The scent hits me before I even round the corner - sweet, salty, and unmistakably Luca. My feet carry me toward Massimo's house without conscious thought, my sea monster instincts overriding any human hesitation. The town square blurs around me, the chatter of tourists and fishermen fading into background noise as that intoxicating aroma pulls me forward.

Lorenzo Paguro stands guard on the porch, arms crossed, his posture defensive. His nostrils flare when he spots me, recognition and warning flashing in his eyes. The air crackles with unspoken tension as we size each other up, two male sea monsters aware of the pheromonal storm brewing inside the house.

"Alberto," he acknowledges, his voice tight with controlled frustration. "Luca's resting. He needs his space."

I clench my jaw, fighting the urge to push past him. "Signor Paguro, I know what he's going through. I've been there. He shouldn't be alone."

Lorenzo takes a step forward, crowding my space. "You think I don't remember your heat? The way you nearly destroyed half the harbor in your frustration? This isn't about friendship anymore, ragazzo. You can smell it too."

He's right. The scent is everywhere - sweet with undertones of something deeper, something primal that makes my heart race and my protective instincts roar to life. Through the open window upstairs, I catch a glimpse of movement, and my breath catches. Is that Luca?

The sound of a chair scraping against wood echoes from upstairs, followed by a muffled whimper that sends a jolt through my body. Before I can stop myself, I'm moving toward the stairs.