Confrontations and Revelations

Chapter 16

Dorothy Betrano's POV

I watch as another woman steps out of the Alpha's rooms. It was now a daily event for me to move into Alpha Ronaldo's living quarters on the packhouse's west wing.

He would bring other women into his room and put them to bed, so it was obvious that this was a kind of torture. The whole west wing echoed with their moans. The maids would give me pitying looks because it was that horrible.

Alpha is stupid and haughty. Who believes that he is? Once he realizes I'm his mate, he can't just bring me here and ignore me. I suspected that he knew beforehand that I was his mate.

That day in the courtyard, he didn't seem shocked to see me.

The Alpha left his chambers. He has a sneer on his face and his eyes are piercing me. In a few paces, he approaches me and presses me up against the wall.

"Did you enjoy the show?"

This man's nerve!

He presses his hips into me and his hands grab hold of my hips. His erection is pressing on me. He just had sex, right?

"I'm not quite satisfied, why don't you help me out more?"

There's friction as his hips move about mine. I'm sorry I'm wearing my nightgown right now since the heavy material would prevent me from feeling him.

I pant and my neck slumps back against the wall.

"Alpha..."

"My name is Ronaldo!" he growls.

He pulls my dress until it bunches around my hips, then loops my legs around his hips. My panties have been torn off. His eyes are angry, so he sniffs the air and dislikes whatever he smells.

With greater effort, he presses me against the wall and his hand goes around my throat.

"You're not pure anymore."

Was he telling the truth? I am 41 years old. Being a virgin at 41 years old was nearly unheard of.

We both have strong libidos—was I merely meant to hang around?

"Neither are you." He snarls in answer, his teeth bared.

"I'm going to f*ck you and coat your insides with so much semen that it will erase the mark of whoever has been inside of you."

Yes? And every lady you sleep with will know who you belong to because I'll leave so many scratches on your back. They're going to scent my essence every time they go down to s"ck you off."

My comments caused his eyes to darken. My hips were flexing against his erection as my mind was racing. My inside was squeezing around nothing. At last, he takes off his pants and applies my moisture to his penis. I moaned, wishing he was already inside of me.

"Shh, do you want them to hear you?" He was talking about the visiting pack from across town. Right now, any of them could come out of their rooms and see us in the corridor looking like this.

I gave him a shake of my head, nay.

"Too bad, I do," I scream with delight as he slams into me, completely forgetting that anyone might hear.

*****

Blaine De Lombardi's POV

From my pack house window, I witness Lucia giving her family a final embrace. Although she appeared unhappy to be leaving, there was enthusiasm all around her. Being able to give something to her made me happy.

Her mother appeared as though she would cry as her dad gave her a safety lecture. Valerie had an expression of displeasure on her face, and Mirabel was distressed at seeing her sister leave. I could see the fury on Rose's face—anger directed at me. It was difficult for me not to take Anthony's hands off of her as he brought her in for an embrace.

Dude! "Regretting your decision yet?" Johnson queries. Through the window, he has been observing me while I observe Lucia.

"No." Indeed. She shouldn't be too far away from me. What option do I have, though? It won't be long before I mark her, and I'm certain that our lives will not be pleasant together. The mating relationship is insufficient sometimes.

We have avoided marking each other for this long because of how much we detest one another. It's essentially nonexistent. Before they are mated, the majority of wolves only live a few days. For us, it has been nearly a month.

How powerful must hate be to overcome the mate bond?

"How long do you think it will take to always become angry?

When their partners are absent, wolves get grumpy."

"I'll see to it. Clara probably has herbs that can help with my suffering." I take another glance out the window. They're all giving her huge hugs now that she's laughing with them all.

Did I ever get her to laugh?

Make a note of her.

Before my wolf could get any more notions into my head, I gave her one final look and made a mental note of her features before turning away.

"I need to go see Clara and make sure Lucia is escorted safely to the airport," I say to Johnson. After saying my goodbyes, I make my way to Clara's cabin.

I always get the chills when I visit this place. Clara describes the interior of the cabin as having "good energy" and being serene. On the outside, though, it appears like something from a horror movie.

Before I could knock, she opened the door and let me in. Every time I see her, I'm constantly amazed at how she appears to be 80 years old despite being about 600 years old. Although wolves have a lengthy lifespan, many of them pass away as a result of the frequent battles between the supernatural groups. However, we never allow gifted wolves or oracles to participate in combat. They are too worth it.

"So did you find out what the dream means?"

"I haven't had the chance to decipher it yet, come sit, my crystals always help in telling."

I crossed my legs as I sat on the mat that had a tribal appearance.

"You said you think this dream is foreshadowing something?"

"Yes, it seemed too real to just be a random dream."

She reaches into a purse and takes out many gems. They vary in size from small to large and have various hues.

"Open your hands."

On my left palm, Clara lays a white crystal, and on my right, another. She puts a moonstone in between us as she sits across from me.

"Describe the dream to me, dear."

"Lucia is now in my embrace. It looks like she was stabbed because of the bleeding. We seem to be at some kind of woodland costume party, I believe. She appears to be wearing an outfit from a bygone age. Her eyes are awake, staring into mine with a vacant, frightening stare. I suppose I utter something in Italian while crying, but I wake up before I can get it out."

Clara goes entirely white in the eyes. She sparkles like a moonstone and remains that way for a few minutes before returning to her usual state. With the moonstone still blazing, she looks at me, breathing heavily.

"It's not a glimpse of the future, but rather one from the past."

"What? How is that in any way even meaningful?

"The ghosts only tell me what they want me to know, so I'm not sure. She remarks, "I've never seen anything like this before." She appears confused, although in the years that I have known her, she has never looked anything but composed.

"Well, go ask them!"

"Dear, they won't tell me. It's not the appropriate moment."

Not the ideal moment? I fantasize about Lucia passing away in my arms, but now isn't the perfect moment, right?

If she's not here, she cannot pass away in your arms.

I feel reassured by the concept and am much more confident about sending her away. Just one more justification for the necessity of our separation.

"Why is that rock still glowing?" Pointing at the moonstone, I inquire. She smiles at me.

"The spirits are with us."

"Whose spirits?" "The spirits of past pack members who are watching over us."

The smell of flowers wafts into my nose slowly. Considering all the incense Clara has burning in her house, I think that's strange. Roses make me think of...

"Could it be my mom?" I choked on my question.

"Blaine, she's constantly here. She always did have such a brilliant soul, and I can feel that," she says reverently.

She nodded, and I walked out of the cabin. I moved faster in the direction of the pack house, but my heart was heavy.

"She is here at all times."

The thought gave me comfort, and I hope it doesn't make her angry with me.

"Her safety is all I desire, my beloved mother.