Chapter 2 - André

Timing is everything. And Ignazio has shit timing. The little upstart is on my last nerve with this shit. My papa can’t even come out and just end this since Crista is in heat, and they are on lockdown at the villa. 

Not that I’m upset about that. I’m happy for papa. Finally, after too many long years, he has his mate. He deserves all this and more. And I can’t be mad that they completed their bond and thus sent her into heat while we are at war. 

Between me, my uncle, and the other pack leaders, we can handle things. I’ll make my papa proud while he’s busy giving me a little brother or sister. Hey maybe he’ll give me both. I don’t care which. I just want to be a big brother. 

I already know my papa makes good-looking babies. I mean, I own a mirror. And Crista is a true beauty inside and out, so any siblings they give me will be the cutest on the planet. And I look forward to spoiling them.

Duilio sighed. I’m completely gone off the topic at hand. ‘Do try to focus, André.’ My wolf and I have a great relationship. He’s good at reminding me when I’m off subject and reeling me in. I can’t imagine how bad I would be without him to keep me in check. But oh, the fun I’d have if he didn’t.

‘André! FOCUS!’ Duilio snarled. 

Okay okay. Focusing. So Ignazio, the little shit stain, has been sending troops to try and poke at our borders for the last two days. Last night they interrupted dinner with the fam by crossing over near the coven’s village. Papa was not happy about that. 

I rather doubt his concern was that the coven least of all the Crone would be hurt.  Yep, Crone with a capital C, I like to say it’s for Cunt while Katrina is less crass and says it’s for Cranky. We are allowed to mock that old woman. She is our maternal great-grandmother. 

She’s not exactly our biggest fan. I mean, I’m a werewolf and gay as a maypole. Then Katrina didn’t get a wolf, sad face, or magic, sad face again. But if she can’t see how we are perfect exactly as we are, screw her. She was against our mom hooking up with papa. And I can sort of understand it, but screw her. If they hadn’t gotten together, we wouldn’t be here.

‘André!’ Duilio shouted in a huff. 

Right right. Focus. So we were able to squish the Mandonie insurgents by the coven. Was really easy because when we got there, the wolves were all tied up. I mean that literally. They were hog-tied in wolf form, complete with muzzles. It was hilarious. 

So now our cells are playing host to a dozen Manonie warriors. Zio Damon, along with my papa’s Gamma and Delta, and myself have taken turns questioning them. They haven’t cracked… yet. But if they don’t crack before Crista’s heat ends, they will when my papa gets his hands on them.

‘We’re nearly there. Focus.’ Duilio reminded me as we bounded through the forest. Oh, he’s right. I can smell the Mandonie shitheads. It’s probably unfair of me to call them all shitheads just because of Ignazio but whatever. I’m going to show them why you don’t war with Incubi. 

A number of our warriors were behind me and some of the Bloodmoon who came here while traveling for the gatherings. I sent Kurt ahead to try and intersect with the two dozen warriors his Alpha sent us. 

They landed just before this attack happened. Not sure if that correlates. I doubt it. Ignazio has no idea that the Bloodmoon pack would be helping us. I don’t know if they’ll get here in time to help, but we can handle them if they don’t. 

I grinned as we reached where our patrol unit was holding back the Mandonie. They were outnumbered by a landslide. Six of our patrol wolves were circled up, protecting each other’s back as over a dozen Mandonie wolves tried to kill them. Some of them looked worse for the ware. 

I frowned as I noticed Piero’s wolf Nevio limping, his front right leg bleeding as he tried to keep weight off it. Aw, my poor Piero. I’ll have to play nurse while his leg heals. ‘André! Perhaps save his hide now. Then think of ways to play nurse to your lover later.’ Duilio rolled his eyes. 

‘Leave at least a couple alive. The rest kill. As soon as we clear the way, I want the patrol unit sent back to the hospital.’ I commanded through the pack link as I led the charge. I felt Duilio’s power surging through me. 

‘Ready to make some crispy wolves?’ I asked as I charged up. ‘Always. Let’s fry these mutts.’ Duilio’s yellow eyes gleamed. The blue streaks down my body glowed as his power grew. I was circling our patrol unit in a blink, a blur of lightning. My power never once touched my pack; instead, it discharged out, forcing the Mandonie wolves back. 

The howls of the Mandonie wolves being electrocuted filled the air. It was music to my twisted ears. They deserve all this and more for following that boy and daring to step paw into my territory. Let alone with the intent to take my new stepmother, my Luna.

The rest of my warriors surged forward into the fray. Knowing that the patrol unit was safe, I set my sights on the rest of the Mandonie attackers. I felt a slight tug at my tail and looked back to see Nevio. ‘We can still fight with you.’ Piero linked. I shook my head.

‘Get your unit out of here. You all need medical attention. My cousin and Zio are waiting.’ I commanded, flicking my tail out of his jaw as I moved like lightning across the battlefield. I was trying to be mindful to not kill all of them. As I said, it’s not their fault, per se, that they have a dumbass for an Alpha.

I actually felt bad for the ones I killed. These wolves suck. They aren’t very well trained. We were making quick work of them when the most intoxicating scent carried across the breeze to me. Smoke and wood into a warm union of clove, amber, sandalwood, and pine blended together, making my senses haywire.

‘MATE!’ I screamed as I realized the only reason I could be smelling such a unique and exquisitely rugged scent here in the forest of Sicily. My head went on a swivel, trying to find the source. 

I noticed a grouping of unfamiliar wolves arriving. For a moment, I wondered who they were with till I saw Kurt rushing forward. The Bloodmoon wolves have arrived. This fight would end even faster if they lived up to the hype. So my mate is a Bloodmoon warrior. Interesting.

‘ANDRÉ! FOCUS! Fight now! Mate later!’ Duilio shouted as he just narrowly managed to dodge and attack. Okay, so he’s right; I should focus. Can’t find my mate if I’m dead.

Fight now. Mate later. I can do this. I’ve waited this long to find him. Heck didn’t even expect to have a mate. I can wait a few more minutes. With the arrival of the Bloodmoon warriors, we made quick work of the Mandonie wolves. 

When the last Mandonie wolf collapsed to the ground, Duilio and I came to a stop. I could still feel the electrifying rush of Duilio’s ability flowing through me. Shaking out my fur, sparks of electricity fizzled out into the air. 

Looking over the battlefield, I did a headcount to ensure all my pack was accounted for and safe. I counted five dead Mandonie; the rest were incapacitated. Minor injuries but nothing all that bad. I almost felt bad for these people. 

They weren’t powerful. Is Ignazio messing with us? Or is he just that sick that he sends his weakest as shields to test our strength? Doesn’t matter. As soon as my papa can leave Crista’s side, we will switch to offensive and hunt Ignazio down. His head will soon be ready for mounting.

Speaking of mounting. Where did the source of that heavenly scent go? Sniffing at the air, Duilio locked in on the scent and started following it. The scent brought us to stop a few feet from a dark brown wolf with white along his muzzle and a little tuft of white like dimples on his cheeks. 

‘He’s a handsome one. Certainly not scrawny.’ Duilio hummed in appreciation as he eyed our mate from a distance. I smirked. He’s usually rather indifferent about wolves. He hasn’t cared that I sleep around, but that doesn’t mean he’s shown interest in my lovers or their wolves.

‘Oh, look at you getting all hot and bothered over a wolf. You don’t even give my lovers’ wolves the time of day.’ I teased. Duilio rolled his eyes at me. ‘They weren’t mine. That one is.’ Duilio’s tone was darker, husky. Oh yes, someone is all about this. Good, because so am I. I want to meet the flesh behind that wolf.

Nimbley, I moved closer to my mate. I know we can’t communicate like this, but I can flirt in any form. A flick of my tail across his snout got my point across. I gave a nod of my head, telling him and I suppose the rest of the Bloodmoon wolves to follow me. 

‘Let’s see if he can keep up.’ I smirked as Duilio was on the same page. Rushing forward like a bolt of lightning streaking across the sky, we ran. I could hear the pounding of paws, so I knew people were following me. The wind carried my mate’s scent, so I knew he was too.

‘Burn the dead. Bring the living to the cells. Anyone injured on either side will receive medical treatment.’ I sent the command through the pack link as I came to a stop at the edge of the city. I waited for the others to catch up, smirking as I smelled my mate was the first to arrive.

He can keep up. Good. Let’s see if he can keep up in other ways. With that thought, I let my bones crack as I shifted from Duilio to my naked human self. I have no shame in my game. I know I’m hot. Stretching my arms out above my head. Running my fingers through my black and blue hair, I glanced over at my mate.

He’d shifted too, and I am not disappointed at what I’m seeing. Thick dark brown hair just long enough for a good tug, masculine solid facial features, a bit of brown scruff only adding to that vibe, thick corded muscular arms, a defined six-pack that I look forward to licking, then that yummy v leading to what I’m most excited to see. 

‘Well damn.’ Duilio voiced my thoughts as my eyes reached my mate’s cock. Oh, happy day, the things I can do with a cock that size. My eyes slowly trailed back up his body to his face. I furrowed my brow at the expression etched into that handsome face. 

Why is he looking at me like that? I’m his mate. Why is he looking at me so confused and… and… I know that look. That disgust in those Caribbean blue eyes. I’ve seen it more than I care to count when people look at me. Sometimes because I’m a hybrid, but more often because I’m gay. 

My mate doesn’t like me. He doesn’t want me. What. The. Fuck!? I tucked away my pain and pulled Duilio back as he started to growl. ‘We should go to him. A simple touch and the mate bond will make it clear to him.’ Duilio tried to protest. I shook my head at him and turned my back to my mate as I dug clothes out of the crate under a tree. 

‘Leave it. We have more important things than him to worry about.’ I tried to rationalize. To not let my heartbreak at the rejection I saw in his eyes. I will not let my mate break me. I am André Marcus D’Amore. I am the Alpha Heir of the Incubi Pack. I am the son of the great Alpha Alec. 

If papa could survive everything he’s been through, I can survive my mate not wanting me. “André!” Kurt Adler called out to me, but I ignored him. “I need to report in with my Alpha and Beta.” I answered dismissively, walking away with my head held high.

I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not look back. I will not look back. I kept repeating these words like a mantra. I know if I look back, I’ll break. If I look back and he still has that look in those eyes I wanted to drown in… I’ll break. I can’t break, least of all in front of my pack or him. I won’t let my mate know he hurt me.