Luciano's POV.
The air in the air felt chilly.
The man bound onto a chair, hands, and legs tied up like the criminal he was, had his face morphed into that of a rat that shivers in the face of a cat.
He struggled to get his hands loose but only ended up making the ropes bite more into his skin, causing the flesh to tear and blood to gush out from the inside. Still, he didn't give up.
A harsh laugh sounded from the doorway and the man shivered… as he should.
"I see you are trying to leave," I chuckled at him from the doorway where I stood, watching him for the past five minutes.
I saw the man pee his pants. Instead of finding pleasure in his fear, my anger only grew some more. I was expecting someone of a fierce spirit in that chair. Someone I could break his spirit and make him plead for his life. What fun would it be to me if my captive was already dying even before I unleash my demonic side?
I stalked toward the man with a slow calculative pace. When I got to where he was tied up, I bent low until my mouth was closed to his right ear and my breath was fanning his neck.
"Welcome to hell," I growled at the man softly, then I stood upright. My blue eyes were cold and I made sure they pierced into the very soul of the man until his teeth began to clatter.
"Pl-please, do…n't kill… m…e." The man pleaded.
Did I say I was angry at the cowardice of the man earlier on? I was wrong. My anger just showed itself.
"How dare a coward like you steal from me?!" I barked at him. My blue eyes began to glow the silver color I always spotted each time I was either angry or I was in my wolf form.
I would love nothing more than to kill this man. But I needed my answers first. A callous smile crept to my lips as I thought about the one million ways to make the man confess his sin.
I raked my hand through my black hair first, before I looked back at my right-hand man who stood a few feet away from where I was.
"Bring them in, Antonio," I commanded him.
"Sure thing, boss." My right-hand man answered with a chuckle. He snapped his fingers twice and one of the lackeys came in with a tray in his hand. He laid it down between the captive and me.
All the while, my eyes were fixed on the criminal and I felt immersed joy at how his eyes were rolled back like he was ready to faint.
I bent down and inspected the things on the tray. The dagger, the gun, the nails, the small hammer, the electric shocker, and the clipper were all available on the tray. I smiled to myself and picked up the dagger. I flaunted it in front of the man, making my intentions known.
"What did you do to me again?" I asked him.
"I-I stole from… you." The man stammered.
"Good," I answered. I raised the knife and slashed the criminal on his cheek. While the presence of blood made me feel at ease a little, the scream that accompanied it made me feel fulfilled.
"What did you steal again?" I asked the next question.
"Your… dr-drugs." The man sobbed. "Please don't-"
I didn't let him finish the statement before I gave him another cut on the other cheek. I dropped the knife and picked up the clipper instead, ready to take my torture to the next level. I held one of the five fingers of his right hand.
"What are… you… planning to…do?"
I gave him an innocent smile, then placed the clipper on the finger and clapsed it together. The bone in the finger cracked and a loud howling, painful sound vibrated through the room. My wolf jumped happily, finally happy to gey the exact fear he wanted.
I watched as the finger fell to the floor and blood began to drip from the open wound. I held the second finger and repeated the action, earning myself the same result. Just as I pocked the third finger, a voice came from the door of the basement.
"Alpha Luciano, your uncle is here to see you." My right hand man said to me.
I dropped the clipper back to the tray immediately, and got up.
"How about you take over, Antonio? Until I return to continue the torture myself. And I want you to make sure I hear him scream," I told my right hand man and went out of the basement without a word.
I got to the living room and saw my uncle, who doubled as my Beta, pacing around the large room.
I was grateful to the man for saving my life back then and helping me stand back on my feet. If it weren't for him, I wasn't sure if I would have survived on my own.
The man went as far as helping me found another pack and also a drug cartel business. Now, my name, Luciano, was a name well-known and well-feared among the powerful lords and Alphas of the world.
"What's up, uncle Tommaso?" I asked the moment I stepped into the living room. I knew Uncle Tommaso well. He only paced about when something was on his mind.
The older man stopped walking about and turned to look at me. "Luciano!" He shouted. "I have good news for you." The loud wailing of my prisoner reverberated and my uncle raised his brows.
I cocked an eyebrow at the man in a questioning manner. He sighed as his eyes raked through me for what seemed like eternity. I was sure the man was wondering when the young boy of seven years old became a full grown man.
My back itched as the memory from 20 years ago flashed through my mind. My eyes glowed silver and I had to close them to control my emotions.
What wouldn't I give to see the miserable end of Vitalio and his entire household and pack members?
"I found a way to get revenge on Vitalio." I heard my uncle said. My eyes clicked opened and I looked at the man to be sure I heard him right. "Yes, I did." He added, assuring me that my hearing drums were not damaged.
"How?" I growled. My claws extended and I nodded in agreement with my wolf’s anger.
Uncle Tommaso turned deadly serious in that moment.
"Vitalio’s daughter is being taken on a road trip to marry into another pack." The older man explained. "It is an arranged marriage though but that is the opportunity we are looking for. We ambush the cars, grab that traitors daughter, kill her, and send her corpse back to her father. What other revenge would be sweeter than that?"
I nodded my head in agreement to my uncle's plan. Truly, killing the only child of Vitalio was the cruelest and sweetest revenge I could ever think of to avenge the death of my parents.
That didn't mean I was going to end the revenge there though.
Until the last of Vitalio’s blood was killed, I would never back away from the man. Each of them would pay for the blood of my parents that was spilled that day many years ago.
I would make sure the man witnessed the death of each of them. I would make him plead for mercy, but he would get none, just like how he didn't show my family any. And when I am done with his family, then I can get hold of him.
Trust me when I tell you that I'll make sure his death was slow and painful and hard. He would beg for mercy and find none. Even if he died before I decide that he has enough torture, I would make sure revive him by all means and continue my vengeance.
Until my claws dug into his stomach and brought out his intestines, I would not stop. Even at that, I would still make sure he suffers some more before I roll his head off his neck.
But first, I would take what I can have and start with his daughter.
"Perhaps, I will cut off her head and send it back to her father. That would make him even writhe in more pain, not knowing what became of the rest of his beloved daughter's body. Of course, I'll leave the body for the vultures to feast on," I added.
"Aye, aye." Uncle Tommaso said in support.
The loud groan of my prisoner down at the basement came, jolting me back to the reality that I still had one more man to torture.
"I see you are busy. I'll leave you to it amd make sure everything is ready to execute our plan successfully." My uncle said.
I nodded at the man and turned away, going back in the direction I came from. When I got back to them basement, I saw the criminal all bloody.
Too angry to even think straight, I went to the tray that was now filled with blood. I picked up the gun and shot it at the man.
"Rot in hell, jerk!" I said as the man’s head rolled backwards and life went out of him.
Arabella's POV"This isn't up for debate.""But Father, I–"He threw a glass vase across the room and it shattered into what seemed like a million pieces. I cringed back in fear. Dad's tantrums had only grown exponentially after Mom's death and the devastating territorial wars because of the Lupo-Mortale Pack breaking the treaty or so I heard. This was the father I remembered, the one I'd always known.He moved towards me and took my arms gently. Like he usually did. I closed my eyes bracing myself. Then his grip tightened and he pushed me up against the wall and I whimpered."You have just one duty." He enunciated every word clearly and slowly. "Yet you make things complicated." My arms were aching severely now. "I will say this just one more time, Arabella. You will go to the Silvermoon Pack and hope your fiance doesn't find you as repulsive as I do. We will get that alliance no matter what. And I frankly do not give a damn if he is your true mate or not."My father released me, t
Arabella's POVThe first time I heard Alpha Luciano Romano's name, I was eight. Back then I still had hopes and expectations of my father to eventually warm up to me. I padded lightly into my father's study in my night dress after escaping the watchful eyes of my nannies hoping to surprise him. It was empty.I played around a bit and came across a really interesting necklace. As I lifted it from atop the drawer, I heard the sound of voices approaching the room. Spooked, I dropped the necklace and it fell on under the drawer. I looked about hastily for a hiding spot and barely tucked myself into the alcove bordering the armoury as the door swung open."How many did we lose?" It was Father's voice."The entire troop sir." I couldn't identify this voice but it sounded like me whenever I was trying to explain how I hadn't eaten the chocolate cake but somehow still had chocolate smeared all over my face. There was a crashing sound and a restrained grunt."The drugs?" " They took ever
Luciano's POVFuck. Fuck! I needed to hit something. Cut someone open. I needed a fight, anything to forget the fact that the Moon Goddess had royally screwed me over. A freaking Bianchi? What the hell? I tried to clear my thoughts so as to not think of her. As if to mock me, the wind blew and her scent filled my nostrils. She smelt like chocolate, sunshine and apple cider. I wanted to smell her skin and find out if it was all natural or perfume. I wanted to break her neck. My wolf didn't make matters easier. He wanted his mate now. He refused to listen to my explanations on how said mate was a viper, who was the daughter of Vitalio Bianchi. She was just as despicable as her father. There was literally no information about her. No one is that squeaky clean. I knew she was hiding something, many things knowing the sort of family she came from.Not that it was my business. I came out with one intention only. Kill Vitalio's only child and give the man a fuck you drenched in the blo
Arabella's POVFunny how some things become much clearer in hindsight. Like how I should have capitulated to Alpha Luciano and let him kill me instead of speaking up and making him think up an even harsher punishment for me being my father's daughter.My cheeks burned hot when I recalled how he had touched me, and how I had responded. How my body had betrayed me. How when he left I ached with need for something I had no idea about. Never had I been more disadvantaged because of my virginity. He probably even understood my body more than I did. When the door to the cell had opened again, my body had come to life, anticipating only to be disappointed when a different person entered. "Arabella, strip for me." I froze. I knew he could kill me if I disobeyed him. I knew he could kill me either way yet I hesitated. I really didn't want to die. Maybe I hesitated because I had never been naked in front of the opposite sex before. Maybe because it was him, the man whose fingers had been i
Luciano's POV"The troops are ready and recruitment has been promising." Cross said."Keep those numbers up. I'll stop by later to examine their skills myself.""Of course, Alpha.""You may leave." Cross bowed out and I faced the two most important people in my business and pack. Natasha and Mikah."Natasha, what do you have for me?""There's word on the streets that there is a new drug out. Distributors are laying low and you can't get a hit unless you know them."I grunted. "Is the drug any good?""Days after the release, the FDA listed it.""Sounds good to me." I smiled. "Put feelers out on the street. Get those who are deep in drug debts to acquire this drug for us. Promise them drugs, money. I want that drug here by tomorrow morning.""Yes, Alpha." Natasha bowed and walked out of the room her dark ponytail and hips swaying with her movement, one of my most ruthless drug lords.I turned to Mikah. "Talk to me.""The Alphas are restive. The Cavanos are working in with Vitalio Bianch
Arabella's POVThis time I wore nothing underneath the red robe. I walked all the way from the women's harem to Alpha Luciano's room wearing only that damned red robe. I could not maintain eye contact with anyone. For some reason it felt like a lot of pack members were out that evening and I felt like everyone already knew what Alpha Luciano was doing to me. That had to be the reason they were giving me the side eye and some laughed when I passed. It felt like I was doing the walk of shame. No, Arabella. It's not your fault the moon goddess gave you a sadistic mate. I squared my shoulders and increased my pace. The faster I got to the room, the less time the pack members had to see me and make deductions.I felt such an immense amount of relief when I finally got into Alpha Luciano's room that it was only after I closed the door behind me that I remembered what I would have to do there."Missed me?" Alpha Luciano smirked. "But then again the Bianchis are known for saying one thing
Arabella's POVSomething strange was going on. Apart from the fact that once more Alpha Luciano had summoned me much to the annoyance of the other women in his harem- Emery had calmly walked out of the room when it was announced only for me to hear the sound of vases shattering following her wake.So no. The strangeness wasn't because of that. Nor was it because of the whip that Alpha Luciano had used to whip me before fucking me missionary style so that I laid with my injured back on the bed taking him. I had werewolf super healing so it wasn't a big issue.The strange thing was after the sex, Alpha Luciano held me. I faced him on the bed, his fingers threading through my hair. His clear blue eyes regarded me and his body felt undeniably warm next to me. I could almost imagine how differently things could have been if my father hadn't been my father.Almost.I didn't try to question him or react like I was surprised, I just looked away to the side while he touched me tenderly."Arabe
Arabella's POVI had to get out of here. I had to escape at all costs. I thought about what Alpha Luciano did to me yesterday and I squeezed my eyes shut in mortification, shame, and disgust. Weeks ago I was a virgin, respected. I had a future to look forward to. But now, it felt like my life had come to a standstill. A pause. A full stop. Like I was living in a hellscape where I was running around in circles like a headless chicken. I had to leave this place or die trying rather than stay here and die a little more every day losing sight of who I was."Are you good?' I turned in my bed at the sound of Margaret's voice. "You knew." She avoided my gaze and put her hand on my forehead to check my temperature.I slapped her hand away. "You could have warned me. You are a woman yourself. How can you do that to another woman?"Tears fell down my cheeks. "Arabella–""Leave me. Now. I would like to be alone."I turned my back on her to face the other side of the bed. After a few second