<b>Chapter </b><b>65 </b>


    It was almost midnight, and though I could sense Francesco’s presence somewhere deep in the manor, I didn’t go looking for him. I knew he was busy. with paperwork, <b>likely </b>finalizing reports and sealing agreements. Beta Alfonso would be hovering too, grumbling Francesco so much as paned to


    breathe.


    So, I stayed silent, not wanting to disturb him. Instead, I stood on the balcony, wrapped in a thick sweater, watching the soft glow of moonlight on the treetops. The night air was cool but calm, soothing


    And then, like always, I felt him.


    His amis slid around me from behind, his louch familiar and grounding. Francesco moved so silently, his steps barely audible even to my werewolf ears. One of the many things about him that made me feel both safe andpletely undone.


    “Why are you still up? <b>It’s </bte. You okay?” he murmured against my temple before pressing a kiss to my cheek.


    I smiled faintly but didn’t meet his eyes just yet. “You? Are you <b>okay</b>? I shouldn’t have dropped the bomb about your rtionship with Anastasia Se that.” I sighed, my heart sinking at the memory. That conversation had felt necessary, but now, in the stillness of night, Iregretted how much pain it might have stirred.


    He turned me around gently, my hands instinctively finding their way to the back of his neck. He smiled warmly, his thumb brushing my cheek.


    “No, no, don’t say that. I’m d to know you’re honest with me<b>, </b>my love


    I pouted slightly. “But still..”


    He silenced my protest with a kiss, one that started gentle but deepened slowly, deliberately. My arms wrapped tighter around him, surrendering to the moment, to the warmth of his love and the solidity of his presence


    He was right.


    There was nothing good that came from hiding the truth. And I was grateful that Francesco had seen that, even when the truth was heavy.


    “What?”


    The next morning, the entire dining room went silent when I said, I want to see Mario.


    Forks froze midair, eyes widened. Even the usuallyposed Marlow stared


    “Why?” Francesco asked, his tone calm, though I could feel the ripple of curiosity underneath it. He looked directly at me, not with judgment, but with


    interest


    I met bis gaze. “I just want to hear his exnation. He’s human. He met Luca somehow. And while he’s been under our protection, we still don’t fully understand what their connection was. We never saw any rogue near him until the night of the ambush. Isn’t that strange?”


    Beta Alfonso, Marlow, Harry, Audrey, and the other pack members sitting with us all exchanged looks, nodding slowly in agreement.


    Francesco nced toward Audrey. “You already tried to question <b>him</b>.”


    Audrey leaned forward slightly. “He said nothing. Luna. Every attempt was brushed off with polite silence. He’s either afraid or hiding something<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    “Maybe with me, he’ll talk,” I said, hoping, “I’m not a warrior. I’m not going to interrogate him. I just want to speak with him. Understand him.”


    Francesco studied me for a long moment, then <b>gave </b><b>a </b>single nod. it’s worth a try


    His words <b>caused </b>a small uproar


    “You sure, Alphar Alfonso asked, clearly surprised.


    “It could be dangerous,” Marlow added. His face was uneadable, but I could sense the tension in him.


    I tried to soothe their concerns. “Who said I’d go alone?”


    I turned toward Francesco, who gave another ned in silent confirmation


    Of course he would be <b>at </b>my <b>side</b>.


    Within moments, a strategy meeting <b>was </b>called. Audrey and the other warriors began nning the safest route. Beta Alfonso started assigning patrol units to ensure our path was secure.


    I finished my breakfast quietly while they worked, my thoughts circling around Mario. The human man who came here like me, because of a schrship: How did Luca or the rogues find him and put him into this situation? How could they threaten him and kidnap his family?


    That <b>was </b>what drove me.


    I needed to meet Mario–not just out of curiosity, but because I wanted to understand. Before I could begin to grasp the truth about the magic, about myself, <b>I </b>needed to know his story. His connection to Luca. The reason he was pulled into this world at all.


    And that was the mystery I want to know.


    An hourter, we were ready.


    Three cars pulled out from the estate.


    Francesco and I were in the middle vehicle, with warriors surrounding us in the front and <b>rear</b><b>. </b>Our destination the apartment building had once called home. A strange ache settled in my chest as I thought about it. So much had changed since then..


    Mario <b>had </b>been ced in the sameplex, on the same floor. Under our protection, yes, but away from packnd. A necessary risk. Francesco wanted him close, but not <b>too </b>close. Not until they <b>could </b>be sure he was no threat.


    Now, I hoped he would prove something else entirely.


    The <b>ride </b>was mostly quiet. Francesco’s hand found mine, his thumb brushing soothing circles into my palm. Lleaned my head against his shoulder, breathing in his scent, anchoring myself


    Whatever we found today, I had to be ready.


    We arrived around noon.


    The building looked the same. A little weathered, a little too quiet. I led the way to the familiar floor, my steps slowing as memories flooded me. The hallway still smelled like old paint and faint detergent. A ghost of my former life, it was the <b>beginning </b>when Francesco know <b>about </b>me


    Mario’s apartment was at the end of the hall


    Audrey knocked first. “Mario, it’s Audrey. We brought someone to see you.”


    A pause.


    Then the door opened.


    Mario stood there <b>in </b><b>a </b>simple gray shirt, eyes tired but alert. When he saw me, his eyebrows lifted. “Eine.”


    “Hello, Mario.”


    He opened the door wider. “Please, Come in


    The apartment was sparse but clean. A few books lined the shelves. The tele drawn, letting in


    in muted light


    The television was on mute, ying a ck and white movie. The curtains were


    Francesco stood by the door, arms crossed but silent. Audrey leaned by the window, always aleet with other guards


    Isat across from Mario. “I wanted to talk to you.”


    He nodded. “I figured.”


    I didn’t dance around it. “How did you meet Luca?”


    He looked at me for a long time before finally speaking. “He came suddenly, right after I got the imitation letter to the university. I didn’t know who! was or…what he was.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Damn, I <b>never </b>knew this kind of world even existed.”


    Yes, he’s human. Involving a human in this kind of supernatural mess felt especially cruel, and my heart ached at the thought.


    “said no at first,” he continued, his voice shaking. Then, tears welled in his eyes. “But then I got a video call from my sister, except it wasn’t her, it was man, He showed me that he had my sister and my brother. He said if I didn’t follow his orders, then they… my family-


    He couldn’t finish. The sobs took over.


    I turned to Francesco, who sighed deeply beside me.


    Like me, he saw it clearly Maria, the human, <b>wasn’t </b>lying.


    I nodded, urging him gently. “What did he talk about?”


    That I needed to look into a woman–someone who wasn’t what she seemed. He turned his gaze back to me. “I <b>never </b>thought it was you at first, Eine


    id he exactly say?”


    Francesco stepped forward. “What did


    Mario frowned as it deep in thought. “He didn’t say much directly. Just that I needed to ture the woman <b>and </b>let his <b>man </b>handle the rest


    I leaned forward. “How did you know it <b>was </b>me?”


    A pause.


    Mario exhaled “Because of you.” He turned his <b>gaze </b>to Francesco, who raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Remember when <b>you </b>came to pick her up at th university? You had <b>the </b><b>same </b>aura as him–the rogue leader, Luca, things that make me shivered in strange way. <b>So</b><b>, </b>I came to the conclusion that you Eine, were the one he was after”


    y stomach turned.


    Francesco moved closer to me instinctively


    Mario continued. “After the attack…I kept dreaming of him. Not nightmares–just conversations. But they happened in impossible ce


    of <b>ss</b>. Rivers that flowed backward. And his voice always echoed the same chilling words; ‘Get her or die… Kill her.“


    I sat back, stunned.


    Mario looked at me. “I know I’m human. <b>But </b>I don’t know what he did to me, or why I’m involved.”


    Francesco let out a slow breath. “We need to move him.”


    Audrey nodded without saying anything,


    11:11 Mon,


    Hooked at Mario. “Will youe with <b>us</b><b>? </b>Let us protect you properly now!


    He gave me a sad smile. “Do I have another choice!


    As we drove back, I held Francesco’s hand tightly.


    The <b>road </b>ahead was lofig. Dangerous.


    And today, we found out how Luca wanted me dead–meaning he truly wanted to make francesco suller.


    But what did he do to Mario? Why did he get those dreams? Did it involve magic?


    And why Mario?