I barely made it back to my room.
My legs were shaking. My lungs were burning. Every muscle in my body screamed in pain.
The run had been hell. Ten miles through rough terrain, up hills, through forests. The other wolves had moved like it was nothing. I had struggled to keep up, falling behind more times than I could count.
But I had finished.
That was what mattered.
I collapsed onto my bed and closed my eyes. My body was begging for rest, but my mind would not shut off.
I kept seeing Dante. The way he had watched me during training. Not with pity. Not with concern. With assessment. Like he was deciding whether I was worth the investment.
I hated that look.
I hated that I cared what he thought.
Someone knocked on the door.
Go away, I called out.
The door opened anyway.
I sat up, ready to snap at whoever had ignored me. But the words died in my throat when I saw who it was.
Dante.
He stood in the doorway, still dressed in training clothes. His shirt clung to his body, damp with sweat. His hair was disheveled. He looked dangerous and far too attractive for someone I was supposed to hate.
You did well today, he said.
I almost died.
But you did not quit. He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. That matters more than speed.
Why are you here?
Because you are coming with me.
Where?
My office. He gestured to the bathroom. Clean yourself up. You have ten minutes.
And if I refuse?
His eyes flashed gold. Then I will drag you there exactly as you are. Your choice.
He left before I could respond.
I sat there for a moment, anger and exhaustion warring inside me. Then I forced myself to stand and walk into the bathroom.
The shower was quick. I did not have the energy for anything else. I pulled on clean clothes, a simple black dress that had been left in the closet, and tried to tame my wet hair.
When I came out, Dante was waiting in the hallway.
He did not say anything. Just started walking.
I followed.
His office was on the other side of the estate. We passed more guards, more expensive art, more reminders that this place was built on blood and money.
When we reached the door, Dante pushed it open and gestured for me to enter first.
The office was massive. Dark wood furniture. Floor to ceiling bookshelves. A desk that looked like it cost more than most cars. And behind the desk, windows that overlooked the entire estate.
Power. Control. Dominance.
This room screamed all of it.
Sit, Dante said, gesturing to a chair in front of his desk.
I sat.
He walked around the desk and leaned against it, arms crossed. He was close enough that I could smell him. Pine and smoke and something darker. Something that made my wolf purr.
I shoved her down.
Do you know what I do? he asked.
You are a criminal.
He smiled. I prefer entrepreneur.
You run the mafia.
I run an empire. There is a difference. He pushed off the desk and walked to a cabinet against the wall. He poured two glasses of whiskey and brought one to me.
I do not drink.
You will tonight.
I took the glass but did not drink. Why am I here?
Because you need to understand what you have walked into. He took a sip of his whiskey and studied me. You are my mate. My Luna. That means you are part of this world now. And this world does not forgive ignorance.
I am not ignorant.
You are naive. He set his glass down and leaned forward, bracing his hands on either side of my chair. I could feel the heat radiating off him. The mate bond pulsed between us, hot and insistent. You think this is just about wolves and packs. It is not. This is about money. Territory. Power. And the people who want to take all of it from me.
So teach me, I said. My voice came out breather than I intended.
His eyes darkened. Oh, I plan to.
Before I could respond, the door burst open.
A man stumbled in, dragged by two guards. He was bleeding from his mouth, his hands tied behind his back.
Dante straightened immediately. The heat between us disappeared, replaced by something cold and deadly.
What is this? Dante asked.
We caught him stealing from the east warehouse, one of the guards said. Fifty thousand euros worth of product.
Dante walked over to the man. He crouched down so they were eye level.
Antonio, he said softly. I trusted you.
Alpha, please, the man gasped. I can explain—
Explain? Dante tilted his head. You stole from me. You betrayed your pack. What explanation could possibly make that acceptable?
My family, my daughter, she is sick, I needed the money—
So you stole from me. Dante stood. And you thought I would not find out.
Please
Dante pulled a gun from his waistband and pressed it against Antonio's forehead.
I felt my blood turn to ice.
This is what happens, Dante said, his voice calm and even, to wolves who betray me.
The gunshot was deafening.
Antonio's body crumpled to the floor.
I could not breathe. Could not move. Could not look away from the blood spreading across the expensive carpet.
Dante handed the gun to one of the guards. Clean this up. And make sure everyone knows what happened. I want the message clear.
Yes, Alpha.
The guards dragged the body out. The door closed behind them.
Dante turned back to me. His expression was blank. Like he had not just killed a man in cold blood.
Now do you understand? he asked.
I could not speak. My hands were shaking so hard the whiskey spilled.
He walked over and took the glass from me before I could drop it. Then he crouched down in front of me, his hands resting on my knees.
The touch sent electricity through me. The mate bond roared to life, trying to soothe the horror I had just witnessed.
This is my world, he said quietly. This is what I do. And if you stay, you will see worse.
I forced myself to meet his eyes. You are a monster.
Yes. He did not deny it. But I am your monster. And I will protect you with the same brutality I use to destroy my enemies.
I do not want your protection.
You need it. He squeezed my knees gently. Whether you admit it or not.
Get away from me.
No. His hands slid higher, resting on my thighs. The touch was firm, possessive. The mate bond is driving you insane, is it not? You hate me. You fear me. But you also want me.
Stop.
Why? Because I am telling the truth? He leaned closer, his face inches from mine. I can smell it on you, Bianca. The desire. The need. Your body knows what your mind refuses to accept.
You do not know anything about me.
I know everything. He trailed one hand up to cup my face. I know you are terrified. I know you are strong. I know you want to run but you are too stubborn to quit. And I know that right now, despite everything you just saw, you want me to kiss you.
He was right.
I hated that he was right.
My body was screaming for him. The mate bond was pulling me forward, demanding I close the distance. My wolf was howling, begging me to give in.
But I could not.
I shoved his hand away and stood up. You are insane.
Perhaps. He stood as well, towering over me. But that does not change the bond.
I do not care about the bond.
Liar. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me against him. Our bodies collided, and the contact was like fire. His other hand tangled in my hair, tilting my head back so I had no choice but to look at him. You feel it too. This pull. This need. It is consuming you the same way it is consuming me.
Let go of me.
No. His thumb brushed across my lower lip, and I gasped. I am going to kiss you, Bianca. And you are going to let me.
No.
Yes.
He leaned down, his lips hovering just above mine. I could feel his breath. Feel the heat of him. Feel the bond pulling tighter and tighter until I thought I would snap.
And then the door opened.
Dante, Luca's voice cut through the moment like a knife. We have a problem.
Dante pulled back immediately. His hands left me, and I nearly collapsed from the sudden absence of contact.
What? Dante snapped.
The Russians. They hit one of our shipments. We lost three men.
Dante's expression went cold. When?
An hour ago.
Where?
The docks.
Dante turned to me. His eyes were still molten gold, still burning with the same desire that was tearing me apart.
We will finish this later, he said.
Then he walked out.
I stood there, my heart pounding, my body trembling.
What the hell had just happened?
Luca stepped into the room. He looked at me with something like sympathy.
Are you all right?
No.
He nodded. That is fair.
He almost.
I know.
But he killed someone. Right in front of me.
Luca sighed. That is who he is, Bianca. Dante does not forgive betrayal. And he does not show mercy.
How can you follow him?
Because he protects his own. Luca walked over to me. Yes, he is brutal. Yes, he is dangerous. But he is also loyal. And if you are part of his pack, part of his family, he will die before he lets anyone hurt you.
I do not want to be part of this.
Too late. Luca smiled sadly. The moment the bond snapped into place, you became part of this. And now you have to decide whether you are going to run or fight.
What if I want to run?
Then you will die. Because Dante will never let you go. And his enemies will use you to destroy him.
So I am trapped.
Or, Luca said, you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
He left before I could respond.
I walked to the window and stared out at the estate.
In the distance, I could see Dante walking toward a black car. Luca and several guards followed him.
He was going to war.
And I was stuck here, waiting for him to come back.
Waiting for him to finish what he had started.
I pressed my hand against the glass and closed my eyes.
This was madness.
But I could not deny the truth anymore.
I wanted him.
Even knowing what he was. What he did. What he was capable of.
I wanted him.
And that terrified me more than anything else.
Hours passed.
I was taken back to my room and left alone. I tried to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw Antonio's body. Heard the gunshot. Felt Dante's hands on my skin.
It was after midnight when I heard footsteps in the hallway.
The door opened.
Dante stood there, still dressed in the same clothes. But now there was blood on his shirt. His knuckles were bruised and split.
He had been fighting.
Killing.
Destroying.
And he looked magnificent.
Get dressed, he said.
What?
You are coming with me.
Where?
To a meeting. With the families. He stepped into the room. You wanted to understand my world. Tonight, you will see all of it.
I do not.
This is not a request, Bianca. You are my mate. My Luna. And starting tonight, you will stand beside me in every room, at every table, in every negotiation. Because if they see weakness, they will exploit it. And I will not let that happen.
He walked over to the closet and pulled out a dress. Red. Tight. Expensive.
Wear this. He tossed it to me. We leave in twenty minutes.
Then he left.
I stared at the dress in my hands.
This was real.
This was happening.
I was about to be thrown into the heart of the mafia world.
And I had no idea if I would survive it.