werewolf /mafia romance

The alpha's mansion

Chapter 2: The Alpha's Mansion

PART 1: HIS TERRITORY

The car stopped in front of gates that touched the sky.

Black iron. 15 feet tall.

With wolves carved into them.

"Welcome to my home," Luca said.

His voice had no emotion.

The gates opened by themse

And standing at the door... 20 people.

All in black.

All bowing their heads when we got out.

"This is the East Wing," Luca said, leading me inside.

"Your room is here."

"This is the West Wing. Don't go there."

"This is my wing. You don't go there either."

I nodded. My heart was in my throat.

The inside was worse.

Marble floors that reflected everything.

Chandeliers made of crystal.

And paintings. Everywhere.

Paintings of wolves. Hunting. Killing. Ruling.

"Mr. De Rossi," a woman stepped forward.

She was old. 60 maybe. But her eyes were sharp.

"This is Mrs. De Rossi," Luca said.

"Take care of her."

The woman looked at me. Up and down.

"Yes, Alpha," she said. But her voice said "human".

Luca turned to me.

"Dinner is at 8. Wear the red dress.

And Aria..."

He paused.

"Don't talk to anyone unless I tell you to."

Then he was gone.

I was alone.

In a mansion full of monsters.

PART 2: THE RED DRESS

My room was huge.

Bigger than my whole apartment.

King bed. White silk sheets.

A closet full of clothes.

All with tags. All expensive.

And on the bed...

The red dress.

It was silk. Backless.

It would show too much skin.

There was a knock.

Lila came in. The maid from before.

"Let me help you, ma'am," she said.

She did my hair. My makeup.

When I looked in the mirror, I didn't recognize myself.

I looked like I belonged here.

I looked like Mrs. De Rossi.

"You look beautiful," Lila whispered.

"But be careful tonight.

The other Alphas are here.

They don't like humans."

My stomach dropped.

"Other Alphas?"

"For dinner, ma'am.

To meet you."

8 PM.

The dining hall was massive.

A table that could sit 30 people.

And 10 men already sitting.

All tall.

All in black suits.

All with eyes that glowed in the dark.

And at the head... Luca.

He stood when he saw me.

His eyes darkened when he saw the dress.

"Wife," he said. His voice was rough.

"Sit."

I sat next to him.

He didn't touch me.

But his hand was on the table.

Close to mine.

"Gentlemen," Luca said.

"This is Aria. My wife."

10 pairs of eyes turned to me.

Judging. Measuring.

Like I was prey.

PART 3: THE DINNER FROM HELL

The food came.

Steak. Red.

Too red.

"Eat," Luca murmured in my ear.

"Or they will think you are weak."

I picked up my fork.

My hands were shaking.

One of the Alphas, Viktor, smiled.

"So you're the human Luca chose."

He sniffed the air. "You smell... scared."

Luca's jaw tightened.

"She's not scared," he said.

"She's mine."

Viktor laughed.

"We will see."

Dinner was torture.

They talked about territory.

About wars.

About killing.

And through it all, Luca's leg touched mine under the table.

A reminder.

I'm here.

After dinner, Luca pulled me aside.

"Did you eat?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Good girl," he said.

And for one second, his hand brushed my cheek.

Cold. Gentle.

"Now we dance," he said.

PART 4: THE DANCE

The ballroom was empty except for us.

Music started. Soft. Slow.

Luca pulled me into his arms.

He was a perfect dancer.

Of course he was.

"You're shaking," he said.

"I'm scared," I admitted.

"I know," he said.

"I can smell it."

He pulled me closer.

"But you don't have to be.

Not with me."

"Why did you marry me?" I asked.

"Really?"

He was quiet.

Then: "Because the Council forced me.

And because..."

He looked down at me.

"Because when you signed that paper,

you didn't cry.

You didn't beg.

You just did it.

For your mother."

"And that made you interested?"

"That made me respect you," he said.

"And respect is rare for me."

The music stopped.

But he didn't let go.

His face was inches from mine.

I could see his eyes. Gold.

I could see his canines.

"Aria," he whispered.

My name sounded different from him.

The door opened.

"Alpha," a guard said. "We have a problem."

Luca let go immediately.

Cold again.

"Stay here," he ordered.

And walked out.

PART 5: THE KISS

I waited 2 hours.

He didn't come back.

I went to find him.

Big mistake.

I heard voices from his office.

Angry voices.

"I don't care if she's your wife!" Viktor was yelling.

"She's a liability! The Council will use her against you!"

"Touch her and I will kill you," Luca said.

Quiet. Deadly.

I pushed the door open.

Both of them turned.

"Leave," Luca said to Viktor.

Now.

Viktor left, glaring at me.

The room was silent.

Papers everywhere.

Maps. Files.

And Luca...

He looked tired.

Really tired.

"Are you hurt?" I asked.

"No," he said.

"Why are you here?"

"I was worried."

Something in his eyes changed.

He walked to me.

Slow.

"You shouldn't worry about me," he said.

"I'm a monster, remember?"

"You're the monster who saved my mother," I whispered.

He stopped in front of me.

His hand came up.

Cupped my face.

"Don't," he said.

"Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you don't hate me."

And then he kissed me.

It wasn't soft.

It wasn't sweet.

It was desperate.

Like he had been holding it in for 200 years.

His lips were cold.

His hands were in my hair.

And I...

I kissed him back.

When we pulled apart,

both of us were breathing hard.

"That shouldn't have happened," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because now I don't want to let you go in 1 year."

PART 6: THE PROMISE

He walked me to my room.

Didn't say anything.

At the door, he stopped.

"Aria," he said.

"From now on, you don't leave this mansion without me.

You don't talk to the other Alphas.

And you..."

He paused.

"You sleep in my room tonight."

My eyes widened.

"What?"

"Not like that," he said quickly.

"Guards are saying the East Pack is coming.

I can't protect you if you're not next to me."

I nodded.

His room was bigger than mine.

Darker.

And it smelled like him.

Cedar and danger.

There were two beds.

"That one is yours," he pointed.

"I'll be on the couch."

"Luca," I said.

"What?"

"Thank you.

For... for everything."

He looked at me.

For a long time.

"Don't thank me yet," he said.

"The hardest part is still coming."

He turned off the light.

And in the dark, I heard him whisper.

"Sleep, Aria.

I've got you."

Outside, the wolves were howling.

And for the first time,

I wasn't afraid of the sound.

PART 2: HIS BED, MY FEAR

The room was dark.

Only the moonlight was coming through the big windows.

I was sitting on "my" bed.

The one Luca pointed to.

It was soft. Too soft.

But I couldn't relax.

Across the room, on the couch...

Luca.

He wasn't sleeping.

I could hear his breathing.

Slow. Controlled. Like a predator.

"Can't sleep?" his voice cut through the dark.

I jumped. "No."

"Come here," he said.

My heart skipped. "Where?"

"To the window. I want to show you something."

I got up slowly.

Walked to him.

He was standing by the window, shirtless.

The bandage on his shoulder was gone.

The wound was already healing.

Because he wasn't human.

"Look," he said, pointing outside.

The whole city was below us.

Lights everywhere.

And in the distance... the woods.

Dark. Moving.

"Wolves," Luca said.

"My wolves. They are patrolling."

"Because of the East Pack?" I asked.

"Yes." He turned to me.

"They will attack in 3 days.

Unless we do something first."

"What?"

"We fight." His gold eyes met mine.

"And you stay here. Safe."

I nodded. But I was scared.

Luca saw it.

He sighed and did something I didn't expect.

He took my hand.

His hand was cold. Big.

And it made me feel... safe.

"Come," he said.

He led me back to the bed.

"Sit."

We sat there in silence.

His thumb was rubbing circles on my hand.

"Luca," I whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Do you... do you regret marrying me?"

He was quiet for a long time.

"No," he said finally.

"I regret how I did it.

I regret that you had no choice."

He looked at me.

"But I don't regret you."

My chest felt tight.

"Why me? There are a hundred she-wolves who would—"

"Because they would want me for power," he cut me off.

"You didn't even know who I was.

You just wanted to save your mother."

He let go of my hand.

"Lay down," he ordered. "Sleep."

I lay down.

He lay on the other side of the bed.

Not touching.

But close.

"Goodnight, Aria," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Luca," I whispered back.

For the first time in weeks, I slept without nightmares.

PART 3: MORNING AFTER

I woke up to the smell of coffee.

And to an empty bed next to me.

Luca was gone.

But there was a note on his pillow.

In messy handwriting:

"Training. Back by noon.

Don't leave the room.

- L"

L.

He signed with L.

I smiled without meaning to.

Lila came in with breakfast.

"Good morning, ma'am," she said.

"Mr. De Rossi said you should eat.

And then he wants you in the library at 12."

"The library?"

"Yes. He said you need to learn pack law."

Lila lowered her voice.

"He's trying to protect you.

In his own way."

At 12 sharp, I was in the library.

It was massive.

Books from floor to ceiling.

And Luca, sitting at a big desk.

Reading.

He looked up when I entered.

His eyes were less cold today.

"Sit," he said, pointing to the chair next to him.

I sat.

He pushed a big book toward me.

"Pack Laws. Chapter 1."

"Why?"

"Because in 3 days, the Council will question you.

If you don't know the answers, they will use it as an excuse to hurt you."

He started teaching me.

His voice was patient.

Different from the Alpha King.

"The first law: A wife must obey her Alpha in public."

"What about in private?" I asked, teasing.

His pen stopped.

He looked at me.

"In private... we make our own rules."

The air got thick.

"Second law," he continued quickly.

"A wife must bear an heir within 1 year."

I blushed. "Luca—"

"I know," he said. His voice was rough.

"We will talk about that later."

We studied for 2 hours.

And I realized something.

When he wasn't being the monster,

he was... kind.

PART 4: THE GIFT

At 6 PM, there was a knock.

A delivery man.

With a big box.

"For Mrs. De Rossi," he said.

Inside... dresses.

10 of them.

All red. All black.

All expensive.

And a note.

"Wear black tonight. Dinner with the Council.

- L"

I picked the black one.

Long. Elegant.

With a slit that showed my leg.

When I came downstairs,

Luca was waiting.

In a black tux.

He looked at me.

And for one second,

his mask slipped.

"You look..." he cleared his throat.

"Dangerous."

We drove to the Council Hall in silence.

His hand was on my knee the whole time.

PART 5: THE COUNCIL

The Council Hall was worse than the mansion.

Cold. Dark.

12 chairs in a circle.

And 12 old Alphas sitting.

Viktor was there. Smiling.

"Ah, the human," he said.

"Let's see if she remembers the laws."

For 1 hour, they tested me.

Questions about territory.

About breeding.

About loyalty.

And I answered.

Because Luca had taught me.

At the end, the head Alpha nodded.

"She passes. For now."

He looked at Luca.

"But remember, Alpha King.

If she fails once, the contract is void.

And we take her."

Luca stood.

"Over my dead body."

We left.

In the car, I was shaking.

Luca pulled me to him.

"You did good," he whispered in my hair.

"I'm proud of you."

PART 6: THE TRUTH

Back at the mansion, it was midnight.

Luca poured two glasses of whiskey.

Handed me one.

"Drink," he said.

We sat by the fireplace.

"Luca," I said. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Why did you really save me at the hospital?

You could have let the loan sharks take me."

He was quiet.

Staring into the fire.

"Because 200 years ago," he said.

"I had a sister.

She was human.

And I couldn't save her."

He looked at me.

"When I saw you, fighting for your mother...

I saw her."

My heart broke.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he said.

He took my glass and set it down.

Then he pulled me onto his lap.

"Aria," he whispered.

"I'm not a good man.

I'm not even a good monster.

But I swear to you...

No one will hurt you.

Not while I'm breathing."

And he kissed me again.

Slower this time.

Softer.

Like a promise.

Outside, the moon was full.

And inside,

the Alpha King was falling for his human wife.

PART 3: THE EAST PACK ATTACK

The next morning started with screams.

Not mine.

From outside.

Gunshots.

Roars.

Wolves fighting.

I shot up in bed.

Luca was already gone.

The door burst open.

Lila ran in, panicking.

"Ma'am! The East Pack is here!

Mr. De Rossi says you need to come to the safe room. NOW!"

My heart was pounding.

"Where is he?"

"Fighting, ma'am! Please hurry!"

She dragged me downstairs.

The mansion was chaos.

Guards running with guns.

Women crying.

And through the windows...

Black wolves. Dozens of them.

We reached a metal door in the basement.

Lila pushed me inside.

"Stay here. No matter what you hear, don't come out."

The door slammed.

It was dark.

Only one light.

And me.

Alone.

I could hear everything.

The fighting.

The growling.

And then... Luca's voice.

Roaring.

Not human.

10 minutes felt like 10 hours.

Then the door opened.

Luca.

Covered in blood.

But standing.

"Come," he said. His voice was rough.

"It's over."

I walked out.

The mansion was destroyed.

Broken glass. Blood on the floors.

Dead bodies.

Both wolves and men.

And Luca's wolves... they were hurt too.

He walked past them all.

Didn't stop.

Until we reached the garden.

There, on the grass,

was the Alpha of the East Pack.

Alive. But beaten.

Viktor was standing over him with a knife.

"Stop," Luca said.

Viktor turned. "He attacked us first!"

"And we won," Luca said.

"Leave him. This is between me and him."

The East Alpha looked up at me.

Then at Luca.

He laughed, blood on his teeth.

"You married a human?

No wonder you're weak."

Luca moved so fast I didn't see it.

In one second, he had the Alpha by the throat.

"She is stronger than you will ever be,"

Luca said quietly.

"Because she chose to stay.

Even knowing what I am."

He dropped him.

"Get out.

And tell your pack.

If you ever come near my territory again...

I won't be merciful."

The East Alpha was dragged away.

PART 4: AFTERMATH

That night, there was no dinner.

No dancing.

Just silence.

Luca took me to his office.

He was cleaning his wounds.

No doctor.

Healing was fast for wolves.

"Are you hurt?" I asked.

"I'm fine," he said.

But his hands were shaking.

I took the cloth from him.

"Let me."

He let me.

I cleaned the cuts on his arms.

His chest.

Carefully.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked.

"Because you did it for me," I whispered.

He caught my hand.

Held it to his chest.

Over his heart.

It was beating.

Fast.

"Aria," he said.

"The Council saw what happened today.

They saw you didn't run.

They saw you stayed."

He looked at me.

"You earned their respect."

"Good," I said.

"Because I don't plan to leave."

Something in his eyes broke.

He pulled me into his lap.

Right there on the chair.

"You have no idea what you do to me,"

he whispered in my ear.

"200 years.

And no one has ever looked at me like you're not afraid."

"I'm not afraid," I said.

"Of you."

His lips found mine.

This time it wasn't desperate.

It was slow.

Deep.

Like he was memorizing me.

PART 5: THE PROMISE RING

The next morning, there was a box on my bed.

Inside...

A ring.

Black stone.

With a wolf carved in it.

And a note:

"Wear this.

So everyone knows you are mine.

- L"

I put it on.

It fit perfectly.

At breakfast, everyone stared.

Viktor almost choked.

Luca just smiled at me from the head of the table.

"Good morning, wife."

After breakfast, he took me to the roof.

No one was there.

"The whole city," he said.

"Is mine."

He pointed.

"And you are mine too."

I stood next to him.

The wind was blowing my hair.

"Luca," I said.

"What if I can't give you an heir?

What if I can't..."

He turned me to face him.

"Then we will figure it out," he said.

"Because I don't want you just for that.

I want you."

He kissed my forehead.

Then my cheek.

Then my lips.

"I choose you, Aria.

Not the contract.

Not the Council.

You."

PART 6: THE NEW RULE

That night, we changed rooms.

No more separate beds.

No more couch.

One bed.

One room.

"New rule," Luca said as he pulled back the covers.

"What?"

"In this room, I'm not the Alpha King.

I'm just... Luca."

He climbed in next to me.

Pulled me close.

And for the first time,

I fell asleep in the arms of a monster.

And felt safe.

Outside, the wolves howled.

But this time,

it sounded like a celebration.

Because the Alpha King had found his Queen.

And he wasn't letting go.

PART 4: THE HONEYMOON NIGHT

The mansion was quiet.

Too quiet.

After the attack, everyone was sleeping early.

Except us.

Luca and I were in his room.

Our room now.

The lights were dim.

Only candles were burning.

He had ordered the staff to prepare it like this.

"Why candles?" I asked.

"Because electricity fails," he said.

"But fire doesn't."

He looked at me.

"And because I wanted to see you like this."

I was wearing the black dress from the Council meeting.

The one with the slit.

Luca was in black pants and a white shirt.

First two buttons open.

He looked dangerous.

And beautiful.

"Come here," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

I walked to him.

My heart was beating so loud.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me down.

Right between his legs.

On the floor.

"Look at me," he whispered.

I did.

His gold eyes were dark.

Not from anger.

From something else.

"Aria," he said. "Do you trust me?"

I nodded.

"Say it."

"I trust you."

"Good girl," he murmured.

And his hand went to my hair.

He pulled the pin out.

My hair fell down my back.

"You have no idea," he said, his voice rough.

"What you do to me.

When you wear my ring.

When you wear my name.

When you look at me like you're not scared."

His thumb traced my lips.

"Say my name."

"Luca," I whispered.

He groaned softly.

And kissed me.

Not on the lips.

On my neck.

Slow.

Cold lips.

Hot breath.

I gasped.

His hands were on my waist.

Holding me tight.

"Aria," he whispered against my skin.

"If you want me to stop, say it now.

Because once I start... I won't be able to."

My hands were shaking.

But I put them on his shoulders.

"I don't want you to stop."

PART 5: HIS TOUCH

He lifted me.

Like I weighed nothing.

And laid me on the bed.

He stood over me.

Looking down.

Like I was the most precious thing he had seen in 200 years.

"The dress," he said. "Off."

I sat up.

My hands were shaking as I pulled the zip down.

The dress fell to the floor.

I was in black lingerie.

The one that came with the box of dresses.

Luca's eyes darkened.

He made a sound.

Low. Animal.

He climbed onto the bed.

But didn't touch me yet.

He just looked.

"You're beautiful," he whispered.

"More beautiful than any she-wolf I've ever seen."

"Why?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Because you're mine," he said.

"And you chose to be."

He leaned down.

Kissed my collarbone.

Then my shoulder.

Then lower.

Everywhere he touched,

it felt like fire and ice at the same time.

"Luca," I breathed.

"I'm scared."

"I know," he said.

"But I won't hurt you.

Never."

His hand found mine.

Interlaced our fingers.

"Look at me," he said.

I did.

And we didn't look away.

Not once.

PART 6: MINE

The night passed slowly.

Like time had stopped.

There was no pain.

Only him.

Gentle.

Patient.

Like he was afraid I would break.

And when it was over,

he didn't let go.

He pulled me into his arms.

Wrapped the blanket around both of us.

And held me.

"Sleep," he whispered in my hair.

"You're safe now."

I lay there.

Listening to his heartbeat.

Feeling his arms around me.

For the first time in my life,

I didn't feel alone.

"Luca?" I whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you.

For choosing me."

He kissed the top of my head.

"I didn't choose you, Aria.

Fate did.

And I thank it every day."

Outside, the moon was full.

Inside,

the Alpha King held his human Queen.

And for the first time in 200 years,

he was happy.

The next morning,

I woke up to breakfast in bed.

And a note next to me.

"I have meetings all day.

But tonight...

dinner is just us.

Wear red.

- L"

I smiled.

Touched the ring on my finger.

And whispered to myself.

"This is just the beginning of us."

PART 5: THE JEALOUS ALPHA

The dinner was supposed to be just us.

Red dress. Candles. Wine.

Exactly like Luca said.

I was waiting in the dining room.

Alone.

Then the doors opened.

And it wasn't Luca.

It was Viktor.

"Where is the Alpha King?" he asked, looking around.

"In a meeting," I said. "He will be late."

Viktor smiled.

That dangerous smile.

"Then I guess I have you all to myself."

He sat down across from me.

Poured himself wine.

"Drink with me, little human."

"I don't—"

"Drink," he said. His voice was sharp.

I picked up the glass.

My hands were shaking.

Viktor leaned forward.

"You know, Luca doesn't deserve you.

He's cold. He's old.

He's going to use you and throw you away in 1 year."

"Don't talk about him like that," I said.

"Or what?" Viktor laughed.

"You'll tell him?

He won't care.

Alphas like him only care about power."

The doors slammed open.

Luca.

His eyes were gold.

His suit was wrinkled.

Like he ran here.

"Get out," he said to Viktor.

His voice was low. Deadly.

Viktor stood up slowly.

"Relax, Alpha. We were just talking."

He looked at me.

"About you."

Luca walked to me.

Stood behind my chair.

His hand on my shoulder.

Claiming me.

"She is my wife," Luca said.

"And you will never speak to her alone again.

Do you understand?"

Viktor's jaw tightened.

"Yes, Alpha."

He left. But not before glaring at me.

PART 6: POSSESSIVE

The moment the door closed,

Luca pulled me up.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

His hands were on my face.

Checking me.

"I'm fine," I whispered.

"He didn't touch me."

"Good," Luca growled.

"Because if he did..."

He didn't finish.

He just kissed me.

Hard.

Possessive.

Like he was marking me.

His hands were in my hair.

His body pressed against mine.

And I could feel how angry he was.

And how scared.

When he pulled back,

he was breathing hard.

"Don't ever be alone with him again,"

he said.

"Promise me."

"I promise," I said.

He nodded.

Then picked me up.

Like I weighed nothing.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To our room," he said.

"Where I can make sure you're really okay."

PART 7: MINE TO PROTECT

Our room.

Our bed.

Luca set me down gently.

But his eyes... they were still wild.

"Look at me," he said.

I did.

"Do you know what it does to me,"

he said, his voice rough.

"When someone else looks at you?

When someone else talks to you?"

I shook my head.

"It makes me crazy," he said.

"It makes me want to kill them.

And then kiss you until you forget anyone else exists."

He stepped closer.

His fingers traced the strap of my red dress.

"Can I?" he asked.

It was the first time he ever asked.

I nodded.

The dress fell to the floor.

He looked at me.

Really looked.

Like he was seeing me for the first time.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered.

"And you're mine."

He kissed me again.

Slower this time.

Deeper.

His hands were gentle.

But his need was not.

"Luca," I breathed.

"I'm here," he said.

"I'm not going anywhere."

And he proved it.

That night,

he didn't let me sleep.

Not because he couldn't stop.

But because he couldn't get enough.

Of me.

Of us.

PART 8: MORNING AFTER

I woke up to his arms around me.

And his lips on my neck.

"Morning," he murmured.

"Morning," I whispered back.

He pulled me closer.

"Last night..."

"Was perfect," I finished.

He smiled.

A real smile.

Not the cold Alpha King smile.

"I meant what I said," he said.

"You're mine, Aria.

And I protect what's mine."

He got up.

Naked.

And I couldn't look away.

He noticed.

And smirked.

"Like what you see?"

"Yes," I admitted.

He laughed.

A real laugh.

And it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.

"Get dressed," he said.

"We have somewhere to go."

"Where?"

"A date," he said.

"Just you and me.

No Council.

No Viktor.

No wolves."

"Really?"

"Really," he said.

"Because even Alpha Kings need a break.

Especially with their wives."

He tossed me a dress.

White this time.

Simple.

Elegant.

"Wear this," he said.

"And the ring."

I did.

When we left the mansion,

for the first time,

I wasn't scared.

Because the monster holding my hand

was my monster.

And he was in love with me.

PART 6: THE DATE

The car was black.

Tinted windows.

And inside... just us.

Luca was driving.

In a black shirt. Sleeves rolled up.

No tie.

And he looked unfairly handsome.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"It's a surprise," he said.

And he actually smiled.

Not the cold Alpha King smile.

A real one.

We drove for 30 minutes.

Out of the city.

Into the mountains.

And then I saw it.

A lake.

Private.

With a small cabin by the water.

And flowers everywhere.

"Luca..." I whispered.

"Did you do this?"

"For you," he said.

"Do you like it?"

I nodded. Tears in my eyes.

"No one has ever done this for me."

He got out and opened my door.

Took my hand.

The cabin was perfect.

Small. Cozy.

Fireplace. Big bed.

And food already laid out.

"How did you—"

"I have people," he said with a shrug.

"But today, it's just us."

PART 7: HIS WALLS COME DOWN

We ate outside.

By the lake.

No guards.

No Council.

No Viktor.

Just us.

"Tell me something," Luca said.

"Something no one knows about you."

I thought.

"When I was 10, I wanted to be a dancer.

But we didn't have money for classes."

Luca was quiet.

Then he said, "Dance for me."

"What?"

"Dance. Here. Now."

I was embarrassed.

But I stood up.

And I danced.

Badly.

But I danced.

Luca watched me.

And when I finished,

he was clapping.

Slowly.

"Beautiful," he said.

"You're beautiful, Aria."

My face turned red.

Then he stood up.

"My turn."

"What?"

"I'll tell you a secret."

He looked at the lake.

"I've been alive for 200 years.

And in all that time...

I've never been happy.

Not until you."

My heart stopped.

"Luca," I whispered.

He turned to me.

"I don't know how to do this.

The relationship thing.

I'm bad at it."

"You don't have to be good," I said.

"You just have to be real."

He walked to me.

Pulled me into his arms.

"I am real with you," he said.

"Only with you."

PART 8: UNDER THE STARS

Night came.

And we didn't go inside.

We lay on a blanket.

Looking at the stars.

Luca's arm was around me.

My head was on his chest.

"Can I ask you something?" he said.

"Anything."

"Do you hate me?

For forcing you into this?"

I thought about it.

"No," I said.

"I was scared.

But I don't hate you."

"Good," he whispered.

"Because I think I'm falling for you."

He said it so quietly.

I almost missed it.

I looked up at him.

"Me too," I admitted.

His gold eyes widened.

Then he kissed me.

Soft.

Slow.

Like he had all the time in the world.

His hands were in my hair.

Mine were on his chest.

Feeling his heart beat.

"I want you," he whispered.

"But only if you want me too."

"I do," I said.

And that night,

under the stars,

by the lake,

the Alpha King and his human

became one.

PART 9: THE MORNING AFTER

I woke up in his arms.

In the cabin.

Sunlight coming through the windows.

Luca was already awake.

Watching me.

"Good morning, wife," he said.

And kissed my forehead.

"Good morning," I smiled.

Breakfast was ready.

Pancakes. Coffee.

He made it himself.

"You cook?" I asked, surprised.

"I do many things," he said with a smirk.

"Being an Alpha is just