Chapter 8
BLAINE DE LOMBARDI'S POV
For me, the best way out was to run in wolf shape. I had to think rationally, yet with all the contempt and anguish I felt for Mirabel, it was almost difficult. I needed some fresh air because Lucia's show had been playing havoc with my head.
I really do want to adore her. My inability to know how, is the issue. Since our teenage years, I have adored Mirabel. Then, in a few days, everything will be different. My future seems predetermined for so long that I struggle to envision it being any different. We planned to get married and have a family. In fact, she had chosen her gown for her Luna ceremony.
I now have to destroy Mirabel Lorenzo, and I'm sure I'll also destroy Lucia in the process.
Would you harm our friend as a small act of retaliation?
A little price to pay for retribution, perhaps.
In addition, Lucia Lorenzo is the ideal sister and daughter. She is fiercely devoted to her family. Even if her sister fell in love with me, she wouldn't mate with me. All I have to do is make sure Mirabel continues to love me, which should be easy. A woman actually loves one thing, and that is it. Strength. I realized this was a heartbreaking experience, especially because I had put so much of my confidence in her. I feel like I've been used.
There are two things that have always connected Lucia and me. The hate we have for one another and the love we have for Mirabel.
"I thought I would find you here."
I transform back into a human. I didn't worry about my clothes because it was common to see other pack members in their underwear.
"Johnson, what are you doing here?"
"What game are you playing, Blaine?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm your beta, at least while Cyril is gone."
"All right? Even now, I'm not Alpha."
"Blaine, I'm here to help. I will support you."
He waits for me to say something, but I'm not sure what he wants me to say.
"I know Lucia is your mate."
"What? It's untrue; Mirabel is my partner.
This was where it became complicated. My scheme would only succeed if everyone believed Mirabel to be my partner. When someone discovers their soulmate, they typically announce it loudly as soon as possible. Hopefully, they will simply conclude that Mirabel's birth time was incorrect because I was conspicuously absent from her birthday celebration.
"If she was your mate, she wouldn't have cheated."
That's the difficult part.
"That was a rumor."
"Maybe to the common wolves, but the high-ranking ones know the truth."
Lying to one of my closest friends was pointless.
"I'm going to destroy her."
"Hurting Mirabel will hurt Lucia too."
"All right? We will never be together, regardless of whether we are mates."
"Why's that?"
"We weren't even friends before we became partners. I believe it has gotten worse because of the mate bond."
"I think you are both just fighting it; there's no point; the bond always wins."
"Not this time, it won't."
"Blaine, you're going to be an alpha soon. It's what you need to concentrate on, and every great alpha has a Luna. Whoever you decide, your Luna will be one of the Lorenzos."
"Mirabel will be my Luna."
"But you hate her."
Yes, but Lucia does not wish to be Luna, as far as I know. I will only do that for her as a mate."
"How honorable of you!" Contempt seeped into his voice.
Johnson laughed.
"Something funny?"
"It's funny you think you can change fate, Blaine, but not even the strongest alphas can change destiny."
"It's been done before."
"Has it happened yet? Tragedy is the only outcome that may arise from rejecting your partner."
"Says who?"
"Says history."
"This will be different; I feel no love for Lucia."
"I believe that's because you are unaware of the nature of love. Furthermore, the relationship does not create love, even though it brings you together. Your heart does that all by itself."
"When did you turn into a philosopher?"
Johnson laughs. I've always considered him to be a close buddy. Though I have a lot of faith in him, this is not the same.
"You are not to tell anyone of this."
"I would never dream of it."
"Good, that means you will understand why I have to do this."
"What?"
"I hereby command you to not disclose any knowledge you possess of the mating of Lucia Lorenzo and Blaine De Lombardi."
Johnson's gaze expanded. Normally, I wouldn't utilize my alpha command, but in times of need, drastic measures are necessary. I had to ensure that no one got hurt and that this secret remained undisclosed.
You refer to a specific brown-eyed she-wolf as "everyone."
Close it.
LUCIA LORENZO'S POV
I was still in disbelief over who my companion was. The goddess provides me with the wolf who is in love with my sister out of all the wolves in this world. The wolf I hate so much.
How are you able to hate our mate?
The fact was, one day he was going to be a fantastic alpha. I can acknowledge it and swallow my pride. But what a horrible buddy he is! He wouldn't go after my sister, he vowed to my brother. He did, in spite of all the cautions.
He's close with my brother, so to be with my sister in peace, he dispatched Cyril to Italy, where our pack has some territory. The feeling I've felt the entire time is something I can't ignore. I have a suspicion that he has merely dated my sister to demonstrate his ability, his alpha status.
My sister gives him a tender glance. He regards her the way a sportsman might regard a trophy. There's something suspicious about it all. How is it possible for an alpha to remain in the company of a liar? It is unheard of for an alpha male to stay with a female who cheated on him—one who is not even his mate.
One day, he will become a kind alpha, but due to their exceptional nature, good alphas often go unappreciated. Their brutality has earned them respect. No matter how hard he tries to deny it, I can see it in his eyes that one day the darkness will finally seep forward.
That day might benefit The Blood Moon Pack, but I hope everyone who stands in its way is spared.
Lucia, stop worrying so much and just enjoy the moonlight.
It's true that I'm obsessing over it.
I stick my snout up and take a breath. My favorite scent was pine, so I was fortunate to have just pine trees around me in Lake Tahoe.
Hold on a second...
In Tahoe, the scent of pine was noticeable, but not to this extent. It was almost like a sensory overload.
My wolf took another breath, wiggled her buttocks, and sat low to the ground.
How on earth are you doing this?
I was tackled from the right in an instant. My wolf was on the ground, doing me absolutely no good. It appeared as though she was enjoying this. I looked into the eyes of a black midnight wolf. If you examined it closely, its coat really seemed almost blue in hue.
"Blaine."