Lea: “I take it that you chose to suck up your dignity to come and train,” Ezra said, looking me in the eye. “It has nothing to do about dignity, Ezra.” I said, glaring at the man. “And who the hell do you think you are to be speaking to me in such a sense anyway? I seem to have noticed that you have no limits and I think that it is time that you’ve minded them.” “I know my limits very well, piccolo…” “No, you don’t.” I said, stopping the man. “And if you think that I am going to be listening to one word that you say because…” “Listen here, Auditore.” He said, stopping me. “I am not the type that you are going to come at with your plain threats. You are going to do as told if you want to live, and believe me, you are not going to want to find yourself caught up with the other hoods that are now on the loose, looking for you.” “What?” I said, processing the man’s words. “What are you talking about?” “You being who you are is going to draw more danger to you than you know. If you
Ezra: “Why did you tell her this way?” Mario asked, shaking his head in question. “She has done nothing wrong to be a victim to your anger, Ezra.” “Saying the grandfather that chose her over his eldest grandson. Oh, I forgot, I am still a bastard…” “No one has ever called you that, and if you don’t stop here and now, I am going to be grabbing the back of your head and hitting it against the nearest wall. Do not forget your limits here.” He said, and I scoffed. “Because of her and her fucked up excuse of a father, I never got to live with my mother. She chose him over me, and just when I thought that things would be better, he couldn’t keep her safe. Remember her stabbed heart as she was brought in a coffin?” I asked, taking a deep breath as I fought to ignore the pain that I felt. “He failed to keep her safe and failed the cause. Do not expect me to be kind enough to spare his daughter a glance because she is my ‘so-called sister’.” “She was not even aware of your existence and yo
Diego: “Lea, stop,” I said, looking at my mate whose eyes were welled up with tears. The rage that I saw in her body language was not one that I understood, especially when I knew that she walked out of the room being at peace despite everything that we both knew that we were going to have to deal with. “What? What the fucking hell do you want?” She asked, bursting out. I stood back, frowning in confusion as I tried to understand what was bothering her. I didn’t know what happened in the first place, but I knew that she wasn’t going to come back this angry out of nothing. “What do you all want from me?” “Lea, what happened?” I asked, shaking my head in question. “Talk to me, neonata…” “Why? What good would it bring me? Would you help me solve everything that seems to be piling up? Because if you will, please, by all fucking means, do so.” She said, raising her hands in mock surrender. “I am alone in a world that requires nothing more than for me to be a liar and traitor. My father
Lea: I frowned when I saw that we weren’t going to the restaurant. “Diego…” “We are going somewhere, as for work, I already sent a message to James that I am sick and that you’re with me.” He said, pulling his phone out of his pocket as he stopped the car in front of a traffic light. The fact that he was driving to begin with was something that I didn’t like. I knew that he wasn’t supposed to be exhausting it, but the man refused to listen, and though I understood that his reason was for me; I couldn’t help but find it sweet. “I don’t know whether to comment on the fact that he was more than open to give a day off because I, your girlfriend, am tending to your injured leg, or the fact that you actually messaged the man in the first place. You know that you didn’t have to consider that I told you that I planned on going to work.” I said, and he nodded in understanding. “But I know that you aren’t in the right state of mind to go to work, and there is somewhere that I want to go. I
Diego: Lea didn’t say a word as she listened to what I told her, and though I could tell that she was fighting an urge, she stayed in her place, allowing me to vent and let out what I was feeling. My heart ached, and the guilt that I felt was one that I couldn’t describe no matter how hard I tried. It wasn’t until I was done that she curled up as the two of us sat beside my brother’s tombstone, looking at the ground where he was buried. The pain was never to die as I didn’t know how I was even able to look at my mother without feeling the guilt of being the reason behind her son’s death. “Well, it seems to me that we are going to have a lot to deal with now that I know that Cosimo, the man who is playing the act of friend, initially wants me dead.” Lea said, taking a deep breath. “You aren’t going to yell at me?” I asked, shaking my head. “Get up, reject me, leave…” “While I have a lot on my mind, and believe me, none of the ideas that are going through my mind are going to be on
Lea: I couldn’t help but find myself getting lost in a thousand thoughts as I looked at Diego as the two of us walked inside the house. Luna Claudia, who saw us, frowned at the sight of her son’s limp. Her eyes met mine and the woman got up momentarily before taking a seat once again. “I am going to ask this question once, and I expect an answer from the two of you. A proper answer, and neither one of you is going to be lying about it.” She said, looking at Diego and I. He had his arm wrapped around my waist, and though I wanted to help him as he walked, the man refused, being the stubborn Alpha that he was. “Did you have anything to do with what happened in the bank yesterday?” I sucked in a harsh breath and Diego looked between Giovanni and his mother for a second before nodding. “Lea was attacked. I don’t know who did it, but the man’s…” “And what the fuck were you doing there?” Luna Claudia asked, looking at her son. “Last I heard from you, you were heading to the company,
Diego: “What happened?” Mom asked, shaking her head in question, now clearly allowing herself to show the weakness that she felt. I looked at her for a second too long and she shook her head in question, waiting for a response. “There is a lot going on, mama. And we are going to have to deal with it our way. It is dangerous, as you may know…” “Diego, you are not going to go against your father…” “What does Cosimo have to do with this?” I asked, frowning in confusion. The fact that she was still calling him my father was something that made my insides churn, especially when I knew that the man didn’t deserve that title anymore. I had to admit, I was more than a little thankful for the fact that I chose to speak to Lea. Her words, the way she looked at me, and her tone. Everything about the situation made it a whole lot easier for me, and I knew that I wouldn’t choose to change it for anything. “What do you mean…? Diego, you are not making yourself new enemies when you are barely g
Renata: “I don’t understand how you’re allowing all this to happen, Luna Claudia.” I said, shaking my head at the woman. Her eyes met mine and she pinched the bridge of her nose. I knew that she didn’t want to hear this, but then again, she never wanted to hear anything that held any sense of reason when her son was involved, even when it concerned his safety against his own word. I walked toward her, careful not to take too many risks as I knew that I was still walking on thin ice with her. And slowly extending my hand, I took hers in mine, squeezing it gently. “Please, Luna, the woman is only going to get Diego killed with her actions…” “You are the last person to be talking to me about what I should and shouldn’t be worried about when it concerns my son. Considering the fact that you not only carried a bastard, but also you also hid your pregnancy well enough for us not to sense it, and were going to pretend that he was my son’s heir.” She snapped, throwing her anger out on me. I
Third person point of view: “You are not going to call him to your side, Diego.” Luna Claudia snapped at her son, knowing that he was going to call the one man that she did not want him working with. The one person who she saw as a threat to him since he was born. The main reason why she believed that her eldest died. “He is an acquaintance, mama. The two of us share the same cause, and you know that very well.” Diego said, looking at his mother whose eyes were wide at her son’s statement. She shook her head, refusing to hear her son out, not wanting to listen to what he was going to tell her. Lea, his wife, who was sitting pregnant with their first child, put her hand on her stomach, knowing that this was going to grow intense. They were going to have to convince the Luna who she knew wouldn’t listen. She couldn’t blame her. When she heard who this acquaintance was, even she was surprised that her husband was willing to work with him. “That acquaintance of yours is your threat, D
Lea: Flashback: “Will you marry me, Lea Auditore…?” Diego asked, looking me in the eye. His eyes were filled with love, and though I didn’t even know how to respond at that moment, too perplexed, compelled, and surprised to find a proper response, I couldn’t help the tears that fell from my eyes at the sight. I took a step back for a second before he spoke, knowing that he took me off guard. “I know that I came out as sudden as I did, and I know that this was the last thing that you would have expected after the short period of time the two of us spent together. But Lea Auditore, I have never been so sure about anything else.” He said, keeping his eyes on mine as he spoke. “I realized when we were in Rome that I was never going to be able to live my life without you. That I knew that I would be incomplete without you by my side, and that is something that I knew to value. It cost a lot, and I know that the two of us were broken in many ways that would crush a person’s soul. But I k
Diego: I smiled as I saw my beauty looking at me, walking down the aisle with her brother holding her hand in his. The smile that was on her face was one that I knew wouldn’t leave my thoughts, and the way she walked, confidently, was something that I couldn’t but admire. I knew that it was her brother’s presence by her side, and I knew to value the man more by the day for what he was doing right now. Their eyes met for a moment, and I could swear that my mate’s smile was going to rip her face. The happiness that I saw in her eyes was one that made my world stop. For once in my life, something felt whole. Everything in my world felt whole. Flashback: “I want the two of you to know that this is not a game that you are playing,” Mario said, looking Lea and I in the eye. The two of us were in their pack as Lea chose to want to speak to the man. She wanted to be the one to tell him about the engagement, and though he was already aware that I wanted to propose, I was thankful and ha
Ezra: “What are you doing here?” I asked, shaking my head at Renata who was staring into space. His eyes met mine, she sighed, shaking her head. “I am going to watch the man that I love marry the woman, an omega who came to the pack, and ruined everything for me. What do you expect me to do aside from watch?” Renata asked, looking down at her feet. Her eyes welled up with tears and the woman shook her head as she wiped them. Her heart raced, and I could see that she was doing her best to hide how she was feeling. “Did you ever put in consideration that maybe you and Diego were not meant to be? I mean, not as meant to be as you believed that you were?” I asked, and she scoffed, shaking her head. “Up until the woman entered his life, the two of us were never having trouble. Even when we were, we always managed to solve them. Yes, I understand, I made a mistake, I cheated on him.” She said, and I stayed quiet, allowing her to let out what she was feeling. I had no right to judge her
Lea:Diego wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me to his chest as the two of us walked around the pack grounds. It was a while into the afternoon, and the sun was setting. It being winter, the sun was setting a little earlier than usual. I didn’t mind though, I loved it when winter came. It was one of my favorite seasons. “What are you thinking of, neonata?” Diego asked, catching my attention. I smiled and shook my head in response. I wasn’t thinking of anything, actually, I was embracing the moments of us being together, happy, content, and proud. At least, I knew that something came out right after everything that we’ve been through.“There is a lot going on in my mind, but I am guessing that the main thing right now is me being with you.” I said, and he smiled, shaking his head at my vague answer. In truth, I had nothing in particular that I was thinking about. There was my father, who I still tried to understand until today.How he had worked with the devil himself? How di
Diego: I had to admit, it was hard to enter the pack without Giovanni by my side. The pack was already aware of him passing away, but I still found it difficult to face them when they looked at us, clearly hoping for the news to be false. I wished that it was. “Diego,” Renata said, approaching us. She looked at me with tears in her eyes, and I shook my head before wrapping my arms around her, pulling her in for a hug. Lea didn’t say a word, nor did she react, if anything, she purred in response, assuring me that she understood the pain that the woman was in. We all grew up together, Renata, Giovanni, and I. When we left the pack, it was done together, but now… “How?” She asked, pulling away, shaking her head in question. “How did it happen?” I held my breath. I didn’t even want to think of what happened. The man was doing his part to ensure that the area was well guarded, that she would come alone only to end up being a victim. A victim, my beta, who died to keep me safe. And to m
Lea: “Welcome home,” Diego said, smiling at me as the plane landed. I smiled and took his hand in mine, gently squeezing it, knowing that he still needed my assurance as his mate after what he’s been through. I didn’t know how he felt, how he truly felt, after losing Giovanni and coming home without him. The smile on his face told me that he was okay, but I wasn’t blind; I knew him well to know that fire was eating him from the inside as he knew that he wouldn’t see his best friend by his side in his home again. His room was to be a reminder, the pack grounds were too, but I knew that this was a life circle. We lived, we grew, we passed away. Some died children, others as young adults, and only a few got to make it to living a long life. It just depended on how we lived our lives. This was what was going to make the difference, and that was something that I knew my mate understood after losing his beta. “It feels good to be back.” I said, looking out the window as the door opened
Diego: “What did you and Ezra talk about?” Lea asked, laying on my chest as we sat in our bedroom. I chuckled and shook my head at my mate’s curiosity. It was one that I loved, and I couldn’t help but smile as I leaned in to connect my lips with her temple. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?” “Sometimes, there are conversations that my woman is not aware of. You know, we spoke as two men, and I chose to speak to him about a few things just as he gave me his opinion about others.” I said, and she pouted but nodded. I ran my finger over his shoulder, gently massaging it before looking out the window where we could see most of the city. “You know, I am going to miss this place. Regardless of what we’ve been through, but it is the place that had me knowing you. A part of me would be left here as well,” I had to force myself to keep my eyes away from my mate as I was referring to my best friend. I didn’t know how I was going to go home without him. I never imagined being away from hi
Ezra: “Are you sure that you’re okay, Ezra?” Lea asked, and I took a deep breath. I wasn’t okay, but I knew that there was nothing that I could do about it. The woman, my mate, was an enemy. I didn’t understand why I was chosen for this, but I was sure that there was a reason. “Would it make a difference if I said no, Lea?” I asked my sister. She looked down at her feet, avoiding my eyes. The two of us were close to the hotel, but I didn’t have it in myself to go inside the room. And Lea was being kind enough to stay with me, supporting me with what she could. “At least I would know what you are thinking, brother. I don’t know you enough, and you know that very well. I cannot blame you for that, but I am trying to understand you.” She said, and my eyes softened. I took her hands in mine and gently kissed her knuckles. She was a reminder of my mother. When I was a child, mom would speak to me the way that she was right now. “I am tired, and I am angry. But I know that I don’t have