LUCIANO’S POV“Hey. Why don't you take a break so I can get her into some clean clothes?” Alex asked, raising a bag I assumed had clothes in it.“No, I’ll do it. Let me.” I stretched out my hand and she reluctantly handed over the bag.“There’s also clothes for you, and a blanket.” She said, “Are you sure you want tk do this? She still needs to … there’s gauze in there.” She finally said after a long pause.“Thank you Alex.” I told her. I didn’t care. I would take care of her however I needed to. It was the least I could do.“Dave took off. He said to tell you that he was heading back home. Something about leaving the pack unattended.” “I hadn’t thought about it. This whole time, I divided my attention between the pack and looking for Arianna, when she was really all that mattered.” I told her.“You did what you thought was best. You are a good Alpha. You can’t fault yourself for that. And she won’t either.” I walked to the sink and filled a bowl with water. I couldn’t do anything b
LUCIANO’S POV“She has been through a lot. She has a lot of bad drugs in her system. Her shifting was just the last straw, the baby must have already been in distress, considering the drugs.” Becky explained.“What drugs? Why would she take drugs?” I asked them.“We don’t think she took them willingly.” Becky answered. “He drugged her.” I muttered as realization dawned on me. Wherever Carter was he better keep running. I would end him if I saw him again. I took a deep breath and made myself ask the one question that I was scared to know the answer to.“Is she going to be okay?” “She has been through a lot. I mixed herbs and potions that will help her heal.” “That is not an answer Becky.” She was being evasive and it was not helping my mood.“Her body will heal in time.” She answered.“What does that mean?” Alex asked. At least someone else was as confused as I was.“I don’t know exactly what she went through but, her body has started to heal and she should be awake soon.” Becky sa
LUCIANO’S POVDave had sent two buses. Where the hell did he get buses on short notice. We didn’t own any. I was grateful for the thought. The buses were fitted for comfort. Arianna could lie comfortably and I would sit with her, there was enough room for three people to kick back. “Sir, whenever you are ready.” “Thanks Ray.” I said and walked into George’s house.I met Becky and George talking by Arianna’s side. They looked worried. “Is there a problem?” I asked them.“No. Not really. Her body has healed remarkably and most of the drugs are out of her system.” Becky said. I smiled at the good news. “That’s good. Right?” “Yes, Luciano. That is good news. Now let’s get her home. You were right. Being back home will help her a lot. She may not be conscious but a part of her will know that she is home.” Becky said.I grabbed a clean blanket and covered Arianna up. Becky and Alex were waiting in the car. George had talked about getting a stretcher to move her but I wanted to carry h
LUCIANO’S POV“The full moon was two nights ago. Why isn’t she awake yet?” I asked Becky. “I don’t know.”“And why didn’t she turn?”“I don’t know.” Becky said again.“You said everything was fine.” I reminded her.“I said her body was okay. She is strong.” She repeated what she had been saying for days.“So why isn’t she awake? It’s been long enough.”“You can’t know that. She will decide when she is ready to wake up.”I looked around, defeated. I felt useless. She was my mate and I failed at protecting her. And now I was failing at helping her. “Do you talk to her?” Becky asked.“What?” I was confused.“Talk to her, Lucianno. There is a good chance she can hear you. Make her want to wake up.” Becky left us in my room. Shutting the door behind her.I sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand in mine. I had so much to say to her, but not like this. Not while she couldn’t look at me. “Please wake up. I miss you.” I let go of her hand and left the room.Dave was back on his couch
LUCIANO’S POVI walked into the dark room. The moonlight was streaking into the room and unto Arianna’s face. She looked beautiful.Becky said I should try talking to her. I picked up her hand but my words betrayed me. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I let go of her hand and decided to take a cold shower.I was pulling my shirt over my head when I thought I saw her fingers move. It couldn’t have been that. It looked like my eyes were playing tricks on me. The room was dark and I was making up scenarios. I tried laying down beside her but it felt wrong. She had not let me back in yet. I half lay on the lounge seat that I had moved in here. This had been my bed since we brought her home. It was no wonder I could not get any sleep.I watched her fingers the entire night. Hoping it would move, for real this time but, nothing. It really was my mind playing tricks. I was about to leave the next morning when I decided to stop standing in my own way. I took her hand and started ver
ARIANNA’S POVBecky had been fussing over me since she got here this morning. She was looking me over and examining me five times over. “I’m fine Becky.” I told her for what sounded like the millionth time. “Just let me look at you. You made me scared. Do you feel any pain? Anywhere?” She asked.“No. I just feel tired.” I told her. “That’s normal. Do you feel like eating now?” She asked.“I asked Chef to make her something.” Luciano answered.He had been standing at the door, quietly all morning. When I woke up he had not wanted to give me space but now it was like he didn’t want to get too close. “I can eat.” I answered Becky. “Good. Small bites, slowly.” She was beaming from ear to ear. She held my face and stared straight into my eyes. “Don’t scare me like that again.” She told me.I nodded at her with a smile. I had missed her. I reached out and gave her a big hug. She held on extra long before letting go. “I’ll let you rest. I’ll be back later.” We were finally alone and t
LUCIANO’S POVI raced back upstairs to grab some towels and soap. She didn’t want to be here, in my room. In our room. I had not helped matters. After my initial reaction when she woke up I had been distant. She had gone through a lot and I had a lot to apologize for. I prayed and begged her to wake up so I could apologize. But seeing her, now. I didn’t think I deserved it. She had lost a baby because of me. It didn’t matter if she forgave me or not. Heavens knew I didn’t deserve it. But I owed it to her to be sorry. I grabbed the soap and two towels and headed back downstairs. I could hear the water running in the bathroom and contemplated going in there. I placed the towels on the bed and stood there. I was not this person. I was sure and always knew what to do. On the other hand I had never screwed up so colossally before. I didn’t need to think too long. A blood chilling scream came out from the bathroom. I ran to the door immediately yelling out her name.“Arianna!”“Luciano
ARIANNA’S POVDave and I sat on a bench in the garden while Alex made Luciano help her pick flowers. It was good to be out of bed but I was exhausted from the walk. “She looks happy.” I told dave. He was watching her with a smile on his face. Who could blame him? Alex was amazing. “She is. How are you?” He asked me in a very serious tone. “I don’t know. I mean … it’s been a lot.” I told him.“I can’t imagine. It’ll get better. You are home now.” I smiled half heartedly at him.“That’s not good. Is there somewhere else you want to be?” he asked me.“Honestly Dave. I don’t know. I think it’ll just take me a while to find myself again.” “He was out looking for you. Everyday. I know it doesn’t make up for anything but … he hates himself so much for what happened.” “He said as much. I don’t hate him. I really don’t. I just don’t know what I want anymore. Over a month ago I thought I was going to be a mom.” I blinked away the tears that were pooling in my eyes. Dave gave me a warm s
ARIANNA’S POVAlex walked in and the sea of people standing around parted for her. She looked gracious and I couldn’t wait to tell her that her dress captured the light of the moon like she wanted. The crowd of people parted and converged around her. It was like a maze that opened up in front and shut behind you as you walked. They were leading her to the center. To her minotaur. But this time, it was no scary monster, it was the love of her life. She finally got to the center of the crowd and stood opposite Dave. Luciano stood with them to perform the ceremony. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His robe, fortunately for me, left a lot of his chest bare. There was a lot left to the imagination but just enough was open that I couldn’t help but stare. I stepped up when I was called. It was time for best friend duties. I handed over the stone. It was white but a little see through. It was supposed to represent the moon. Luciano took it and placed it in Dave’s hand, he then covered it
LUCIANO’S POV“And what’s wrong with that?” She asked me. Fuck! That question tugged at the beast in me that just wanted to take her, with zero regard. I took a deep slow breath to calm myself. We both needed this, but she needed it more. Her body needed to remember that there was a lot more than the pain she had endured. “Shhh” I whispered back to her.I traced kisses all over her body, slowly, and holding on to her hips. Those hips. I would let them move, in time. I made my way down her body till I got between her legs. I buried my face in there and took a deep breath. The smell of her arousal drove me nuts and I could feel my erection grow in my pants. My tongue immediately went to work. Licking and sucking at her mound. I could feel her shaking beneath me and it made me happy. I slipped one finger into her opening and heard her let out a loud moan, I slipped in the second finger and let go of her hips. She was thrusting against my fingers now, my thumb once again found her c
ARIANNA’S POV “Alex, you did it! It’s beautiful.” I told her as we stood in the clearing. “You should see it at night, with the lights lit.” She said. “Two days away now. How are you freeling?” The smile that covered her face was infectious. I didn’t realize I was smiling too. “It feels like a lucid dream. A good one.” She explained.“Well, it’s not a dream.” I told her. “There you two are. Your parents have arrived.” Dave announced as he walked into the clearing. I watched Alex subconsciously gravitate into his arms. There was no thought behind it. Her body just moved. I loved that they had found each other. In the midst of all the crazy, something beautiful came out of it. “Where are they?” Alex asked Dave.“Luciano is keeping them busy in the big house. They came with the mystic moon’s new Alpha, Dylan.” Dave explained. “That still feels weird to hear. Alpha Dylan and the mystic moon. Thank the goddess for that.” I shuddered. Alex squeezed my hand for a brief second befor
ARIANNA’S POVLuciano took my hand in his and we walked off into the field. I had no idea where we were but I wondered who owned this place. No way, It was just a wild field. Someone definitely took care of it. There were wild flowers around, two trees apart from each other. But the grass was not wild. From the beginning to the end of the field the grass was cut to the same length. It had this feel of a wild place but at the same time, I could see the intentionality behind it. I watched Luciano spread a blanket on the grass and place the basket to the side. He stretched out his hand for me. I took it and he led me to sit on the blanket. I had never seen this blanket before, so I wondered where he got it. “So, what did the Chef pack us?” I asked. “Chef didn’t pack it.” He answered a little annoyed. “I was just teasing.” I told him. “I know. And I told Estell what to pack. So it was partly me.” He said, sulking. I giggled at his face. He reminded me of a toddler who wasn’t gett
LUCIANO’S POV“Good for Dylan.” I muttered. “Good for the mystic moon. Good for us.” Dave replied. I nodded at him. “Would you mind inviting him to the ceremony? Some of the pack is going to be here anyway.” I asked.“Of course. I was only trying to keep Carter out. Dylan is good. I think he and Alex used to be friends before he left the pack.” “Sounds good. Anything from the other Alphas?” “Just the usual. Nothing about us or Arianna though…” he looked like he had something else to say but could not decide. “What is it?” “Collin was trying to stir some of the others but they shut him down.” Dave explained.“Can someone do the rest of us a favour and challenge him already? By the moon! It’s always something with him.” I said, frustrated.“He’ll be out soon. Without an external factor to distract his pack, they will start to realise what a terrible Alpha he is.” “That may be true, but I doubt it’ll be that easy. He lets them get away with a lot of truancy. This year alone, more
ARIANNA’S POV“Did you know that Ciara was changing the natural state of your forest?” I asked Luciano.We were sitting by the kitchen Island, eating a bowl of microwaved lasagna. I was eating anyway, Luciano was just keeping me company. He had a confused look on his face that told me he had no idea that Alex was planting flowers in his forest. I giggled before explaining to him. “She says its too green and needs other colors to pop.” I explained. “Of course it needs other colors.” We both laughed at the way he said that. It was so playful and almost like saying why didn’t he think of it. “How was your fitting. Can I see your dress?” He asked. “Sure. It’s up in my room.” I said. I could see the very minute flicker in his eyes. If I had blinked I would have missed it. And if I had not noticed it a few times before I would have sworn I imagined it. “What’s wrong?” I finally asked him. “What do you mean?” “Just now. When I said you could see my dress. There was this … I can’t exp
CIARA’S POVHow would I explain to Dylan that I wasn’t welcome at the Ice claw pack? The last thing I wanted was him associating me with Carter’s tyranny. It was bad enough that everyone knew we were together. We were together. The thought took me by surprise. I knew we were done but I had not said it out loud. He was sick and dying. The last thing I wanted was to become his nurse and in extension, the punching bag for all his pain. I would make up an excuse to not go. He had his beta. From what he said, it would be no more than two days. Just a formality. There was actually no need for me to be there. The environment around the pack had been light and welcoming. Everyone who left with Dylan during the plague was back. Families were happy and no one even spoke of Carter. It was almost like he didn’t exist. But he did.I walked by his house for what seemed like the hundredth time in as many days. I knocked but there was no answer. He had locked his door days ago. His door was never
CIARA’S POVI knew Carter was weak but I at least expected a fight. Watching him writhing on the floor with drool running out of his mouth was just embarrassing.He could not even get through his change let alone fight. Everyone who gathered to watch didn’t seem to understand what was happening. “Is that part of it? “What the fuck is happening?”“Can he stand?” I heard these questions randomly from the crowd. This was beyond bad for Carter. If he couldn’t even turn, how did he plan to survive? It actually explained why he was absent during the full moon. Dylan walked up to Carter’s shivering body and placed one leg on top of him, signaling that the fight was done. If we could call it a fight. Dylan standing with Carter beneath his feet was the signal everyone needed to stop feeling sorry for Carter. The screams of joy were deafening. It was like years of pent up frustration could finally be let out. I ran inside Carter’s house to grab blankets. When I got back outside, old man M
CARTER’S POVI looked at my reflection in the full length mirror. I looked like I was hexed. Considering I had no idea what Luciano stabbed me with, I guess I could be hexed. Hexes were the worst, it was also George’s best guess. If he was right then there was no way out of this for me. I would walk a slow pain filled journey to my death. Curse Nadia. What did I ever do to her for her to do this to me? Not only did she tell other witches not to help me, if this was really a hex then it would not matter who wanted to help. Only the witch who places the hex can remove it. I had been in so much pain lately, I actually tried calling her. All my calls went straight to voicemail.In hindsight, leaving threats on her voicemail may not have been the best approach. I did leave an apology, but she still has not called back. I would find a way, I was not going to go down like this. “Max!” I called out. He ran in seconds later. “Any idea where Ciara has been since yesterday?” I asked him.