Darkness descends

Chapter 24

Ronaldo's boots announced his arrival as he marched through the town. They all heard him coming and went back to their house.

Ronaldo had a cold, bloodshot expression in his eyes. Waves of wrath shot out of him. In an attempt to dissuade him from the transgressions he was about to commit, his brother-in-law marched behind him.

The Alpha walked purposefully toward a house. He tore the house's door from its hinges in one swift sweep. Under him, the wood clattered on the cobbles.

Behind what had been a door stood a man. His shocked expression quickly changed to one of acceptance. As his leader, he was aware of and accepted what lay ahead for him.

Ronaldo approached the man until their chests were in contact. He detected the scent of perspiration from the man's workday.

"What's your name?" Ronaldo questioned in a monotone manner.

"Ethan Pete, Alpha."

"Goodbye, Ethan." Ronaldo reached directly into Ethan's heart with those words, pressing his hand into his chest. With a silent scream, Ethan's jaw opened as he tore into his chest cavity. Ronaldo's hand extends farther, nearly to the heart.

Gaius De Lombardi told his brother-in-law, "Dorothy would not have wanted this brother." Ronaldo glanced at him. His cold gaze met Gaius' worried ones.

"You know what else she would have wanted?" Squeezing his hands around Ethan's heart, he reached farther into his chest.

He tore out Ethan's heart with one hard pull. Ronaldo's face was sprayed with blood, yet his expression did not change.

Ethan's companion and children observed from behind the drape. His partner saw the removal of the love of her life. She initially believed it to be a delusion, but the evidence was right in front of her. Blood was all over Alpha Ronaldo, and her partner lay lifeless on the ground. The Alpha tilted his head and met her gaze through the curtain, but he was unable to see her. He could hear her and feel the violent pounding of their hearts without having to see her. She was aware that she would come next, but at least her children were saved from their alpha's plunge into darkness.

As cold as an alpha, Alpha Ronaldo was. Before he met Dorothy, he lived in a realm of darkness with no light. Nothing could save her now, Ethan's mate realized. She could sense him becoming uninterested in everything in the chilly room.

His heart was frigid, but Dorothy's warmth warmed it. She was his light. He was overwhelmed by her love since he had met her at the lowest point of his life, and her soul had become his moon. Ethan's partner realized that today was her last day on the planet just because of that. Ronaldo will not give up until he finds his light again. He had lost it.

He was numb from the loneliness that filled his heart. He had let his son down in addition to his mate. A boy who will one day lead the pack and continue the Matteo family legacy. Dorothy Betrano was light and warm and everything, and one day he would have a little sister who looked exactly like her mother.

Even though little Dorothy would be more than capable because of her Matteo heritage, Ronaldo and his son would do everything in their power to keep her safe. Ronaldo could tell the young man was talented in the arts; therefore, he would have had Elvis De Romano paint them a family portrait.

Rather, he stood holding a man's heart in his hands. It was somewhat amusing because, although the heart is a symbol of love, he felt nothing when he touched Ethan's heart in his hands. Ethan's body lay on the ground, and the heart inside him didn't even falter. With the knowledge that she would soon resemble her partner, Ethan's mate observed.

Alpha Ronaldo Matteo would not be the last to take their own family's life.

Ronaldo filled her children's bodies in Elena's temple, the very place Dorothy prayed so much. He should take his child with her; after all, she had taken hers. The families of the traitors who were directly responsible for Dorothy's death had started it, but Ronaldo persisted after realizing the goddess had not responded. All were spared, except the children themselves.

Until Elena consented to give him and Dorothy another chance, he would not give up.

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BLAINE DE LOMBARDI'S POV

The idea that members of my species are equally human and wolf is a popular misunderstanding. In actuality, we retain our wolf senses even while we are in human form. Both our hearing and sight have improved. Emotion is the one thing that unites the two states. We can sense sadness in our bones, and anger may turn us into ruthless assassins eager to take out the object of our wrath. However, it is this excitement that drives us when we are content. It gives our hearts the tightest squeeze possible and makes us feel warm all over.

I've always thought I loved Mirabel, and perhaps I did. Although love can manifest itself in a variety of ways, not all of them are resilient enough to withstand life's challenges. All I know is that I feel warm all over when I look at Lucia. I'm plotting our getaway from the courtyard already since I want to hold her and never let her go.

Our eyes are wide as we look at one another. I glance at the mark my dogs have made on her neck. The wound is surrounded by dark blood, and I'm sure mine is too.

"What the fuck!"

We both turn to face the person who just yelled. With an expression so full of wrath that it would have driven a lesser man to turn away, Mirabel's glare met my eyes. She glares at her sister instead of at me.

She cries, "You just marked my mate, Lucia!"

Lucia appears astonished. The first thing we encounter after regaining control of ourselves is a screaming woman who is prepared to punch us in the face.

"I'm so sorry, Mirabel."

"I apologize.

Are you sorry? Really?

That is not how you just take him! We have spent years together."

"This wasn't anticipated to occur."

"How could you do this to me?" Mirabel screams.

By now, she's sobbing. I know her well enough to realize those are artificial tears. Pushing through the throng, Claire encircles Mirabel with her arms. Mirabel collapses onto her mother's chest and starts crying right away. Claire looks at Lucia with disapproval, as though she is solely to blame. Lucia's eyes drop to the floor in surrender. She puckers her lips, and it makes me want to drag her out of there.

It is an activity that makes me angry. She shouldn't have to look so ashamed; this isn't her fault.

How come you're acting so strangely, man? "You mark my other sister after making my sister an omega first?" Cyril screams. He's coming at me, ready to strike. To be honest, I merit it. Lucia is now permanently bonded to me, which was not the original plan.

"Stop, Cyril!" Lucia yells. She stares at her older brother, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Lucia, why? You were just marked by him! Years ago, he declared Mirabel to be his partner."

"Exactly!" Declared. Okay, Mirabel's partner is dead. No longer alive! I can tell that the pack members are in disbelief. We must accept this and go on. Only my family and the Lorenzos were aware of this.

"So she doesn't deserve to experience love just because her mate is dead?" Cyril shouted.

Lucia looks at the floor to regain her composure. Her crimson eyes meet mine, then go back to her siblings.

"What about Tracy, Blaine's friend? Is she not deserving of love?"

I'm shocked he heard her at all because her voice is so quiet. Cyril becomes silent in shock. As soon as his eyes find me, I know I'm screwed. Composed, he strolls over to face me.

"Did you know Lucia was your mate?"

"Yes," I responded.

"For how long?"

"Since her birthday," I inform him. Instead of running away, I met his gaze directly and told him the truth.

"And you sent her away?"

"Yes."

"Why? Why would the two of you lie?"

"We've never liked each other; how were we supposed to love each other?" For me, Lucia responded.

"No, here's what I believe. "I believe Blaine is incapable of committing to just one girl," he states firmly.

"That's not-"

"I mean, that would explain why you have been drowning in pussycats for the past three years, right?"

I instantly glanced at Lucia to gauge her response. She doesn't seem to be reacting, so I assume that she was already aware of this.

Hold on, why am I bothered? With all due respect, Mister Alpha, why wouldn't you want Lucia? She truly is skilled at making a man feel wonderful if you get what I mean."

My heart stops. Not with pain, but with rage. My head snaps to attention to see who the fuck said that. I spot a tall man with my eyes. He's staring at me in the locker room as if we're best friends. He is completely false in every respect. We are merely a murderer and victim, or rather, a corpse since that is what he will soon become.

"The fuck did you just say?" I query him. Cyril is by my side, prepared to help.

"I just meant it like Lucia is so cool and smart, and she can do this thing."

I stopped him in his tracks. In a matter of seconds, my hands are around his throat. His face is getting hot, and his feet are no longer on the ground.

"Continue. What the fuck did you think you were going to say?"

He opens his mouth, but nothing comes out but air.

"Put him down, Blaine!" I hear Lucia yelling, and her footsteps are running toward me.

"Why? So you two can have sex once more?" I query her. Even though I'm speaking calmly, I know that everyone can sense the anger in my body.

"It is not relevant to you! You fucking hypocrite, you were acting in the same way!" Lucia yells. She's right, but that doesn't stop me from killing this man.

"Well, it is my business," Cyril approaches me. He looks the man in the eye as he takes the man from me.

"Did you touch my sister, Damien?"

"It's not like we had sex! That was merely additional material."

With a dark chuckle, Cyril laughs.

"What the fuck did I tell everyone before she got to Italy?"

Reluctant to answer, Damien casts his gaze to the ground.

"Lucia Lorenzo is off-limits," he declared. His voice quivered with rage.

"Are you aware of the meaning behind that? It implies that you are not in contact with her, you are not focusing on her, and you are not even breathing close to her. Cyril has a glaring look in his eyes. Damien will pay for flagrantly disobeying my future beta's instructions.

"Hi! I cannot be made off-limits to you. I'm a damn independent woman, and I'll sleep with anybody I want." Lucia yells.

"I've always known that she's a covert slut! She stole my man after traveling to Italy in search of other men." Mirabel screams. Lucia's eyes sparkle with unshed tears as I gaze into them.

The sight makes me uneasy. She's always so resilient, and I believe that today is the most time I've ever seen her almost weep.

With a controlled demeanor, I approach Mirabel with purposeful strides and a hard gaze. As I go closer, her eyes widen, and I notice something I've never seen before. Fear.

"You will respect your Luna." I'm practically shivering with rage, and I'm speaking firmly.

She just looks at the ground and nods.

"I want words!"

"I will respect my Luna."

"This applies to all individuals. If you do not follow instructions, you will die."

I would never want to see Lucia's weeping eyes again.