“He’s stopped playing errand boy for her, but he hasn’t spoken a word to me since.” Sofia smirked, her defiance glinting despite the chaos swirling around us. I had to hand it to her-stubbornness was woven into her strength, a trait that never failed to amaze me.
“I think I finally get how the two of you felt when things were so strained between Leonardo and me,” I said, chuckling softly.
Sofia’s smile shifted to something more sympathetic. “Drama is my lifeblood, sure, but it’s definitely less fun being part of the mess.” Her tone lightened as she added smugly, “Which is exactly why Francesca won’t be joining us for dinner tonight.”
As the sun dipped lower that afternoon, we all returned to Leonardo’s house to prepare for the evening. Alpha Attilio and his mate would be meeting us-not here, but at a neutral location. The gathering would include Emiliano, Noemi, Graziana, Laura, and, of course, us.
Alpha Attilio wasn’t one to stray far from his territory, especially now that his mate was carrying their first child. Yet, Luna Lavinia refused to let her condition sideline her. She was a warrior in every sense, determined to fight for victory rather than linger in safety.
By seven that evening, we set off toward the far edges of our territory. The risks of venturing out were high, but Alpha Attilio had ensured they’d come with enough protection. When we arrived, night had already cloaked the sky in deep shadow.
The house Dante had chosen was large but derelict, blending seamlessly into the desolation of its surroundings. Vehicles were abandoned in the driveways and streets, their forgotten presence lending an eerie stillness. We parked out front, certain our car wouldn’t stand out.
Inside, the air was cool and faintly scented with air freshener. Someone clearly lived here-the rooms were fully furnished, with family photos lining the walls. Each frame displayed faces framed by fiery red hair and dimpled smiles.
Alpha Attilio wasn’t particularly tall, but his presence commanded attention. He spoke with such conviction that I could see why his pack revered him. His mate, Lavinia, was a stark contrast-kind-hearted yet unflinching, her purity of spirit matched only by her bravery.
Dinner was consumed by explanations-how Leonardo and I had become Fae, why we still stood with the werewolves despite no longer being entirely one of them. To my relief, both Alpha Attilio and Luna Lavinia responded with respect. Their acceptance, their belief in us, kindled a fragile hope for the fractured world we were fighting to save.
“Maybe instead of scouring the caverns, we force them out,” Alpha Attilio proposed.
Leonardo leaned back in his chair, his voice even. “The caves stretch for miles, riddled with entrances. Blocking every known one would be next to impossible.”
“It’s worth considering, though, isn’t it?” Lavinia suggested gently, her gaze meeting ours with quiet encouragement.
“I have warriors skilled in moving unseen, especially in the dark,” Alpha Attilio added. “We could assemble a team to locate and map the entrances. Stealth might let us avoid any rogues lurking above ground.”
Leonardo’s voice brushed against my thoughts. What do you think?
I answered honestly, the weight of our predicament heavy on my words. It’s a good start. Fighting the Fae will be hard enough. The last thing we need is rogue wolves swelling their ranks.
Leonardo nodded, satisfaction washing over me like a cool tide. “We agree. Stealth seems the best course for now. I’ll review potential candidates tonight and update you in the morning.”
As conversations splintered into smaller groups, I watched Lavinia animatedly discussing something with Sofia, while Noemi looked on with interest. Graziana, surprisingly, had struck up a conversation with Emiliano. Meanwhile, Carlo and Leonardo were deep in discussion with Alpha Attilio about the Fae.
Then, I felt it.
A phantom touch, barely more than a whisper, grazed the back of my mind. It brushed against the mental barriers Noemi had placed to shield my thoughts, a presence laced with malice.
“Ella, are you listen-” Carlo’s voice barely registered.
A lilting laugh-sweet, enchanting, and unmistakably Fae-slithered into my consciousness. Its magic masked the decay and venom it carried. My eyes flew to Leonardo, panic rising.
Before I could speak, the air shattered.
Every window, every pane of glass exploded in a deafening burst. Shards flew like deadly confetti, slicing through curtains and furniture alike.
Through the broken windows, rogues poured in-desperate, frenzied bodies fueled by hunger and rage. Blood smeared the floor as some shredded themselves on the glass, their pain drowned in their fury.
Chaos erupted.
A rogue lunged onto the dining table, knocking Alpha Attilio out of his seat. He yanked Lavinia to safety just as jaws snapped where her head had been moments earlier. Shielding her with his body, he braced against the onslaught.
Across the room, Emiliano was elbow-deep in the fireplace, scorching rogues with flames that blistered his skin. Nearby, Noemi wrestled with a rogue, its slavering maw inches from her face. Graziana, frozen in terror, clutched her sister’s arm.
A blinding flash of ice streaked across the room, impaling a rogue and pinning it lifeless to the wall. The sound rang in my ears, but it had cost Leonardo precious seconds.
The stench of blood and sweat filled the air as more rogues spilled inside. My body moved before my mind caught up. Magic surged through me, crackling like wildfire as I struck a rogue. It flew backward, its fur igniting like dry tinder.
Leonardo extinguished the flames, but not before a rogue sank its teeth into his shoulder.
An inhuman snarl tore from my throat, pain radiating through me as though I’d been bitten myself. It was deeper than physical-it burned along the bond we shared, every nerve screaming with his injury.
Leonardo wasted no time. His claws plunged into the rogue, freezing its heart in an instant. But the battle was far from over, and the storm of violence continued to rage around us.