I slept the entire line after that, wrapped in a deep, dramless haze
Francesco, Audrey, and Monica make sure no one could didn’t disturbs me, no one make any sound. It was as if they understood the weightill cared the exhaustion that ch??ng to my h?nes after everything that hail happened. They let me have
i didn’t even wake when wended
Francesco conied me through the terminal, his strong arms cradling
protectively fint once did heeamin. Not once did he even hesitata, despita the cusies and sometimes adoring nces from those who witnessed the sight of an Alpha carrying a woman as if she were the most precious thing in
The world
It was all a blur. A warm,forting blur.
When I finally stirred, it was to the familiar, subtle scent of sandalwood afort of a bed that felt almost too lusurious to be real.
rain–ascent that clung to Francesco and this ce–and the deep, rich
1 blinked slowly, the heavy <b>velvet </b>curtains filtering in the soft morning light. My fingers curled instinctively around the nkets. They were heavy, warm, cocooning me in a safety I hadn’t known I needed.
Francesco’s room.
His scent was everywhere, wrapping around me in invisible threads offort. Yet he <b>was </b>not there beside me.
For a briel, disoriented moment, sadness pricked at my chest.
taria, their faces alight.
But before the feeling could grow, the door cracked open and in bustled Patricia, Monica, and–much to my surprise and delight–Maria with wide, genuine smiles.
A cartden with trays of food rolled in behind them, filling the room with the rich, mouthwatering <b>aroma </b>of warm bread, sweet fruits, and rich coffee
“I heard a voice,” Maria said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Our Luna is finally awake.”
I pushed myself upright, my muscles still heavy from sleep but my heart lighter than it had been in days..
“How are you feeling?” Monica asked quickly, her voice tinged with the frantic edge of someone who had clearly been worrying too much
“I’m fine,” I said, stifling augh, even as I tucked <b>a </b><b>loose </b>strand of <b>hair </b>behind my ear. “I <b>just </b>slept… a lot. Seems like that was the n, <b>huh</b>?” teased,
raising an eyebrow at her.
Monica only grinned in response, not even pretending to deny it
We spent the next hour talking andughing, eating breakfast from thefort of the massive bed, Maria, who <b>was </b>still adjusting to life here, listened with wide eyes as Patricia and Monica recounted funny stories about life in the Italian pack
There was something about the warmth of this ce that felt different.
At ckpine, even kindness had felt sharp around the edges, burdened with expectation and hidden agendas. Here<b>, </b>it was softer. Simpler Genuine
<b>And </b><b>as </b>I looked at Maria’s face–how her wrinkles softened and her tired eyes gleamed with wonder–I knew had made the right choice in bring
here.
Lucio. I smiled to myself, remembering the secret call I had visited once, hidden away from the busy streets of Florence. Lucio ran it like a secret kingdom, offering peace to anyone lucky enough to find it.
I <b>would </b>bring Maria there. Maybe fate would do something beautiful for her, too.
Chapter <b>40 </b>
In the Alpha office, other ce of the west wing, Francesco paused, his sharp lycans heating catching the faint sound of myughter
It was soft at first, like the chinking of a distant bell, but it grew,
A smile, rare and breathtaking, broke across his face.
hallway with life.
Beta Alfonso, who’s inside with him, caught the change immediately. So did Marlow and the other warriors who is join the meeting. They saw the smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Areal sm
smile. One that reached his golden eyes, melting the hardness that had encased them for so long-
Beta Alfonso noticed first, exchanging a look with Marlow and the other warriors nearby.
“The Luna is awake,” Alfonso said quietly, a small, knowing smile on his lips.
The others nodded, understanding without the need for more words.
Because their Alpha–their fierce, feared Alpha–was different now.
The cold, unapproachable wall that had stood around him for two long decades was <b>cracking</b>. Light was pouring in.
And they all knew the reason
Their Luna.
She had done what none of them could.
Inside the room, I finished my breakfast,ughing as Monica dramatically retold the story of her first encounter with Marlow’s wolf form, which apparently had involved a lot of screaming and aical attempt to climb a tree
I didn’t realize how much I had missed this kind of simple, silly happiness.
Maria caught my hand at one point, her old fingers squeezing mine.
“You are home now,” she said softly, <b>her </b>voice filled with a kind of quiet conviction that made my eyes sting. “Really home”
I smiled through the sudden, burning emotion in my chest.
We had only been gone for four <b>days</b>. Four days
And yet, somehow, it felt like we had been away for months.
Maybe it was everything we went through. The battles, the farewells, the closing of an old chapter and the tentative, hopeful opening of a new one. After the long, heavy sleep I had taken upon returning, I felt refreshed. Rejuvenated. Stronger. Even Mika sounded different inside me–her voice str <b>deeper </b>somehow, as if she too had grown during our time away
I could finally breathe again.
That night at dinner, I brought up the topic casually, thinking it would be a simple conversation.
“I think I should return to campus tomorrow,” I said between bites of pasta, trying to sound casual but determined. “Eve already been absent for a week I can’t fall too <b>far </b>behind.”
The words had barely left my mouth before a low, dangerous growl nimbled from across the table.
“No,” Francesco said immediately, his golden eyes shing with Alpha authority,
blinked at him, mouth slightly agape “What do you mean, not
He set down his fork with exaggerated patience. “You are still recovering. Eine.. <ol><li>e. Absolutely not.” </li></ol>
I sighed heavily, already feeling the walls closing in around me, I should have known this would be his response
The entire table–Patricia, Monica, Maria, Alfonso, Marlow–tried and failed to hide their amusement. Smiles tugged at their lips<b>, </b><b>and </b>a few exchanged nces that clearly said: Here we go again.
Francesco, stubborn, possessive Alpha that he was, leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his broad chest. His expression was one of unshakable resolve
“But I have so much to do!” I insisted, trying to keep my voice even. “I can’t afford another absence. I’ve already missed sses<b>, </b>assignments, my paintingpetition prep
He simply shook his head once, slow and final.
“Let’s take another week before you even think about going <b>back</b>.”
I stared at him, horrified. “What?”
He nodded solemnly, not budging an inch. “I don’t want you to get tired again. You’re still healing, even if you feel better. Your body needs more time.”
I pushed back my chair and stood up abruptly, hands on my hips<b>. </b>“Now I am tired,” I snapped, ring at him.
He frowned, confused. “What, are you okay?”
I narrowed my eyes, feeling the rebellious spark inside me ignite.
“No, I am tired of you!” I shouted dramatically before storming <b>out </b><b>of </b>the dining room.
The entire table erupted–food and drink nearly spilling as they broke intoughter Alfonso <b>nearly </b>choked on his wine, while Marlow pped the table. guffawing loudly. Patricia wiped tears from her eyes, and Maria covered her mouth in shock and delight.
Only I could get away with talking to their Alpha like that and not be instantly thrown over someone’s shoulder and carried off for <b>a </b>very punishment.
y different kind of
“Ele on… El, don’t be like that,” Francesco called, hurriedly pushing back his chair <b>and </b>jogging after me, his deep voice full of disbelief and reluctant amusement.
I walked faster<b>, </b>a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
“Eine”
I could hear the sound of his bare feet on the polished marble floor as he chased me, and it only made me move quicker, ducking around a corner.
Behind <b>us</b>, Alfonso shook his head with an exaggerated sigh, watching the two of us like an exhausted older brother tired of babysitting
“She’s going to make him lose his mind one <b>day</b>, Alfonso muttered.
“But at least he’s smiling while losing it,” Monica pointed out with augh.
And it was true.
Because behind Francesco’s stubborn scowl, behind his fierce Alpha fa?ade, there was something different now–something lighter, warmer.
And that something… <b>Was </b>me
I gasped loudly when i suddenly felt strong arms wrap around my waist.
Before I could react 1, Francesen hoisted me up like a sack of potatoes, effortlessly tossing me over his broad shoulder.
A shrick tore from my lips, echoing down the marble halls. “Francescot Put me down!”
My fists pounded against his back, but he onlyughed a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated through his entire body and into mine.
“You little devil,” he teased, giving my hip a yful p that made me yelp again, “You knew exactly what you were doing <b>back </b>there, didn’t you?”
I grinned mischievously despite <b>myself</b>, hanging upside down while he carried me through the mansion like I weighed nothing at all.
Together, weughed, forgetting for a moment about the weight of titles, responsibilities, past betrayals, and future dangers.
We were just…us.
A stubborn she wolf and her equally stubborn Lycan Alpha, finding joy in each other’s defiance, in each other’s presence.
When he finally set me down, it wasn’t with anger or scolding. He kept his hands firmly on my <b>waist</b>, anchoring me to him.
“You drive me insane,” he murmured, lowering his forehead to mine, his voice rough but affectionate.
“Good,” I whispered back, breathless withughter. “You deserve it for being so stubbom.”
His golden eyes softened, a rare smile tugging at his lips. “You’re trouble, <b>mia </b>luna… but you’re my trouble now.”
We stayed like that for a moment, just breathing each other in, letting the bond between us hum quietly, steadily, wrapping us both in a sense of safety and belonging neither of us had truly felt in years.
The cold, proud halls of the Italian territory, once solemn and formal, now seemed warmer, <b>alive </b>withughter and love.
A new life.
New memories.
New beginnings.
Meanwhile
Far beyond the safety of <b>our </b>territory, across misty <b>woods </b>and forgotten ruins, a shadow stirred.
A dangerous wolf one whose name was spoken only in hushed, fearful whispers–sat alone by a crumbling hearth, sharpening a crual looking de.
He had heard the rumors
A powerful Lycan had risen. A <b>Lycan </b>who <b>had </b>destroyed entire squads of his n
is men like snapping twigs underfoot.
Impossible.
No Lycan had been seen in over two decades, not since he had shattered thest one by killing his mate. By ensuring his bloodline ended with grief and
<b>rage</b>.
do the wolf
Fsnarl low in his throat
The thought alone made
It can’t be him.
<b>He </b>had watched the once great Alpha Lycaon fall into madness and ruin. He had watched him disappe
Yet… the whispers continued.
A Lycan who fought like a demon. A Lycan with a mate.
if it was truly him, then something had changed.
And if it was a different Lycan….
He needed to know.
Either way, the well thought, standing and gripping his de tighter, there was only one solution. Find the mate. Find the Lycan. And finish what he started.
The hunt had begun.
AD