go running out on the front porch unless you want them to see it. So, what the hell was that? What the hell is all of this?"

Rafe crosses his arms, getting angrier at Luca as the moments pass.

I look between my brother and my mate, thinking again that this whole thing doesn't look great for Luca.

And my heart sinks because...I mean, honestly, I think this whole time I didn't really believe that he broke the story. But...did he? "Come on," a voice rings out from behind Luca, and I peer around him a bit to see his mom standing there, her face very serious, her arms crossed over her chest. "They can still see you," she says, lifting her chin to where press are gathered around the porch, aiming their cameras through the large window in the front door. I mean, I doubt they're getting anything they can use, but Linda is right - they can see us.

"Why don't you all come into the living room, where there's a bit more privacy?" Linda gestures towards the room before walking into it, clearly suggesting we follow.

Luca sighs, shaking his head and gritting his teeth, realizing that he's doing this all wrong. But then he turns, gesturing to where his mother is waiting. "Yes, of course, please come inside," he says, falling back on the manners which I'm sure his mom drilled into him as a child.

Rafe and Jesse glance at each other but then move, following Linda into the living room. I go last, glancing at the window and all the hungry press outside, wondering how the hell we're going to get out of here.

Inside the living room I see Luca murmuring his introductions between the Crown Prince, the Duke, and his mom, but the whole time his eyes are searching for me. I just cross my arms and wait for him to finish, my face not giving anything away.

Linda smiles politely at Rafe and Jesse, shaking their hands, before sighing and recrossing her arms. "Well, I'm not going to insult you by pretending that I don't know why you're here, and why you're upset." She gives Luca a little glare that makes my stomach drop - because, I mean, if his own mom is mad at him...

"We didn't mean to disturb you, ma'am," Rafe says, nodding apologetically. "But -"noveldrama

"No, you're very welcome here," she says, holding up a hand to stop him as she turns away. "I'll let you talk and will bring you some iced tea." With that she leaves the room, leaving the three of us to turn back to Luca.

"I didn't do it," Luca says immediately, holding out his hands towards us.

My heart instantly lightens and I grit my teeth, wanting so terribly badly to believe him.

"I promise," he says, locking eyes with me now and shaking his head slowly back and forth. "Ariel, I didn't know that the story got leaked - I swear it, I didn't tell anyone, and I was completely shocked this morning when the reporter asked me if you were my mate - "