werewolf /mafia romance

New beginnings

CHAPTER 7: NEW BEGINNINGS

PART 1: PEACE

2 Years After Luna's Birth.

The war was over.

The blood had dried.

And for the first time in 200 years,

Luca De Rossi was at peace.

No more enemies.

No more late night meetings.

No more gunshots.

Just us.

Our home.

Our island.

Our family.

PART 2: MORNING ROUTINE

6 AM.

Sunrise on the beach.

I wake up to two things.

The sound of waves.

And Luna's tiny hands on my face.

"Mommy," she whispers.

"Wake up.

Daddy's making pancakes."

I smile.

"Okay, baby."

We walk to the kitchen.

And there he is.

Luca.

In an apron.

With flour on his face.

Flipping pancakes.

Alessandro on his shoulders.

"Morning, my girls," he says.

And my heart melts.

Like it does every single day.

He comes to me.

Kisses me.

Then kisses Luna.

Then Alessandro.

"This," he says.

Looking around the kitchen.

"This is why I fought.

This is why I lived."

PART 3: LUNA'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Today was a big day.

Luna's first day.

On the island school.

She was nervous.

In her little uniform.

Hair in two braids.

Luca knelt in front of her.

"Hey," he said.

"You are the bravest girl I know.

You got this."

She nodded.

"Will you be there when I get out?"

"Always," he promised.

"I'll be right here.

Waiting."

At 3 PM, we were both waiting at the gate.

And when she saw us,

she ran.

And jumped straight into Luca's arms.

"How was it?" he asked.

"The best!" she said.

"I made friends!

And I told them my Daddy is the strongest!"

Luca looked at me.

And his eyes were full.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered.

"She's proud of me."

PART 4: ALESSANDRO

Alessandro is 2 now.

Walking.

Talking.

Getting into everything.

He has Luca's eyes.

And Luca's stubbornness.

And my smile.

One night he crawled into our bed.

In the middle of the night.

"Daddy," he said.

"Scared."

Luca didn't even hesitate.

He picked him up.

"Come here, buddy."

And he slept with Alessandro on his chest.

All night.

The next morning I found them like that.

Both sleeping.

Both safe.

And I realized.

This is what love looks like.

PART 5: THE PROMISE KEPT

Luca kept his promise.

He comes home for dinner.

Every night.

He goes to every school play.

Every doctor's appointment.

Every birthday.

He is there.

Always.

One night I asked him,

"Do you miss it?"

"The old life?

The power?"

He looked at me.

Then at the kids.

Then at me.

"No," he said.

"I used to think power was everything.

But I was wrong.

This is everything."

He pulled me close.

"You.

Them.

This.

That's my power now."

PART 6: OUR ANNIVERSARY

3 Years Married.

Luca planned something.

Without telling me.

That night.

He took me to the beach.

Candles everywhere.

Just like the first time.

"Do you remember?" he asked.

"This place?"

I nodded.

Tears in my eyes.

He got down on one knee.

Again.

"Aria," he said.

"3 years ago you saved me.

Today, you still save me.

Every day."

He pulled out a box.

Inside, a new ring.

To go with the old one.

"Will you renew your vows with me?

For the rest of our lives?"

I cried.

"Yes," I said.

"A thousand times yes."

And we got married.

Again.

On the same beach.

With our kids watching.

Clapping.

PART 7: THE LETTER

Later that night.

Luca gave me a letter.

Old paper.

His handwriting.

"My Dearest Aria,

If you're reading this,

it means we made it.

We survived.

We won.

I never thought I would have this.

A wife.

Kids.

A home.

Peace.

You did that.

You chose me.

When I was broken.

When I was cruel.

You saw me.

Thank you for giving me a life.

Thank you for giving me you.

I love you.

Forever.

Your Husband,

Luca"

I cried for an hour.

In his arms.

PART 8: FAMILY DINNER

Every Sunday.

Family dinner.

Just us four.

No phones.

No work.

No guards.

Luna tells us about school.

Alessandro tells us about dinosaurs.

Luca tells us bad jokes.

And me?

I just watch them.

And thank God.

One night, Luca raises his glass.

"To family," he says.

"To the best thing that ever happened to me."

We clink glasses.

Even the kids.

PART 9: THE SCARE THAT WASN'T

Alessandro falls.

From the small tree in the garden.

And bumps his head.

Luca goes crazy.

Rushes him to the hospital.

But he's okay.

Just a small bruise.

On the way home,

Alessandro says,

"Daddy, don't cry."

Luca laughs.

"I'm not crying," he says.

"I'm just happy you're okay."

And he hugs him.

So tight.

PART 10: LUNA GROWS

Luna is 4 now.

She looks like me.

But acts like Luca.

Stubborn.

Brave.

Kind.

One day she comes to me.

"Mom," she says.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything, baby."

"Was Daddy always nice?"

I think.

"No," I say.

"He wasn't.

But he chose to be.

For us."

She nods.

"I'm glad," she says.

"Because he's the best Dad."

PART 11: THE CABIN

We still go to the cabin.

In the mountains.

Just for a week.

Every year.

No internet.

No people.

Just us.

We build fires.

Tell stories.

Luca teaches Luna how to fish.

Alessandro just throws rocks in the water.

One night, under the stars.

Luna asks,

"Daddy, were you scared when you met Mom?"

Luca looks at me.

"Yes," he says.

"Because I knew she was too good for me.

But I was too selfish to let her go."

I take his hand.

"And I'm glad you didn't," I say.

PART 12: THE PROMISE

Tonight.

Kids are asleep.

House is quiet.

Luca and I are on the balcony.

Like always.

He has his arm around me.

And I am leaning on him.

"Are you happy?" he asks.

I look at him.

At our home.

At our life.

"Yes," I say.

"The happiest."

He kisses my forehead.

"Me too," he says.

"Because of you.

Because of them."

The waves crash.

The stars shine.

And for the first time in 200 years,

The Alpha King has no enemies.

No wars.

No fear.

Just love.

Just family.

Just us.

And that is enough.

PART 2: THE LAST THREAT

6 Months After Peace.

Everything was perfect.

Too perfect.

Luna was 4.

Alessandro was 2.

And me and Luca?

We were happy.

Until the letter came.

PART 3: THE LETTER

It was on the breakfast table.

Black envelope.

No name.

Luca saw it first.

His whole body went still.

"What is it?" I asked.

He opened it.

And his gold eyes turned cold.

"Aria," he said.

His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

"We have a problem."

He handed me the paper.

"Alpha De Rossi,

You think you won?

You think you're safe?

I'm coming for what's mine.

And I will take everything.

Starting with your Queen.

- R"

My blood ran cold.

"Who is R?" I whispered.

Luca didn't answer.

He was already on the phone.

"Double the guards.

Lock down the island.

No one in.

No one out."

PART 4: HIS FEAR

That night.

I couldn't sleep.

Luca was sitting by the window.

Gun in his hand.

Staring at the dark.

"Come to bed," I whispered.

He looked at me.

And I saw it.

Fear.

"Luca?" I said.

He put the gun down.

Came to me.

Pulled me into his arms.

"I can't lose you," he whispered.

"Not now.

Not when we finally have this."

I touched his face.

"You won't," I said.

"I promise."

He kissed me.

Desperate.

Like it was the last time.

PART 5: THE ATTACK

3 days later.

2 AM.

Glass broke.

Alarms screamed.

Luca was up in one second.

"Get the kids!" he yelled.

"Now!"

I ran to Luna's room.

She was crying.

Alessandro too.

"Shh," I said.

"Holding them.

"It's okay.

Daddy's here."

And he was.

At the door.

With blood on his shirt.

Not his.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Checking us.

"We're fine," I said.

He nodded.

Then looked out the window.

"Stay here.

Lock the door."

"Luca," I said.

"Don't—"

"I have to," he said.

"To keep you safe."

And he was gone.

PART 6: THE WAIT

An hour.

The longest hour of my life.

Gunshots.

Shouting.

And then...

Silence.

The door opened.

And Luca walked in.

Covered in blood.

But alive.

"Daddy!" Luna screamed.

And ran to him.

He picked her up.

Even with his injuries.

"I'm okay," he said.

Kissing her head.

"I'm okay, baby."

He looked at me.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded.

Crying.

He came to me.

And just held me.

Tight.

"It's over," he whispered.

"It's really over."

PART 7: AFTERMATH

The man was dead.

R.

His name was Raphael.

An old enemy.

From 50 years ago.

Luca killed him.

To protect us.

That night, he couldn't sleep.

He kept checking the doors.

The windows.

"Hey," I said.

Coming to him.

He was in the nursery.

Watching Luna sleep.

"I did it again," he whispered.

"Killed.

For you."

I sat next to him.

"And I would do it for you," I said.

"That's what family does."

He looked at me.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"That you have to live like this."

I took his hand.

"I don't care," I said.

"As long as I'm with you.

As long as we're together.

I don't care."

PART 8: KASHISH IN THE DARK

After that night.

Something changed.

Luca became softer.

With me.

With the kids.

Every night, he came to our room.

Even if Luna was asleep.

He would lie behind me.

Arm around me.

Hand on my stomach.

"I'm here," he would whisper.

"I'm always here."

And I believed him.

One night, during a storm.

Power went out.

Luna was scared.

Alessandro too.

Luca lit candles.

And told them stories.

About when he was little.

About stupid things he did.

We laughed.

In the dark.

Together.

And in that moment,

I knew.

We were going to be okay.

PART 9: THE PROMISE AGAIN

One week later.

Luca took me to the beach.

Just us.

No guards.

"Are you scared?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"No," he said.

"Not anymore."

He knelt in the sand.

Took my hands.

"Aria," he said.

"I promised to protect you.

And I will.

Every day.

For the rest of my life."

He kissed my knuckles.

"But more than that.

I promise to live.

With you.

For you.

For them."

Tears fell.

"Luca..."

"Shh," he said.

He pulled me into his arms.

"This is our life now.

Messy.

Scary.

But ours."

PART 10: HEALING

It took time.

But slowly.

The fear went away.

Luca started smiling again.

Really smiling.

He played with Luna on the beach.

He taught Alessandro how to throw a ball.

He cooked dinner.

Badly.

And every night.

He came to bed.

And held me.

Like he was afraid I would disappear.

"I'm not going anywhere," I whispered one night.

"I know," he said.

"But I can't help it.

I waited 200 years for you.

I'm not letting go now."

PART 11: LUNA'S QUESTION

Luna is smart.

Too smart.

One day she asked,

"Daddy, why were those bad men here?"

Luca knelt down.

"Because Daddy used to make bad choices," he said.

"And sometimes people get mad about that."

"Are you bad now?" she asked.

Luca looked at me.

"No, baby," he said.

"Because of your Mom.

Because of you.

Daddy is good now."

Luna hugged him.

"I knew it," she said.

PART 12: OUR FOREVER

1 Year Later.

No more threats.

No more letters.

Just peace.

Tonight.

Kids are asleep.

House is quiet.

Luca and I are on the balcony.

Like always.

He has his arm around me.

And I am leaning on him.

"Remember that letter?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Yeah."

"I'm glad you killed him," I said.

Luca laughed.

"Me too," he said.

"Best decision I ever made."

He kissed my forehead.

"Thank you," he said.

"For staying.

Even when it was hard."

I looked up at him.

"I would stay," I said.

"A thousand times.

Always."

The waves crashed.

The stars shined.

And the Alpha King.

Held his Queen.

And knew.

This was his forever.

PART 3: LUNA'S 5TH BIRTHDAY

1 Year After The Last Threat.

The island was peaceful again.

No letters.

No enemies.

Just us.

And today was special.

Today was Luna's 5th birthday.

PART 4: THE MORNING

7 AM.

Balloon everywhere.

Pink.

Gold.

White.

Luna woke up screaming.

"Daddy! Daddy! It's my birthday!"

Luca was in the kitchen.

Flour on his face.

Making her favorite pancakes.

"Happy Birthday, Princess," he said.

Picking her up.

Spinning her.

She giggled.

"Where's my present?"

Luca looked at me.

And winked.

"Patience, baby."

PART 5: THE PARTY

By 3 PM, the whole villa was full.

Pack members.

Friends.

And us.

Luna was in a pink dress.

Looking exactly like me at her age.

Alessandro was running around.

With cake on his face.

Luca stood in the corner.

Watching us.

And he had that look.

The one that made my heart melt.

"What?" I asked, going to him.

He pulled me close.

"Nothing," he said.

"I just love you.

All of you.

So much it hurts."

I leaned on him.

"Me too."

PART 6: THE GIFT

Time for presents.

Luna opened everything.

Dolls.

Dresses.

Books.

And then the last box.

Big.

From Daddy.

She opened it.

And gasped.

Inside was a tiny necklace.

With a wolf pendant.

And a note.

"To my Luna,

You are my light.

You are my heart.

I will protect you forever.

Love, Daddy"

Luna ran to him.

And hugged him so tight.

"Thank you, Daddy," she whispered.

"I love you the most."

Luca's eyes got wet.

"Love you more, baby."

PART 7: KASHISH AT NIGHT

Kids were asleep.

9 PM.

The party was over.

Just us.

Luca and I were cleaning up.

Together.

"Long day," I said.

He came behind me.

Wrapped his arms around me.

"Best day," he said.

He kissed my neck.

"Watching her.

Watching you.

Watching our family."

I turned in his arms.

"Luca..."

He looked at me.

Gold eyes soft.

"Yeah?"

"I love you," I said.

"So much."

He smiled.

That slow, dangerous smile.

"I know," he said.

"Because I love you more."

And he kissed me.

Slow.

Deep.

Like we had all the time in the world.

PART 8: THE BALCONY

Later.

Midnight.

We were on the balcony.

Like always.

Kids asleep.

House quiet.

Stars above us.

Luca had his arm around me.

And I was leaning on his chest.

"Remember," he said.

"When you were pregnant with her?

You were so scared."

I nodded.

"I was."

"And now look," he said.

"She's 5.

And perfect."

He kissed my forehead.

"Thank you," he said.

"For giving me this."

I looked up at him.

"You gave me this too," I said.

"A home.

A family.

Love."

He pulled me closer.

"I would burn the world for you," he whispered.

"But I don't have to anymore.

Because you gave me heaven.

Right here."

PART 9: THE SCARE

2 AM.

I woke up to silence.

Too much silence.

"Luca?" I whispered.

No answer.

My heart dropped.

I ran to the kids' room.

They were there.

Asleep.

And then I heard it.

From the office.

Footsteps.

I ran.

And there he was.

Luca.

Sitting at his desk.

Staring at an old photo.

Of him.

Before me.

Alone.

"Hey," I said softly.

He looked up.

And I saw it.

Pain.

"Couldn't sleep," he said.

I went to him.

Sat on his lap.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He held me tight.

"Nothing," he said.

"Just... sometimes I remember.

Who I was.

And I get scared."

"Scared of what?" I asked.

"That I don't deserve this," he whispered.

"You.

Them.

This."

I cupped his face.

"Stop," I said.

"You do deserve this.

Because you chose to be better.

For us."

He closed his eyes.

And cried.

And I held him.

Like he held me.

A hundred times.

PART 10: THE PROMISE AT DAWN

5 AM.

Sunrise.

We were still in the office.

On the floor.

Holding each other.

Luca looked at me.

Tired.

But peaceful.

"I promise," he said.

"I will never let you feel alone.

Not for one second.

For the rest of my life."

I smiled.

"I promise too," I said.

"I will never leave you.

Even when you're stupid.

Even when you're stubborn."

He laughed.

And kissed me.

Soft.

Full of love.

PART 11: LUNA FINDS US

7 AM.

The door opened.

And Luna walked in.

In her pajamas.

Rubbing her eyes.

"Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?"

Luca looked at me.

And we both started laughing.

"Come here," Luca said.

Opening his arms.

She ran to us.

And climbed into our lap.

"The three of us," she said.

"Like this.

Always?"

Luca kissed her head.

"Always, baby," he said.

"Always."

PART 12: OUR FOREVER

Tonight.

Birthday party over.

Kids in bed.

House quiet.

Luca and I are in bed.

Holding hands.

"Best birthday ever," he says.

"Best life ever," I say.

He turns to me.

"Do you know what I realized today?"

"What?"

"That I don't need anything else," he says.

"Just this.

You.

Them.

Peace."

He kisses me.

"And you."

I smile.

"And I don't need anything else either."

Outside, the waves crash.

Inside, we are home.

The Alpha King and his Queen.

And their princess.

Living happily.

The End of part 3

PART 4: OUR FOREVER

3 Years After The War.

The island breathed peace.

And so did we.

Luna was 5.

Alessandro was 3.

And Luca and I?

We were no longer surviving.

We were living.

PART 5: SUNDAY MORNINGS

Sunday morning.

7 AM.

Sunlight came through the big windows.

Golden.

Warm.

Like Luca's eyes when he looked at me.

I woke up to the smell of coffee.

And pancakes.

And him.

Luca was in the kitchen.

Barefoot.

In sweatpants.

Hair messy.

The most powerful Alpha in the world.

Making breakfast for his family.

"Morning, beautiful," he said when he saw me.

His voice was rough from sleep.

And it did things to me.

He pulled me into his arms.

Kissed me.

Slow.

Like we had forever.

Because we did.

PART 6: LUNA'S QUESTION

Luna ran in.

"Can we go to the beach today, Daddy?"

Luca picked her up.

"Anything for you, Princess."

She looked at me.

Then at him.

"Mom, is Daddy handsome?"

I laughed.

"The most handsome."

Luca blushed.

"Stop," he said.

"You're making me shy."

Luna giggled.

"I love you, Daddy."

He kissed her forehead.

"I love you more, baby."

And in that moment.

I saw it.

The man he became.

Because of us.

PART 7: THE BEACH

The beach was ours.

Always.

White sand.

Blue water.

And us.

Luca built sandcastles with Luna.

Alessandro tried to eat the sand.

And I watched them.

My heart was so full it hurt.

Luca came and sat next to me.

Put his arm around me.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"That I'm lucky," I said.

"The luckiest woman alive."

He leaned in.

Kissed my temple.

"You are," he whispered.

"Because you have me."

I laughed.

"Arrogant."

"Confident," he corrected.

"There's a difference."

PART 8: NIGHT TALKS

Kids asleep.

10 PM.

Luca and I on the balcony.

Wine in his hand.

My head on his shoulder.

"Do you ever think about it?" he asked.

"The past?"

"Sometimes," I said.

"Do you regret it?" he asked.

"Me?"

I turned to him.

"No," I said.

"Not one second.

Even the hard parts.

Because they led me to this.

To you."

He exhaled.

Like he was holding his breath.

"Good," he said.

"Because I would do it all again.

Just to get to you."

He kissed me.

Soft.

Sweet.

Full of promises.

PART 9: THE LETTER

Mail came once a month.

And today there was a letter.

From an unknown address.

Luca opened it carefully.

Inside, one line.

"You have what I wanted.

But you deserve it.

- V"

Luca smiled.

And burned it.

"Who was it?" I asked.

"Someone who finally understood," he said.

"That family is not weakness.

It's strength."

He pulled me close.

"And I have the strongest family."

PART 10: ALESSANDRO'S FIRST WORDS

Alessandro was 3.

And he was stubborn.

He wouldn't talk much.

Until one day.

We were at dinner.

And he looked at Luca.

And said clearly.

"Dada."

Luca froze.

Then his eyes filled with tears.

"Say it again," he whispered.

"Dada," Alessandro said again.

Luca picked him up.

And cried.

Right there.

"I heard you," he said.

"I heard you, son."

That night he didn't sleep.

He just watched Alessandro.

Like he couldn't believe it.

PART 11: THE PROMISE IN THE RAIN

It rained that night.

Hard.

Power went out.

And we sat by the fireplace.

Candles lit.

Kids asleep upstairs.

Just us.

Luca took my hands.

"Can I tell you a secret?" he asked.

"What?"

"Before you," he said.

"I thought love was a myth.

Something people made up to feel better."

He looked at me.

"And then you came.

And you proved me wrong.

Every single day."

Rain fell outside.

And he kissed me.

Like the rain.

Gentle.

But it washed everything away.

"I promise," he whispered.

"I will love you in every life.

In every world.

Forever."

PART 12: GROWING OLD

Years passed.

But not for us.

Luna grew.

Smart.

Brave.

Kind.

Alessandro grew.

Loud.

Funny.

Just like his Dad.

And Luca?

He grew softer.

With us.

With me.

One morning I found gray hair.

And panicked.

Luca found me in the mirror.

"Hey," he said.

"You are beautiful."

"I'm old," I said.

He laughed.

And pulled me to him.

"You are perfect," he said.

"Every line on your face.

Is a story of us.

And I want to read them all.

For the rest of my life."

PART 13: THE LAST DANCE

Our 10th Anniversary.

Luca set up the ballroom.

Just for us.

No one else.

Music played.

Soft.

Romantic.

He held out his hand.

"Dance with me, Mrs. De Rossi."

And we danced.

Like we were the only two people in the world.

"I love you," he whispered in my ear.

"I have loved you for 10 years.

And I will love you for 100 more."

I cried.

Happy tears.

"Me too," I said.

"I love you more."

PART 14: OUR FOREVER

Tonight.

Kids are grown.

Gone to college.

To their own lives.

And us?

We are here.

On the same balcony.

Where it all started.

Luca is older.

But his eyes are still gold.

Still mine.

He takes my hand.

"I did it," he says.

"I got my forever."

I lean on him.

"You did," I say.

"And so did I."

The stars are out.

The waves are calm.

And we are together.

The Alpha King.

And his Queen.

Who chose each other.

Every day.

And they lived happily ever after.

THE END OF CHAPTER 7.