And we have entered the lion's den...
Lucius: “You failed, again.” I said, glaring at my son. His eyes hardened, and I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to tell me otherwise. The fact that this was not the first time that he disappoints me is not something that I can easily ignore. I knew that I would normally claim that he was my son; but I was tired of spoiling a brat who couldn’t even catch a girl. “It is not as easy as it seems.” Alessio said, glaring at me. I scoffed and banged the table with my fist. Gabriella and Mariana, the two women who were both Arianna and Malakai’s mothers, looked at me. Gabriella, being the one person who knew not to fear me, she knew that I had a soft side toward her, shook her head at me. Her eyes met mine, and I raised an eyebrow as she turned to look at Alessio. “How many were they?” Gabriella asked, “and more importantly, how did they manage to send news to Donatello? Last I checked Dona Vivian did not have a phone with her. How would they have managed to reach the man when she c
Valerie: “I have my reasons to believe that us coming here is a bad idea.” I said, running my hands over my mate’s chest in the bathtub. Having realized that the two of us were being followed by Leonardo, we both chose to ‘pretend’ to be going at it, missing home enough to do it. Little did we know that it cost us a round or two. And now, the two of us were in the bathtub, with warm water, and bubbles surrounding us. I was sitting in front of Alessandro, curled up as I looked at him, and though I knew that he was a lot calmer now, I could tell that he was being distant. “Hey,” I said, running my finger over his jawline. He looked down at me, and I shook my head at him, wanting him to talk to me. “I know that you are fighting hard to contain yourself, but what you are doing, Alessandro, is only going to end up hurting you.” “You know for fact that if I had another better option, then I would have been taking it; but here I am, dealing with something that no man would want to go t
Alessandro: “What do you mean that they killed Alessio?” I asked, frowning in confusion. It was Alaric who was calling me, and hearing my words, Valerie, who was cutting vegetables, stopped. Even Leonardo froze as he processed my words. The fact that I knew that he was working with Alessio gave him a little more of a warning about the topic. I wanted him to know and deliver that we were on the move and that we were on their tail, to some extent. “They delivered his head back to his father. I am not sure how they managed to get to him, but rumors are spreading around that it is his father that sent him to his death.” He said, and I nodded, looking at Leonardo. The fear and worry that I saw in his eyes told me that this was not what he expected to hear. And considering the fact that he now knew that the man wouldn’t hesitate to kill his son, he knew that he might be more than willing and open to kill him. “The man may be mourning over his son, but that doesn’t deny the fact that he
Valerie: “You are bothered, you know that I can see that in your eyes, right, neonata?” He asked, running his finger over my cheek. His eyes met mine and I leaned against his touch, watching as he smiled. My heart ached, I had to admit that much, but it wasn’t because of Alessio dying, it was because of the number of things that were going to follow such a case. “Yes,” I said, and he ran his finger over my hand gently. “If Lucius was willing to send son to his own death, then what would he be doing to the others that are on his side? How did his mother allow it in the first place? The number of questions that keep swarming through my mind are endless, Alessandro; but this only shows me that we are in something that is a lot bigger than the two of us together.” “You know that nothing is bigger than the two of us, Valerie. We can handle things the way that we do, but you know, we are going to end up losing a lot more than we are going to be benefitting.” He said, and I smiled, shaki
Alessandro: I watched as my mate walked inside the bathroom to take a shower, knowing that she was in pain. I knew that this was about more pain than fear. And I knew that it was because she was worried about what she was going to go through with her family. And though I knew better than to say it out loud, I really did wish that we wouldn’t have to go through that. I did wish that she would accept going to Russia, but I knew at this point that even doing so is not the best idea. Alaric knew that something was going to happen, and that was something that I was more or less worried about, but I couldn’t find myself telling Valerie that. I looked out the window, taking a deep breath for a second before pulling my phone out of my pocket. The fact that I didn’t even know where Destiny was bothered me, but I knew better than to voice anything out about it, I knew that even if Leonardo wasn’t listening, he would have others, and that was something that bothered me even more. I didn’t e
Valerie: I kept my eyes on my brother for a second, knowing that the man was going to be more than willing to do something stupid. “Alessandro?” I asked, and he smirked as he looked at me. Though I knew that I saw his anger in his eyes, I also knew that I saw trust in them. He knew that we were going to be able to get out of it. I just wished that I wasn’t wearing such a pretty dress while doing so. “Run,” he said, pushing me back inside the restaurant. The waiters and waitresses froze for a second, and both Alessandro and I entered before he dropped the manager’s reception, blocking the door. Metal doors suddenly rose and dropped from both the floor and ceiling, closing it, making me frown in confusion; but my mate seemed more calm than I thought that he should be in such a situation. Those who were working, froze, and it wasn’t until two chefs walked out, Asian, holding kitchen knives, that I realized that they were either against or with us. “Capo?” “We are under attack,” Al
Alessandro: To say that I froze would not be a lie. And the fact that Alaric looked away from us only confirmed that what his mother was saying was true. Valerie’s heart raced, and I knew that this was not something that I kept in mind. It wasn’t something that I calculated for, nor was it something that I would have thought would happen. However, it seemed to me that the woman had other plans that she didn’t intend to reveal to us; I doubted that she would have told us anything because she was trying to be ‘friendly’. “Mother, she does not need to know of something that I do not intend to use her for. Had I been willing to have her as a mate…” “You do not get to decide what a Phoenix is to know and what she is not. As for you not wanting to use the cure, last I remembered, you had promised yourself and your siblings that you would be getting cured from the mistake…” “It is not his mistake, mother.” Rheniera said, stopping Esther. The woman glared at her daughter, and Rheniera ra
Valerie: I kept my eyes on Alaric as he walked out of the room that we were in before looking at Alessandro. My mate, understanding what I wanted to do, nodded, allowing me to go. I knew that I was going to have to speak to the man. I wasn’t going to be liking it if I didn’t, but the fact that I knew that a lot could change with this conversation was not going to be a lie. I didn’t even know where it was going to lead, but I knew one thing, it wasn’t going to go to a bar for a drink. He kissed my temple, and I smiled before getting up and following Alaric’s steps, watching as he entered a room. He didn’t close the door, silently letting me know that he was well aware that I was following him. “You do not need to feel sorry for me,” he said, and I looked down at my feet for a second, watching as he walked toward a desk to sit. The office wasn’t his, that much I could tell, but the man didn’t bother. “Do you mind me closing the door?” I asked, and he scoffed. “They can all hear u
Valerie: I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of myself in my wedding dress. I put my hand on my stomach as Rheniera, the last person that I expected to be the best friend that would be by my side through it all, helped me with my veil. “You look beautiful.” She said, making my heart swell. “Do you think that he is going to like it?” I asked, feeling somewhat insecure for a moment. The fact that I knew that I would be walking down the aisle alone was not something that I was going to deny. I neither had a brother or father to do it by my side, but I knew that even if they were alive, neither one of them was going to be there for me today. “He is going to be a blind man if he doesn’t find you as gorgeous tonight.” Alaric’s voice caught me off guard as he walked inside the room. Rheniera smiled at the sight of her brother, and he walked toward us, looking at me. “You look like a beautiful princess. Though most would be fooled by the t
Alessandro: I ran my finger over Valerie’s bare shoulder, smiling as I looked down at her as she slept in my arms. The fact that she was now officially mine was something that made my heart swell in ways that I never thought possible. To say the least, I knew that I got everything that I could have ever wished for, and I knew that my wolf was more than just a little content with everything that had happened. I leaned in and kissed her shoulder gently, letting my lips linger there for a few seconds before I put the blanket over her shoulder, covering her. Everything that happened up to this point played in my head, and I got up from the bed, knowing that tomorrow was going to be the third full moon after finding out about everyone’s lie and scandals. I never did expect to find myself being allies with those that I thought were my enemies, and not for one second did I consider that my best friend and ex lover, regardless of when it had happened, would turn their backs on me the way
Valerie:Alessandro wrapped his arms around me, turning me around before he laid me back on the pillow.He connected his lips with mine in a kiss that made my chest swell before he pulled away to rest his forehead against mine as he grinded against me.I knew that this was not something that he expected to hear from me after the conversation that the two of us just had. But I knew one thing, and it was me wanting to be his and wanting him to be mine. At this point, it wasn’t something that I had to ask, and it wasn’t something that I had to tell anyone against. He looked me in the eye as he pulled away from me, and for a second, I felt like I was a virgin who was going to have her virginity taken. The nervousness that I felt was one that I could tell Alessandro saw in my gaze, and I couldn’t help but blush when he chuckled and leaned in to kiss my forehead.“If you want me to stop or if you are having your doubts…”I shook my head in response. If anything, I wanted this more than eve
Alessandro: It took everything in me not to avoid my mate’s eyes as I spoke to her. I didn’t even know how to describe what I felt, but it seemed to me that she understood everything that I wanted to tell her, without the need of me actually voicing it out. “Leonardo and I grew up together, literally. Mom used to change both our diapers, I didn’t even think, not for a second, that this would have come out of him.” I said, and she nodded. “I cheated on Rheniera, in theory at least, with Daniella. I don’t even know how I was able to look her in the eye when I heard of what Daniella was doing, and the worst part about it was the fact that I didn’t even know why she would be doing so. I didn’t hurt her, I was sure never to do so, at least, before I met you.” The fact that I slept with Valerie was something that I regretted when it happened, and though I am more than a little thankful for my mate and for my daughter; I knew that it wasn’t something that I would want for my daughter to b
Valerie: “Hi, baby,” I said, smiling at my little one as she woke up from her sleep. It was around eight in the morning, and though it was a bit early for me to wake up, especially considering the fact that the pack doctors asked me to rest, I still wanted to take the chance to see her. And I knew that she was happy about me being there as I saw her smile and heard her gentle coos of happiness. She looked up at me with big beautiful blue eyes, and I couldn’t help the feeling of contentment that I got, knowing that she was here in my arms, safe at last. And though a part of me knew that Alaric ensured her safety, something in me was never going to be content when it came to the fact that my child was not in my arms, and I knew that everyone that knew us understood that. Alessandro, who was in the changing room when I got out of bed, walked inside her nursery and raised an amused eyebrow. It made my heart swell, but I was more than a little happy to know that we were finally home and
Alessandro: If anyone would have told me that I was going to be happy seeing the Lycan alive, I would have punched them in the face. But when my mate ran to him, wrapping her arms around him, hugging him as if he was the one person that she wanted to see right now, I couldn’t help but find myself smiling. Both of them pulled away, and I watched as Valerie stepped back for a second, looking at him before he raised her pendant. “You had one wish when I stole it, and it came true.” He said, looking her in the eye. He wiped her tears before looking at me, and I smiled and nodded. “If I am alive today, it is because you truly didn’t want me dying.” “How would I want you dead when I knew that you were giving your life up for me?” She asked, and I looked at the man. “For me to live, you chose to burn alive. You asked me to go back to Alessandro, and I knew for a fact that he was the last person that you would have wanted me to go back to. You put me first, and…” “And I would do it aga
Valerie: Had I been told that the man would have done this I wouldn’t have allowed him to. Hell, I wasn’t going to be taking part in this in the first place. His mum’s pain made my stomach churn and it took everything in me not to vomit at the sight of her crying the way that she was. It hurt me more than I was able to let out, and that was something that I knew that my mate saw. Kai and Arianna stood a step back, and I knew that even they were in pain. Whatever was going on with them, and the damage that they had with their mothers, they both left them without an explanation to why anything was happening, and I knew firsthand what it was to have so many questions that wouldn’t be answered. Dean and Nicholas rushed toward us just as Dante and Aurora reached us, and I couldn’t help but find myself looking away at the sight of blood that each one of them had on his body. “Valerie?” Dante asked, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I found myself thinking of how the man had burned himself
Alessandro:I wrapped my arm around Rheniera, pulling her from the man that nearly stabbed her chest before breaking his back, causing him to fall to the ground.Her eyes were wide in surprise, and I looked her in the eye, wanting to see whether or not she was hurt; but I was thankful when she nodded in thanks, letting me know that she was okay.It wasn’t until an eclipse made the sky red that we all stopped. My chest ached, and I couldn’t help but find myself knowing what that meant. The idea of her not walking out of that building was one that I’ve been trying to distract myself from for the past few hours as we fought, but now that we were going to have to deal with it; I didn’t know how I was supposed to react. Rheniera, catching the pain in my eyes, put her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it in assurance, and I put mine on her hand, hoping for the best of this to come. Men fought, others ran, and I knew that we were going to have to go through this and we were going to have to en
Valerie: I looked through the portal that Esther opened for us, and knowing that I was going to go in there to face everything that I once knew was not something that I wanted to deal with. It pained me to go against my mother but I also knew that if things were to proceed this way, then I was going to have to end them the way that I knew best. And that was going to be with the fire that I was born with. Alaric looked at me, and for a second, I couldn’t help but find myself being thankful for him being by my side. To say the least, I knew that Alessandro would have weakened me, he was my weak spot, and I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to do anything with him being by my side. I was going to be scared of something happening to him in the process, and that was going to be more of a distraction for me, and I knew that he understood that very well. The idea of my daughter being away from me was something that broke me inside too, and I had to admit, I was counting the minutes for t