The next morning. The sum brake themigh soh clouds, spiling golden fight over the baile.
1st by the window in our bedroom, already dressed, my gaze lingering over the silver olive groves that doited the tand the ancient guardiani, u sketchbooky open on myp, pencil in hand–hut it had chilled there twenty minutes and
So much had changed.
itsrge hostenny and thick velvet curtains, but
Since bing Francesco’s mate his Luna–this manor had be my home. Not just the room with it! the air itself, the stone finers, thend.
Everything whispered his scent and presence.
Everything epted me
And in
| yet, I still didn’t know what to do with it all.
Audrey and Monica had practically be my personal assistants–though they’d scowl if I called them that, Guides, really Guardians. And not just them–Jeremy, Jonathan, and even Joshua had all been pulled into this silent, unspoken duty of… watching me. Protecting me
Yes, Joshua.
d your mate’s spy wasn’t as subtle as they hoped. He wasn’t bad at blending in, but it was hard Turns out, having a ssmate who’s secretly a warrior and your to ignore how he always popped up wherever I was on campus. It felt weird. Not <b>in </b>a bad way. Just… odd. Like I had this invisible security bubble around me, and they were the operators
Not that I could me them.
No one had ever cared about me this much. Not just one person–a pack. Francesco, most o with him, forming a wall of unshakable loyalty <b>around </b>us. Around me.
ist of all. It was like the moment he imed in
the pack shifted
I <b>guess </b>they liked seeing their Alpha smile. Liked that he didn’t walk around like <b>a </b>ghost anymore.
I nced over my shoulder,
Francesco was still in bed, or maybe pretending. His arm drapedzily off the side of the mattress, chest bare and hair tousled like a storm had passed through. He looked younger in sleep, almost boyish, except for the faint scar near his corbone–a reminder of battles i hadn’t been part of
I <b>stood </b>and quietly packed my things into my bag, Sketchbook, pencils, water bottle. I was almost out the door when a familiar hand snaked around my waist and yanked me back <b>against </b>a warm, solid chest.
“Not going to happen, Luna mio, Francesco murmured against my neck.
I groaned. “Francesco. Please, really have to go to campus.”
He opened one eyezily, but didn’t let go. “And miss our morning bath ritual? How cruel
“I’ll bete,” argued, trying and failing to squire free. “Be reasonable.”
His grip tightened with yfulness, lips brushing my cheek, I know that look. I was losing this battle.
So I deployed my only weapon puppy eyes.
“Don’t you dare look at me like that, woman he growled half–heartedly, but I could hear the crack forming in his will.
I <b>pouted </b>more, just for effect “Pleaseee,” I whispered, brushing my lips over his jaw in the softest way
<b>Inside </b>my mind<b>, </b>Mika Ackled with plen, Even Lucas, steren’t woll, was already melting.
“F” he finally huffed. “Bat-
There it was. The infamous Ind
you agree to all conditions I may throw in.“”
I nodded quickly, knowing full well i was signing a vague, ambiguous contract of Alpha proportions, but then he scooped me up effortlessly anded me straight to the bath I didn’t resist. His bughter, deep and unrestrained, echoed off the marble wall, and i found myself Laughing too.
Later, Audrey walted beside my ck Mercedes, her armis crouted and a smirk tugging at her lips.
“So, she said act approached, “de I like this version of Alpha Francesco mere… or the fern lying pre you version?”
Irelled my eyes and grinned, handing her my bag. “Don’t start.”
From behind us, Jonathan and Jeremy loaded their car in silence, shadows as always. Audrey raised a brow as she overheard Francesco’s voice barkingst–minute instructions through the mind–link.
“Shadows following us. Seriously?” she muttered, sliding into the driver’s seat. “You’re not a queen. Yet,”
I snorted, “Don’t <b>give </b>him ideas.”
The campus looked the same <b>as </b><b>always</b>–students milling about, the buzz of life uninterrupted–but the <b>air </b>felt different.
Heavier.
Every nce lingered longer <b>than </b>it used to. Every whisper felt aimed in my direction. The werewolves among the student body knew. News had traveled fast through the supernatural grapevine.
Eine Rollin was no longer just the quiet she–woll studying art.
She had been med. Not by any woll By the Alpha Francesco Totti Lycaon.
And with that knowledge came distance.
Some stared with awe in their eyes, <b>as </b>if I were suddenly sacred. Others looked away quickly, almost afraid. I didn’t me them. To them, I had gone from an outsider to someone important
Someone… untouchable.
Thated it
But there were three souls who hadn’t changed–because they didn’t know.
Jose, Ang, and Katring waited near the dorm building. Human. Blissfully unaware of pack politics, mate bonds, or rogue threats.
“Damn, girl,” Ang blurted as soon as I stepped qut “Are you dating <b>a </b>sugar daddy or something?”
I froze mid–stop. “Excuse me?!”
<b>Katrina </b>giggled, “Don’t pretend. Fancy car. Designer bag. And rumor has it someone bought you an apartment.”
“Then rumor has it you left the apartment, Ang added. “So spifl
<b>I </bughed so hard I <b>nearly </b>doubled over. “You think I’m dating some rich old man?”
They shrugged. “Wouldn’t me you?
I shook my head, still grinning.
If only they knew Francesco wasn’t an old man in t
like cardboard cutouts.
Iman in the way they thought. Chronofogrally!
natty? He made mortali
The rest of the school <b>day </b>was peaceful enough. He drama. No rogue attacks. Just overly curious stares and whispered questions
Then, near sunset, I stepped out of ss to find him leaning against my car in the parking lot.
My Francesco…
Wearing a sleek ck jacket, his golden eyes hidden behind sunsses, exuding pure Alpha energy that had half the campus swooning–and the other half trembling.
He smiled as I walked up. “You look happier,” he said, brushing a kiss over my cheek before opening the passenger door,
I couldn’t stop giggling. “You need to hear what my uman friends said about me.”
He arched an eyebrow, walking smoothly to the driver’s side. “Oh?”
“There’s a rumor,” I began as he started the engine, “that I’m dating a sugar daddy”
He turned to me with a stunned expression, then burst outughing a realugh, deep and warm. “You are” he said casually
Iswatted <b>his </b>arm. “Hey!!”
“I’ve been called many things, he murmured. “But, that’s a first.” He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “You’re my mate. You’re everything”
We drove in silence for a while, his hand never leaving mine.
“It’s weird.” I said softly, staring out the window. “That someone ke me gets this life.”
“What do you mean!” he asked, voice genuinely confused.
“I’m just… me. <b>Ordinary</b>. And you <b>well</b>, you’re Francesco Lycaon”
He pulled the car to a stop at a quiet overlook just outside the city. Then he cupped my face with both <b>hands </b>and looked straight into my soul.
“You’re not ordinary, Eine, <b>you’re </b>extraordinary…Please don’t ever say otherwise. You have no idea what you’ve done to me.”
My heart twisted.
Hopened my mouth to respond, but he leaned in and give me a longing kisses to shut me.
“I never believed someone like you could exist. But now that I <b>have </b>you, I’ll do anything to keep you safe. And happy.” He continue
Tears pricked my eyes.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead, and I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep into my bones. “Always”
Meanwhile…
Far <b>outside </b>Florence, <b>under </b>the cloak of night, danger stirred.
A figure cloaked in ck moved thanugh
1 the trees, his scent masked, his intent deadly. Around him, nig
olum prowled – lean, hun
The hunter’s de glinted in the moonlight.
The protection is too tight,” he preaded to his <b>pack</b>” “What is he hiding?”
Francesco Lycan. The Alpha once shattered by the death of his mate, Anastasia Broken, Silent Barely clinging to e
Now? He had risen. Stronger. Fiercer, Like a beast reborn
Why?
“Could it be true?” the hunter muttered, eyes narrowed. “Another mate? Impossible.”
<b>And </b>yet… everything about the Alpha’s movement suggested it.
“Find out everything.” he ordered coldly. “Who she is. Where she lives. Who protects her. We’ll find the weakness in their fortress. And when
His wolves growled low and eager
“…Me strike.”
E