Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Enzo:

“What do you mean ‘she’s here”?” I asked, glaring at my beta, Matias.

“She was seen with her brother earlier. He called her to come. With Alpha Mario dead, he is going to take his place. Ezio wanted her by his side, and you know the traditions.” He said, looking down at his feet.

“I want her as far away from Katherine during the ceremony. I understand that it would be her brother, but the last thing that we are going to need is for the two of them to be arguing.” I said, and Matias nodded.

“Can we not bring her with us? You know, with all due respect with my statement, but Alaria can choose to stay quiet. It is Luna…”

I let out a warning growl, reminding him that despite knowing that he was right, she was the pack Luna.

He nodded in understanding, and I looked out the window. where Katherine was greeting Alonso, our son, who just got home from school. He ran toward her, and she smiled, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him in for a hug.

“You just do your part and keep them from arguing. I’ll do mine with my mate.” I said, and he nodded. I watched as he took a step back, walking out of the office, leaving me to my thoughts. My heart raced for a second, and a heavy feeling settled in my chest

I tapped the desk twice, knowing that this was going to be harder than just putting up rules. But then again, I knew that nothing went as easily as we wanted them to go. Not anymore anyway.

I raised an eyebrow as I heard the footsteps of both Katherine, my current wife, and son as they both walked toward the office. It was something that I never liked, her to enter my office, but I knew that she took advantage of bringing Alonso from school to me, and I was never one to reject my son from coming when he wanted to.

“Come on, let’s go and see daddy. Then we can freshen up before supper, how about it?” I heard her ask.

“But mama, you promised me that we can play in the garden for a while.” He said, and though she knew better than to show it in her tone, I knew that she was

JM

Chapter 3

MMBBBBB

annoyed. I could hear it in her racing heartbeat and her heaving breaths.

I got up from my chair and walked toward the door, opening it. Her eyes met mine, surprised, and I shook my head at her, silently letting her know to tone things down.

20% 14:45

“You can go and play in the garden. Then we freshen up before supper. But you need to promise me to tend to your studies before bed. You know that I don’t want your grades to drop.” I said, getting down on my knee in front of him. My son’s

lit up, and I smiled cupping his cheeks before kissing his forehead.

eyes

“I promise, papa, I’ll tend to all my studies.” He said, and I smiled. I looked at his maid, who was following three steps behind both Katherine and Alonso. It was to ensure their safety and that if they needed anything; it was to be tended to immediately. She nodded and walked toward him. He looked at his mother, who in turn looked at me for a second, hesitating before she nodded.

“Don’t let him stay for too long,” Katherine said, and the woman nodded. She walked with Alonso toward the garden, and I entered my office, keeping the door open as a silent invitation for her to come inside.

“Must you always go against what I say when it comes to MY son?” She asked, walking inside. Her heels clicked with each step that she took, and I waited as she closed the door behind her before pouring two glasses of scotch. “You know that I do not drink.”

“They are not for you,” I said, taking the glasses to my desk. “And he is MY son just as he is yours.

Therefore, if I chose to decide for him to do something, it is for YOU to come out as the mother who lies to her son to get her things done.”

“I do not lie…”

“You promising him something and just breaking it is considered lying, Katherine.” I said, stopping her, growing more annoyed with her. “And Alonso doesn’t lie nor does he imagine things when it comes to what YOU of all people would tell him about, especially not something as silly as him playing in the garden.”

“I am his mother and I know what is best for him. The kid has things to do and school…”

“Then you don’t make promises that you can’t keep.” I said, wanting to dismiss the subject. “The two of us have the Alpha ceremony to attend this evening. Ezio Venier is going to be announced as Alpha and as his allies, we are going to have to

Chapter 3

go.”

The woman tensed, hearing the last name that she both feared and dreaded most. I knew the reason why she was afraid of it. It was the reminder of my previous marriage, one that she knew that she couldn’t match up to.

“It is not the first time that we’ve been to the Venier Estate as a husband and wife, I doubt that there would be an issue now…”

“Alaria is going to be there, Katherine.” I said, stopping her, wanting her to leave me alone. Her eyes widened, and she shook her head as if to process what I was telling her.

“Enzo…”

“I expect no problems.” I said, looking the woman dead in the eye. I was getting tired of her voice, and knowing her, she was going to be causing more of a fuss, and I had more important things to tend to, and neither one of them included her right now. “Don’t wait for me for dinner. I’ll be going out in a bit. I have things to take care of…”