Arabella's POVI woke up with a skull-splitting headache and fatigue deep in my bones. I wanted to sleep till the next morning and yet I was hungry. I looked down at myself to see I was wearing an expensive purple cocktail dress and heels. On my bed. I couldn't for the life of me remember what happened yesterday except in bits and pieces.I remembered Margaret and how I'd collected the dress from her. The large hall with the twinkling lights and the food. Then blurs of memories and Alpha Luciano carrying me. Alpha Luciano carrying me? Yeah, I must have really had something strong.I placed my hand on my head as though it would keep my brain from leaking out of my ear. I hadn't taken any alcohol so where was this coming from?I removed the shoes and the gown. There was a bowl of water by my bedside along with a glass of water and some hangover medicine and pain relief. So I washed my face and took the drugs. I felt better, almost human again. I grabbed a bathing robe and slowly made m
Arabella's POVSooner than expected the meeting time had come and I found my way into Alpha Luciano's office. That was the only place he would keep something so sensitive not in his room. I had been in the latter enough to know what he kept there. Initially, I had been scared but when I remembered my purpose, my hands were steady.The office was opened as though the occupants had just stepped out. I looked about and listened for anyone passing by. There was no one. I entered the room. It was beneath some papers on the desk. I opened the file and perused the papers in it. I closed the file. When I left the office, I held the file in my hands.The file I held seemed to burn a hole through my hand as I walked towards the meeting place for the second time. Today I would get all my answers and solutions. I walked into the dilapidated building. "I have the file. I won't hand it over until I speak to my father."Words cannot express how stupid I felt talking to what looked like an empty
Alpha Luciano's POVI let go of Arabella and she fell to the ground unmoving. I pulled the file from his hands and opened it. Truly all the papers were blank as Mikah had said. I was beyond shocked. Arabella had really swapped out the content of the file? Was it in a misguided attempt to protect me? I was confused. No one had ever done something so stupid and strange for me before. "Check if she's still alive."It would seem I had been mistaken as rare as that was. At least I had found a mole from this pathetic attempt at whatever Arabella had thought she was doing. "Her pulse is faint but still there." "Get her to the infirmary."Being stupid was… well stupid. But it wasn't a crime. At least not in my books. I watched my men troop in according to the signal. They picked up Tina's body. And I watched Mikah carry Arabella away to be treated.What a waste of time. *** I came out of my shower to meet Emery on my bed. She was naked. "Alpha Luciano." Her gaze was downcast and demur
Alpha Luciano's POVI was on the warpath and no one could calm my temper. "Explain yourself." Natasha had exactly one minute to explain how in hell's name she had lost over a million dollars worth of drugs to the goddamned police."Alpha. We were ratted out. It was our usual route, the border patrol was paid off as usual. We were clear but someone–""Shut up Natasha. I have had enough of your excuses. First that stunt with Song and now this. Consider yourself fired. For the years of loyalty you have given me, I will spare your life."Natasha looked at me, her face slack with shock. "Alpha. Please, this wasn't my fault. I promise. The operation was sabotaged, I–" "Get out of my office. It is pathetic how you are trying to make excuses to cover up for your inadequacies. Before I rescind my decision and have Mikah kill you here, scram."After a lot of hesitation, Natasha walked towards the door. As she was about to open it, I spoke."Oh, and Bishop will be taking over for you. Do tell
Arabella's POVI tried. I promise. The moment I heard the news, I tried to restrain but the laugh escaped me anyway, and I burst out laughing. Who was the unfortunate lady?"You… You are laughing?" Margaret seemed confused. "You find the news that the man you have feelings for is getting mated funny."I stopped laughing. "Margaret, I don't like him.""Of course.""You are saying that but I can read something else between the lines. I honestly have no feelings for him. If he decides to mate with someone else, then good for her. It's nothing to me. I'm so happy for him and sorry for her."Margaret arched a brow then cracked a laugh. "Okay. I'll admit it is actually really funny. I never thought anyone would be able to hold him down. I guess his uncle must have him by the balls or something."******Alpha Luciano's POVIt was an ambush. Through and through. I never saw it coming. Now I was trapped with no means of escape or recourse.The girl had been in the sitting room with pretty muc
Arabella's POVThings were bubbling at the pack house. It was in preparation for the engagement ceremony. The harem was solemn in contrast.The common area was scanty unlike its usual interactive nature. It felt unreal walking out from a dreary harem to the bubbling preparation for festivities.I guess I could understand. They had come here with the hopes of someday becoming Luna and now… the ship had sailed. I wondered if Alpha Luciano even realized what he was doing by spurning the women in the harem to focus on a totally different woman entirely. Their families would definitely kick back and I found myself anticipating what was going to go down.As for the new bride, word of mouth had it that she was a wisp of a thing with no strong will or anything. If there was even an iota of truth in that rumour, Alpha Luciano would eat her alive. I hadn't met her in person though and I wasn't planning to. Alpha Luciano's life was his own business. What I was interested in was meeting with
Alpha Luciano's POVBishop was a no-nonsense man and I was beginning to think I had been wrong for trying to be open-minded while hiring a woman to head my drugs division. I needed someone as vicious and callous as myself to show my enemies that I was strong on all fronts. He was bold and I liked that."Tell me about it.""There is a new drug lord on the streets. No one knows who it is but they've been recruiting and have poached some of our men."I stroked my chin thoughtfully."Did they poach anyone particularly good?""No. Mostly grunts and underlings. I was thinking of breaking a few of their bones to discourage others from joining them. With your permission, of course, Alpha."I fought back a smile. A man after my heart. If a little too impassioned."There will be no need for that. In fact, this is good. So that we can sort out the shaft from our loyal men. Let them leave if they are just grunts but if they know too much about our operations, kill them."Bishop bowed with a smil
Alpha Luciano's POVI noticed the man approach Arabella. He looked familiar but I could care less. What was he doing with her?She glanced in my direction while talking to him. Was this a scheme to get my attention? It wouldn't work.I watched Arabella take his hand and follow him to the dance floor. Watched him slide his hands around her waist.Anastasia was talking to me about something but I was no longer listening.I would not give Arabella the pleasure of seeing me get jealous. His hands kept wondering and touching her over and over again but she didn't seem to mind. How could she dance like that with him in front of so many people but if I touched her in front of some people, she tried to kill herself? I would never understand women.Then she was laughing the way she never did with me. Surely whatever he was saying couldn't be that funny. Some couples moved around them obscuring them from my view and I nearly jumped up from my seat to follow their movement.Calm the fuck down,