LUCIANO’S POV“Where did you get that?” I asked Ciara as she pulled a key out of her back pocket.I recognized the key, it was the third spare to my office. I had one, Dave had one and Ariana had one there was no reason why Ciara was holding one.“I think you know where I got it.” she responded. There was no way she had this, Ariana would not give it to her.“You expect me to believe that Ariana gave that to you.” “Well, no. She didn't give it to me. She just told me where to get it. Your bedside table, nice room by the way. That bed post could be useful.” She winked at me“Why would she do that?” I asked, getting impatient.“You need to pay more attention to your mate. She may love you but she fears Carter more. Or maybe … she loves Carter. Whatever her reasons, it didn't take more than one conversation with Carter to convince her. I wasn't there for it. Did he wooh her or did he threaten her or maybe a little of both.” She shrugged She was mad she was insane that had to be the onl
ARIANNA’S POV“As of this moment, you are no longer a part of this pack. You will leave this compound immediately.”I was shocked into temporary paralysis. For almost a minute, I could not move or blink. What was happening? Had I stepped into a joke? My body had no reaction for this moment. I tried to talk to form a train of thought, but I kept coming up blank. My shock finally gave way to anger. He was believing whatever shit story Ciara told him, over me. If there was ever a person I trusted with my feelings, my fears, it was him. And he was tossing me aside with such ease. I took a deep breath and drew myself up to my full height. “Goodbye, Luciano.” I walked out of the office without looking back. I ran down the stairs, passing Dave on my way down and not stopping at his excitement to see me. I ran past my suitcase, I didn’t stop running till I was out the gate and a good distance from it. That was when the tears came. I folded myself up by the roadside, and let the delayed f
LUCIANO’S POV“Where is Arianna going in such a hurry?” Dave asked as he walked in. I didn’t give him an answer but my face must have told him that something was off. “What did you do?” He asked. I could not relive what just happened. My chest was so tight, I could barely breathe. I got up and left Dave standing confused in the middle of my office. I must have walked the full perimeter of the compound more than ten times. I could not bring myself to stop moving. What had I done? What if I was wrong? She looked so broken before she left. “Goodbye Luciano” those words kept replaying in my head. No, I did what had to be done. I can’t have a traitor hanging around. The thought did not sit well with me. The girl I had fallen for was not a traitor. What the hell happened? How did we come to this? “Fuck!” I screamed into the distance. I saw Dave walking towards me, waving his phone in the air.“Where is she? Why isn’t she taking my calls?” There was no point avoiding him anymore.“I
LUCIANO’S POV“Can you tell how long it has been in there?” I asked Sarah“The date it was sent is right here. I don’t know how you didn’t notice it earlier. It’s not a very complex one so your phone should have been acting up trying to get rid of it.”“It’s not mine. It’s Arianna’s” I said more to myself than to Sarah.“You didn’t say if I should delete it or not.” I looked at her, thinking for a moment.“No, there’s no need. I’ll take care of it.” I stretched out my hand and she handed me the phone.What the fuck had I done? I sat in my office the entire day. Hating myself and relieving the past month. “The phone has a mind of it’s own now.” “What key?” “Goodbye Luciano.”I had been an astronomical asshole. I believed she lied to and betrayed me. I needed to find her. How? “Her credit card!” I picked up my phone and dialed Gerald. He managed all my accounts and the pack’s and also Arianna’s. He had given her all her cards and information. I looked at the time and it was well
LUCIANO’S POVI was back in my office. In hindsight, I should have known I would not find Arianna in that room. The purchases and splurging was not her. Why would she leave her phone on the side of the road and her credit card in a motel?I knew the answer as soon as I asked the question. She did not want to be found. I had driven her away. For good. Even if by some miracle, I found her, she likely would not want to come home.I tried speaking to her in my mind but she shut me out. Ironic, I had shut her out first. I was staring at her phone and card on my table when Dave walked in.“Nice of you to show up, Dave.”“I heard you drove out like a maniac last night. What was that about?” He took a seat across from me instead of his couch. I guess he wasn”t staying.“Needed to check something out urgently.”“As long as you are fine.” He eyed the items on my table before getting up to leave. “You were right. I screwed up.” He sat bacl down. “Go on,” he said I explained how Sarah had con
CARTER’S POV“You little devil.” Ciara felt so good about what she had done, she couldn’t even hide the smirk on her face. “I should break your limbs where you stand. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” I asked her.“It was genius. You are just mad because you suddenly want her to like you.” I threw my glass at the wall behind her and she flinched. Good to know she still had fear in her. I did need to clip those wings though.“So, stupid Luciano kicked out the most prized wolf in centuries. I can use this.”“What do you mean?” Ciara asked. I looked at her with equal parts pride and anger. Who did she think she was? going off on her own. “You are going to find your sister.” I announced.“Excuse me?” Ciara protested.I was in her face in seconds. I wrapped my hand slowly around her neck and watched fear slowly creep into her eyes. I put my lips right by her ear so there would be no confusion.“You are going to find your sister.” I said barely above a whisper. “Am I clear?” “Ye
ARIANNA’S POV“No Tess. Tell him there is no one like that here. Please, he cannot know that I’m here.” She looked at me with concern in her eyes. But nodded at me. I breathed out a sigh of relief.“It’s okay. I’ll get rid of him.” “Thank you.” I said as she walked off to deal with Andrew.Tess had been such a blessing and a friend. My mind flashed back to the morning after I arrived here in her truck.“Were you going to say goodbye?” She asked as I tried to sneak out.“I didn’t want to wake you. Didn’t think anyone was up yet. Thank you so much, but I really need to get going.”“Alright. Where are you heading? Maybe one of the guys will give you a ride.” She was staring me down. Why? “Uhmm… that’s not necessary. I just…”“Just have no idea where you are going?” Tess asked. We stared at each other in silence for a moment before she broke it.“Look, you seem like a good person and it doesn’t look like trouble is after you. You just seem hurt. Why don’t you stay a while, figure out
LUCIANO’S POVI never thought I could cause myself this much pain. I had it all, and I let her go without a second thought. I told myself I was being a leader, but I was just being used. Andrew had called days ago to say he hit a dead end. He found the trucker but she had no idea where Arianna went next. Days and nights were beginning to blend into an endless, formless, gloomy existence. I had no idea how long it had been since Andrew called. Life had lost its color and food tasted like ash. Nothing was good.I hid it well enough. During the day I worked. Dave had returned to work too. He was happy, Alex made him happy. I went through the motions with him, but seeing both of them always reminded me that I sent their friend away.She was mine. But a part of her was theirs too. And she should be here sharing in their happiness. We should all be happy together. What the fuck did I do? “Luciano!” I looked up at Dave who just walked in.“I’m right here. No need to scream, Dave.”“Sorry,