After what seemed like forever, Fabiana nodded. “Okay. I’d like that.”
“First line of business: clothes. We’re going to get you dressed,” Giuliana said.
Fabiana looked down at herself. “I look fine.”
“Clothes are armor, woman. Let’s head to my place and go from there.”
They pulled Fabiana from the house, and Giuliana whispered to the wolves at the door that Fabiana would be with her. She also sent a thought to her mate so he’d be aware.
Thank you, was all he sent back.
But his words were full of so much … so much emotion it took her breath away.
Chapter Twenty
“You’re an Alpha.”
Pasquale knew this was coming the minute he’d shown his gifts when he’d helped Giuliana with Silva and Kalinda. He hadn’t had a choice, and he wasn’t about to change what he’d done. Through Giuliana, Kalinda’s essence was held long enough for Zahara to reclaim Silva’s soul and bring her back. He wouldn’t regret helping with that.
But now, Dominic stood before him, his hands in his pockets with Romano at his side, glaring. He expected it. No Alpha male was supposed to hide who they were, and he’d broken that rule.
“Yes,” Pasquale finally answered. For what it was worth, it was amazing to finally say it and finally have it out in the open.
Romano stepped forward. “How?”
And here was the part where shit would either go really bad … or horrible.
Or deadly. There is that.
Shut up, Snow.
“Primo Bianchi was my father.”
Dominic’s Alpha power blasted through the room, sending Romano to his knees. Pasquale reacted on instinct, wrapping his cooler, sharper Alpha power around the Capo and himself.
Romano blinked, coming to a stand. “How the hell …”
“I’ve been shielding for some time. It adds … control to my gift.”
“I never knew Primo had a son.”
Pasquale swung his attention back to Dominic. “He didn’t want anyone to know. I had the chance to take his place, and he wasn’t interested in sharing his power. If I stayed compliant and hid who I was, he wouldn’t take it out on others.”
Dominic frowned. “His pack?”
Pasquale was finally able to share what he never had before, not even with his mate. “It wasn’t his first. I was … young and thought I could challenge him. I thought I could stop him from treating our people like his personal harem and stable to send out against others. I was so sure the ones who said they were on my side believed in me.”
“They didn’t,” Romano surmised.
“Oh, only until their loved ones started dying. He destroyed the whole pack, except for me and his mate—Fabiana hadn’t been born yet. And then he rebuilt. I learned to hide. And when Fabiana came … I couldn’t let her face that.”
“Fabiana could take anything. She was cut from your father’s cloth.”
Pasquale’s warning growl filled the room. “She was beaten and controlled by my father for years. She was too afraid not to be just what he wanted—all so she could survive. She was a child made to play as a woman who was useful.”
Dominic returned Pasquale’s growl. “Be careful, pup.”
“I won’t let you disrespect her. I know what part she played in mating with you, but she was forced into it just like they tried to do with you, and she would have had even less choice than you.”
Dominic nodded. “It wasn’t exactly a normal mating. I can agree to that. But now, it’s about what you want. Do you intend to take your pack?”
And that was the question, wasn’t it? Pasquale been trying to come to the answer since his father’s death, but he couldn’t find one that didn’t make him think he was stepping into shoes he didn’t want to fill.
He shook his head. “I’m not ready to be Alpha.”
Romano scoffed. “Sort of felt like it to me.”
“I may be an Alpha male, but taking over a pack is a different story. I don’t think I can do it. I can’t be the Alpha my people need. All they remember, all we remember, is my father. His cruelty, his abuse. Even now, we are on the outside of the Lombardi. We don’t belong, and I don’t know how to change it.”
For a few minutes, the room was silent, the three men studying each other. Dominic looked to his Capo. “He could be Made.”
Pasquale scoffed. “I’m already Made.”
“Not in my pack, you aren’t. As far as Lombardi, you are a scenter on retainer, but things can change.”
“What do you mean?”
“You can be made a Capo.”
Pasquale shot a look at Romano. “You already have a man for that.”
“But he is not an Alpha. Taking the position, you’d be my second, and I would train you. When the time came, you’d take over your pack.”
Pasquale shook his head. “I’m mated to Giuliana. I won’t take her from her pack again. She is family here and looks to you as her brother. I don’t want her separated from you.”
“There is another option,” Romano offered. “Let Pasquale become a Capo and have him run the Bianchi under your leadership, Alpha. He wouldn’t have to take his pack away, but they’d be an extension. Really, they’d be Lombardi in every sense of the world, but they’d be his soldiers under you.”
Dominic turned to Pasquale. “Could you do that? Give up a chance of a pack of your own to truly merge with mine and work under me?”
Snow?
I’m not against it. I’ve never wanted power like that, Alpha wolf or not. Red would be hurt.
She needs to stay home.
Agreed.
Will you be able to bow to another?
For Red and Giuliana, I would.
“Yes. I don’t need a pack. It’s not my claim. But … Romano?”
“Man, I’m mated to the leader of the Trinity Council. If this were a dick measuring contest, I’d win. You can become Dominic’s second as Capo. I’d still be his Capo for his soldiers already within the pack. The position recognizes your Alpha status but keeps you within the fold.”
Pasquale hadn’t thought it was possible to find a way for his pack to be protected and be used together. He struggled to believe in the fragile hope blossoming in his heart.
“Is it,” he cleared his throat. “Is it possible?”
“If you accept, yes. Your Alpha will only have to submit to mine. But I will not treat you like your father did. I am not here to brow-beat you into following me. It’s your choice. We won’t force you, and the wolves will adjust to your position.”
Pasquale swallowed. His sister was with Giuliana, and he hadn’t been able to do more than thank her. But now … this was more than he’d ever believed was possible.
Would you like to stay with your pack, if it can be done?
Her answer was instantaneous. I’m going where you go, mate. We will figure it out.
His decision was made. She would give it up for him, and the emotion filling his chest choked him. He never thought he’d find a mate or find a way to have his Alpha be accepted. Now, he’d found both.
Pasquale breathed deeply, pulling acceptance and change into his lungs. “Yes. I accept.”
“Romano, get the cup and call the others who will bear witness.”
Romano moved off, grabbing his phone, and Dominic stepped up to Pasquale. “I am not an easy man, and I will expect much from you. Giuliana is your mate, but she is my Enforcer. That will not change.”
“You are asking me to stand aside if you have to punish her.”
“I am not asking you,” Dominic returned.
Pasquale gritted his teeth, knowing this was a test, a first mark for his Alpha to bow to another. Any wolf would struggle with his mate being hurt, and there was no way he’d be able to stop that urge to fight for her from coming out.
“I’m not going to sit to the side and let you break my mate, but I understand law.”
“That’s good enough. No man will ask another
to ignore their instincts, but you have to be able to follow when necessary. I will give you this, if she is to be punished, you will be alerted to the extent. Agreed?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Dominic’s eyes glittered. “Good. And you will only address me as such when we are in front of others. When we are alone, we are equals.”
Pasquale swallowed, unable to say a word. He hadn’t believed, hadn’t hoped things would turn out the way they had. He’d been terrified he’d lose everything, that he’d be forced to take his pack into uncertain lands and be left astray. He’d believed he’d never have the mate of his heart standing beside him and would be cursed to know who she was but never claim her.
Things were not what he’d ever believed them to be.
His father had destroyed him in more ways than Pasquale had realized. Primo forced Pasquale to see shadows and the worst in everything.
Maybe …
Things may have not turned out the way they had if he’d come to Dominic in the first place, if he’d explained.
Pasquale looked at Dominic. “I won’t hide anything from you again.”
“Of that, I’m certain.”
Doors opened, and wolves piled in dressed in suits, their guns gleaming at their sides. They stood tall, their heads canted to the side as they greeted Dominic. Each assumed a place surrounding Dominic and Pasquale, Romano coming to close the circle behind his Alpha.
“Today, we gain another brother. He stands before you in acceptance. Let him take the rite.”
Dominic took the golden cup from Romano and held it in front of him. “Do you swear on death to uphold our laws? To not betray us? To not work against us?”
“I do.”
“Do you pledge your allegiance to me and the Lombardi Pack?”
“I do.”
Dominic let his fingers half-shift, thick claws springing from the tips. “Place you palm over the cup.”
Pasquale did as Dominic asked. Swiftly, enough that it didn’t hurt at first, Dominic sliced open his palm. Ruby-red blood welled into the gouge, spilling into the cup.
“Pasquale Bianchi will be a Lombardi wolf and Capo. He shall be second only to me, and he will rule the wolves of the former Bianchi. They will no longer be called the Bianchi wolves. They will be Lombardi or Pasquale’s wolves. They will no longer be on the outside but will be important to our defenses. He has taken the rite of Omérta and will die if he changes. He will be inked with our blood and our mark.”
Pasquale’s healing kicked in, sealing the cut, and the other wolves also cut their palms and stepped forward to bleed into the cup. Once finished, they passed the cup around, each taking a small sip before one wolf produced a tattoo gun.
“Bare your arm, Pasquale.”
As requested, Pasquale removed his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt so he could pull out his arm. He stood silently as the gun traced over his skin. A crescent moon with a howling wolf, made in the blood of the head males of the Lombardi, came to life on his skin.
With a nod, the tattoo artist stepped back and went to another little tray of color, this one a brilliant blue.
“He is also an Alpha and will be recognized as such. No man but me may direct him.”
“Yes, Alpha,” the men responded.
The tattoo artist came back and gave Pasquale’s wolf blue eyes.
“The blue is for your people. For your power. As you are an Alpha, Giuliana is now an Alpha mate. She will be afforded the same respect as one should. The only woman of this pack to outrank her shall be Zoey. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Alpha,” they answered.
The tattoo was finished, already healed because of his ability, and Pasquale stood proud. He was accepted. He was Alpha. He was part of a pack.
“One last step, so that we may call you brother,” Dominic warned.
Pasquale knew this one, remembered the pleasure Primo got from ripping him apart and breaking him. Pasquale sank to his feet, a blank mask on his face even as his insides went crazy.
I will protect you, Pasquale. Give over to me.
I have to face it.
Your mind can’t yet. Your Alpha will understand.
Let me try.
Dominic stepped behind Pasquale and raked his claws across Pasquale’s back. The fire burned, pressing deep. Skin split, the fire spreading through Pasquale’s insides.
But then Dominic was finished, and another brother was there.
Pasquale opened shocked eyes. They weren’t ripping to the bone. They weren’t trying to abuse him. While the swipes hurt, they didn’t cripple him.
He looked up, and his gaze clashed with Dominic’s.
“I am not your father,” Dominic whispered.
Pasquale stayed like that, his gaze locked on his Alpha as every wolf in the room added their mark to his skin. At their depth, nothing would scar. It was an honorary act to show he wouldn’t fight his people; he wouldn’t retaliate out of anger and rage. He’d accept, this one time, being on his knees before them.
We have a good home, Snow added.
Yes.
When it was over, Dominic gripped his shoulders and helped him stand. “Welcome, brother. Though, you may want to get changed and burn the shirt. Your mate will come after my head if she thinks I’ve hurt you.”
Pasquale chuckled. “She has a way of ignoring Alphas.”
“Don’t I know it. That probably should have been a clue as to who you were.”
“I still win.”
Dominic and Pasquale frowned over at Romano.
“The dick measuring contest. I still win.”
Pasquale rolled his eyes. “Apparently, your balls sweep the floor.”
“Of course. I can barely walk with these fucking things. Sometimes, I have Dominic—”
“Shut up, Romano.”
The admonishment may have been quick and harsh from Dominic, but it was filled with warmth. Family. They were a family. If nothing else, Pasquale could be more than thankful for that.
I love you, mate. Thank you for bringing me home.
I-I love you too. Giuliana’s voice was hesitant, filled with awe, and he could nearly see her face damp with tears.
I love you too!
Red. Pasquale smiled at the wolf in his head. Of course, Red. You’re the most beautiful wolf in the world.
You see? He thinks I’m pretty. We have a good male. Can we mate now?
Be home when I get there, sweet cheeks.
Snow … did you just call me … sweet cheeks?
Payback for the “dude”.
I’m going to shave you.
Just be home, mate, as you were told. You’re welcome to try it then.
Pasquale snorted. Snow, I think Giuliana and I should be able to make that choice.
You want to mate, so does she. Simple.
Giuliana’s warm chuckle fill his head. I’ll race you, big boy.
Big boy. I see us tossing names back and forth from now on.
You got it, liver lumps.
Oh, I’m going to get you for that one.
You’re on.
Nodding to Dominic, Pasquale streaked out of the room and out the front door in record time. To his mate. To the rest of his life.
Epilogue
He’d been wrong. So fucking wrong.
The reality of that—what he’d lost and would never get back—nearly paralyzed him. When does one ever think their memories can’t be trusted? Was anything he’d ever remembered true?
Heath—because calling himself Kieran made him sick to his stomach—clutched a spell phone in his bloody hand, coughing up more of the red fluid until it dribbled down his chin. He couldn’t have been completely wrong, could he?
Kieran had taken Kalinda hostage. Kieran had told his best friend he’d see him on the other end of his gun. And Kieran had royally destroyed everything Heath had ever believed he could have. Heath thought he’d left all that behind.
The anger.
The resentment.
&n
bsp; The loneliness.
After finding Cin …
Heath closed his eyes, picturing the slender woman with her quirky style, sharp tongue, and beautiful jewelry. He’d thought maybe he could find peace. But then she was taken too. Lorenzo had come along, and she’d found conventional love. A love where the other person didn’t have to hide or lie about who they were.
Cin may have never known who he was, but she’d been able to sense he hadn’t been completely truthful with her. With bloody fingertips, he clicked to his photo gallery on his phone, determined to find something real. He still had everything—the texts, pictures, and call log. Everything to prove Lorenzo and Cin had been real. That Heath hadn’t been alone in the world after losing so much in the Fae lands.
But had he truly lost everything?
Silva’s complete surprise and soul-deep cry of innocence had stayed Heath’s hand so he hadn’t administered the killing blow. But it was probably too late anyway. He’d fucked up so much. Cin would never forgive him. Lorenzo would never trust him again.
He’d lost … everything.
He forced his fingers to work, to dial the one number he could always remember by heart. It was futile, of course, but he had to try. Anything. Something to make it right. The phone rang loud in his ear, a bang against his eardrums.
Punishment for having done so much to fuck those who’d stood behind him.
“Heath?”
Lorenzo’s voice was disbelieving, a prayer, a hope.
When the pack returned home, he had no doubt they’d tell him what had happened. But for a short span of time, he’d still be Heath’s friend.
“Hey, man.”
Lorenzo must have dropped the phone. It rattled on the other end before Lorenzo was back. “Where the fuck are you? I thought … we thought you were dead.”
There was hurt and agony in that one stressed word. We. Cin and Lorenzo.
“I … Fuck. I don’t know how to do this.”
“Just tell me where you are. I’ll come get you. We’ll figure it out.”
Yeah. Because that was Lorenzo—forgiving, caring, the best friend in the world. But Heath had betrayed him.
“Listen. When Romano comes home, you’re going to find out things about me I never wished you would.”
Mated to the Prince (Portal City Protectors Book 3) Page 17