3. FOREST GREEN EYES

~VIKTOR

I've always been fighting my inner demons. 

They're always screaming in my head. There's constant chaos within me, no form of peace or silence— no matter how calm I might seem on the outside. 

Until she ran into my arms and her forest green eyes seemed to bring me the very peace that I have long craved for. 

For the first time in years, she brought silence and my world came to a standstill. I could swear that even my heart stopped and I knew from that moment on that I had to protect her. 

I had to keep her safe and most especially, I had to make her mine. . .

‘Wake up, Viktor. . .’ The familiar voice of my wolf called and I jolted awake into a sitting position, only to find myself in an unfamiliar room.

"Where am I?" I demanded out loud as I looked around. 

‘An hospital, perhaps,’ my wolf answered. 

I blinked multiple times. This was not right. The last thing I remembered was her eyes. I was in her arms. 

Where was she?

 "Scarlett?" I called as I remembered her name. My subconscious had specifically stored it in a special corner of my mind.

I gritted my teeth when I realized she was nowhere close and began to rip out all the tiny tubes that were connected to me. I needed to get out of here and find her. 

That was when a nurse knew to walk into the room and she gasped at my actions. 

"What are you doing, sir? You shouldn't be standing. You had a serious injury, you might risk opening it up or having a concussion!" She cried. 

But I paid no heed to her. She had no idea that I was a werewolf— not just any werewolf but an Alpha. The wound would have completely healed by now.

"Where are my clothes?" I demanded instead. 

"Sir, didn't you hear what I said? You can't leav—" 

"Don't worry, ma'am, I'll handle things from here," A new voice called and I looked to see my beta— Luca standing in the doorway. 

"Who are you?" She asked. 

"He's under my care. I already spoke to the doctor and he has approved his discharge form," Luca answered and flashed it before her face. 

I smirked in satisfaction when I found my clothes— having no care about Luca's presence. With or without the discharge form, I was leaving this room and no one could stop me. 

I began to put on my clothes without caring that the nurse was still in. She bit her lips and hurried out of the room with a flushed face. 

When we were alone, Luca folded his arms at me. "I thought we agreed that you won't go anywhere alone, Boss." 

I tilted my head back at him. "Good thing I did, or I wouldn't have run into the woman I've been looking for." 

Luca corked his brows at me and he looked even more mysterious in his black suit and glasses. 

I arched my brows slightly at him. I was not entitled to explain exactly what I meant to him. But Luca on the other hand was obliged to do as I said. 

I wasn't only his Alpha but his Mafia Boss. 

"Scarlett Vaughn. Find out everything you can about her and report to me immediately. I'll be in my house." 

With that, I brushed past him and walked out of the room. I met a line of men dressed in suits waiting on both sides of the corridor for me. 

"Boss!" They all echoed as they bowed to me and every nurse or patient who had wanted to pass through, was immediately stopped by my men. 

I did not spare any of them a glance. I walked right through the path they had created for me. The line continued until I stepped out of the hospital and stopped in front of a black car. 

This drew lots of attention and my cold smirk only grew wider. This would stop any of them from overstepping. 

I looked up at the sky and noticed that the crescent moon was already nestled perfectly in the sky. I slept for too long and that was why I lost her. 

One of my men pulled the car door open for me and this broke me out of my thoughts. I sighed and got into the car. The rest of the men got into the rest of the procession of cars that had come for me. 

"Where to, Sir?" The driver asked. 

"The Estate." 

The car came to live and zoomed out of the parking space along with my escort. I leaned lazily against my right palm as I watched the city come alive with multiple night lights. 

Yet all this seemed boring to me as the cars raced down the road and the only thing that kept me sane was the thought of her forest green eyes. 

I desperately needed her by my side. I felt as if I would lose what was left of my sanity if I didn't make her mine as soon as possible. 

Eventually, the cars arrived at my large home estate. When he parked safely, another one of my men pulled the door open for me and I stepped out. 

But I cursed under my breath the moment I set my eyes on the familiar short man waiting on my doorstep. 

"Elder Gaius," I muttered as I made my way to him. 

He was dressed in his usual dark robes with extremely long sleeves. His hair was combed back and he had markings on his face. 

He bowed to me. "It's always a pleasure to be in your presence, my Alpha." 

"Why are you here?" I asked as I led the way into the house. 

It opened up to high ceilings and a luxurious sitting area. The fireplace was up and warm and I offered him a seat on my couch. 

"I just came to drop a message and I will be gone as soon as I do that," he answered and remained standing. 

I sighed. "Suit yourself." 

I sank into my armchair and looked up at him. 

"Your Alpha title is at stake, Usurper!" He announced. 

I furrowed my brows at him. "Why? I might have killed my father and taken his title but I still have Alpha blood running through my veins. It is my birthright." 

"The moment you killed your father, it ceased to be your birthright." 

I gritted my teeth as short memories of my father entered my mind before I pushed it away as fast as they came. 

"What must I do to keep my title?" 

Elder Gaius smiled. "You need to produce an heir before the next Red Moon or your title will be revoked." 

I gritted my teeth even harder at my choices. If there was one thing I hated, then it would be to be forced into something. 

"Thank you, Gaius. You may leave." 

He bowed and began to leave when he stopped. "Be careful, my boy. Not everyone is happy having you in power. Watch your back, you have created too many enemies." 

I only blinked in response and he walked out of my home, allowing the gravity of his words weigh down on me. 

Gaius was the only one who supported me when my father died. He was the only one who understood how I really felt and he had been by my side ever since then. 

I barely had any alone time when the door came open and Luca walked in. I smiled in satisfaction as I felt my mood lighten. 

He had already found Scarlett. 

"Tell me everything about her," I stated.

He bowed. "I will but first, you need to know that her little sister, Maya, is betrothed to Marco Bianchi and the wedding is taking place tomorrow." 

"I don't care about Maya. Tell me about Scarlett."

Luca shook his head at me. "Well, you should. After flirting with Maya tonight at a club I tailed her to, I found out they're making her big sister— Scarlett take her place. Tomorrow, Scarlett Vaughn will be the one marrying Marco." 

I shot to my feet immediately and glared at him with wide eyes. Then I relaxed and clenched my teeth together. 

"Then you know what we must do," I stated.

"My Alpha, we signed a truce with the Bianchi family that we will stay out of their business and them likewise. If we interfere at that wedding tomorrow. . . The dangerous war between you and the Bianchi will begin again and every life lost in the past will be in vain." 

I shot a dangerous glare at Luca. "You seem to forget, Luca, that I own this city. I am the one and only Boss and I do as I please." 

I stopped and watched as Luca smiled. "I guess we have a wedding to crash tomorrow.”