LUCIANO’S POVWatching her walk to the door defeated made me feel like I should have handled the situation a little better. We had a good time. Too bad it turned out like this. She shut the door and I went back to bed. All the rest had gone out of me and I kept tossing and turning . This was going to be a long night. Morning came and I got out of bed, and headed for the bathroom. A cold shower would help hide my tired eyes. I had barely gotten any sleep. Becky would have to give me something stronger than tea or I would find a doctor who would. I get out of the shower and text ray to be ready to leave in thirty minutes. I put on my clothes and head to the next room where Arianna was sleeping. I knocked on the door continuously until a sleepy eyed Arianna with messed up hair and nothing but her T shirt on opened the door.I raised an eyebrow at her appearance but she did not seem to notice. “Breakfast time, hurry up, we leave in thirty minutes.”That got her attention because she fi
ARIANNA’S POV We had been sitting around the table for about fifteen minutes now. I was quietly sipping tea and listening to Victoria reminisce about Luciano’s childhood and how much of a smarty pants he used to be. He still is but I didn’t feel like chipping that in. She was done with the pleasantries and wanted to know why we were here. “It is nice to see you, Luciano, but didn’t drive all this way just to see my pretty face did you?”“I wish your face was all I needed to see. Then this would have been a perfect morning. My park came under attack recently, no one was hurt thankfully, but …” he paused and looked seriously at Victoria now “some of the attackers were witches. Is there a reason witches would want to come after us?” Victoria’s face had not changed. Whatever she was thinking did not show. I would hate to play against her at poker. “Witches as a collective do not want you dead. If there are witches working against your park then it has to be personal for them.”I was
ARIANNA’S POV Luciano had asked me to sit in and listen to Adrew’s recount of how things were going at the mystic moon. Dave was here too. Apparently a lot of younger wolves had left the park thanks to Carter’s leadership. No one could challenge him for Alpha because he would tear the person apart. He may have been brain dead but in a fight, he was a wolf all through and a ruthless one. “Most of the wolves who left started their own little park closer to the humans. The others joined up with the troublemakers we have been fighting. Carter has known about them for a while, they call themselves The Defiance.” Dave half snorted, half laughed at the name, drawing everyone’s attention to him. “Sorry, the name is just a little on the nose for me. Carry on Andrew.” “Anyway, they never attacked him so he never thought to do anything about them, he also had no idea they were planning to attack the convention, that’s what he claims anyway.” “You don’t believe him?” I asked Andrew.“I wou
LUCIANO’S POVThe feeling in my chest. It can’t be. Not with her? What was happening to me? She reached up to touch my face and let her palm caress my cheeks. Her hand was warm on my face and felt a little soothing. She was reaching out. Did I want this? I was so confused. I suddenly heard Arianna’s voice in my head “he made me renounce him as my mate.” She had been through this already and it broke her. I wasn’t sure what I felt for her, but I could admit that I cared about her enough to noy hurt her a second time. I surprise myself and pull her in for a hug. I had no idea what this meant, but for now, I would accept her comfort and return the kindness. I could feel her heartbeat in her chest. It was faster than normal. “Shh, it’s okay Arianna. Breathe.” I say with my hand in the small of her back and my breath in her hair.I felt her slowly relax in my hands and pull away slowly. “Luciano … I” “You don’t have to say anything Arianna.” I turn around and walk away. That was mo
LUCIANO’S POV I was running as fast as my legs could carry me but it felt like I wasn’t moving. I had never wished I could fly until right at that moment. I could smell the smoke, I could hear the satiated roar of the fire as it ate through the building, I could see the flame attempt to kiss the sky, but I couldn’t seem to get there fast enough. “Luciano!” Dave called my name. Bringing me back to the present. “Don’t go there, don’t do that to yourself.”He was right. There was no point reliving that night. I shook myself trying to shake the memory away. “Look, Luciano, I have no idea why you would feel like you were betraying her. Maybe because I have never had a mate, but I did know Sam, and I know she wanted you to be happy. I’m sure that hasn’t changed.”“Samantha. You know I avoid saying her name a lot. It hurts to know she is not around to answer.” “I know. I lost her too, you know. Not like you, but she was my friend too, for just as long as you.” He was right. She was my
ARIANNA’S POVWhen did the feeling start? I had no idea. I felt like it had always been there. There was never a time i didn’t feel blocked. I always thought every Omega felt that way.“It has always been there.” I answered back at Luciano. “Did it ever bother you?” He asked. “Don’t think just answer and hit harder.” “Yes, it bothered me. It bothered me a lot.” My hands were starting to get tired now.“That’s not true.” I stopped hitting now. My hands were tired and he just called me a liar.“What do you mean it’s not true? Andhow would you even know that? You’ve known me, how long now? Two minutes.” “Why are you getting upset Arianna?”.He was doing it again. Calling my name in that infuriatingly beautiful way. Yes, I was upset. Where did he get off calling my words untrue? “When someone calls me a liar, it tends to rile me up.”“So you weren’t lying. Fine. Let’s move on. It’s not something to gey worked up about.”He was being mean again. Of course, the extremes that were Lucia
ARIANNA’S POV I broke away from him trying to catch my breath. I didn’t want it to end but I did not feel like having sex on the sweaty gym floor. There was also the fact that he hadn’t said anything about being my mate all day. “I never thought of sending you away, Arianna. I did go to Becky and ask if it would be dangerous having you here. It wasn’t because I wanted you gone.”“Then why did you go to her?”“I didn’t know it at the time, but it was to figure out the best way to protect you.”“Protect me from what? The only people who know anything are me, you and Becky. Oh, and Dave. So who exactly did you think I needed protection from?” “From yourself. You are a good person Arianna, if whatever is inside of you corrupted that, you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself.” I scoffed at that reply. He was fishing for excuses. No way did he think that. “I’m not lying.” I looked at him as he said that“I did not say you were lying.”“You didn’t have to say anything. It’s all over
LUCIANO’S POV“When do we leave?” Arianna asked Dave. “At eight. Do you have plans?” “Uhm, no, I’m just not sure how much help I’ll be. I’ve never really been on a stake out before.” I chose that point to chime in.“You’ve never fought witches before but, if I remember correctly, you were very helpful.” She rolled her eyes. Their witchy juju didn’t affect her and that was helpful. I had a feeling we couldn’t always bank on it though. An experienced witch like Victoria would toss her without blinking. “Take a seat Arianna.” “What’s the plan? We can’t just go and fight them can we? We’ll be outnumbered.” She asked no one in particular. “That’s where I come in.” I answered.“I’m confused. I thought it was just me and Dave?” “Okay, I may have made our stake out sound a lot more than it is. We are going there a few minutes early to make sure they show up. Once their little defiance asses garther, I’ll call Luciano who will swoop in with Carter to…”I watched as blood drained from Ar
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.