Chapter 9: Neutral Ground
1242 Words
The full moon hung heavy and silver over Central Park.
Giuliana stood between Marco and Isabella, very aware of the thirty Valentino wolves surrounding them in a protective formation. The Don led them, every inch the Alpha, his power radiating outward like a physical force.
On the opposite side of Bethesda Terrace stood the Russos.
They were impressive—maybe forty wolves, all wearing expensive suits, all moving with that same predatory grace. At their center stood a man who could only be Dominic Russo, the rival Don. Older, scarred, with eyes like chips of ice.
"Valentino," Russo called out. "You requested this meeting."
"You demanded the human be present," the Don countered. "Here she is. Now speak your piece."
Giuliana felt every Russo wolf's eyes on her. Assessing. Calculating. Looking for weakness.
But something had changed. The mark on her neck throbbed with warmth, and she felt Marco's presence like an anchor. Stronger than before. More confident.
Russo's eyes narrowed as he studied her. "So. The human who caused all this trouble. You don't look like much."
"Funny," Giuliana heard herself say. "I was just thinking the same about you."
Several Valentino wolves made sounds of appreciation. Even the Don's lips twitched.
Russo's expression darkened. "Brave words for someone so fragile."
"I'm not as fragile as I look."
"No?" Russo smiled coldly. "Shall we test that?"
"Enough." The Don's voice carried absolute authority. "You demanded this meeting. State your terms or we leave."
"Terms. Yes." Russo's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Giovanni is dead. Our inside advantage, gone. But the war between our families has cost both sides too much blood, too much money. I propose a truce."
"A truce." The Don's voice was flat. "After you attacked my estate. Tried to kill my son's mate. Planted a traitor in my ranks for months."
"Business. Surely you understand." Russo spread his hands. "But continuing this war serves neither of us. The human authorities are getting suspicious. The other packs are watching. We appear weak, divided."
"What do you want?"
"Territory concessions. The docks. The casino on the west side. And..." Russo's eyes found Giuliana again. "The human."
The air went electric.
"What?" Marco's voice was a growl.
"A gesture of good faith. Give us the human. We'll ensure she's treated well. Kept comfortable." Russo's smile was sharp. "In exchange, we end hostilities. Honor the territory lines. Perhaps even discuss a formal alliance."
"You want my son's mate as a hostage," the Don said.
"I want leverage. Insurance that you'll honor the treaty. Surely one human life is worth peace between our families?"
Giuliana felt Marco's fury through the bond, hot and consuming. His wolf was close to the surface, ready to tear Russo apart for even suggesting—
"No," she said clearly.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"No?" Russo's eyebrow rose. "You don't get a vote, human."
"I do, actually. Because I'm not just human anymore." Giuliana stepped forward, ignoring Marco's attempt to hold her back. The mark on her neck burned. "I'm Luna of the Valentino pack. And you don't get to trade me like a bargaining chip."
"Giuliana—" Marco started.
"No, he needs to hear this." She faced Russo directly. "You want to end the war? Fine. Propose actual terms. Territory negotiations. Financial arrangements. Whatever. But I'm not part of the deal. Not now. Not ever."
"Bold words." Russo's eyes flashed gold. "But you're not—"
"She is," the Don interrupted. His voice carried weight, authority. "The human is marked. Claimed. Luna of our pack. And we do not negotiate with our family."
Pride swelled in Giuliana's chest. The Don—who'd wanted her dead two weeks ago—was defending her.
Russo's expression hardened. "Then we have nothing to discuss. The war continues."
"Wait." A voice from behind Russo. A woman stepped forward—elegant, deadly, with auburn hair and amber eyes. "Father, perhaps we're approaching this wrong."
"Sophia." Russo's tone held warning.
But Sophia ignored him, studying Giuliana with interest. "The human—sorry, the Luna—has a point. She's not property to be traded. But..." Her smile was calculating. "What if we proposed something else? A different alliance?"
"What kind of alliance?" the Don asked.
"A marriage alliance. Between our families. To cement the peace." Sophia's eyes found Marco. "I'll marry Marco Valentino. Join our families through blood and bond. The human can stay. She's already marked, after all. She can be his... mistress. The Valentinos get peace and a political alliance. The Russos get legitimacy and access to your territory through marriage." She spread her hands. "Everyone wins."
The silence was deafening.
Then Marco laughed. It wasn't a nice sound.
"You think I'd set aside my mate for a political marriage? That I'd dishonor her by making her a mistress?" His eyes blazed gold. "You understand nothing about pack bonds, about mates, about loyalty."
"I understand power," Sophia countered. "And this marriage would make both our families stronger."
"At the cost of everything that matters." Marco stepped forward, and Giuliana felt his protective fury through their bond. "Giuliana is my mate. My Luna. The only woman I will ever marry. And if you think—"
"Enough," the Don said. "Marco is right. Mates don't marry others. The bond doesn't allow it. Your proposal is impossible."
"Then the war continues," Russo said flatly. "And the blood of both our families is on your hands, Valentino."
"No," Giuliana said.
All eyes turned to her again.
"The blood is on your hands. You planted the traitor. You attacked our home. You tried to trade me like property. This war is your doing, and if it continues, history will remember that the Russos were the aggressors who couldn't accept defeat with dignity."
Russo's eyes narrowed. "Careful, human. You may be marked, but you're still—"
"Still what? Weak? Fragile?" Giuliana felt strength flowing through her from the mark, from Marco's presence. "I've survived being orphaned, the foster system, poverty, and two weeks in a werewolf mafia family that wanted me dead. I'm still standing. Still fighting. Which is more than I can say for Giovanni."
Several Valentino wolves made appreciative sounds. Even some Russos looked impressed.
"Enough," Russo said coldly. "We're done here. But know this, Valentino—this isn't over. Not by a long shot."
"Then bring your worst," the Don replied. "We'll be ready."
The Russos departed, melting into the night with supernatural grace.
After they left, the Don turned to Giuliana. His expression was unreadable.
"You continue to surprise me, human. Standing up to Russo. Refusing to be traded. Defending our family's honor." He paused. "Perhaps my son chose better than I thought."
It was the closest thing to approval she'd ever get from him.
As they walked back through the park, Marco pulled her aside.
"That was incredibly brave and incredibly stupid," he said. His hands cupped her face. "Antagonizing Russo like that—"
"Someone had to. He was treating me like I was nothing. Like I didn't matter." Giuliana met his eyes. "I matter, Marco. To you. To the pack. To myself. And I'm not going to let anyone forget that."
"No. You definitely won't." He kissed her then, deep and claiming, and she felt the bond between them pulse with warmth. "My fierce Luna. Going to give me a heart attack one of these days."
"Probably," she agreed against his lips.
"Worth it," he murmured.
- Writer
