The Clan

8

We took the car to the city because Dante wanted to show me the business. The real one. That was why we needed to leave the pack house. Inside the car riding with us were Lara and Ezio and two warriors in the front.

I sat on the backseat next to Dante and I felt nervous. It was a first for me to go to a human city. My father or my brother never took me with them when they carried on the family business.

"Are you nervous baby? Don't worry. The humans won't touch you. I promise. Speaking of humans... Here you go. Put that on." Dante said.

He handed me a ring with a big diamond on it. It was pretty and looked really expensive. That made me more nervous if that was possible. But why the ring?

"Why are you giving me a ring?" I asked confused.

"I'll have to explain your presence here with me and I can't tell them that you are my mate so... You're my fiancée. Human females who are engaged wear rings." He explained.

I arched an eyebrow and put the engagement ring on my ring finger. I knew what engagement rings were about but we wolves did not need them. The marking was enough to tell the community that we belonged to each other. Wolves who did not trade with humans did not need to pass for humans. Dante's pack did so I would need to apply the human customs to me.

Dante chuckled before smiling sweetly at me. I could see that he was very pleased that I would wear his ring. That pleased me too but no way I was saying that out loud.

"I never understood how a ring would be enough for the humans. I prefer our ways." I said.

"Marks are more visible and the magic making the bond is strong." He nodded. "But humans don't believe in magic anymore darling. That's why they need jewelries to show their bond."

I frowned at this because it was so weird. When did they stop believing in magic? Was their world not grey because of it?

"Males don't even wear the rings until they're married. This is just weird." I sighed.

"They're just different. You'll get used to it." He shrugged.

"You deal with them often then?" I asked.

"Most of our network is human so we have to from time to time. I prefer to stay at the pack house but they need to see the boss sometimes."

"I suppose... That makes sense."

"You're not used to humans then."

I shook my head. That was an understatement. I never saw a human before. I always stayed with the pack. Males are too protective of females to let them wander about.

"No. My father and brother deal with them while I stayed with the pack." I said.

"Humans are not much you'll see baby."

I wondered if that was true. I did go on the internet often to see how the world outside of the pack was but... I failed to understand their system sometimes. They were complex creatures those humans.

Soon, the forest gave way to houses and then the city. How could they live like this so far away from nature? I felt for them really. I looked at the grey buildings standing higher and higher and how people were forced to live so close to each other.

Wolves are highly social creatures but we still love to have some space and we are territorial. How did the humans manage to survive like this? That made my anxiety perk up. Too many people. Too many humans. Dante noticed my discomfort and he pulled me against him by wrapping his big arm around me.

"It's ok sweetheart. It can be a bit overwhelming but they're weaker than us. I'll protect you." He said soothingly.

I nodded and I could not help to settle my head in the crook of his neck. I breathed in his scent and it calmed me down instantly. The mate bond was useful right now.

The car stopped in front of a building. I was not expecting that. I expected a shady looking warehouse in the middle of nowhere but this was... A business tower. Just like all the others in the street. Dante noticed my gaze and chuckled.

"Not what you expected love?" He smirked.

"No." I blushed without elaborating.

He put his hand on the small of my back and led me slowly inside the building. A small human male came to greet us and he seemed nervous to see Dante. I supposed that he was not used to see the big boss every day.

He was sweating a lot in his grey suit. I could see the beads on his forehead and his blond hair were damp. His light blue eyes were looking between us and Dante offered him his best smile which made him blush. Goddess. I feel you little human. He had that effect on me as well.

"Mr. Mancini, we're so glad to see you today. Ms?" He said nervous.

"My fiancée, Selena." Dante said.

"Nice to meet you Mr?" I said holding my hand for him to shake.

"Lars. Mr. Lars. Nice to meet you." He said with a strained smile.

We shook hands and oh Goddess was he nervous. His hand was clammy. Awkward. He then shook hands with Lara and Ezio and motioned us to follow.

"We have just the results that you were looking for Mr. Mancini." He said talking above his shoulder without meeting my mate in the eyes. Could humans feel the Alpha power too?

"Good to hear. What about the cops? Did you make a generous donation?" Dante asked.

"Yes Mr. Mancini. We did just as you asked. We should be alright for our next operations. Maybe it's too boring a talk for Ms. Selena and Mrs. Mancini. Shall we call for one of our secretary so she can lead you to our spa?" He asked looking between Lara and me.

What? He thought women could not talk business? He thought I was some kind of Bimbo or something? I frowned and Dante held me back before I could growl at the man.

"You know James, my fiancée is going to lead the business alongside me so she might as well listen to what we're saying. As for my sister-in-law, she's already in it. Women work with us here." Dante said with a false calmness. We all knew that he actually was not pleased with the human.

James froze and became livid all of a sudden. I could feel that Dante was as pissed as I was. Well, at least I knew that he saw me as a partner and not as less even if he was the Alpha. He would always have the final word but not with me. Never. I offered him a smile and he smiled right back. This was progress right there and that made me happy.

"Of course Mr. Mancini. I'm sorry to have failed to understand the situation. Your father didn't like your mother involved so I thought..." The human started.

"I wish myself a happier marriage than my father's." Dante cut him.

"Oh, I understand." James chuckled nervously. "Follow me then."

He showed us to an elevator and we took it to the last floor. I suppose that was where the CEO was. I did not know about humans much but I knew about business. My father trained me to help my brother until I would find my mate after all.

The last floor was full of offices that we could see behind glass walls. The humans were one or two per desks inside their offices and they looked busy. I wondered what they were doing here exactly. Surely they did not all work on the drugs. Some had to do something legal to hide the trafficking right?

We stopped in front of the biggest office and James knocked on it. The man behind the desk nodded and smiled at us so James opened the door.

The CEO was a male in his mid-fifies with already white hair. His eyes were a deep brown and looked warm even if I could see something dangerous lurking in them. He held out his hand for all of us to shake and introduced himself as Mr. Brown.

"Congratulations Mr. Mancini on your engagement. I do hope that it will be a big wedding. Your bride is truly beautiful." He said trying to butter Dante up. I hated that kind of people.

"Thank you Brown. We were more envisioning a small marriage. Friends and family right love?" Dante asked me pleasantly.

"Yes. I wouldn't have it any other way since family is so important." I said smiling at my other half.

Dante smiled but I could see that he understood my comment. Well, you could not blame a girl for trying. Mr. Brown motioned us to a black leather couch in his office and we all sat down. Dante first, then me, Lara and Ezio while Mr. Brown sat in front of us. In the middle was a glass coffee table with documents laid on it.

"Coffee?" He asked and we all nodded.

He called his secretary and she came back a few minutes later with five cups for all of us. She was a tall blond with brown eyes wearing a light grey suit. She gave us our cups and her gaze lingered on Dante. I sighed internally. Yeah, he's a hunk can we please move on.

I laid my hand casually on his thigh but I knew that the gesture did not go unnoticed by all the wolves but also the human girl. I could feel my wolf struggling to come forth as she was challenged because she was looking at me directly in my eyes right now. Lower your damn eyes human.

Dante kissed my head lovingly and that calmed my wolf down. The human girl took the hint and left. He would not let me live it down that was for sure. Not with the smug face he was making. Nope.