Chapter Two

After slipping up the side steps, Elyssa arrived in a dark hallway on the second floor of the castle. Now that her mate’s scent was gone, her wits had returned. She took a minute, leaning against the wall beside the heavy curtains, to savour in the discovery of her mate. Her mother’s description of the sensation did not compare; the throbbing, the yearning, and the insatiable desire to be near him. Her mouth watered as she thought of seeing him again.

But did he feel it too? The moment his eyes met hers, they glowed a fiery amber that blasted the air out of her.

Elyssa adjusting her dress and continued further into the hall, making sure to stay close to the wall so that she could duck behind the curtains in case anyone entered. But then Elyssa paused and turned to the empty hall. That was the most stupid idea, the building was packed with wolves who could sniff her out from miles. It would be better to step out in the open instead of hiding in the shadows, and drawing any suspicion to herself.

Displaced or not, she was the last Mazzeo, which would rank her as an alpha. With resolve, she stepped out in the open and walked towards the door at the far end of the hall.

Her heels echoed on her way and halfway down the hall, the hairs on the back of her neck raised and Elyssa slowed to a stop. A presence crept in behind her, and she reached for the weapon in her purse. Although her slugs were crafted specially to strike Lucian, she was willing to use them on anyone who attacked her.

“You shouldn’t be here.” His breath caressed her neck and Elyssa gulped.

He was fast, probably an alpha wolf or an elite. Slowly, he walked around to face her, and Elyssa watched the moonlight glint off the piercing silver of his eyes. His short brown hair fell a little over his brows as he looked at her; something about him felt familiar.

“And you are?” he asked, hands in pockets.

“Elyssa.”

A narrow smirk spread across his face as he regarded her. “You must belong to one of the five families.”

“I did.” Elyssa shrugged, walking around him after the initial shock of getting caught passed. “Who are you?”

Laughing aloud, he turned to face her. “I can’t recall the last time anyone asked me that.”

“Why? Do people already know who you are, or do they not care?”

For a moment, he just looked at her. “I need a last name, Elyssa. Who are you?”

She understood his meaning. It wasn’t uncommon for the five families of Peskington to use your family name as your identity and to rank you too. And since hers was long-lost, no one knew who she was, and that made the elites very suspicious.

“My name is Elyssa. I don’t have a family name.”

“Why are you snooping around up here?” he asked.

“If you won’t tell me who you are, I don’t have to answer to you,” Elyssa said with a slight smile. She was sure he was not Lucian, but he surely belonged to one of the five families.

“Dawson Marino.” He introduced himself. “Your turn, sweetheart.”

“Oh, nice to make your acquaintance, Marino,” Elyssa said with a smile.

Now she knew why he looked familiar; he was a Marino, a member of the five families. As an erstwhile member of one of the high-ranking families, she'd crossed parts with him before. More importantly, his brother Antonio Marino used to be best friends with her big brother. Antonio had been her first boyfriend too, he was such a gorgeous teen wolf, and she wondered how he’d look now. She’d always thought that maybe, just maybe Antonio, would be her mate.

“Sure,” Dawson said, shrugging his shoulders. "And you are?"

“I am a guest of Lucian Callisto and would like to have a moment with him if it’s no bother.”

It was a long shot, and the worst-case scenario would be being thrown into the monster’s lair. Bluffing her way in was the best option. Before Dawson could respond, she decided to play another card.

“How’s Antonio doing these days? It’s been a while since I last saw him.”

“You know Antonio?”

“Yes, I know your brother.” Elyssa grinned.

Her first kiss was with Antonio Marino, out on the grounds of the Marino compound during one of the last Moon Balls.

Following a moment of quiet reflection, Dawson said, “Come with me.”

Then, he led her to the door she was heading towards and pushed it open. Bright yellow lights almost blinded her, and she blinked rapidly to focus. Following Dawson through a room full of armed guards, Elyssa counted fifteen of them as they passed by, and entered another room, which was largely empty save for about nine men.

The Peskington alphas.

“I doubt that Antonio would know a beautiful thing like you and not show you off. So I hope your story holds up for your sake,” Dawson whispered to her and walked to the group of men gathered in the middle. “Antonio.”

Once he called out to his brother, the alphas turned. Elyssa glanced between each of them, before her gaze settled on Antonio, and she saw a glimmer of recognition flash in his eyes. Charming, he was now the alpha of the Marino family. Leaving the little group, he walked to her, and Elyssa watched him with a big smile–he looked exactly the same; long, black hair parted down the middle that swayed as he moved, and his hazel eyes that flashed like hypnotic stars.

“A friend of yours?” Dawson asked him.

“Elyssa?” Antonio whispered in shock, his eyes the widest she had ever seen them. Then he nodded to Dawson. “I’ll be right back, D.”

Antonio led her out, back to the empty, dark hall, then slipped through one of the heavy curtains to a private balcony.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said against her hair, and he stood pressed against her, his fingers curling through her hair. Antonio’s tall frame towered above her, putting her just against his chest. “I had no idea you survived, El. Where have you been?”

“Around.” Elyssa tried to pull back from his overpowering presence, but he gripped the railing behind her, locking her in. “Considering everything, I wasn’t sure I could trust anyone.”

He lowered his gaze and his beautiful eyes seemed to pierce hers. “You could have come to me. El, I would never hurt you.”

That was news to her. After her family went up in smokes, friends and foes looked alike. And right now, she found it difficult to look away from his hazel gaze.

“Well, I am here now.” She shrugged.

“Yes, but why are you here now? What are you up to? You cannot pick a fight with the Callisto’s, it’s suicide. And they cannot learn your identity.” Antonio spoke softly, and his breath brushed against her cheek. A glint lit his eyes when he stroked her face. “You look unbelievable.”

“I’m here to enjoy the Moon Ball, Antonio.”

Scoffing, he turned away. “I would believe you if I didn’t know how stubborn you are.”

“Boohoo, it’s one of your favourite things about me.” Elyssa smiled, and they laughed together, and for a moment she felt a semblance of delight. “You still look the same.”

“I wish I could say the same.” He stepped back and took a good look at her. “Aside from your stubborn, striking blue eyes and red hair, you grew into a remarkable female.”

The lust in his eyes and the scent of it didn’t surprise Elyssa. She inherited her mother’s beauty; the red hair, the exquisite face, the great body, and she was used to being adored. It was how she managed to get all the way here so easily. Her mother was an azure wolf, one of the last revered pack of female wolves chosen by the goddess, with fiery hair and blue eyes.

“Are you here alone?” Antonio asked, adjusting his grey cravat.

“I’m here with a friend. She’s downstairs.”

Antonio held her face in his hands, “Wait for me down there. I’ll come for you when I’m finished here. Promise me you won’t cause any trouble tonight. Let’s talk first.”

Clenching her jaw, she considered it. “Fine. I’ll wait for you, but be quick.”

“Keep away from this floor. They cannot know you’re a Mazzeo,” Antonio said into her eyes.

After she nodded, he stepped out of the balcony and walked back in the direction they had come. She had not expected Antonio to recognize her, not that quickly anyway. Her plan had been to linger longer in there. Elyssa stepped out of the balcony into the hall, and as the familiar scent wafted toward her, she looked around, her pulse accelerating.

On the other side of the room, she saw him emerge from the stairway with a handful of men, and his eyes immediately fished her out in the near darkness.

“Elyssa.”

The way he called her name was like a promise, eliciting a moan she couldn’t gulp down. His scent wafted stronger across the room to her, and she swallowed as she approached him.

Why was she going to him?

“Join the others.” He sent the men away, and they left briskly without a word. He went on to meet her halfway. “What are you doing up here?”

“Exploring.” Elyssa turned to look around. “I still don’t know who you are, a name at least.”

His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. “You really have no idea who I am?”

Why did the elites here think everyone knew who they were? Did she miss an informational bulletin with their photos and names?

“Maybe I missed the flier that had all that information.”

“Interesting.” He folded one arm over his chest and propped up the other beneath his chin.

“What is?”

“The only person who doesn’t know who I am here is my mate.” He closed the space between them, and the air caught in her lungs. Then he slipped his hand up to caress her cheek, and Elyssa’s limbs melted. “This should be fun, Elyssa.”