Chapter 4

Strong arms pulled Francesca back away from certain death and she heard the song again, this time emanating so strongly from the one who held her. Her back was flushed into his front, so tight Francesca could feel the sinews of his muscles and the harsh pounding of his heart against her. 

"Did you really think I would just let you do this? I don't even know your name." His voice sounded behind her, rich and deep. It brought a chill to her spine. Francesca closed her eyes, feeling all tension drain from her body. She tilted her head up towards his and he held her waist tighter, bringing his forehead down between the crook of her neck and shoulder. Francesca felt something wet touch her skin and she realized that he was crying, too. 

"What's your name?" Her mate whispered softly and she felt that slight movement of his mouth against her skin. 

Her wolf sighed in pleasure, and she murmured, "Francesca." 

"Francesca." He repeated so reverently, the word sounded like a prayer from his lips. "I'm Tristan. It's nice to finally meet you." 

Francesca grasped his arms and turned to face him. She gasped. Unlike others of her kind, Francesca never thought about how her mate would look like. Married to Alpha Stefano at the young age of twenty-one, it killed her of all hope of finding her mate in the first place. But if she ever did imagine her mate, he would look exactly like Tristan.

Warm ivory skin and straight raven curls, dark eyes that promised humor and wisdom, and full lips that you rarely see in a man. He was beautiful. And as much as Francesca and her wolf should rejoice at finding him, there remained the unshakeable sadness in her heart. 

Francesca reached up to wipe a tear from his eyes as he does the same. They stared into each other's eyes in silence, their wolves taking the time to get to know each other. Francesca immediately knew, his wolf was just as beautiful as him. Frosted blue eyes and fur that was both white as Alpine snow and black as the night. One rarely saw that combination in their kind, and Francesca wondered how special he must be to have that coat. 

Taking Francesca's hand from his cheek gently, a line appeared between Tristan's brows as he studied her bloodied finger. He met her eyes again and without saying anything, Francesca knew what he was asking. Why? Why were you trying to end your life? I felt your presence in the ballroom earlier. Weren't you happy to see me?

"No, of course I am. I'm overjoyed to find you. I just---" Francesca hesitated, not knowing where to begin. How could she tell her mate that she was broken? Shattered to the point beyond saving? They only just met but Francesca could feel how good Tristan was. It radiated from him. She couldn't bear to tarnish that with her defiled existence. 

"What's wrong?" Tristan asked, confused. Francesca had taken a step back from him despite her wolf's protests. She had her arms wrapped around herself. 

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have--" 

"Tristan?" A young woman dressed elegantly in a white gown appeared by the balcony's door, frowing at the scene before her. She had a stern look on her face. "I have been looking for you everywhere. The other Alphas are waiting for you at the table." 

Alpha? Francesca cast a bewildered glance at Tristan's direction. 

"Yes." Tristan confirmed, silently gauging Francesca's reaction. "I'm Alpha Tristan of the Crescent Moon Pack, qin ai de." 

The woman gasped, "By the moon, Tristan. Is she--"

Tristan did not answer, his gaze still fixed on Francesca. 

"This is good news!" the woman exclaimed, practically jumping up and down in excitement. Her earlier look of implacability was gone. "Oh, Tristan. This would solidify your claim to both the Pack and the company. I'm so happy for you." 

"Lynn, get ahold of yourself," Tristan warned the woman as Francesca stood there, even more out of place than before. What company are they talking about? Right then, she realized that despite the depth of the connection she felt with Tristan, there was still so much that she didn't know about him. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry, my lady." Lynn said, curtsying in front of Francesca, "I am Beta Lynn Johansson, Alpha Tristan's trusted advisor. It's a pleasure to meet you." 

"Oh no, you don't have to bow to me like that," Francesca said, quickly approaching Lynn and helping her straighten her form. "I'm only an Epsilon." 

"Not for long, if you were really Tristan's mate." Lynn replied in amusement, "An Alpha's mate usually assimilates their partner's powers and characteristics, you know, if the bond is strong enough. Hell, even some of those couples end up looking like each other." 

It was true. The Alpha werewolves were elite, and the only way for lower-ranked werewolves to achieve Alphan status was if their mate was one. Or if they were somehow able to survive the getting the Alphas' mark themselves, without the help from an Alphan mate. Francesca looked at Tristan and found him still staring at her with a smile on his face. 

"Oh drat!" Lynn blurted out loudly, "Now, you made me forget what I came here to do. Tristan, we really need you back at the table. The other Alphas are getting impatient. 

She frowned at him again, arms crossed in front of her. 

"I know, I know." Tristan sighed, "Just let me talk a bit more with Francesca, will you? I'll be right behind you in a second." 

There was an awkward pause before Lynn realized that she was being dismissed, "Oh, of course. Just hurry up," she grumbled as she stalked off from the balcony. Then, with a cheerful look back, she yelled at Francesca, "Really nice to meet you. See you around!" 

"That girl changes expressions every five seconds I can barely keep up," Francesca couldn't help but comment as soon as Lynn was out of sight. 

Tristan chuckled. He took a step towards Francesca, holding both of her hands with his. "Listen, we have so much to talk about but duty's calling for me. Find me later, okay? Promise me." 

Francesca peered up at him. Tristan looked scared, and she knew he was concerned about leaving her alone considering the state that he found her in earlier. Francesca wanted to ease his mind, but she didn't want to get his hopes up either. She had already decided. As much as Francesca wanted to be with him, she wasn't hers to give in the first place. Stefano's face flashed in her mind, taunting and threatening her.

Francesca squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. "Okay," she finally whispered but leaving out any mention of a promise. She couldn't do it this time, couldn't rely on her state of mind to keep a simple oath. 

Placing a quick kiss on her forehead, her mate left her on the balcony. Francesca hugged her arms to herself, contemplating what to do next. Right now, finding Tristan had energized her enough to not go through with her original plan, but she didn't know how long it would last. Francesca could no longer deny it, she had lost control of her own mind. She knew that deep down, sooner or later, she would go looking for death again.

"There you are," Gianna voice made Francesca jump out of her skin, "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." 

"It's okay," Francesca replied. "Can I help you with something?" 

"Yes," Gianna said, hands on her hips, "What were you thinking? You didn't show up during the ritual. Stefano is furious." 

"Sorry, I'm just--" 

"Never mind that. He asked me to find you and tell you to meet him at Alphas' table instead." 

Francesca's brow furrowed, "What? Nobody's allowed to join them." 

"You are. You've been specially invited to eat with them." Gianna said casually, "Now, hurry up before you end up aggravating the monster by making him wait again, will you?