Don’s Mate at the Gas Station

Chapter7: First a Luna

After sitting down, Daddy immediately took control of the conversation.

I didn’t interrupt.

I didn’t argue.

I didn’t even roll my eyes.

Because for all the trouble I caused, I knew when to listen.

Mom and Dad had rules.

A lot of them.

Some I followed better than others.

But unlike my triplet brothers, I had never been stupid enough to openly challenge them.

The idiots practically made a sport out of it.

I preferred survival.

When Dad wasn’t around, I acted however I wanted.

I gossiped.

I complained.

I got myself into trouble.

But when it came to my parents?

I knew exactly where the line was.

And I wasn’t crossing it.

Especially not now.

Besides, thinking logically, I wasn’t in immediate danger of being cut off from the family.

I hadn’t marked Vincenzo.

The bond wasn’t complete.

And Mom knew exactly how things had started between us.

What I conveniently didn’t tell her was that I had enjoyed parts of it.

That information would stay buried forever.

Because if my parents ever heard me admit that, I would be disowned, resurrected, and disowned again.

“…The issues we are about to discuss were kept from you, Ariel, because we didn’t believe you would be mated to Vincenzo.”

Dad’s words immediately pulled me out of my thoughts.

His expression was serious.

The kind of serious that meant I should actually pay attention.

“Honestly, I’m still surprised he’s your mate.”

I glanced at Vincenzo.

The i***t looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Dad continued before either of us could say anything.

“You’ve been told before that you possess the ability to turn him into a wolf.”

That part I already knew.

What I didn’t expect was the stack of papers Dad slid across the desk toward me.

My stomach immediately tightened.

Paperwork was never a good sign.

Ever.

“But before that happens, it must be discussed with us first.”

Dad tapped the documents.

“You’re going to sign these acknowledging that.”

I stared at him.

Then at the papers.

Then back at him.

The trap had been sprung.

Because nobody handed me documents unless something important was happening.

And judging by the look on Mom’s face, she agreed.

Dad’s voice remained calm.

“Your mate is connected to an underground operation that I am not in a position to explain.”

That finally got my full attention.

Underground operation?

What the hell did that mean?

My eyes immediately shifted toward Vincenzo.

Dad pointed toward him.

“He will explain it himself. He understands what’s at stake.”

For the first time since entering the office, my thoughts completely abandoned the twins.

Abandoned the dinner.

Abandoned everything.

Because suddenly I had a brand-new problem.

And judging by the smug expression on my mate’s face…

I wasn’t going to like it.

Taking the pen, I looked toward Daddy.

“May I speak, Daddy?”

He nodded immediately.

Good.

At least one person in this room still understood that I deserved a say in my own life.

“I’ll read these while we’re talking,” I began. “But I would also like to repeat what I already told Mommy in the hospital.”

The room became quiet.

Even Vincenzo stopped pretending he wasn’t watching me.

“I don’t think I want to stay with Vincenzo as my mate.”

Mom sighed.

Grandpa winced.

Grandma looked ready to support whatever came out of my mouth.

I continued anyway.

“He isn’t good with me. He isn’t good at talking to me. Honestly, I’m scared to be left alone with him.”

Vincenzo’s jaw tightened.

Good.

Let him hear it.

“That’s why what happened in the woods bothers me so much. Somehow he marked me.”

I looked directly at him.

“To this day, I still don’t understand how he even knew how to do that as a human.”

His expression didn’t change.

Which only annoyed me more.

“But he did.”

I placed a hand over the mark on my neck.

“And for the record, I haven’t marked him back.”

My gaze never left his.

“And I don’t plan to for a very long time.”

The silence afterward was beautiful.

Mom looked exhausted.

Daddy looked thoughtful.

Grandpa looked proud.

Grandma looked like she was trying not to smile.

Then Vincenzo spoke.

“With all due respect, Alpha Valor, may I also express myself regarding the matter at hand?”

I rolled my eyes so hard it physically hurt.

Of course he wanted to speak.

The man treated conversations like business negotiations.

Daddy looked toward him.

“You may.”

While Vincenzo started talking, I returned my attention to the documents.

Unlike him, I actually wanted to know what I was signing.

“I’ve had a crush on Ariel since I met her,” Vincenzo began. “Normally I wouldn’t share information like that, but given our circumstances, some rules can be bent.”

I nearly snorted.

Some rules.

Not all.

Just the convenient ones.

Meanwhile, I flipped through the first several pages.

The more I read, the more I understood why Daddy had written this contract.

And the more I understood it…

The less comfortable I became.

Because Daddy wasn’t protecting me from Vincenzo.

He was protecting me from whatever world Vincenzo came from.

“I learned in general who you all are. I learned humans have a very different mindset than werewolves,” Vincenzo continued smoothly. “My family has spent years gathering research and documentation regarding your kind. Your case, Alpha Valor, is one of the rarest examples.”

I resisted the urge to groan.

The man could talk.

That was the problem.

Everything sounded reasonable when it came out of his mouth.

Everything sounded polished.

Controlled.

Prepared.

And that scared me more than if he had simply been rude.

Because manipulative people rarely sounded dangerous.

They sounded convincing.

“I truly wish to have your support,” Vincenzo continued. “My goal is not to place Ariel in danger, but to work alongside your family the same way you work alongside your Luna.”

Smooth.

Way too smooth.

Daddy wasn’t impressed.

I could tell.

He waited until Vincenzo finished before speaking.

“It’s sweet how you word things.”

That sentence alone made me smile.

Because I knew that tone.

Daddy wasn’t complimenting him.

He was warning him.

“You forget something important. I had a human mate.”

Mom smiled softly.

Daddy pointed toward her.

“A female human.”

The room became quiet again.

“And despite the truth in what you’re saying, humans always have something hidden up their sleeves. Whether it’s intentional or not.”

There it was.

Daddy’s real answer.

Not no.

Not yes.

A challenge.

“Your actions will show me who you really are, Vincenzo. Not your words.”

Then Daddy tapped the contract in front of me.

“This document exists to make sure you stay in line when it comes to my daughter.”

His eyes hardened slightly.

“And I have yet to show you what business I truly mean, if you ever harm my daughter.”

There it was.

The final warning.

Daddy’s way.

Or no way at all.

Trying not to laugh, I continued reading.

Then one clause caught my attention.

My eyes widened.

20.3 Before Ariel is permitted to become the wife of the future Don, she must first become Luna of his pack.

I blinked.

Then read it again.

Then a third time.

Slowly, my head lifted.

Don?

As in…

A mafia Don?

I turned toward Vincenzo.

Suddenly a lot of things made far more sense.

And absolutely none of them made me feel better. Not one bit.

A/N; sorry for the confusion on order