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43. If It's Not One Thing...
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Alpha Nero 44. Be Safe
NeroThe room feels too quiet after I tell Camellia my plan. She’s standing by the window, her arms wrapped around herself, staring out at the forest that surrounds our home. Nereo’s upstairs, probably playing with his toys, blissfully unaware of the storm coming our way. I can’t help but feel a knot of guilt tightening in my chest. I know what I’m going to ask her to do isn’t easy, but it’s the only way I can keep them safe.I walk over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She doesn’t flinch, but I can feel the tension in her body. “Camellia,” I start, my voice rougher than I intended, “I need you to take Nereo to the safe house, deep in our territory. It’s out of the way, and I’ve got warriors there I trust with my life. They’ll keep you both safe.”She turns to look at me, her eyes searching mine. “I don’t want to leave you, Nero. I don’t want to run away when things are falling apart.”“I know,” I say, and I mean it. I want her by my side, where I can keep an eye on her, make
Alpha Nero 45. For Now
CamilliaI haven’t been able to sleep well for the past three weeks. Every creak of the cabin, every whisper of wind against the windowpane stirs a flurry of worry that Nero hasn’t quieted in the month since he left. He sends words—sparse, always too sparse—that he’s okay, that he’s coming home, but each message is just a small drop of reassurance in an otherwise overwhelming ocean of anxiety.The digital clock on the nightstand reads 2:17 AM. Sleep has been a stranger for weeks, and tonight is no exception. My mind churns with every possibility, every outcome of this war Nero is fighting. The quiet around me is stifling, suffocating, and yet it’s better than the terrible scenarios my mind conjures in the dark.A soft noise at the front of the cottage startles me from my thoughts, and my heart leaps into my throat. It’s probably just a branch, or the wind, I tell myself, trying to calm the rapid beat of my heart. But then I hear it again, a soft thud, like footsteps, hesitant and drag
Alpha Nero 46. Debrief: A Brother Lost
NeroSitting in my office, I can feel the weight of everything we’ve lost pressing down on me like a fucking boulder. The air is heavy with tension, the kind that makes it hard to breathe, let alone think clearly. I look across the desk at Camellia, her eyes full of worry and exhaustion, and Orion, who’s leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, jaw clenched tight. They’re both waiting for me to explain, to tell them what the fuck happened out there.I lean back, running a hand through my hair, trying to figure out where to start. The words feel thick in my throat, and for the first time in a long while, I don’t know what to say.“A few packs,” I begin, my voice rougher than I intended, “we couldn’t save them in time. Some of the strongest packs, packs we’ve fought alongside for years, are gone.”Camellia’s eyes widen, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. “What exactly do you mean by gone, Nero?” she whispers, like she’s trying to process what that even means.“The cu
Alpha Nero 47. A Good Distraction
Camellia“Osiris left?” I ask, sitting up as Nero approaches the bed. “Why?”He shrugs. “He said something about finding himself again, and I get it. But we’re all fucking worried about him he hasn’t been the same since his memories were returned, so hopefully this does help him.”Nero stands in front of the dresser, his movements casual, but my eyes can’t help but linger. There’s something about the way he moves—unconscious strength in every motion, the way his muscles shift beneath his skin, the ease with which he holds himself—that makes it hard to focus on what he’s saying.His earlier words are sinking in, but my eyes can’t help but follow the movement of his hands as he pulls his belt free. The leather slides through the loops of his pants with a soft hiss, and I know I should be focusing on what he’s saying—about Osiris, about everything that’s been weighing on his mind. But man, he’s distracting.“Do you think he’s okay?” I ask, forcing my voice to sound casual as my gaze flic
Alpha Nero 48. Mio Re
Camellia The first thing I notice is the warmth. Nero’s arms are wrapped around me, his body solid and steady against mine. My head is nestled in the crook of his neck, his scent—earthy and comforting—filling my senses. I lay there, letting the feeling of safety sink in for a moment. Last night had been… intense. Primal. Nero’s bite is still throbbing, right over the old claiming mark, a raw reminder of the way we’d come together.I turn slightly, just enough to see his face in the early morning light. He looks peaceful, his strong features relaxed in sleep. I can’t help but smile softly, my fingers tracing over the lines of his jaw. It’s hard to reconcile this calm, sleeping man with the one who’d unleashed such raw desire last night. But that’s Nero, isn’t it? Strong, protective, a force of nature when he needs to be, but also the man who holds me like I’m the most precious thing in the world.As I watch him sleep, memories start to bubble up—memories of the first time we were li
Alpha Nero 49. Slow Return
NeroI'm sitting on the back porch, watching Camellia and Nereo run around the backyard, laughing like they don’t have a care in the world. The sound of their happiness fills the air, and I can’t stop the smile that tugs at my lips. Camellia’s memories are back, and seeing her so carefree, so full of life, it’s more than I ever could’ve asked for.It’s a miracle, honestly. I would have loved her just the same, even if her memories never returned. But now, with everything she’s regained, it feels like we’re complete again—like the piece of her that was missing has finally fallen back into place.“Catch me if you can!” Nereo shouts, his little legs pumping as he runs across the grass, glancing back to see if Camellia is closing in.She’s laughing, her hair flying behind her as she chases him, purposely letting him keep a little distance. “I’m gonna get you! You better run faster!”I chuckle to myself, shaking my head. It’s hard to believe how much has changed in such a short time. A few
Alpha Nero 50. Camellia Epilogue One
The warm breeze carries the scent of saltwater, and the rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore fills the air. I stand barefoot at the edge of the ocean, the cool water lapping at my toes. The sun is setting, and for the first time in what feels like forever, everything is calm. Peaceful.I hear Nereo’s excited laughter as he chases after a sand crab, his tiny legs kicking up sand as he runs. Nero’s deep voice follows, teasing him as he pretends to let the crab escape.“You’re too slow, Nereo!” Nero calls out, laughing. “Come on, you’ve got to be faster if you want to catch it!”I turn to watch them, my heart swelling with love. Nero’s crouched down in the sand, grinning as Nereo shrieks with laughter, trying to outrun the little creature. Seeing them together like this, carefree and happy, makes everything we went through worth it.“Mamma, look!” Nereo shouts, waving his arms in excitement. “I almost caught it!”“You’re getting closer every time!” I call back, smiling as I walk
Alpha Nero 51. Nero Epilogue Two
I lean back in my chair, watching Nereo on the floor in front of my desk, pushing his toy cars back and forth across the hardwood. He’s deep in concentration, his little face scrunched up as he mimics the sound of an engine, totally absorbed in his own world. It makes me smile, seeing him like this. So carefree. So innocent.It reminds me of when I was his age, sitting in this same office, playing with my own set of cars while my father worked. I used to look up to him like he was untouchable, this larger-than-life figure who always knew what to do. He was my hero. I wanted to be just like him.But I also remember the day everything changed. The day I became Alpha.In our pack, the transition isn’t something that’s handed down peacefully. It’s a fight—brutal, bloody, and final. The son challenges the father, and if the son wins, he has to... finish it. Rip out the heart and consume it. It’s a ritual that’s been in the Leonetti pack since the beginning, meant to symbolize the passing o
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Alpha Nero 51. Nero Epilogue Two
Alpha Nero 50. Camellia Epilogue One
Alpha Nero 49. Slow Return
Alpha Nero 48. Mio Re
Alpha Nero 47. A Good Distraction
