The Guardian

Erin's POV:

"Oh yeah, faster, ahh...," I heard the woman moan. 

"Bend over baby, hmm, you like it, huh?" I heard Axel moan.

"Shit! This guy is a whore," I mumbled and kicked open his apartment's room, "Okay wise guy knock it off!"

"Ahh!" the woman screamed, pulling the sheets to cover her naked self.

"WHAT THE FUCK, ERIN! What are you doing here?" Axel blurted out. He didn't even bother to cover himself. He likes to go naked with girls, and I get that. Such an asshole.

"Father wants you in the mansion now. I suggest you go home, Miss," I glared at the woman. She quickly picked up her clothes and shoes on the floor, rushing out.

"What are you waiting for? Get dressed!" I throw a towel on his naked body. He flashed a naughty smile, and I just rolled my eyes to intimidate him, but honestly, my heart was racing. I haven't seen a naked man with his stick erected.

I've seen a lot of dead naked bodies, but not like this. I can smell his orgasm all over the room. I haven't been intimate with a man before, and I'd like to keep it that way than entangle myself with a stupid guy like Axel, who happens to be my mate.

Yes, I found out that he was my mate the first time I laid my eyes on him the day I arrived at their house. I thought Axel felt the strong connection too. But as we grew old, he became a dick. He constantly bullied me and quoted that he could never love a woman like me. A punk, he would say. And condemn me being Shadow.

It was painful to hear those words from my mate. Though he doesn't know, he is destined to be my other half because he is a human. It still hurts being rejected by my mate. That felt like a dagger piercing my heart repeatedly.

Actually, I am a guardian to a mafia king, Romano Starvo. We called him Lord Romano, but not me. I called him father. He found me on the lying road almost lifeless when I was ten and kept me under his roof. In return, I served him. I became his right hand, and he was the only person who knew my real identity.

Truth is, I am the future Luna in my pack, the Mystic Shadow. A savage Alpha Ezekiel conquered us from the Black Claw pack who killed my parents, enslaved my people, and tortured them until they pledged their loyalty to him. At the same time, I was caged, starved, and beaten. I became his slave. I thought being a slave was my only salvation until my execution day was set. Alpha Ezekiel wants to eliminate my parent's legacy.

Beta Akela, my uncle, found out about the council's verdict and helped me escape. He left me in the woods where humans are situated, so I could live and be free. I begged him to come, but he couldn't leave our people. Sending me out into the human world was my big chance of survival.

Confused and scared, I ran as fast as I could without direction. All I knew was I needed to get away from there. I need to escape. I never stopped running until I reached the road; no more strength was left in me.

**********

Over time, werewolves adapt to the new world to survive. Most of them are businessmen, heads of their triad, and politicians. We live in a world where werewolves exist and live amongst humans. Hiding in their own empire.

Presently, I am a ghost—a trained killer. Father would always say that I am his legacy. I was dubbed as the next Romano Starvo. Sharpshooter and the top assassin in Spain. A ruthless killer. I kill with no mercy. I can turn all things into weapons and kill everyone with my bare hands. They called me Shadow.

I wear a mask all the time. Part of being Shadow is to keep my identity hidden. No one saw my face except the Starvo family. With them, I am just a normal person. That is how I maintain a low profile.

But father feared for the day of his retirement as his next heir wouldn't want anything to do with his business and wouldn't want to be the next mafia king.

"What does he want with me anyway?" Axel whined, putting his clothes on.

"You'll know when we get there," I went out to wait in my car.

Axel Starvo. Romano's eldest son. The next heir to the throne. Spontaneous, predictable, and a womanizer. He often gets into trouble and lets others beat him. He never fought back. For him, nothing will be solved through violence.

Don't get me wrong. He is perfectly capable of defending himself. We trained together. He even knows how to hold a gun, a sharpshooter like his dad, but he refuses to use one. It all started when his mom was killed. Someone broke into their house. Romano fought back, which led to his wife's death.

Since then, Axel has vowed not to use violence or force.

"Dad," Axel pecked Romano's cheeks, "You called?"

"Yes. Have a seat. Thank you, Erin."

I was about to leave, but father asked me to stay. He is comfortable with me around.

"Son, you are not getting any younger anymore, and let's face it, I am getting old."

"Pooh! Nonsense, dad. You are still young! What you need is a vacation! We can go to the Caribbean so you can relax," Axel went to the bar counter and poured himself some wine.

"Getting weak is getting old. Axel, I'm running out of time. I need you to straighten your mind and focus on our family business."

"What for? Erin is here. She can take care of that."

"Erin is turning twenty-five tomorrow."

"Oh." Axel glanced at me. He knows what that means. Romano never hides his decisions from him. As part of being a guardian, Romano vowed to give me my freedom on my twenty-fifth birthday. He wanted me to start a new life where I could be happy.

"Did she figure already what she'll do with her life?" Axel emptied his wine. Lost in his own words. He was never concerned about me.

"I don't know, why don't you ask her yourself? Besides, that is none of our business. I gave her my word, and I am keeping it. She has helped me a lot, and now, it's time for you to do your part."

"Dad, we already talked about this. This mafia king business is not for me. I have my own job. I can take care of myself and Lily."

"And what? You want to throw everything I've worked for?"

"I didn't say that. Someone in the family can continue your legacy.

Romano closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Forcing Axel to be part of his business won't do any good. It will end up with a big argument. He made it clear to him that he doesn't belong in the mafia world.

"All right. Just come with us in this transaction. After that, you can decide on your own."

"Dad."

"Axel, just this time. This is a new client. What do you say?"

"Just this once?"

"Yes, I will let you go on with your lives."

"Fine!" Axel sighed.

"Ahh!" we were startled to hear a scream from upstairs.