Chapter 6

There was something that her Grandfather wasn't telling her. Viola wondered what it was, but she could feel it, tugging at her every single moment. 

She was going shopping for an engagement ring with Leonardo and was picking out a dress to wear. Their families were very serious about the engagement apparently and how soon they wanted everything to be done. It all felt too rushed.

Viola had also walked in on her grandfather saying that he wanted Viola to be married before her twenty fifth birthday. She wondered why, what was so important that she had to get married so soon. If there was something she need to know, she needed to find out from someone other than her grandfather. 

"Alessandra?"

She called out and Alessandra paused from combing Viola's long golden hair.

"What is it my dear?"

She asked and Viola shrugged. 

"I don't know. Nonno has been a little off lately. Do you know what's wrong with him? Seems like he is bothered about something."

Alessandra shrugged. 

"He's probably worried about the wedding and all. The thought of giving you away so soon must be taking a toll on him."

Viola rolled her eyes. It wasn't that. In fact, he was way too eager to give her away.

"Well, it was his decision. Not mine."

Alessandra nodded. 

"Yes, You're right. But it's just because he loves you so much and wants to protect you."

"From what?"

Viola asked and Alessandra went quiet. 

"You're chatty today. Are you nervous about going ring shopping with Leonardo?"

She asked, diverting the conversation Viola noticed it easily. 

"Stop trying to change the subject. I'm a grown woman now and he's an old man, why would he need to protect me?"

"The world is a dangerous place Viola."

Alessandra answered after a long pause. 

Viola rolled her eyes, they certainly liked to make it seem more dangerous than it was. 

"Oh, I've been meaning to ask you a question. Leonardo said the most bizarre thing at dinner, When I googled it, I really couldn't make any sense of what he said or how it correlated to our wedding arrangements."

"What did he say?"

Alessandra asked absent mindlely as she dropped the brush and left Viola's hair alone. She had managed to get out all the tiny knots, besides, brushing Viola's hair was something that Viola enjoyed. She always did it for her since she was a child, it seemed to calm her. 

"He mentioned something about Luna rites. Whch is odd because that doesn't really exist. But then I thought it must be some tradition thing in their family that no one is telling me about"

Alessandra started laughing loudly and nervously. 

"Oh Viola! Don't be silly! I'm sure he meant nothing by it. "

She looked at the wall clock in Viola's room and gasped.

"Oh! Look at the time! You should be getting ready. Or you'll be late."

"I'll go tell Domino to bring the car around."

With that, she left and Viola was more than convinced that she knew something. She supposed that she would have no other choice but to ask Leonardo when they met later that day.

He was late. The idiot was late! Viola thought angrily as she tried his phone again. 

"I don't know how else to reach him!"

She mumbled as she waited inside the car. She had arrived an hour earlier, waited for a while at the ring shop. They had been nice and courteous to her, they knew her grandfather and they had been notified that the young couple was coming. But Leonardo was nowhere to be found and after two glasses of champagne, Viola was very upset with him. She gave up waiting for him and left. She would leave him to pick out whatever ring he deemed fit. Not that she cared that much. 

"I'm late"

Leonardo said again but Vanessa pulled him back to her chest. 

"Stay a little longer. I've missed you."

She said and Leonardo sighed. 

He indulged her.

"You should start getting used to us not seeing for long periods of time Vanessa. Between pack politics and work and the wedding plans I barely have enough time for you. You shouldn't even be here."

He said and she shrugged. 

"We'll make time. Just as you're making now."

"So, have you at least figured out why they want you to marry little miss goody two shoes?"

Vanessa asked and Leonardo rolled his eyes, he never should have told her anything about Viola, but he had said it anyways. Vanessa tugged at his thigh and planted kissed down his neck. 

"I'm not supposed to say. But there's an eighty percent chance that she's my mate,."

Vanessa paused and searched Leonardo's eyes. 

"Wait, have you felt the mating bond?"

He asked and he shook his head. No, he had not. But according to his grandfather, one major reason for that could be because Viola's powers were suppressed. 

"I haven't."

"Then you can't be so sure!"

Vanessa answered sharply and Leonardo raised his eyebrows.

"Don't tell me you're jealous."

He said and she shrugged. 

"Jealous?! Of her?"

She chuckled and Leonardo looked confused. 

"The only thing I feel for her is pity. Nothing more. I can only imagine the kind of life she'll be subjected to."

Leonardo paused as he reflected on Vanessa's cold words. She mean to hurt him with his words, he knew that but it still made him a bit worried. Was that what she really thought? The door opened forcefully and Loki, his beta barged in with a frown on hs face. 

Leonardo gave Vanessa a look and that was enough for her to know that it was her cue to leave. She adjusted her skirt and left the room. Loki didn't even spare her a look. It was glaring enough how much he hated her. 

"How long are you going to keep messing with that distasteful woman?'

"You should know better by now."

Loki said with a frown.

Leonardo shrugged. 

"Watch it Loki. It's not time for a lecture."

Loki sighed. 

"Fine. I'll save it."

"Viola was waiting for you at the ring shop. You had plans to met her there didn't you?"

Leonardo grunted. 

"Arggh! I knew I forgot something. Wait, how did you know that?"

"You grandfather wanted me to keep an eye on her. and your mother mentioned that you two were supposed to go ring shopping today."

"She waited for a long time."

Loki added in a low voice and Leonardo sighed. 

"I got caught up with work and I forgot."

He mumbled and Loki rolled his eys. 

"Work indeed"

He muttered underneath his breath. 

"I suppose I'll have to take it to her one way or the other."

Luigi Chiatelli, the jeweler and owner of the ring shop he and Viola were supposed to check out together had brought over some of his best pieces for Leonardo to look at. Leonardo had invited his mother to help him with the choosing and she had been more than happy to. 

But she had also chastised him for standing Viola up. 

"Viola is a simple girl really, I doubt you'd need anything flashy to capture her attention."

His mother had said after Luigi showed them a large emerald cut engagement ring. 

"Oh no! That won't do."

She said as she waved it away. 

"After the engagement the two of you would need to go out more. You would need to be seen in public."

Leonardo nodded. 

"And the matter of the Luna Rites? I know I shouldn't have mentioned it then but it must be mentioned. We need to introduce her to the pack as soon as possible. The elders must know our reasons."

His mother rolled her eyes. 

"Oh those old farts would only seek to create more problems. Besides, we don't really need to worry about all that, Mario has assured us that he will break the news to her before the wedding."

"And how about this?"

Luigi brought out another elegant ring. It was petite and pretty, 18K rose gold, and a 3 carat brilliant-cut white diamond.

He looked at his mother in approval and she nodded. 

"This. This is the one."