Chapter 2 - Amelia

I’d been sent to our family’s vacation home by the coast three months ago. I didn’t even know that Ignazio had killed my parents for a month. I’d held out some invisible hope that Ivan was able to get them somewhere safe too.  

Ignazio had utterly lost his mind. Killing Alpha Ugo and Luna Mirella just because he didn’t want to wait to find his mate to become Alpha. I always knew he was off, but I didn’t think he was so crazy and stupid to kill his parents.  

And he continued the slaughter with our Betas, my parents, and even the Delta couple and their son when they wouldn’t bend to his will. I’m not sure how I feel that Ivan and Gastone support him. I want to believe at least Ivan only follows Ignazio to protect me. 

I don’t want to believe my brother is some power-hungry monster. I had to hear through others that we had gone to war with Nebrodi because Ignazio wanted the Beta heir Crista.  

It’s just disgusting. Women aren’t property, and she’s not his mate, so why would she want him? And now I’ve heard he started a war against Incubi because that’s where Crista ended up. He’s truly insane to want to take on the Mad Incubi Alpha. 

But when a warrior came for me, I was terrified of what it meant. Even more so when they said that I was being called before the Alpha. As I rode in the back of the sedan, I feared the worst. I shifted on the last full moon. 

Did Ignazio remember my birthday and realize I now have a wolf and has decided that means I’m a threat because I’m Gamma blood or that I should fight his stupid war?

It doesn’t matter why I’m being called to the packhouse. I’m terrified to face Ignazio. 

‘It’s going to be okay. I’m right here with you.’ Faith tried to encourage me, but I could feel how terrified she was.  

“Move it, lardass.” The warrior grunted, shoving me into the room the pack used to gather in. I growled at him, standing at my full height. I know well what I weigh, and I’m plump, but I’ve had enough comments like those. 

The warrior seemed to shrink as he realized I’d been slouching and actually had five inches on him. I was ready to let into him when the scent of fresh-cut grass, garden herbs, and wildflowers.  

It was heavenly. My head turned from the warrior I’d been intimidating and followed the scent into the great hall. My heart stopped, my breath freezing in my lungs as I opened the doors to find the source of the scent. 

There he was. The source of the scent. The source of torment throughout my childhood. The reason I’m an orphan. Ignazio was sitting on what can only be called a throne, something that no Alpha had before used. Kneeling in front of him was a barely dressed female with a chain around her neck.  

Faith whimpered as I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling like my insides were on fire while also needing to throw up. I turned my head and did just that all over the marble floors. 

Ignazio is my mate, and… oh Goddess, this pain. 

He hadn’t even acknowledged I had walked in. He was content in his throne, forcing that girl to provide him oral sex. I stumbled to my knees as the pain was unbearable. What is this pain? Why am I in pain? 

I whimpered as I collapsed to the floor, barely conscious. “My Alpha. It appears we have trouble.” An unfamiliar female voice spoke.  

Through squinted eyes, I looked around as I withered in pain. I saw a woman, but she was blurry. 

From one angle, I saw a beautiful young woman, but she would appear to be a withering old woman. No matter the appearance, there was no mistaking that she had evil intentions. 

“Oh… so the piggie has….” Ignazio’s voice reached me, but it was as if I was underwater with how muddled they were. I was still rolling in agony on the ground. Slowly the pain faded. 

Before I could try to get up or even look around, Ignazio’s hand had grabbed my throat, pulling me to my feet. His claws were digging into my throat. Sparks were radiating out from his touch, but it wasn’t a balm to the pain he was causing.  

‘He’s our mate….’ Faith whimpered, still unable to even stand after whatever that just was.  

The hate, disgust, and anger in Ignazio’s mossy green eyes were crushing my heart as quickly as he was crushing my throat. I shouldn’t be surprised he would be angry that I’m his mate. I’m not thrilled either. 

“I, Ignazio Ugo Grimaldi rej…” He started to say the words that would free me of him. As much as I knew it would hurt to be rejected, I’d take that pain any day over whatever that was a moment ago and what a life with someone like him would be. 

“You can’t do that yet.” The woman oozed evil from every pore while still alternating between a beautiful young woman and a ragged old woman.  

Ignazio stopped and glared at the woman. “Why not? Here I thought you’d want me to get rid of your competition.” 

He smirked, and I felt sick again. I don’t know which version of the woman I’m seeing is real, but the fact he’s flirting with her, in general, makes me gag. 

The woman scoffed, rolling her eyes. “There is no competition. But she’s your mate, and if you reject her without having marked your chosen mate, your wolf will suffer. And we already know he’s weak.” she cooed, stroking his arm. 

I was weakly trying to hit his wrist to break free. It wasn’t working. Ignazio’s hold was too tight, and I was weak from that searing pain that nearly killed me.  

“I… Am… Amelia Grace… Furlan…” I struggled to speak, to be the one to reject him if he wouldn’t reject me. I don’t care. Let his wolf die. May his wolf die and take Ignazio with him.  

“Silence, mutt.” The woman hissed with a wave of her hand, and my voice died. 

I opened my mouth to speak, to scream, but nothing came out. A witch! I tried to growl, but even that was muted. I fucking hate witches! 

That explains why she keeps shimmering from her true self to what she is showing Ignazio. If I get my voice back, I wonder if I should tell him I see what she really looks like?  

“You can’t let her speak. She cannot reject you nor tell anyone else in your pack she is your mate.” The woman glared at me before turning her gaze to Ignazio with a twisted gleam in her eyes. 

“And what would you have me do with the sow?” He questioned, sneering at me yet giving her bedroom eyes. I want to throw up again.  

“Well, she can’t speak without a tongue.” The woman’s lips curled into a sinister smile as she reached into the folds of her skirt, revealing her thigh. Goddess, help me. He’s ogling her thighs without knowing they are saggy and wrinkled. 

“A silver blade should do. Well, go on. Cut out her tongue, then send her on the next mission. Best to have her out of sight, and this way, she can also serve a purpose for you.” The witch offered the plastic handle to a silver dagger to Ignazio. 

I started to thrash, wanting to get away, but I couldn’t. I could feel the hot tears streaking down my cheeks as Ignazio slammed me to the floor. He was going to do it!?  

He’s known me my whole life! He’s supposed to be my Alpha… my mate, and this is how he will treat me!? Why Goddess? Why did you do this to me!? 

I couldn’t even scream because of the witch’s curse. I thrashed as Faith whimpered in my head. ‘Maximus doesn’t want to do this.’ She cried as the witch helped Ignazio hold me down. 

My screams were silent as my mouth was forced open, and without a care, he grabbed my tongue, yanking it taught as he sliced through the sensitive flesh with the silver blade. 

Faith was withering in pain just like me as the silver burned the nub he left. He scoffed, tossing my tongue into the trash. 

“Get this trash out of my sight.” Waving his hand in dismissal. Two guards hurried in and hauled me away. 

As I was carried down the hall choking on my own blood, the witch lifted her curse, and I began to scream and howl in pain. The guards left me in the infirmary, where I blacked out from the pain. 

I woke up in the back of a truck with people I didn’t know. I knew some were from my pack based on scent, but others weren’t. 

I tried to speak and question what was happening. But it came out garbled, and I remembered my mate had cut out my tongue. 

‘What’s happening? Where are we going?’ I questioned through the link. 

‘We are being sent to Incubi. You are to come with us.’ An older wolf nodded to himself and gestured to two other males.  

‘We will sneak into Incubi and find their hospital to blow it up.’ he explained. 

‘What about the others?’ I questioned, nodding to the terrified people at the far end of the truck. 

‘They are going to be our cover. The Incubi will focus on their larger force while another group and us sneak past.’ A different male answered.  

‘What is your name, girl? You smell of ranked blood.’ The older man questioned. 

‘My name is Amelia. I’m Amelia Furlan, daughter of the late Gamma Noè and Grace, sister of current Gamma Ivan.’ I answered. 

‘You mean former Gamma Ivan.’ The other male snorted. 

I frowned. ‘What does that mean? Is my brother dead?’ I demanded, sitting up as the fears of what Ignazio could have done to Ivan played in my mind. 

‘If he’s not, he will be. He was sent to battle and never returned. So they either killed him or captured him.’ The older male sighed. 

‘I’m Terence Alesio. And the other two are Dorian Parris and Filiberto Cassano.’ He introduced, nodding to the two males flanking him. 

‘I don’t know what you did to offend Ignazio, but like your brother, you’re being sent to your death. We all are. And we can’t even tell anyone about it.’ Terence sighed, patting my knee. 

‘For what it’s worth, I’m sorry a young she-wolf is being sent to her death simply for her bloodline.’ He gave me a sad smile. 

If he only knew the real reason I was sent here. I don’t want to discuss it right now. It will only make them pity me more.  

‘What do you mean we can’t tell anyone else? Did he cut out your tongues too?’ I questioned. 

The three all nodded in unison, opening their mouths. I cringed as I saw stubs of what remained of their tongues. Ignazio is genuinely a sick bastard. If I die, I hope it kills him too.