Confronting the past; facing the future

Chapter 28

Blaine De Lombardi's POV

During my Alpha training, my father consistently reminded me of one thing I should never forget. Alphas never get lost in their thoughts. Keep to your decisions since you are the one everyone looks to for direction.

It's a good thing he's not here right now because I am incredibly puzzled, and it is showing on my face.

I fix my gaze on the painting, gazing intently into Ronaldo's and my own eyes. Recalling what Clara and Jessica said about him, they spoke of him as if he were a hero.

However, when I scowl at the man who resembles myself, I realize the reality. He wasn't a hero. He was a bad guy.

Perhaps he misrepresented the situation so that, despite his true nature, he appeared to be a good person. The intense affection that pulses through his irises for the woman positioned beside him is evident in his eyes. It was the same passion that drove him to carry out a slaughter.

Therein lay the distinction between myself and him. I was a man who had already ruined my world, and he was a man willing to burn it down for his beloved.

That would also remain that way because I would never want to resemble Ronaldo Matteo in the artwork. That look in my eyes is something I never want to see again since the last time it appeared. All that was left was devastation.

Except for me, Lucia is staring at everything. Instead, I'm staring at her and committing her image to memory.

Waves of her brown hair cascade over her shoulders. Her dress' scarlet silk contrasts sharply with the room's muted hues.

"Elegance."

Lucia has a natural beauty. My eyes were always drawn to her, even when we were younger. As the years go by, she appears to become more beautiful. She appears so different today, though. There was a hint of hope on her face the last time she glanced at me. She's staring at me coldly now.

Alright, "Blaine!"

"What?" I inquire.

"You're bleeding," she informs me.

I feel the warm blood trickle down the side of my face and contact my forehead.

"What the hell?" I break off mid-sentence when Lucia's body crashes into the wall.

"Lucia!"

She is grasping her ribs while lying on the ground. As I sprint in her direction, her face creases in pain.

"Blaine," she mutely says.

"I don't understand; you should be healing by now!" I yell. She winces as I touch her ribs.

As she began to breathe more slowly, I encircled her in my arms.

"No, no," she says while in my arms. Her face has completely lost its color, yet her mouth is slightly open. My hands are covered in blood as I work to halt the flow.

"Dorothy!"

"Lucia!"

I give her a body shake, but she is exhausted. How is it possible? A moment ago, she was fine.

"Clara! Jessica, I require assistance!"

Running in, the sisters evaluate the situation.

Clara asked, "What happened?"

"We were conversing when she suddenly crashed into the wall and lost consciousness," I utter in a terrified tone. Lucia lay limp in my arms as the air left my lungs.

With wide eyes, they both scan the room.

"Lucia, grab her! "We need to leave this place!" yells Clara.

I embrace Lucia tightly. I try not to move too much and hold her in a bridal manner in case her ribs continue to hurt.

Blood drips from my face onto hers as I glance down. If I weren't so afraid for her, I would say it's gorgeous because the crimson color goes well with her attire. I gently put my hand up to her face and stroked it. I wiped the blood from her face, but her tan skin was slightly stained.

When we finally arrive at the opulent doors, Jessica slams them shut behind us, and we walk out, barely making it past the threshold.

"What was that?" I query them.

"The spirits are furious, really furious," Clara tells herself. I growl and turn to face her.

"Get to the point!"

"They desire retribution," Jessica at last states.

"Retaliation? For what purpose is revenge sought after?"

Clara mumbles, "For their murders."

"Killing? "Lucia didn't kill anyone," I exclaimed.

"Alpha, do you not get it? She was not the one who killed them. You were the one! Or ought I to say, Ronaldo?" says Jessica.

Goddamn, this Ronaldo guy left a mess behind—I know that technically I was him.

"What do you know? It is irrelevant! Now bring the healers here!" I screamed.

I keep getting more questions every time I look for answers.

Maybe I should give up looking.

While being examined by the healer, Lucia lies on a bed in her room. Mirabel appears bored as her parents and Cyril linger over the healer. Greg is shouting in Italian into his phone and pacing the room.

I watched them all from the outside, as I was outside her room. I know when I'm not welcome, and I might snap if Cyril gives me another glare.

"Do you believe it?" Johnson queries me. I told him everything that Jessica and Clara had disclosed.

"I didn't at first, but it seems to make sense to me now," I responded.

"So she and you are similar to Alpha Ronaldo and Luna Dorothy in reincarnation? How on earth is that even feasible?"

"I'm not sure. I told him that we would have to wait for the next blood moon for my wolf to provide me with some wisdom.

The healer looks at us, pausing her inspections.

"Alpha Blaine? "This is something you will want to hear," she begins. I nodded in response and went into the room that my partner had been residing in for the past few years.

A room that has been occupied by other men.

I snarl and draw attention from everyone around me.

"Oh, I apologize. I say, "There's something lodged in my throat," and then I cough a little.

"Do you need some water?" Mirabel queries.

"No."

Cyril gives me another glare, and I have a strong suspicion that Steve and Claire are plotting my covert assassination.

I am certainly the man of the moment.

It appears that her heat is what caused the spirits' attack to have such an impact on her. It is drawing near and may arrive in a few weeks, a month, or even two. This seems to be how it works for the majority of women, though it may be less, the healer says.

"Murder me right now."

Alas, what a misplaced moment.

"What? Claire remarks, "I've never heard of anyone getting weak before their heat.

This, however, is a little different. It can be more difficult to mark a mate after waiting for so long. She is also an alpha partner. For prime bloodlines, there is a greater urgency to produce an heir."

My eyeballs seem to jut out of my skull. Children? If Lucia and I can't even get along in a room without fighting, how are we supposed to raise kids together?

"What absurdity! My daughter is only twenty years old. It won't happen till she's at least thirty years old! or forty! Steve yells, "We are wolves; it's not like we have a biological clock. I don't blame him if his face is becoming redder by the minute. A father, especially the younger one, does not want to hear this about his child.

"Calm down, my love. Remember when I was 21 and we had Cyril?" To comfort him, Claire informs him.

"No! Lucia is unique. She is my little combatant. How could my darling, Lucia, have a kid when she's my little girl?" With his eyes lowered to the ground, Steve says it in a dejected manner.

"And we missed out on 3 years she could have spent with us because of you!" He gestures toward me.

I apologize. To be honest, I apologize. I didn't act in the way an alpha ought to.

"Are you positive she isn't expecting? Mirabel remarks, her expression proud, "It's obvious that she was moving around when she was here.

I yelled at her, telling her to stop talking, but Mirabel never listened.

"Blaine, what? Is that the reason you desire her?

"Since she is innocent."

Breaking: she's not!" Mirabel yells.

"I think you need a lesson in respect, Mirabel Lorenzo!" Claire yells.

"How do I deserve this? She took my friend away!" Mirabel screams, her eyes welling with tears.

"Mirabel," says Steve.

"Your mate is dead!" I scream at her.

Shock takes over her face. She starts to cry from the tears that have built up in her eyes.

Yes? At least my friend wasn't a whore, then." She yells in rage.

"Kneel!"

For a moment, everyone's breathing stops. Although I've always had the alpha command, it's not the same now that I'm truly alpha.

"Learn to respect your Luna, or you will no longer have a tongue to speak with."

"I was supposed to be the Luna! Everyone ought to respect me, not her." Mirabel yells. Her parents gave her a shocked expression. The gravest offense is to disregard an alpha's order.

Henry was about to show off his might, and I allowed him to do so. I sense him just below the surface. I had no idea that my wolf had caused a massacre hundreds of years ago, but perhaps it's time for people to learn the truth.

I hold her down at my knees, grabbing her by the throat. I lower myself until we are at eye level. She appears to be winning, and judging from the small smile on her lips, she believes that belittling her sister has given her the upper hand.

"Anyone who dares to stand in my path or that of my partner will be eliminated without hesitation! If you make this hard for me, I'll rip your heart out and feed it to you!"

I could tell how my voice had changed. Mirabel appears to be peeling on herself, and nobody is brave enough to look me in the eyes.

I approached Lucia, gave her a quick peck on the cheek, picked her up, and left the room. Mirabel managed to make the entire room about herself, even though everyone was there for Lucia.

While she heals, she doesn't need to be around that negativity.