Shot

Arabella’s POV
At this rate, he was going to be late to work. Again. I really had to stop trying to assist him with getting ready for work. It wasn’t helping either of us.
Luciano pushed me against the wall as our tongues duelled for dominance. I wanted him so fiercely as though an hour ago, we hadn’t been at it.
His hand moved between my thighs expertly fingering me, I gasped into his kiss riding his fingers as I tightened my grip around his shoulders.
His phone rang.
We ignored it. I was almost there, my orgasm a few heartbeats away.
I grabbed at the zipper of his office pants. I needed him inside me now. The clasp gave way under my ministrations. As I slid my hand down the zipper and Luciano buried his fingers so deep inside me that I was sure he could lose his ring inside me if he tried, the bloody phone rang again and again.
I groaned in frustration as he pulled away shortly to pick up the call before settling firmly between my legs to continue touching me.
I threw my head back and bit back a moan. His hand stopped suddenly leaving me on the edge.
I was going to kill Luciano.
“An emergency? What is wrong with Uncle Tommaso?”
I sat upright, all thoughts of pleasure gone from my head. Had something happened to his uncle? I didn’t like the man but he was the last family that Luciano had left. He couldn’t afford to lose him too.
The call ended.
“Luciano, what happened?” I asked as he began to pull his clothes on hurriedly.
“Something is wrong with Uncle Tommaso.”
Fear gripped me on his behalf. “What happened? Can I come check it out with you?”
“Don’t worry about it.” He gave me a peck on my forehead. “I know you are worried but seeing you with me might worsen whatever he is going through.”
I opened my mouth to contest that but I remembered all the last conversation I had with his uncle. Maybe Luciano was onto something.
“Call me.” I grasped his hand, feeling unnecessarily worried.
Luciano nodded absentmindedly as he took the rest of his things and was off.
The house felt empty without him as always but I was already used to it feeling that way. Luciano had planned to talk to his uncle today about us. We knew his uncle would be furious, but at the same time , we hoped that his love for Luciano would trump all his negative emotions towards me.
It wasn’t like either of us had asked for this. It was the Goddess’s will. Once they spoke to each other, I would leave this place and live with Luciano at the main pack house.
While I would miss this place and all the beautiful memories we’d shared here, I was tired of feeling like I was a secret. First when I was pregnant and now as Luciano’s mate. It was like every time I mattered to Luciano, it was hidden from his pack.
It wasn’t like I needed their validation or anything of that sort but I wanted to be identified with my mate. I wanted to be able to go with him wherever I wanted without thinking about who might see us.
Emery was gone now. Luciano said his men had confirmed her crossing the border, her parents following soon after. I wished her the best in life going forward. At least I no longer had to worry about her. Anastasia was also gone. The situation with Dad was under control, sort of. This was the best time for us to be open with our relationship.
But now with the sudden problem arising from Elder Tommaso, whatever that was about, I didn’t know if Luciano would be able to speak to his uncle at all.
**********
Alpha Luciano’s POV
I rushed over to Uncle Tommaso’s home. The call had come from his housekeeper. She’d found Uncle Tommaso collapsed in his room. Knowing how stubborn and proud my uncle was I knew he would never agree to go to the hospital.
I should have paid more attention to the details of his life instead of suspecting his every activity. I should have been there for him. Goddess, I hoped he was alright. I remembered all the times he’d been there for me. How he had helped me out every time I needed his help.
I didn’t even tell him that I had found my mate. There were so many things that we had to share. I should have told him so many things that I had failed to. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late yet.
I arrived at his house. I opened the door without knocking, surprised by the scent of brownies, cookies and cake. When had the help had the time to make–
Uncle Tommaso sat looking perfectly fine as he sipped on his juice.
He looked up at me, a kind fatherly smile on his face. “Luciano, you are here already. Do sit.”
“But Uncle, I thought something happened to you. Your maid said–”
He waved his hand. “Forget about all that now. I told her to call you. We haven’t had a genuine conversation in a while. That was why I called you.”
So he had noticed. This was the best time for me to tell him about me and Arabella. I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be but he mattered to me as did Arabella. I wanted them to be able to see eye to eye.
I sat down.
“You know when you were much younger before everything happened, you loved spending time with me. Your mother thought I was a bad influence on you and wondered what it was we got up to all those times. Not knowing that the only reason you loved to come here so much was all the free sweets.”
Uncle Tommaso laughed and I found myself sharing a smile with him. I looked across the spread recognizing that most of the foods had been my favourite as a child. How funny was it that I could remember all the gory details of the past but needed to be reminded of sweet moments like these?
“Uncle Tommaso. I have something to talk to you about.”
He looked at me, his face so closely resembling my father’s that I found myself wondering how my dad would have looked if he had survived.
“Luciano. I need you to know something. Regardless of whatever happens. Regardless of whatever is going on between us, I want you to know that I consider you my blood, my son. Everything I do is for you.”
*******
Arabella’s POV
I dropped the phone. It had been less than an hour since Luciano left and I had been staring at the phone waiting for a call for at least half of that time. I was hopeless.
The cook had served me breakfast then she was out for the day to get ingredients for lunch as usual, she would be back in a half an hour tops. The main food storehouse was at the pack house.
I looked at my phone again and made myself focus on my breakfast instead but my appetite was gone. Anytime Luciano left, it was like the world disappeared with him, my appetite included, sometimes.
The doorbell rang.
Was it Cecile? Why was she back so soon? I thought that she would take a long time in returning plus she always used the back entrance, not the front.
Ill at ease, I partially shifted my claws out.
I went to the door and checked through the peephole. I saw a mass of red hair. But how?
I opened the door. It was Emery. Her face was bruised and bleeding, her hair, a mess.
“Goddess, Emery what happened to you?”
She looked at me, her green eyes glassy, her body swaying slightly.
“I’m sorry.”
Then she fell over, twin gunshot wounds in her back.