Chapter 003

Lorenzo

My twin brother Leonardo and I are the new Alphas and the soon to be heads of the Romano crime syndicate. We have been preparing to take control of the pack and the family's empire all our lives. And even more intensely these past three months.

“Lorenzo, Leonardo you are not little boys anymore”, dad said as he took the last bite of his dinner.

I looked up at him immediately in shock. “Where is this coming from?” I asked myself, wondering what dad was talking about. I turned to mom but her face held no explanation. She looked back at me with a blank impenetrable expression and I looked away focusing instead on my brother who was obviously as surprised as I was.

“Our pack needs a new Alpha and you boys are ready to take over that position. The family business Aldo needs to be handed over as well.

He continued with a straight face.

“You two have been preparing for this all your lives. Now, the time has come for you to use that training and use it right”, mother said confirming what dad had just said.

“You really think we are ready?” Leonardo asked, obviously trying to be sure he heard mom and dad clearly. Dad nodded positively.

“This is good news dad, mom” I said excitedly. I had always known this day would come, when Leonardo and I would take over running the family business but I wasn't expecting at the moment.

“Yes it is Lorenzo. But this position comes with responsibilities. I expect you to know that”, dad said looking up at us for a few seconds before continuing. “It's not just responsibilities it's sacrifices as well”, he paused again and looked from me to Leonardo.

“Yes dad. I know this position we are about to take comes with responsibilities and sacrifices. I'm sure my brother knows that as well” Leonardo said with a serious face.

“Yes dad. I know that as well”, I replied with an equally serious face.

“I'm happy you know that. I trust that you will do a good job at handling the affairs of our family business”, mom said beaming with motherly pride.

“As you know, businesses are expanding and so is ours. It is for this reason that we have decided to align with the Lago Di Smeraldo pack. The Lago Di Smeraldo pack is not just any werewolf pack but a business werewolf family with deep connections in various regions of the country just like ours.

This alignment will not only unite our families, it will expand our business. Romano crime syndicate may be one the most feared mafia-werewolf pack but we need to keep expanding to keep our reputation”, dad lectured

“Yes dad you're right” Leonardo said while I remained silent, wondering where this conversation was truly headed.

“As a symbol of our alignment, the new heads and Alphas of the Romano crime syndicate will choose you Lunas from the family of Stanis Costa, the head warrior of the Lago Di Smeraldo pack. He has twin daughters who would make a good match for you two”, mom said with a serious face.

The room was quiet now. Leonardo looked like he had not been expecting to hear what he had just heard. I felt the same, maybe even worse. But we both knew this was part of the sacrifices dad was talking about.

“Can we at least choose which twin we want? Or has that already been settled?” Leonardo asked, reluctantly agreeing to the union.

“You get to pick my son. We left that choice for you and your brother”, mom said and turned her eyes to me. “You have not said anything Lorenzo”, she said.

“I will do what needs to be done mom. This is important for our family and business. I will make one of the Costa twins my Luna”, I declared and Mom smiled.

“It's settled then. A meeting will be arranged and you can choose your Luna”, dad said finally.

****

“We met and here we are now. Time really does fly”, I mused. “Adalina is my Luna now. I may not be in love with her but I would acknowledge her as my chosen mate in front of the pack”, I thought as I got dressed for the event of the day.

The ceremony took place after sundown. Every member of the pack was in attendance. While everyone was talking and reconnecting with old friends the master of the ceremony (m.c) went upstage.

“Everyone! Everyone!” He said, cheerily calling the attention of the pack members. “ We all know why we are here. Today is a very important day for us in the Lago Di Smeraldo pack as well as the Romano crime syndicate. Today we crown our new Alphas!”, he paused for a while as the audience clapped and cheered.

“Today, we meet our new Alphas, the new leaders and heads of our powerful family. Not only will we be meeting our new Alphas, I want everyone to know that our new Alphas have chosen their Lunas”, he announced again and paused to allow the crowd to clap and scream in excitement. Then he continued.

“Ladies and gentlemen, without wasting any more time, let us welcome the heirs of the Romano empire, Alpha Lorenzo! Alpha Leonardo! and also their new Lunas Adalina Costa! and Amara Costa!”. At this the crowd stood up for a standing ovation as the two Alphas and their Lunas climbed upstage.

As Leonardo and I climbed upstage with our Lunas accompanying us, I suddenly caught a very strong female scent. The scent was so strong that it filled my nostrils and made me pant so heavily.

I had never perceived anything as strongly as that. Hence, the feeling was very alien to me. The scent was so powerful and overwhelming that it completely disoriented me.

“Whose scent is this? And why am I perceiving it so strongly? Why has it refused to leave my nostrils?” I asked myself worried. I turned to ask my brother if he could perceive it too. But as I turned to him, there was no need asking. It was written all over his countenance, although he seemed to be struggling to maintain his composure.

“It’s in my head now. What kind of scent is this?” I asked myself, gradually getting exasperated. “Oh yes , yes it must be her. This must be the scent of my fated mate”, I said excited by this sudden discovery.

Since I first hit puberty I had been expecting this feeling. I have wanted to know what it would be like to find my true fated mate. When Mom mentioned that Leonardo and I had to choose our Lunas from the Costa family, I only agreed because I knew I was obligated to.

“Who would have thought I would perceive my true fated mate on the same day I am to announce my chosen mate?” I thought as I smiled to myself.

At this, I became even more restless. I could no longer concentrate on the ceremony at hand. Rather, I abandoned all formalities and focused on finding the source of the scent. I stood upstage looking left and right, turning back and forth trying, searching the crowd with curious eyes for the source of this strong scent.

I turned towards the entrance of the hall and as I did the door opened and the scent seemed to become even stronger and the strong connection was undeniable. I was panting even faster. My entire body felt charged with attraction and desire

One look in her directions and that was all I needed to know where that intense scent which had refused to leave his nostrils was coming from. Our eyes met, igniting a fierce and unexpected bond between us. Next thing I saw, she turned and left the hall hurriedly.

“I have found her. I've found my true mate. Finally, After how long of waiting for you. I've found you”, I said to myself as I fixed my gaze on her. My heart was beating so fast it felt like it could jump out of my chest.

I turned to look at my twin brother and I knew I was not alone. “Leonardo and I feel the same way. We have both found our fated mate”, I said excitedly.

Thrilled by this discovery, I immediately pursued after her, chasing her across the pack ground. As I ran I remembered my innocent attraction towards her. I had admired her quietly from a distance and I noticed her family's nonchalant behavior towards her and the lack of attention she got from her sisters.

In the Costa family, she was obviously the most insignificant but somehow, I knew there was more strength in that petite body of hers. The thought of her petite body turned me on. I felt a bulge in my underpants and at the same, perceived her scent strongly.

“I'm close” I thought and I ran wildly towards the scent. As I ran, I felt the connection deepen. I could hear her running in a distance which was only a few kilometers ahead of me. I hastened my pace and soon I noticed that she had stopped running. I caught up with her not long after and from a small distance, I realized that she had fallen down and broken her ankle.

I stopped running and walked towards her. By the time I got to where she sat on the ground, in the woods, my intense gaze had softened. And as I stood over her, I recognized her vulnerability and our undeniable connection.