NeroI didn’t want to do this, but I’ve been left with no choice. Evidence that Matteo had a part to play in Camellia’s kidnapping is stacking up against him, but something doesn’t feel right. It feels almost two easy, like those things were just waiting for me to find them.There’s no point in me speculating about anything right now, so against my uncle’s wishes, I’m having a meeting with Matteo to tell him everything.I arrive at his pack house without Orion at my side to show him I’m not a threat, even though we both know I could take him on alone. His Beta nods at me when I enter, and gestures for me to follow him to where Matteo is waiting. He looks up when I enter, but I can tell he’s anxious. This morning I told him nothing about what this meeting will be about, and I just know that bothers him more than he’s putting on.“Nero. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?” he says as he leans back in his office chair, resting his chin on his fingers.I take a seat opposite him and
Camellia / LiaIf Maria hadn’t pointed out the guy, I wouldn’t have realized he was coming in every single day. Not only that, but I could feel his eyes on me the same way I could feel Nero’s when he visits me.The only difference is, I can feel hostility in this man’s stare.I take a breath and go to the locker room, removing my handbag so I can grab my cell phone and text Nero. But even as I upend my entire bag, I can’t seem to find the damn thing.“Shit,” I say, crossing my arms and biting my thumb nail. I have to let Nero know about this man, but I don’t exactly know his number off by heart. What do I tell him, though? That man is back inside the cafe and he keeps looking at me? It makes me seem super paranoid and I don’t want to come off as weak, either. So, with a sigh, I put my handbag back in my locker and walked back inside the cafe.But when I turn to look at the section, the man is usually seated, I see that he’s left. I frown and approach the table to clean it, noticing no
CamelliaI open my eyes and I feel the start of a piercing headache behind them. My mouth feels dry and my throat hurts, and when my vision swims into focus, along with my memories, my heart stops.I have no idea where I am. The last thing I remember was that man from the cafe with his hands around my throat. I’m about to leap from the bed when a moan next to me stops me dead and I see a mess of dark curls curled up at my side.Nereo.My relief is only momentary because I still don’t know where I am. Did that man decide to take us both? And what is that droning sound?I get to my feet and decide to walk towards the bedroom door, but the door opens before I can get to it. Terror seizes me, but the person who walks through the door is not who I expected. Gray eyes warily regard me as I step back, confused.“Nero?” I ask with a hoarse voice. “What… where am I? Why are you here?”He slowly walks toward me and his eyes flicker to Nereo, who is still fast asleep, then back to me. “How are y
NeroI fucked up spectacularly.I knew things wouldn’t be easy with her after she woke up, but I didn’t think they’d be this strained. Fuck, I probably should have explained myself better and not been so clinical, but what could I have said at that point? I’m sorry for lying to you. I’m sorry for fucking up, drugging and kidnapping you so I could take you home and keep you safe. Someone wants to take whatever little bit of happiness I have and I had to get you out of the line of fire.No. She wouldn’t have appreciated that, either. I just have to own up to just how majorly I fucked up and beg her to forgive me. I’ll fucking grovel if that’s what it takes, especially now that I know she’ll be at the pack house.Nereo is chatting with her animatedly in the backseat as I drive. She opted to sit in the back with him, and my gaze keeps flickering toward them. I watch her eyes widen as the gate to our pack house opens and Nereo gasps loudly.“Woah, is this your home, Nero?”“Yeah, buddy,”
Camellia“Can we? Please, Mamma!”I pinch the bridge of my nose and plaster a tight smile on my face before getting to my feet and holding out my hand. “Okay, baby,” I say and lead my son out of what I see as a pretty prison cell.It’s been a week since we’ve been here, and although Nereo loves it, I can’t get myself to relax. He’s been annoyed because I refuse to leave the bedroom, but I know I can’t keep him in here forever.So now we’re heading to the garden out the back. The last time Nero and I spoke we stood and watched Nereo play, and ever since then he has kept his distance. My anger has dimmed somewhat, but I still feel betrayed at the fact that he lied to me.Yes, I know he saved us and he got us out of Italy to protect us, but there had to have been an easier way to do it. He didn’t need to lie to me and chose to do it anyway, even after I asked who he was the first time.I wish I could hear my wolf, or at least feel her, but there’s nothing. I don’t even remember her name
CamelliaOh, Gods, what have I gotten myself into?Nero is keeping Nereo occupied while I’m busy in the kitchen, but now I also have too much to think about. Like the fact that I’m not even angry at Nero anymore, and how I want to give him another chance but my pride is stopping me.This used to be my home, his family used to be mine but now it feels like I’ve run them all off.It shouldn’t be like this. They should be free to walk around their home and not tiptoe around me. I get that he’s trying not to overwhelm me, but trying not to overwhelm me is the reason I don’t trust him right now.I think I’ll speak to him about this later.A smile spreads across my face when I hear how much Nereo is laughing outside, then the guilt hits me again. I have to tell him Nero is his real father, so they can start bonding properly. It took him only an evening to gain Nereo’s trust the way he did, and I know it’s because of their link.“Looks like you have a lot on your mind.”A shiver runs up my s
NeroI lean back in my chair, bracing my elbow on the armrest and resting my chin on my fingers. I have all my siblings in my office right now to give them feedback on what’s been happening with Camellia.After our dinner together the other day, we’ve started talking more. She’s told me about the flashbacks she gets sometimes and about her feelings toward certain people she’s met here.“She wants to remember more about her life here, but I don’t want to overwhelm her,” I say, looking at each of them. “I’ve noticed that when she starts to remember something, she gets these headaches—”“Witchcraft,” Osiris says, crossing his arms.I nod. “Cecelia is coming back from Russia tomorrow and she’ll be able to see Camellia and what could have happened. Right now witchcraft is the only thing that makes sense, but we can’t rule out anything else.”This seems to get them riled up. The fact that it may not be witchcraft and something else entirely is scary as hell. With witchcraft you can reverse
Camellia“Need some help?”I look up from my chopping board and see Nero approaching me with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He’s wearing a coy, lopsided smirk and my stupid heart starts beating faster. “You want to help me cook?” I ask, raising an eyebrow and he shrugs.“I don’t mind. Morana and Aeron are keeping Nereo busy and it gives me an excuse to spend more time with you,” he says, leaning against the marble counter and crossing his arms. “So, put me to work, Lupina.”“Okay, but don’t grumble when it’s too hard for you, Leonetti.” Somehow it feels natural to call him by his last name, and I wonder if it’s something I used to do a lot. “Peel those potatoes and carrots over there. I had a feeling that I needed to cook for an army tonight, so I started early.”He chuckles and walks over to me and kisses my cheek before going to the sink to wash the vegetables. Somehow that feels natural, too.“You invited my brothers?”I nod. “I saw Orion earlier and asked him to join us.