*ARIANNA’S POV*Either the breeze or my movement finally snaps him out of whatever trance he was in. Finally he looks at me, not through me. He takes a step toward me and I stiffen. He is back now rough and taking no prisoners. He grabs me on both sides and flings me on the bed, face down. I wait for the heat from his body to cover mine but instead I hear the door open and shut in quick succession. He was gone. Was I dreaming? What in Luna’s name just happened?I shakily put my clothes back on and run to the door. I garb the lock and turn it until I hear the click, I pull the door towards me and it doesn’t budge. Those locks wouldn’t stop any wolf but I felt better having it locked. I sink to the floor by the door, fold legs up to my chest and wrap my hands around my whole body. I'm basically a scared lump on the floor rocking back and forth. At that moment I realized why I was terrified. My time was up, he was done with me. He would either sell
*LUCIANO’S POV*“Shut the door” I say to her. I don't even know what I am about to say. What happened to me last night? It was definitely Dave. Trying to get me to treat her more humanely. She is an omega. She doesn’t deserve any form of humane treatment. Omegas were a plague on any pack they were born into. I knew that first hand.I take off my cufflinks and roll up my sleeves. They had their uses but I wasn’t going to wear them the whole day. “You, what to do with you?” I ask as I take my seat. She stands there looking helpless and pitiful. It almost works. If I didn’t know how much of a liability Omegas were I would actually take pity on her. So what was last night about? That silly voice in the back of my head asks again. I growl very loudly, as if that would make the voice shit up. She stiffens at the sound of my growl, she did that every time. My hand twitches and I reach for a pen. I don’t want to entertain the thought that I was r
LUCIANO’S POVHappy hour was at five. I had managed to pass the time with sparring and an impromtu inspection of the pack's herb garden. Of course it was also an excuse to see my aunt Becky. I never saw her as much as I did before becoming Alpha. I was her Alpha now and could make her do whatever I wanted but the boy in me still remembers all the hiding she gave me and Dave whenever we brought trouble to her door. The time was four o’clock, I need to get ready to meet my guests. I head into the shower for a quick one. I’m out in about five minutes and I go about combing my hair and laying out something to wear. It’s supposed to be a casual type of event. I was entertaining my guests before we talked business tomorrow. Everyone knew the business talk started today but for appearance sakes, this would be a casual event.I pick out a snow white long sleeved sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. The shirt was intentional, I was making a statement with the
*ARIANNA’S POV*Andrew had been keeping me company at the bar for most of the night. He left occasionally to mingle but always found his way back to the bar to check on me. The lounge manager had insisted I not leave the bar as I had zero experience working here. I was giving grunt work. Cleaning glasses, cutting lime wedges, refilling the ice box. It was stressful but it kept me out of Luciano’s sight.I had been dreading tonight’s task but Luna must be smiling down at me. Imagine my surprise when the hot wolf that smiled at me the other day walked in and headed straight for me. “Hi, I’m Andrew” he said as he took a seat across the bar from me. I had smiled so hard all my face hurt. It wasn’t just because he was hot, which he was. It was also that, other than Davison, Becky and Estelle, every other member of this pack prefered to act like I was invisible. Now this wonderful looking man walks up to me with a smile and introduces himself. Not j
*ARIANNA’S POV*I run all the entire way to my room. By Luna, what did he think he was doing? I slammed my door shut behind me and sank to the floor, I was shaking from anger and confusion. The nerve of him to mark me. It wasn’t enough that he could storm into my room any night he felt like to have his way with me. Now he was making sure everyone knew it. Now Andrew would know it too. The sudden thought of Andrew stops my shakes. Is that what that was about? Andrew did say Luciano had no love for him. Was this him telling Andrew to keep off? I get off the floor and take off my clothes. The smell of him was nauseating and intoxicating at the same time. I was so confused, my brain loved and hated his smell on me. I walk into the adjoining bathroom. I can’t get him off completely but I can try. I set the water to scalding hot and step in. I load my hair with shampoo and my body with soap. If I were in a comic right now my super power would be suds.
*ARIANNA’S POV*I felt ashamed now. “I’m sorry Estell” I get up and wrap her in a hug and she doesn’t hug me back at first but gives in eventually. “It’s fine Arianna. Now, you need to get dressed. Breakfast will run out by the time you get to the kitchen.” I notice for the first time that she did not bring up my breakfast. “I can’t eat here?” I ask “Don’t be silly, of course you can. But, I don’t have to wait on you anymore. You are free to get your own food. I mean you do eat at night don’t you? I don’t bring you dinner at night do I?” Oh she had no idea I snuck into the kitchen after the kitchen staff had closed for the day. “I usually wait for the kitchen staff to leave then I eat whatever is left in the fridge.” she looks surprised “I guess people have been treating you like scum. Alpha Luciano sure hasn’t helped either. You live here they have to feed you, free or not. Get dressed I’ll go with you today. We can figure the rest out after
*LUCIANO’S POV*I was tired of watching Dave’s smug face. He thought I set her free because he kept appealing to my humanity. Maybe it was part of the reason, a very small part. Except Dave had found a way to make me think he was my late wife then no, he had very little to do with it. I had a meeting to run. I needed to concentrate. I have to admit she looked very happy this morning. I guess not being owned by an Alpha would bring out thie joy in anybody. This meeting was starting to drag on. The Apalachian wolves are not going to stop picking up hickers and mounteneerers. The Alpha insisted a few missing tourists in a year was good for the lore. He was right but ten in a year was more than a few. He probably lost his grip on the youngstars for a while. Considering the killings had abruptly stoped something this year I would say he had his house in order now. But no Alpha would be caught dead admitting to losing his grip, especially when it resulted
*LUCIANO’S POV*Archery was fun. It became even more fun when people started putting money on it. A few Alphas lost to some Zetas and Betas and the other Alphas laughed about it up till the dinner table. Collin was red in the face from laughing so hard. Pairing wine with dinner probably fueled the laughs. Over all it was a good day. I had no pressing issue to tend to for the rest of the day so I decide to take a stroll in the garden. My walks in the garden had been helping with the anger in my heart. An anger I had held on to since my mate died. She loved this garden and I felt closer to her here. Her presence here made me set the Omega free. Definetly not whatever Dave has been spouting about humanity these past months. The night was very still, the moon was a glowing crescent in the sky. I made a mental note to talk to the gardners about how the garden was fairing. It looked decently kept, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was missing som