"What do you know about the girl?"
Jack asked as he examined the food that was brought to his dinner table. Venison, he loved venison, but for some reason looking at the Venison on his table slightly repulsed him.
He looked at Vanessa Romano again, she was clad in an emerald green gown that had a plunging neckline. She had a small suggestive smile on her dolled up face. She was a dangerous woman.
She was beautiful but wily and some days he wondered if he could ever fully trust her. He couldn't, after she had left her husband and betrayed him, then moved on to another man while trading secrets about her husband's pack, Vanessa Romano was not to be trusted.
But here he was, sitting next with her and dining with her, all because she was affiliated with his greatest enemy.
Leonard Durante. The Alpha King.
For years, he had tried and constantly failed to be that the Alpha of one of the largest and strongest packs in the we
"What happened to the garden?"Leonardo asked as he walked into the house. It was buzzing with excitement, caterers, maids, they were all gathered at the ballroom arranging and making final touches for the engagement party.Leonardo made a beeline to the powder room, where he knew his parents were waiting. He had just been to the garden after noticing from afar that all the plants and flowers had withered. He could have sworn that they were all full of life and in full bloom when he left. His father was seated casually reading a newspaper while his mother shrugged as she put down her cup of tea."It was Viola."Leonardo frowned as he pointed out the doorway, he couldn't believe it."You are telling me she did that?"His mother nodded."Yes, she did. She lost control. She's still new to her powers.""She's no ordinary girl you know, and I'm sure you already know that."His mother added.
"So, I know enough to know that this isn't a normal engagement party. Anything else I need to know?"Viola asked as they approached the end of the hallway. Leonardo nodded. "You're right. It's not.""That's why you have to stay alert. Make sure what happened in the garden doesn't happen again."Viola turned to him and then turned to look at Selena who looked away quickly. "You know about that?"She said and he shrugged. "It's hard not to notice it."He mentioned. "Stay by my side always and don't talk unless I tell you to."He issued his last warning and dragged her with him down the stairs. Don't talk until he told her to?Who did he think she was? Some toddler?As they approached the ballroom, heads began turning to look at them, some of them gasped while others began to clap eagerly. Viola looked around, her grandfather was nowhere to be found, she didn't remember him informing her that he would not attend. She
"I don't want any problems with you Jack."Leonardo said the minute they were in the study and Jack nodded. "Me too. One wouldn't want to run into problems with an Alpha King.""Then what's this I hear about your wolves on my land."Leonardo asked as he sipped his whisky but Jack shsrugged. "I think you are mistaken, that land used to belong to my pack.""It hasn't belonged to your pack in years Jack.""And I quite frankly wouldn't like to start a war with you over some land but those lands rightfully belong to the Solis pack. They're our borders and seeing wolves from the Shadow pack on it doesn't make my wolves feel very safe on it."Jack raised his eyebrow. "I see..."He trailed and Leonardo nodded. "I'm happy to take this issue up if you would like. We can go to the Bureau and have this settled the legal way if you want that."Jack scoffed. "The Bureau's a joke. I don't want them meddling in my affairs."
Viola opted to stay in her room till the end of the party, Leonardo told everyone who was asking about her that she was slightly indisposed. Although his parents looked worried, he assured them that he had full control of the situation. They decided to end the engagement party as early as they could so everyone could finally go back to their respective homes. Loki had left the party with Leonie, he claimed he was going to handle things with her but Leonardo could already imagine the outcome of the issue. He just wanted a drink. A drink and a nice long run. Whose idea was it to have an engagement party in the first place?He thought as he frowned. It was wholly unnecessary and if not for he and Loki's intervening disaster would have struck. He was getting some tequila at the bar when he felt a hand on his back. He alreafy knew who it was before he turned, Vanessa Romano. He had not talked to her or even noticed her all night, he was very sure she wa
The Durantes were packing for a trip. They told Viola they were going to their packhouse since the full moon was approaching and they had invited Viola to come with them. She was curious so she had said yes. Werewolves were under the influence of the full moon and they turned every time there was a full moon. Every pack had a pack house located in the woods or in a remote area that was out of the reach of humans and many of them liked to retreat to their pack houses once a month to turn and enjoy nature while at turning. Some werewolves lived in their pack houses all year round and didn't leave, they preferred the pack houses to civilization. In the pack house, all their needs was provided by the alpha of the pack.Being part werewolf herself, Viola wondered why her werewolf side was dormant. Her grandfather had explained that not everyone with the werewolf gene became a werewolf and she wondered if it was because she had powers that made her werewolf gene
Viola had been staring at the candle for the past fifteen minute. Nothing she was doing or trying to do was working. She was beyond frustrated, she was fed up. Whatever Gwenda wanted her to do was not working."This isn't working."Viola said and Gwenda shrugged. "Maybe you're not really a witch."Viola rolled her eyes. "You're not a very good teacher.""And you're not a very good student. Try again!"Viola tried again but it was hard, all she was doing was straining her eyes, looking at a candle that definitely wasn't going to magically come on. It was frustrating to say the least. She could also feel Gwenda's watchful eyes on her and that wasn't helping. She looked at the candle again, trying to will something, anything to happen and it seemed impossible to do so. "This isn't working!"She sighed as she threw the candle and it fell over the bed. Gwenda sighed. "Maybe your grandfather was wrong about you. Maybe you don't h
Leonardo's room was huge, befitting. The teardrop windows were the only source of light in the room. The rays of sunlight filtered in from the windows. The walls of the room were made of stone, just like every other wall in the castle. There was a magnificent king sized four poster bed with blood red silk sheets and pillows. A small lounge area had been set up near the balcony, where there was a sofa and a coffee table that was filled with books, there were also bottles of wines and alcohol on the makeshift shelf on the wall. There was a large wardrobe and nothing more, and half of Leonardo's clothes were already in it. Two bedside drawers at each side of the bed. There was a large circular persian rug that the bed was on, Viola took off her shoes to sink into them, she savored the feeling of her feet on them. There were paintings on the wall, most of them old and strange but not as strange as the giant head of a stag that was casually resting on top of the fireplace that was
The elders were seated at the great hall, Viola counted about fifteen of them, all seated and watching her every move. They seemed to be studying her, Leonardo held her hand tightly, as if trying to comfort her. Viola could manage on her own, she would try. She said to herself as they stood at the head of the table.There was silence in the hall, an uncomfortable silence so much so that if a pin dropped it would be heard all around the room. The only familiar face on the table of elders was Leonardo's grandfather and his face didn't look so friendly either.Leonardo cleared his throat, there was no fear in his voice or any stammer."Elders, this is my mate, Viola Santangelo."Viola nodded, a small smile on her face."It's a pleasure to meet you all."She said as confident as she could muster, it was hard not to be anxious when they were all glaring at her. She managed the attention well, despite the mean glares.
Viola had made dinner. And it was delicious. Leonardo came back home to the smell of spaghetti wafting into his nostrils. She invited him to have dinner. He was surprised at the gesture, she didn't have to and yet she did, he wondered why she had even bothered. The clinking of cutlery and the soft hum of the music playing in the background filled the air as they savored their meal. Viola stole a glance at Leonardo, who looked dashing in his suit that he had not taken off, and her heart raced. She took a deep breath and decided it was now or never. Vanessa visiting had made her think about some things and she decided that now, more than ever, they needed to clarify their relationship.They were mates, that was true, but lately it felt like something more had been blooming between the two of them. Something deeper. "Leonardo," she began hesitantly, "there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about."Leonardo, his eyes warm and attentive, put down his fork. "What is it, Viola?
Leonardo sat in his office, poring over files in preparation for an upcoming meeting. The faint sound of footsteps reached his ears, and he glanced up to find his beta, Loki, standing at the doorway. Loki's mischievous grin was as usual, but there was something different in his eyes today."Alpha, how's it going?" Loki asked, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Give me a moment... I should be done here soon and then we can head to the meeting." Loki nodded. "And how is Viola doing?""She's recovering very nicely."Leonardo answered with a smile on his face. He looked a little relieved too. "She's staying with me in the meantime, I think seeing her grandfather will annoy her too much." Loki raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Staying with you? That's good."Leonardo looked at Loki with a curious expression. "Do you have something to say? I feel like there's something on your mind...""Well... it's just that lately, you've been all about Viola. Talking about her, caring for her...
In the bedroom, Viola lay still, her chest rising and falling in the rhythm of deep exhaustion. The air was heavy with the remnants of magic, a testament to the draining spell she had just performed. Leonardo, sat by her side, quiet, unwavering and still. She had completed the spell. She had finally unbinded herself from Gwenda. Which meant, Gwenda was dead. She still did not know the full details of how she had done what she needed to do, but all she could remember was that she had found a door in her mind to Gwenda's mind and she had opened that door and she had tampered with things she shouldn't have tampered with. No part of her felt sorry, at least not yet. She couldn't tell if it was because of the exhaustion or because of something else. As moonlight streamed through the window, casting a gentle glow over Viola's face, Leonardo's eyes gleamed with pride. With a tender smile, he brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and leaned in close. His warm breath danced on her skin
“Leonardo! Leonardo!”Viola’s voice was low and raspy, her lips devoid of colour and her face pale and gaunt, she looked like she was about to faint. "I think she wants to kill me... this headache feels too much. It feels like my head is about to split into two."Viola moaned as she sat on the bedroom floor, Leonardo was by her side, holding on to her closely."I hate this so much! I feel so useless! I wish I could help!"He sounded agitated. The two of them were. It had barely been hours since they arrived from Vincenzo's place. "It should pass soon….”Viola murmured but even she wasn't sure of the words that were coming out of her mouth. The pain was so intense that she could feel it clouding her vision. "Should we try what Vincenzo said? Do you think it'll work?"Viola was too tired to speak. She couldn't even move her lips if she tried, but she nodded to Leonardo and he swung into action. Vincenzo had mentioned that the technique he was about to tell Viola was a theory his own
The pain subsided moments later, but Viola knew she had only succeeded in distracting Gwenda momentarily. Gwenda would continue her wicked spells soon enough and she would be able to do nothing to stop it. The thought alone frightened her, that one person could take advantage of her power in such away.Leonardo looked distraught, she had made him cut her with a knife and even pour salt on the wound to slow down the healing. He didn't want to do it, but she had pleaded that for her sake he should. He tried his best and she had tried not to faint and the sight of her blood.The wound was slowly healing now and she was no longer trying to stop it from healing. Stalling would only delay, Gwenda would perform her spells anyway, she needed a way out.She flipped through Eudora's diaries hoping to find some answers, but there was so many information, but not on the
"Miss Viola! Are you sure you're not making a terrible mistake?! What would happen if your grandfather comes back and doesn't see you at home?!"Alessandra pleaded but Viola ignored her, she continued dumping her clothes into the suitcase. It really was the last straw, she couldn't wait to leave. She also had to find a way to break the spell and since Gwenda was of no use to her she would have to find another way."I don't care. And what would he do? Really what would he do?!"She said as she laughed manically.She had had enough. Enough of his antics and enough of his games, if he wanted her to come back home he would have to right his wrongs."Oh please Viola! Just think it through...""I've made up my mind. I'm not coming to this house anymore. I'm leaving."She had called Leonardo, so he would be there any minute to pick her up."Viola please! Just think this through!""Think what through?! That man has had a hold on my life ever since I was born! And now, even when I'm grown he's
Leonardo dropped off Viola at her home, he wanted to be with her but he was going to have a lot of work to do and he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to watch over her properly. Viola was still very weak, her body was sore and she could barely walk on her feet, Leonardo had to carry her to her room.Gwenda rushed to her room few minutes after he left after being informed by Alessandra that Viola was sick and weak. "What happened?!"She exclaimed as she saw Viola lying on her bed weak. She had eye-bags underneath her eyes, her skin looked pale and her lips were chapped. Viola smiled weakly, few hours ago she had felt on top of the world, racing through the woods with inhuman speed and now she couldn't even lift her legs without pain shooting through her."The transformation spell... took more out of me than I expected."She said and Gwenda shook her head.“Oh dear! I’m so sorry! If I had known it would we would have found another way.”Viola shrugged.“It was the only way.”"I'll make
Leonardo watched Viola sleeping peacefully in his bed. He had opened the curtains, letting the sunlight in and hoping that it would prompt her to wake up. She had been sleeping all morning, granted, the transformation spell must have taken a lot of her energy but he didn't plan to stay in the pack house the whole day and he wanted to leave. He was meant to take her with him. She stirred slightly, then her eyes fluttered open. She turned and looked straight at him."Glad you're awake.""How are you doing?"He asked her and she nodded."I'm fine."She said as she slowly sat upright.God she felt like someone had hit her with bricks all over and she felt so sore. She didn’t imagine that she would feel so sick and exhausted. "Do you remember everything that happened?"He asked and she nodded, her fingers slightly massaging her forehead. Did she? "Yes. Yes. I think I do.""Did I pass my initiation?"She asked eagerly and Leonardo nodded."You did. The elders would be here any minute to
Leonardo and Viola arrived at the pack house late. Around seven pm. The initiation ritual was in a few minutes. They had left pretty late because Viola had been stuck on the transformation spell for hours. Hours and hours on end before Gwenda finally made a breakthrough. Even when she finally did, she didn't get time to practice the spell because Leonardo had come around to pick her up shortly after. She had no other choice but to leave with him. He didn't tell her what her ordeal would be or if he managed to make it easier for her but from the grim look on his face and the unspoken words he said, Viola could tell that it was not good.She tried to remain calm and Leonardo had offered her words of encouragement. She knew she had tried her best from her end, even with the limited time, she had pushed herself, more than she had ever done before just to make sure she had least had a fighting chance at her ordeal.When they arrived at the pack house they were led straight to an opening