Arabella’s POV
For a minute after I spoke, everywhere was silent and Alpha Luciano looked at me as though he had a lot to say but he just stormed away leaving me wondering whether or not he would accept this decision I had made.
I huffed and began following him much slower to the pack house when someone bumped into me. Hard. I smelt incense. My shoulder was knocked back and I turned but the person who had bumped into me was walking away briskly, a cloak covering their figure so I couldn’t even tell if it was a male or female.
I swung my fist meaning to yell, but I dropped it back down. I was too tired for that. Tired of this pack that would never accept me. Tired of my mate, Luciano Romano, who was doing his best to make sure every good image or presumption I had of him was wrecked.
I turned forward to continue my walk only to see there was a white envelope on the ground. The person must have dropped it in their haste. I picked it up and looked up to see the cloaked figure around a corner.
“Hey! Hey! You dropped something.”
The wolf either knew I was calling them and ignored me or the person didn’t hear me at all. I sighed wondering if I had the strength to pursue the person. I flipped the envelope and then froze. After a second, I ran in the direction the person had hurried to.
The person was gone.
Vanished into thin air.
I looked at the envelope again. On the outside, my name was scrawled in capital letters. ARABELLA.
That wasn’t the problem. The problem was I knew that handwriting. It was my dad’s.
*******
Alpha Luciano’s POV
It was official. All the women around me had lost their minds and fear of me.
I would surprise them, especially Arabella who seemed to have developed wings overnight.
I took a very cold shower because of the state Arabella had left me in. I had to find a way to get into her head again. Her independent talk was all well and good but I was done letting her be. It all ended today.
I had been so angry earlier on once I had seen that man with his hands on Arabella, I’d nearly killed him. The only thing that had stopped me then was the fact that I was in public and I knew word would spread back to Uncle Tommaso.
Even now if anything happened to that man, any accidents, as much as choking on his food, Uncle Tommaso would not believe I didn’t have a hand in it.
The last thing I needed was for him to think Arabella’s ‘hold on me’ had strengthened. That woman was raving mad. If it weren’t for the fact that since the shed every time I fucked her she started looking at me as though we were making love or something, I would have tied her up and beaten her to my heart’s content before fucking the rebellion out of her.
I went to bed thinking of how to make her like her former self, the Arabella I’d kidnapped, but I was beginning to think that person had never existed, to begin with.
******
“It is done?”
“Yes, Alpha. Vitalio Bianchi’s Song lays several feet underwater as we speak currently.”
I smiled. Finally some good news. Just in time for the celebrations as well. I did love when situations wrapped themselves up neatly.
“The evidence pointing to us as the saboteurs?”
“There are none.” Natasha’s face was a mask.
“Good job, Natasha. You have proven your usefulness once more. Keep this up and we won’t have any issues.”
“I will do my best to remain of use to my Alpha and the pack.” Natasha bowed low.
“I look forward to that. You may leave.” I shooed her away with a flick of my wrist.
She bowed once more before leaving.
“How is Vitalio holding up after this loss?” I asked Mikah.
“Terribly. His customers that partially funded the trip have been calling in. He is scrambling for money to keep them off his back.”
“So that was where he got the funds… I can’t wait to see how he gets out of this one.” I mumbled to myself before turning back to Mikah.
“How is our acquisition of the cook going?”
“He refuses to be bribed, Alpha.”
I nodded gruffly. A loyal man, I could admire that. “Kidnap him and torture him. We only need their formula, not him. After we get it, confirm it is the real formula then kill him.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Good people weren’t long for this world anyway. I was just doing my part in enabling that cycle.
“Anything on the family Uncle Tommaso has chosen?”
“Nothing specific Alpha but he seems to still be selecting one. He hasn’t chosen anyone yet.”
“It doesn’t usually take you so long to take care of such trivial affairs. Or are you losing your touch?”
“I apologise for my unworthiness, Alpha. Your Uncle has handled every detail personally so short of getting into his head, it is impossible to find out.”
Of course. Uncle Tommaso taught me all I know. He had to know I had a spymaster on him even if he wasn’t sure who exactly it was. It was too much to hope for a slip from him. That was one of the reasons I cared for him.
“It’s alright. You are dismissed.”
******
Arabella’s POV
I wasn’t expecting Alpha Luciano’s summons.
Back in the harem, preparations were underway for the annual pack celebrations and while the vibe was infectious I really couldn’t get into it.
I wasn’t really a member of this pack and my father had apparently killed the former Alpha and Luna of the pack. If I went for the celebration, they’d probably stone me to death or something.
I had been in my room half asleep when Margaret had come to call me. For a second, I felt I was still asleep.
“He asked for me? Not Emery, Tina or Cecilia?”
I saw Margaret hide a smile. “No. He commands your presence immediately.”
“I live to serve.” Well, this was interesting.
There was only one question now. Would I tell him that he had a traitor in his pack working with my father?
****
Immediately I stepped into his room, I pushed off the red robe so that it clouded at my feet. Alpha Luciano sat in his bed still fully dressed in his suit. I refused to feel embarrassed about being the only one close to naked in the room.
I walked up to him and settled in next to him. I would be damned if I went down on my knees for him again except I was in the mood. And after our last conversation, I wasn’t in that mood.
I waited for him to complain, to punish me. Dare I say I looked forward to it? He didn’t do any of that, however. Alpha Luciano turned and in one smooth movement pushed me into the bed, pining my hands above my head with one of his hands.
My lips parted in surprise.
“Arabella Bianchi. This is what you’ve wanted, right?” His head dipped to my nape where he bit on it lightly.
I whimpered slightly at the rush of sensation that followed. It was unfair that the mate bond could turn even his lightest touch into that of untold pleasure. Or maybe he was that good, I wouldn’t know.
“Luckily for you, nothing turns me on more than fucking with your dad then fucking you. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Don’t you agree?” His blue eyes were clear as they watched my face for a reaction.
The joke was on him though. He was proud of outsmarting my dad. Unknown to him was the fact that he had a turncoat in his ranks and since he was so arrogant and all-knowing he could go figure it out himself. I could care less.
“Yeah, it is. Will you fuck me now?” I said, eager to get back to the reason I was here. At least he was useful for one thing. I gyrated my hips rocking against his thigh between my thighs.
He pulled away looking at me in disbelief.
“Are you alright?”
“Of course I am. Are you? I thought you were horny.”
“Why are you so cooperative? I just told you I fucked your dad over, I made him lose billions of dollars yet you still want to sleep with me?”
“Uh… yes. The two events aren’t even related so what’s the issue?”
“Once you couldn’t bear me touching you Arabella. So much so that you wanted to end your own life. Now you are like this.”
I lifted an eyebrow.
“So you want me to act reluctant? I can work with that.” I climbed into his lap and slid my arms around his neck. He was so surprised he didn’t stop me.
“Please Alpha, don’t do this. I hate you so much.” I whispered grinding against him while undoing the buttons on his shirt.
“Please don’t fuck me on all fours against the headboard.” The feeling of him against me was ecstasy and I could feel a mini orgasm coming on. I was so close. Alpha Luciano dropped me on the floor.
Did I mention I hated this guy?