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
LUCIANO’S POVWe got to the road and Dave loaded our wolves onto the back sit of one of the cars. Ray helped Carter get his wolves into the Cargo hold of the truck and handed him the keys. I knew Arianna was in the back seat of my car, watching. I said a little prayer hoping she remained in the car. “Luciano, it was nice seeing you but I have to go now.” “Sure, Carter. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon.” We shook hands and I watched him drive off. “That is one wolf waiting to go rabid.” Dave said from behind.“He’ll be fine. Once this whole mess is over, I’ll call him and we’ll get his park out of whatever mess they are in. Come on, let’s go.” Dave drove off with our strays and I signalled to Ray that I was ready to leave.I got into the back seat and Ray drove off. “Are you okay?” I asked Arianna.“I’m okay. It was just a shock seeing him again. And standing so close. Good thing your windows are blacked out.” She smiled.“These were done for privacy not for hiding.” I repli