The Mafia alpha's generals: mated to my father's enemy

Episode2

Chapter 2

Mariana pov

“Answer me!” he growled. “Are you truly my mate, or is this some kind of black magic bonding?”

A few minutes later, the ride back from the Adriatic Sea was silent, save for the occasional growl from Javier that seemed to echo in my head long after he had released my wrist. Matteo glanced at me from time to time, his jaw tight, his hands gripping the steering wheel like he was trying to hold onto his sanity. I didn’t speak. I couldn’t.

My thoughts were a storm, spinning out of control. Mate? Him? The word felt alien, foreign, and terrifying all at once.

The city lights blurred past the windshield as Matteo drove through the narrow streets, careful not to attract attention. I kept my eyes on the window, my fingers tapping against my thigh, the metal of my ring burning cold against my skin. My mind replayed the scene on the deck over and over,the tension, the electricity, the undeniable pull that Javier had on me. My wolf growled softly, its presence inside me an insistent whisper I couldn’t ignore.

When we finally arrived at my home, the front gates were already open. That could only mean one thing,my father had been pacing, waiting.

“Boss, you okay?” Matteo asked softly, breaking the heavy silence.

“I’ll be fine,” I muttered, though the words sounded hollow even to my ears.

He nodded, understanding, and waited while I stepped out of the car. My boots hit the driveway with a muted clack, and I could already feel my father’s piercing gaze burning into my back.

“I see you’ve finally decided to come home,” my father’s voice was sharp, tense. “Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’ve brought here today?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Words felt useless when the storm inside me refused to settle. My father’s pacing grew louder, angrier, his boots echoing against the marble floor as he circled me like a predator.

“Answer me, Mariana!” he barked. “Do you even understand what it means to defy me? To disobey my orders?!”

I swallowed, my throat tight. “I… I didn’t…”

“You didn’t what?” His voice rose, sharp as a knife. “You went against me. You interfered with the shipment. You…”

I cut him off before he could continue, my own frustration and fear bubbling over. “Father, I did what had to be done! That shipment was illegal, and I wasn’t about to let it slide. You can’t just….”

He held up a hand, silencing me instantly. “Do not speak! You have no idea what you’ve unleashed.”

The words, however, meant nothing to me now. My mind was elsewhere, replaying the moment Javier had touched me, the way his grip had seared through my skin. Mate. The word repeated itself, echoing in my head like a drumbeat I couldn’t escape.

Before I could respond, my father’s anger shifted, and he narrowed his eyes at me, his expression twisting into something else, something unreadable.

“You need to go upstairs,” he finally said, his tone lower, more controlled. “Now.” his eyes followed me, I didn’t argue. I turned, moving swiftly toward the stairs, my military jacket slipping from my shoulders and pooling around my feet as I reached my room.

Once inside, I shut the door, leaning against it as the warmth of the house tried to seep into my frozen nerves.

I paced, hands tugging at my hair, trying to make sense of what had happened. My chest still burned with the memory of Javier’s presence, and my wolf’s whispers refused to quiet down. Mate. Mate. Mate.

Hours passed or maybe minutes. Time didn’t exist in my room, only the lingering memory of his voice, his touch, the way he had called me his. I was still seated at the edge of my mattress.

Eventually, I removed my jacket entirely, leaving only my fitted singlet and trousers. I needed something to anchor me, something tangible. I walked slowly out of my room, sluggishly walking down the stairs to the bar. I reached the bar, scanned the liquors and finally spotted my favourite, I grabbed it pouring a generous amount of Bitter Bianca into a glass. The liquid burned as it went down, grounding me for a moment, the warmth spreading through my chest like fire.

I closed my eyes, letting the silence of the house envelop me, and then I spoke, the words tasting strange on my tongue. “Matteo… did you… feel it too?”

He raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Feel what?”

“The bond,” I murmured. “With… him. Javier.”

Matteo froze for a heartbeat before shrugging. “Boss… I don’t know what to tell you. That man… he’s dangerous, and you’re—well, you’re Mariana. You don’t get scared, but you… you weren’t yourself today. I don't know anything about bond”

I let out a shaky laugh, bitter and low. “I… I think… he’s my mate.”

The words hung in the air between us, heavier than anything I had ever spoken. Matteo’s jaw dropped slightly, though he didn’t comment further, sensing the storm inside me was enough to handle.

I didn’t need his reassurance. I knew what I felt. The pull toward Javier was undeniable, intoxicating, and terrifying. And yet, I hated the vulnerability it brought with it.

I sat on the edge of the counter, glass in hand, replaying the way he had looked at me, the tension in his voice, the undeniable need that had bled from him in waves. The realization hit me fully then, crushing in its intensity. I am bonded to him. My mate.

I swallowed hard, setting the glass down. “Father… he’s my mate,” I said aloud, almost whispering to myself. Almost fearing the words would make it real.

Then, as if on cue, my father appeared at the doorway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. My heart jumped, but I didn’t flinch. I raised my chin, meeting his gaze.

“You… you’re saying he’s your mate?” His voice was quieter now, tinged with something I couldn’t immediately place, astonishment? Pride? Relief?

“Yes,” I said, steady but cautious. “And… I didn’t choose this. He… we just… the bond—it’s real.”

My father paused, and for a moment, I thought he might explode. But then a slow smile spread across his face, small but genuine.

“Well,” he said, finally, his tone softer, almost light. “If this is true… then you should accept it. Embrace it. Your life… and his… are now entwined. And as such…” He paused dramatically, eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and authority. “We start the wedding preparations immediately.”

I blinked. Wait. What? My stomach dropped, and my mind raced a mile a minute. “W-wait—what? Wedding preparations? Now?”

“Yes,” he said, stepping into the room, pacing slowly. “You are my daughter, Mariana. You do not waste time on hesitation when fate has chosen for you. Javier is your mate. That bond is sacred. And as such… you will honor it. We don’t wait for permission or uncertainty.”

I stared at him, my mouth dry, heart hammering. “Father, I—”

“No, you don’t ‘but.’ You accept. That’s final.” He folded his arms, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, though there was an unmistakable glint of excitement in his eyes. “You’ll meet him properly soon. And when that happens… you’ll see. This is meant to be.”

I sank onto the edge of the counter, the weight of it all pressing down on me. My mate. Javier. The Alpha Mafia boss. The man who had terrified me, challenged me, and ignited something inside me I couldn’t name.

And now, apparently, he was going to be my husband.

The realization hit like a tidal wave, leaving me gasping, trembling, and yet… undeniably drawn to the impossible path ahead.

I closed my eyes, letting the bittersweet taste of Bitter Bianca fill my mouth, the fire in my chest matching the fire in my veins. Mate? Wedding?

I didn’t know if I was ready. But my wolf… she purred, a soft, feral promise. What if I tell him, I can't marry Javier? I should let him know, I'm an adult!