Chapter Three: The Unchained Hound

Russell’s POV

= A few hours ago =

“I’ve had it.”

I broke my unusual silence, startling the quivering human as his uncanny bushy mustache nearly flipped off from the way he jolted.

“S-Sir?”

The veins visibly shown on my side jaws as my lips slowly curve into a wide grin. Seeing all the women present in my room with mortification as they slowly backed away, perhaps I had turned into a madman in their eyes.

“This,” I mused, looking at each and every woman lining up in front of me.

"Beautiful, well-dressed women who were sent by their fathers solely to attain the prestige that was being sought."

“Hadn't this been a forced matchmaking schtick the old man made, I would have all sent you to the pack’s whorehouse,” I added, enjoying the sight of their bodies trembling in fear.

When I rose up from my seat, one girl dropped to her knees, eyes streaming with her tears along with her ugly mascara while begging to be spared.

Not long after, they all cried and begged to be sent home.

I sighed as I rubbed my forehead. All this noise was pissing me more than appeasing me. “Out, all of you!”

“What?!” The old man I didn’t care to remember his name stared at me with mortification. “B-But these women came from across continents! They came here as you requested!”

“You mean my father requested,” I growled and I could feel my fingers slowly shaped to its claws. The anger and frustration my wolf felt surged through my veins. “I won’t seek a woman unless she's my fated mate.”

“B-But, sir—”

“Didn’t you hear what I’ve just said?!” I let out a roar as I smashed the table with my pure strength, thus, breaking it in process. “GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!” On cue, the women along with that male human scurried away and headed to the exit door.

Now what was left was just my faithful Beta, Saul and myself in this room.

The Beta remained expressionless but I could still see a glimpse of fear flickering in his dark brown eyes. Yet, he didn’t say a word as he walked toward the exit as well.

“Wait.”

“You asked for my presence despite your foul mood, sir?”

I slumped back on my seat as I heaved a weary sigh.

“How long has it been since I had that talk with the Moon Goddess?”

“Nearly fifteen years, young master.” He headed to the coffee table and started pouring me an imported Italian drink.

“Fifteen fucking years since I’ve received my wolf and the moon goddess wouldn’t give me the Moon Blessing.” I burst out laughing. “Fated mates? Pfft! That bitch needs to stop controlling her wolves or else I throw her to the whorehouse myself.”

“Careful now, young master. She may not be physically here but she observes us from afar.” He handed me a tray of shot glass and a bottle, and I snatched the latter and wolfed its content right to my mouth.

“She hasn’t given me my Moon Blessing so I have the rights to soil her damn name.” After I drank all what remained in the wine, I threw the bottle aside. 

For mafia famiglias who are descendants of the High Alpha, each of us is gifted with the Moon Blessing which brings out the full potential of our strength. When an heir reaches eighteen, they are given a test by the moon goddess.

In my case, mine is to find my fated mate—a phenomenon which occurs every once in a millennium.

I would have expected the bitch to challenge me with my power, my wits and my will—yet she gave me the one that is too impossible to find.

My wolf whimpered after hearing my thoughts as I assured it that I hadn’t given up until now.

‘I want power as much as you, Atticus,’ I communicated with my wolf. ‘If you help detect my fated mate, together, we’ll be invincible.’

It hadn’t responded, and I gave out a loud sigh. Maybe Atticus had already given up on me as well.

“Fuck this shit, thinking isn’t my forte, anyway.” I slapped my face with my hands as I stared at the ceiling. “You think the old man is going to give me an earful today?”

“He will be marching here soon as we speak,” Saul replied in a flat tone.

My grin widened. “Well, let him be.” I jolted up from my seat as I lifted my pinstripe gray jacket which draped over the chair next to me. I swung the jacket over my left shoulder while my other hand busied itself rummaging in my other pocket.

“To pay for his efforts of bringing all these lovely ladies from different continents, I’ll help clean up the dirt in our family turf.”

“W-Wait, Mr. DeLucci! Have you forgotten you’re under probation?!”

All his jibber-jabber passed through my ears as I slammed the door behind me. I could hear the door open not a moment later and Saul hadn't given up stopping me.

However, when I caught my father coming in my direction, I stopped as I gave a friendly wave. “Hey, old man. Seems that you’re still alive and kicking today. I would have thought you would end up getting a stroke.”

Instead of a greeting like any normal father would do, he smacked my face with his cane. My hand reached out to wipe the blood dripping out from my nose.

“YOU INSOLENT BOY!” He gritted his teeth, morphing them into his canine wolf. Fury clearly showed on his face as he shoved the can on my swollen cheek. “I’ve already given up the fact that you would pass the Moon Goddess test and you have the decency to reject potential mates to continue the lineage!”

I frowned. “But I haven’t given up yet.” After snorting out the blood from my nose, I continued. “Even without the Blessing, I’m still capable of protecting our turf.”

“Time is our main weakness, boy. Soon, younger and stronger Alphas from other packs are going to avenge their fallen ancestors. You won’t stand a chance once you’ve reached my age.”

“Yet, you could still pull a suckerpunch on me with that damn crane of yours,” I refuted while grinning.“If you’re that worried, why won’t you just impregnate one of your whores and get another son to fill your shoes.”

“You think it’s a joke, don’t you?” It only infuriated him more every time I said something. “Mark my words, our pack will have its downfall when you're this stupid!”

“You’re just hard to please,” I said, nearly attempting to roll my eyes just to spite him. “Fine, if you want me to make you proud, I’ll return once I get my fated mate.” A thought crossed my mind as my grin widened. “In fact, I won’t return until I find her!”

Turning on my heel. I strutted away while humming a random tune, leaving my confused father alone. It was good that he had forgotten about my "probation".

“W-What? How can you just find the impossible when you’ve been searching for her for fifteen years?! WAIT, RUSSELL!”

I stopped midway, allowing my father to catch up, limping with his crane. “What?”

“If you couldn’t find your fated mate, when will you return here?”

I only shrugged. “Beats me. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. See ya, pops!” I lazily waved my hand at my old man before he screamed bloody murder.

“RUSSELL! YOU ARE STILL ON YOUR PROBATION!" 

Oops, too late. I quickened my pace.

"DON'T JUST STAND THERE, SAUL, GET HIM!"

============

I could have stopped and listened but my pride was on the line at that time. I was deeply infuriated with his words. I was pissed off with the world that wouldn't give me a chance to get what I wanted.

But it turned out well. After I beat up some hoodlums on the streets just to satiate my lust for their screams and agony, smearing my whole luxurious suit with their blood, it gave me an exhilirating feeling of comfort.

Who wouldn't have thought on that same night, Atticus would scream on my ear that our "fated mate" was nearby.

In a form of a human girl as she was being chased by other wolves while carrying a child with her.

A human? Of all things?! And based on her scent as lingering right after I went inside the building, it was a scent of the human from the "other border".

The mortal enemies of the wolves, the predecessors of the Human Hunters who had lost against the war against us years ago.

'Atticus, if I make her my mate, Lucci Famiglia would become the enemy among other packs, right?'

My wolf responded with a heartful approval.

"An enemy of the entire race, huh?" 

I grinned.

All of the sudden, both of my desire to make her my mate and my desire to make myself the enemy of the wolves felt enthralling to my ears.

It wasn't a bad idea. I wanted this joy! The joy of being with battles, wars and bloodshed! Something my ancestors were lucky enough to fight with the braver humans of the past!

And once I reached to the top and seeing her with the child at the edge of the roof, my lips twitched as I cackled at the beautiful sight of my mate as her body dropped off from the building.

Yet, I was faster and saved her from meeting death.

After all, I had sworn to myself that once I'd found her, I wouldn't let her go even if it would kill me.