Chapter 1 —LEFT TO HER DOOM

 

 

PACK ENFORCERS: They are the ones in charge of war and inter-pack affairs.

 

DONATELA

 

“Mum, are you seriously leaving me alone with them?”

 

Mum took the last drag from her cigarette before crushing it under her heel. “Moses is finally taking me to Rome for our honeymoon. You expect me to drag you along like some child?”

 

I held her hand. “Mum...I can’t survive with those four. They scare the hell out of me.”

 

“Stop being dramatic already, Dona. This is our first real honeymoon for God’s sake! Your stepbrothers are also holy men; get used to them and learn from them.”

 

Holy men indeed. I wanted to laugh at that.

 

Two months ago, we moved into Alpha Moses Ernesto’s sprawling estate, built around the pack’s cathedral, where his four sons—the pack enforcers—were ordained priests.

 

They were massive, intimidating, and dangerously attractive. I could barely look any of them in the eye for more than two seconds.

 

Yet every night, my dreams betrayed me. Vivid, intense dreams where they were close to me, their presence overwhelming.

 

Staying with them all by myself was never part of my dreams.

 

“Dona.” Mum’s tone softened. “You know the kind of shits we passed through after your father died. This’s a better life. Holy and simple, the least you can do is try to adjust.”

 

I swallowed hard. “Fine. I’ll try.”

 

I helped take her bags to the parking lot. A sleek black Rolls Royce pulled up just as I was leaving, and Father Reign—one of the Quadruplets, stepped out, cassock unbuttoned, revealing a cross tattoo on his chest, his braided hair half loosed, and a cigarette between his thin lips.

 

When his eyes landed on me—the first time he actually saw me. I held my breath, and stared back at him without any words, frozen.

 

“Holy Shit!” he sneered and walked past like I was never there.

 

That stung.

 

Alpha Moses appeared with Mum just as Reign left. He patted my shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about your brothers, my dear. This is a good chance to bond with them spiritually.”

 

If only he knew the kind of bonding I had fantasized about. I forced a polite smile. “May the Lord be with you, Alpha.” I hugged Mum. “I will call you every day.”

 

“Now that’s my good girl.” She giggled into my hair.

 

“Enjoy yourself, Mum.”

 

“Mmm.”

 

I watched them board the car and leave me alone to my fate.

 

****

 

Nothing distracted me—Netflix, snacks, games.

 

I got out of bed finally, wearing sleep shorts and a tank top, with a bag of popcorn. At least pacing around the house should be more fun.

 

The mansion was really big and a lot to look at, but a low sound from the private chamber near the indoor chapel stopped me halfway.

 

That was Reign’s room.

 

I shrugged. It’s not as if he would want to see me. But before I could walk away completely, the sound increased, morphing into pained, uncomfortable noises.

 

I dropped the popcorn bag and rushed to the door.

 

“He...” I stopped at the sight. A gasp replaced my ‘hello.’

 

Reign stood in the middle of the room, visibly distressed. His cassock was hanging off his broad shoulders, and he was clutching his stomach, his face tense with clear discomfort.

 

I blinked twice. This was real.

 

“Jesus...” I staggered. “What happened?”

 

His eyes flashed open, glistening silver as they locked onto mine.

 

“I—”

 

“What are you doing here?” His voice came sharp but strained.

 

“I…I heard a groan. I thought you were hurt or something was wrong.”

 

Heat flooded my face. I realized I had intruded on a private moment of pain. “Forgive me, Father.” I turned abruptly. “I shouldn’t be here. I’ll just...leave.”

 

“Turn around,” he commanded, his voice low but firm.

 

A shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t turn.

 

“I said… turn around, Dona.”

 

My body obeyed before my brain could argue.

 

He looked at me, his expression intense. “You came to help, didn’t you?”

 

“Y...Yes. I didn’t know you were…” My body shook slightly from the tension.

 

He took a step closer before I could move an inch. A strange energy radiated from him. “We’re siblings now and you’re a holy…”

 

“You’re not my blood.”

 

“Yes. But you’re ordained…”

 

“Reign was ordained, not my wolf. The vows are complicated.” He growled softly, taking another step closer.

 

The moment our skin contacted, a glowing red thread sparked to life, gleaming with raw energy. My heart dropped. THE MATE BOND!

 

Reign froze. “What the…”

 

“You can see it too?” I breathed, my voice shaking.

 

He reached out slowly and gently brushed a stray hair from behind my ear, his touch sending a jolt through me. “Tell me to stop, Little Saint,” he rasped, his voice thick with an emotion I couldn’t name. “Tell me to stop thinking about you while I was supposed to be praying, and I’ll let you go.”

 

My breath hitched. “You...” I swallowed hard. “You thought about me?”

 

“Every time you knelt for communion.”

 

Should I be unnerved? The man I thought didn’t see me was apparently preoccupied with me. A confusing warmth spread through me.

 

“That has to stop today…Father.” The words were barely out of my lips before he closed the small distance between us. He cupped my face with both hands and kissed me.

 

It was not gentle. It was desperate and deep, a claiming kiss that made my head spin. His large body pressed me against the wall.

 

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes glowing. “You’ve been on my mind for two months. I never thought you’d be so bold.”

 

Bold? I’d been terrified. This realization made me brave. “I could be bolder.”

 

“Let’s see.” His voice was rough. He took my wrist, his grip firm but not painful. A powerful current seemed to pass between us at the contact, charged by the visible bond.

 

“I think it’s time that stopped,…brother.”

 

“Call me Father.”

 

“Father...”

 

I bit my lip. The title felt different now, layered with a new, dangerous meaning.

 

Reign’s other hand came up to cradle the side of my neck, his thumb stroking my jawline. The air grew hotter, thicker.

 

Then his gaze hardened, and he leaned close, his voice a low, possessive rumble near my ear. “You’re in trouble from now on, little saint, because I don’t share…” he paused, the implication heavy. “Not even with my brothers.”