The Clan

7

I woke up the next morning to an excruciating headache. That tended to happen to me when I took painkillers. Let us hear it for the big bad Alpha genes. I grunted and held my head in my hands before I felt two strong arms around my waist. The pain faded immediately as Dante brought me closer to his body.

"Good morning baby." He said his voice husky.

Damn it. Why did he have to have such a nice voice? That was as excruciating as my headache.

"My head hurts because of the painkillers." I said trying to calm my racing heart down.

"Really?" He said surprised.

"Yes. I never could handle them well somehow. What time is it?" I asked.

"You slept the remaining of the day and all night." He said calmly.

What? Did I hear that right? Fear flooded through me as I tried to remember what happened. My wolf was howling frantically in my head in reaction to this news.

"What?! What was in those painkillers? Did you give me some drug or something? Goddess... Did you... r**e me in my sleep?"

I was panicking right now and my heart jumped in my throat right away. I felt sweat go down my back and I fought the urge to check my body right now. My wolf took the front seat and she growled and thrashed. Dante held me firmly to him though seemingly not fazed that I was about to shift in his arms.

"Calm down love. No one drugged you again. They were normal painkillers and no I didn't r**e you in your sleep. I would never do that to you. I want you conscious and not hurt when I pleasure you." He said soothingly.

I knew that was the truth. He was a sadist but not a liar. That calmed me down a bit, enough for my wolf to recede.

"That's right. Good girl. No need to be agitated." He said still using a soothing voice that you would use with a child.

He kissed me behind my ear and I shuddered in his arms. He was good. The mate bond was helping of course but I knew that there was more. I had seen his kindness but I wanted to know why he was so adamant on saying that he was not nice.

I glanced a look at him and his green eyes were focused on me. They gave nothing away. His whole body was relaxed against mine and he was giving off nothing except for the sparks of our bond.

I turned around slowly but he kept me in place. I frowned and he smiled at me reassuringly. What now?

"Let me check your wound before you move around." He said as an explanation.

"I can do that myself." I said nervous suddenly.

I did not remember putting on any underwear last night and I certainly did not want him to see me naked. No way. But wait... He already did yesterday.

He paid me no mind though and started lifting the dress up. As I thought, I had no underwear on and my butt brushed directly against his boxers. He was so hard against me but that could be because it was morning. I blushed instantly but he was not paying attention to my face. Good Goddess.

I looked at the neat pink wound on my side and sighed in relief. That would not leave a scar. It was healing nicely. Dante sighed as well and kissed my wound making me gasp. He licked it next and I shivered. Damn it. Why did that feel so good?

My body heated up and I felt myself get wet. Soon, he would be able to smell my arousal and that was not good. He would take it as an invitation and I did not want to deal with that right now.

"Does it feel good sweetheart? Do you want my tongue on other places?" He asked with a deeper voice.

Oh Goddess! I wanted him right now! My she-wolf came front and purred. She wanted her mate no matter what. I could not let that happen though.

"Get away from me." I said my voice breathy.

"Is that really what you want darling?" He asked his voice seductive.

"Yes..." I said getting the word out with all the difficulty in the world.

He looked at me from my belly and I could imagine what he was seeing right now. My face was flushed and my hazel eyes were teary from longing. Not at all someone who wanted to stop. I actually wanted him deep inside me and rocking me so hard that my mind would blow but I could not. Not yet. He had to give me something first.

"Please Alpha." I added for good measure.

He furrowed his brows and clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Call me Dante."

I shook my head. Nope. Not when your name could mean the death of my loved ones.

"I'll call you by your name when you'll stop threatening my family. Not a minute before." I said.

He growled and sighed before going back up to my face. I slid the dress back in place to hide my goods and I felt better.

"I can smell that you want me and I can feel it. Why are you fighting me?" He asked frustrated.

"I told you why. I don't want to choose between my mate and my family. Please."

It was the job of Lunas to use diplomacy and I had been raised to be one. I would manage that lunatic of mine or die trying. He sighed and cupped my face in his hands to make me look at him.

"I think it's time you see what we do here." He said throwing me off my feet. I was not expecting it but I saw it as the opportunity it was meant to be.

"I'll take it. I've killed before Alpha." I said.

He offered me a weak smile and kissed my forehead. Just a brush of lips but it sent sparks all over my body.

"What did you kill Selena? Squirrels? Deer?" He asked amused.

I was shocked. That was the first time he used my name and it felt perfect coming out of his lips. Thinking about it brought my gaze to it and I wanted to kiss him badly, even if he was mocking me right now. My wolf pushed me to him but I fought her. Not yet.

"I killed rogues." I said matter-of-fact.

He arched an eyebrow and pressed me further to his body. Did that bother him that I was not so pure?

"They made you fight rogues?" He asked.

Was he scared for me? I could hear it and feel it through our bond. Huh. That was new.

"I'm not made out of sugar. I could take down a few rogues. Ask your b***h if you don't believe me." I said.

He narrowed his eyes at me and sighed before nuzzling the crook of my neck. He was seeking comfort so he was scared. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him to me. What else could I do? That was actually sweet all things considered.

"She's not my bitch." He said finally.

"She was." I retorted.

"You're not going to let that go huh? I know I'm not your first either." He sighed.

"No but I don't let my exes hug me either and especially in front of my mate."

"I didn't hug her."

I sighed. I knew better than to expect an apology. Alphas never apologised for anything.

"What do you want me to do Selena? Send her away? I think she got your message." He continued.

"I'll kill her next time so I hope she did." I said tartly.

He chuckled and the sound made my entire body respond. Will he stop making a mess out of me?

"If you killed rogues before then it means you're capable of it cara mia. She won't try though. She got it." He said amused.

What was that? He parted from me slowly and smiled visibly pleased with my confusion.

"What did you say?" I asked.

"Cara mia. That's Italian for my dear." He explained.

"So you guys are real mafia."

He chuckled as he played with a stray strand of my hair. I did not see what was funny in my statement but it probably was to him that I knew nothing about their world. Or maybe he liked that I seemed interested enough to ask.

"Yes. We couldn't be mafia if we weren't Italian." He shrugged.

"You're European that's why your wolf is huge."

He nodded but he was still focused on my hair. European wolves were the first werewolves made by the Moon Goddess. Next to the Lycans, they were the biggest wolves you could find on the planet.

"Let's get up and I'll show you what we do." He said softly.

It was my turn to nod. I was ready. I hoped that if I showed him that I could be part of his world, he would let my pack live. I was ready to enter that violence filled world and change the mind of my mate. I would fight until the end to protect everyone.

That was what Lunas were for after all. Protect the pack using more refined ways than force. Lunas were the more gentle way of Alphas. The other side of the same coin. They could use force as much as Alphas but they chose other ways before resulting to it. I would protect my pack whatever it took but first, I needed to work on my mate.

He could be saved. I was sure of it. I had seen the good in him and I was sure I could push him on the right path. I would have to. That was my way. My new goal in life.

I understood that there was a reason behind that behaviour but if I asked now, he would never tell me. I had to be patient and show him that he could trust me. Only then would we be able to make some progress and maybe save my family. A girl can always hope.