CHAPTER SEVEN — “THE ALPHA’S CLAIM”

The moment Luca stepped into the grand hall with Aria in his arms, the entire mansion fell into an unnatural silence.

Wolves stopped breathing.

Aria felt it immediately. The pressure. The weight of dozens of gazes locking onto her as if she were prey and crown all at once. Her fingers curled into Luca’s shirt instinctively, her body leaning closer to his warmth.

He did not loosen his hold.

If anything, his grip tightened.

The elders rose slowly from their seats, their expressions shifting from shock to disbelief. Power rolled off Luca in waves, thick and commanding, forcing weaker wolves to lower their eyes without realizing it.

“This is highly irregular,” Elder Romano said carefully. “You bring a human into pack territory during a time of instability.”

Luca’s gaze cut to him like a blade. “She is not human.”

The room stirred.

Aria swallowed, her heartbeat loud in her ears. Luca’s hand slid to the small of her back, grounding her, silently telling her to stand tall.

“She carries ancient blood,” Luca continued. “Blood that rivals any Alpha in this room.”

A sharp intake of breath followed his words.

One of the younger Alphas scoffed nervously. “Then why hide it. Why now.”

Before Aria could stop herself, warmth flared in her chest. Not fear this time. Anger.

“I didn’t know,” she said, her voice soft but steady. “It was taken from me.”

Every head turned toward her.

Luca looked down at her, something unreadable flickering through his eyes. Pride. Awe. Possession.

“She awakened under my roof,” he said. “Which makes her my responsibility.”

“No,” Elder Romano corrected. “That makes her a liability.”

The word hit like a slap.

The temperature in the room dropped instantly.

Luca smiled slowly, dangerously. “Say it again.”

Romano stiffened but did not back down. “Hybrid blood brings war. You know this. The Council will not allow her to remain unclaimed.”

Luca’s wolf surged forward, roaring against his bones. His hand lifted, thumb brushing deliberately over the faint mark glowing at Aria’s collarbone.

“She is already claimed.”

A collective gasp tore through the hall.

Aria’s breath caught as his words sank in. Claimed. The meaning echoed through her blood, awakening something fierce and hungry.

“You did not perform the rite,” another elder argued. “Without witnesses, without challenge, this claim is invalid.”

Luca leaned down, his lips brushing Aria’s ear as he whispered, “Do you trust me.”

She nodded without hesitation.

Straightening, Luca raised his voice. “Then we do it now.”

Shock rippled through the room.

Before anyone could object, Luca pulled Aria closer and pressed his forehead to hers. The connection snapped into place instantly, raw and electric. Aria gasped as warmth flooded her chest, spreading outward like wildfire.

She saw him then. Not as the Mafia Alpha. Not as a feared ruler.

But as a wolf standing alone against the world, choosing her anyway.

Luca bit down sharply on his wrist.

Blood welled.

Aria cried out softly as the mark on her skin flared bright silver, responding to his sacrifice. Power surged through the hall, forcing every wolf to their knees.

“I claim her,” Luca declared. “Before blood and pack. Before throne and war.”

He lowered his bleeding wrist to her lips.

The choice was hers.

Aria hesitated only a second before sealing her mouth over his skin.

The bond locked.

The hall erupted with energy, chandeliers rattling violently as Aria’s power burst free again, stronger this time. Luca growled low in his chest, steadying her as her knees buckled.

When the light faded, silence followed.

Slow. Heavy. Absolute.

Elder Romano bowed his head first.

“The claim is accepted,” he said grimly.

Relief and fear twisted together inside Aria as Luca lifted her into his arms once more.

As they turned to leave, she felt it.

A presence.

Her chest tightened.

Somewhere deep within the mansion, a familiar voice whispered softly in her mind.

You chose him.

Aria shuddered.

Luca felt it instantly. “What is it.”

“My mother,” she whispered. “She’s close.”

Luca’s expression hardened into something lethal.

“Then let her come.”