Past Sins

Chapter 14: Matteo

It’s been a few hours since that failure of a meeting ended and I was alone again in my office. I’ve been trying to get back into the paperwork in front of me, and I've made a pretty decent dent in it, but I can’t focus. My mind is being pulled in all different directions all ending with Valerie. The look of pure betrayal on her face when she looked at me still clings to my memory. I-We should have talked to her before making a decision about her life. She deserved to be included, she deserved to be told the truth. When the time is right and she’ll let me, I'll make this up to her. All I can do now is make a vow to the moon in the dead of night that no matter what I'll never force into anything again. After sending my vow up to the moon goddess herself to hold me accountable I went back to work. Not long after a voice rang in my head, “Hey man.” Asher was more of a stickler about getting work done than I am so if he’s interrupting me something is going on. “Yeah, a bit busy here.” 

“Well so was I until I got a mindlink from Kara that Valerie never went down for dinner and her room was empty.” he stated

Damn! I knew she was mad but I didn’t think she was “wander around without a guard” mad. We just told her not even 6 hours ago that her deranged half uncle was trying to kidnap, mark, and mate her. I gave her the night without guard presence because I didn’t want to send her farther down into her rage spiral- I see now that that was a mistake. Going off like this is reckless and irresponsible. “Get every warrior not on guard duty or just getting off duty out there looking for her. NOW!” I bellowed. Hopefully I can hunt her down before things take a turn for the worst. The second I find her her guards will be so stuck to her they’ll have to be surgically removed. Future Luna or not this isn’t going to slide with me. “I’m going to go look for her as well.” I stated. Pushing back off my desk I got up and headed toward the door. Halfway there Barrett joined in on the mindlink, “Hey no need to go looking.” No need to go looking? What the hell is he talking about? He oversees the warriors so I know he got the notice to pull all available warriors to look for Valerie. If she’s been with him this whole time I’ll kick his ass. “What the hell are you talking about?!” My patience is beginning to run very thin. “Whoa now. Hold the rage voice. I found her.” Barrett said. As good as that news is, it's not capping my anger. “Okay. Are you going to tell us or..” He cut me off. “Meet me at the Moonstone.” Did he seriously think I’d be going out for a drink with him when I had to find Valerie? I was about to respond when he shut off his connection to the mindlink, fucker! Fine! I grabbed my coat and walked out of my office, shutting the door behind me and locking it. My night was supposed to be paperwork not bar hopping.

Parking my car, I hopped out and headed towards the front door of the bar. Barrett and Asher came into view standing there waiting for me. “She’s inside,” said Barrett. I walked past them and the bouncer and headed straight inside. Moonstone was packed to the brim and the music was blaring as per usual. I looked around the room hoping to spot her quickly so we could get the hell out of here then it dawned on me. I spun around coming face to face with Barrett and Asher. “How the hell did you even know she was here Barr?” I asked. He pointed over to the bar where a little purple headed she-wolf was filling order after order. “Maya started working here 5 months ago. She mindlinked me once she noticed her walk in.” Of course. Maya was at the purnima festival and Barrett must have told her about Valerie. Even though she’s his little sister, he doesn’t keep much from him and vice versa. The moment she walked in Maya would have kept an eye on her best she could while working. I will have to thank her before I leave her for letting us know about valerie. Seeing us looking her way a pained look crossed her face and she pointed to the dance floor across the room. Looking over there I could see why Maya looked upset. Right there, in the middle of the dance floor was my mate dancing with another man. Hands in her hair and hips swaying to Merengue by Kent Jones she was smiling and laughing. All the while her back is flush against the front of another man who apparently didn’t value his hands since their placement was holding her against him.  This is the second time that I've witnessed another man’s arms around her and to say I'm growing tired of it would be a severe understatement. What’s worse is who she’s dancing with. I’d know that shaggy blonde hair anywhere… Blake. That’s it! The fact that they are close is no excuse for touching another person's mate the way he was touching valerie. That’s a death sentence all it’s own. I began to make my way over, weaving through the crowd instead of using my authority as Alpha to tell them to get the hell out of my way. I wanted to see the shocked look on his face before I ripped his head off. We made it to the edge of the dance floor and instantly two hands clasped down on my shoulders stopping me from going further. Because right there in the middle of the dance floor for everyone to see Blake signed his death certificate. If you blinked you would have missed how quickly his poor judgement came into play. He spun Valerie around and pulled her against him. She was still smiling and having the time of her life but the look on Blakes face has turned to one of pure lust. His eyes darkened then returned to their normal color. His hand went straight into her hair, running his fingers through it and bringing a couple of strands up to his nose so he could take in her scent. She wrapped her arms around his neck still swaying to the music she gave him one of her sweetest smiles and he must have taken it as his green light. He stooped down to accommodate her, put his hand on the back of her head pulling her closer, and crushed his lips down on hers. He kissed her as if they were parted lovers seeing each other again after such a long time apart. My wolf was seconds away from coming out and the second it did the Moonstone would be a thing of the past. Seeing that I was about to lose control Asher stepped in front of me and placed both hands on my chest as if that would hold me. “Matteo. Calm down, we can’t do this here.” Barrett chuckled dryly, “Just say the word” he mindlinked me. I looked past Ash at the scene unfolding before me not hearing a word he was saying. Blake bit Valerie's lower lip and she gasped, gaining him entry into her mouth. She actually gasped as if she was enjoying this. How the hell could she be enjoying this?! Barrett growled and even Asher was having a hard time controlling himself. That is their future Luna out there. Maya came up behind us and whispered something in Barrett's ear. He growled again and pushed someone out of the way as he headed toward the dance floor. Maya jumped in front of him blocking his path. Something more was going on here and I was about to find out. “Barrett, something you want to share with the class before I level this place?” He looked at me and then at maya and back again. “Maya says that the Luna has had a significant amount to drink.” She’s underage so how the hell could that be? Maya hung her head and that gave me the answer to my question; she served her the drinks. More importantly, this better not be going in the direction I think it is. If it is, Blake won’t survive the night. I’ll find a way to get her to forgive me later. “How much is a significant amount?” Asher stared at Barrett and Maya also waiting for the answer. “15 shots of Don Julio and not that shitty human brand.” Asher let out a low growl and his eyes darkened. 15 shots of… Screw the element of surprise notion that I was going on for just a second there i’m ending this tonight. Exuding my full authority as Alpha I yelled, “EVERYONE OUT… NOW!” The music came to a screeching halt and the entire bar turned to look at me. A symphony of “Yes Alpha!” rang through the bar as people rushed out the door, most leaving their belongings behind. Once everyone left, including maya, I stood there staring at Valerie. A look of complete shock on her face as she realized that I just saw her kissing another man. She may not feel the mate bond but I did and that didn’t make her any less mine. Blake looked between us and stepped forward placing Valerie behind him. “Alpha Matteo, How can I help you this evening?” The hands that were holding me back moved and Asher stepped out of the way. He knew that he wasn’t going to want to get in the middle of this. “You should leave Blake, while I still grant you the opportunity to do so.” Venom dripped off of every word but I meant it, if he left now I wouldn’t stop him, I can’t speak for Barr and Ash though. We were cousins and he was messing with family now. “I won’t be going without Valerie so I think I'll stay.” I would have found his demeanor honorable if he didn’t have his tongue down my mates throat not but 2 minutes ago. “Fine. Which of you would like to explain why I come all this way, worried about you, Valerie- to find another man’s tongue down her throat.” Neither of them said a word. “I’ll wait. Please, by all means take your time.” Annoyance crossed Blakes face. “I don’t mean any disrespect Alpha but what does it matter to you who she kisses?” he questioned me. Oh… I see now. I looked past him and directly into Valerie's eyes, she was turning pale and appeared that she was going to be sick. “So you didn’t tell him?” I asked. She shook her head. “Your ex boyfriend doesn’t know you’re mated to me? I wonder why that is?” I said leaving the question hanging in the air. “Valerie isn’t 18 yet so there’s no way she could confirm what you’re saying is true. You could be lying for all we know.” His voice rose with his anger but there was a little hint of hurt there. I walked toward him and stood face to face with him. “Why would I have any reason to lie?” I asked. Blake stood tall, not backing down even though he was clearly outmatched here. “You could be telling her your her mate so you can gain more power by merging the two packs together. Marrying her or mating her would insure that.” A growl erupted from my lips that shook the walls of the bar. “I have no reason to want more power. I have that all on my own.” He scoffed, “I’m sure you do. Is that why you convinced her family to keep her here until her 18th birthday while we all return home. Want her here by herself so you can mate her? Possibly get her pregnant which would unite the packs forever.” Losing what little control I had left I punched him in the face sending him flying back into Valerie. Barrett pulled Valerie from behind him before he flew into her. Blake peeled himself off the wall and shook the drywall from his hair. He stood up rolling his shoulders and cracked his neck. His eyes had darkened and he was seconds from transitioning. We have to take this outside or we will literally level this place and I'm not going to put Valerie in harm's way. Momentarily distracted Blake made his move and lunged at me. His right hook connected with my jaw and knocked me back a couple of steps. I’m impressed, normally a hit like that wouldn’t really phase me. He actually made me stumble- I'm glad he got a hit in because it’s the last one he’s going to get. I chuckled and rubbed my jaw. I shrugged off my jacket and tossed it to Asher, who was now positioned in front of Valerie like Barrett. Both of them trying to make sure nothing happened to her. Two green orbs are staring back at me from between them. Pleading with me to stop this. Blake put his hands up to fight me. “I’m not going to fight you Blake.” I reached between Asher and Barrett to grab Valerie. “Don’t touch her!”  Blake stepped in front of me. “Get out of my way Blake” I growled. He must be insane to think that he’s going to stop me from getting to her. “Not a chance in hell” Valerie pushed past Asher and Barrett “Enough guys!” she begged. She got in between us and Blakes hand went out to grab her by the waist. I caught his hand and twisted it to the point of breaking the bone. “I wouldn’t.” I spat through clenched teeth. I shoved him back and pulled Valerie to me- she stunk of his scent. I’ll have to fix that.  She fell into me willingly and allowed me to wrap my arm around her. He couldn’t take his eyes off of my arm around her. When he finally looked up his wolf was taking over and I knew that holding back the shift would be next to impossible. “Get her out of here.” I said. I pushed her towards Asher and Barrett who caught her and rushed her outside. “Try to leave my favorite joint in one place, man.” Barrett sneered on his way out. “No promises,'' I called over my shoulder then set my sights back on blake. A blonde wolf stood where Blake once was. Teeth bared and ready to attack. “I guess we’re doing this. You know.. When I first saw you you had your hands all over my mate like you did tonight. The first thing I though was, 'I'm going to rip his arms off' I think i'll make good on that now” I slowly let my wolf take over and shifted. My wolf towered over him and his face showed that he saw it too.