The Confrontation

The house is quiet when I come back later into the night. To say Jade and I had hit it off would be an understatement. Meeting some of the pack members during the tour was great despite many of them being quite guarded around me. I was not surprised by their reaction. I had not expected roses and confetti.

As far as they were concerned, I was an outsider and the reason behind one of their pack members being dead. Yes, the news had spread already. They were careful around me whilst also curious. Curious as to who I was and what I could offer.

Jade had tried to encourage me. Explain away their reactions and attribute them to the fact that I had not yet been officially introduced to the pack. She promised that things would be more different when that happened.

The Gamma was very good at hiding her true emotions and I confirmed my suspicions of her closed off personality when I noted the weird stares we would receive when she smiled or laughed at something. She was trying to help me transition by hiding certain aspects of the pack life here.

I have to earn their trust and respect. That's the only way they'll accept me and I respect that too...

I was grateful, though, for Jade's help. The pack land was extensive and ensured I never run into my mate who was apparently swamped with work that piled up when he left. I was thankful to the goddess for the distraction as I took the day to strategize. I needed to figure out how to live with the lethal man I now called mine and vice versa.

If there was one thing that was clear from the excursion today, it was that power ruled every facet of this pack. It was not misused. On the contrary. It brought order and another level of respect that I had not seen in any other pack. They were all a family, brought together by the strong bond of the pack. They had also been through a lot, each of them contributing towards making the pack as powerful as it was.

Despite Jade's low emotional capacity that matched Dante's own, she clearly cared for each and every single one of her pack members. They would fight and die for each other. They revered their Alpha and the hard work he had put in to ensure that they were virtually untouchable. No one would be foolish enough to come up against Dante Livorno.

Being able to garner that kind of respect was not a fluke or grudgingly given. It was earned and cultivated over time through certain actions. Actions like the one done today. I knew he would not apologize for killing the man.

And, to be honest, I don't expect him to...I guess the fact that he can kill one of his pack members that easily scares me because it means my life is pretty much forfeit...Especially when he finds out the darkest secret I have kept for years...

If he bears no ounce of mercy in his heart then he will never keep me alive, especially when he finds out my secret. The dead body flashed across my thoughts, as did the blank, cold gaze. Lifeless gaze that will haunt my dreams for a long time yet.

"Penny for your thoughts, my little wolf."

My heart hammered against my chest and I was sure he heard it as his breath brushed across my neck. I was instantly aware of his body heat, the visceral reaction of my body to his voice stunning a small gasp out of me. I had not heard or felt him coming which was incredibly odd for me despite my occupied thoughts.

His stealth is borderline terrifying. If he had been an enemy, I would be dead before I even knew it...

The thought unsettled the hell out of me, placing me in his prey's shoes. Poor bastards. I understood why many were absolutely fucking scared of him. Heck, I somewhat was too...

"I didn't think you were home."

I responded as soon as I calmed my heartbeat somewhat and cleared my throat. The fear that had been was gone, replaced with slight anxiety as I turned to gaze into his intense orbs lighted by the gibbous moon that shone down upon us through the floor to ceiling windows of the living room.

"I just returned. I had to go for a run with some of the men after training. I would have asked you to come with but, alas, you've been avoiding me all day."

A frown settled over his lips, the question clear as day in his gaze. He really had no idea why the hell I was avoiding him and it stunned me into silence.

Could he be that oblivious to the events of this morning? Or is he just lacking in self awareness?

Part of me knew well enough that he was not faking this. He really did not understand why watching him kill a man in front of me would have made me avoid him.

His emotional detachment was worrying but I thanked the goddess once more for keeping me out of the house and away from the invitation that would have quashed all my plans before they even began.

Squaring my shoulders, I levelled a confident gaze on him as I cast away all of my fears. This was my decision. To make sure that he would never see my weaknesses and use them against me. If he pulled that string, he would reveal the secret that would make him murder me and I can't have that. At least not now when I don't have a set plan of escape for when that inevitably happens.

I had been able to fool many people but the Mate Bond could never be duped. And neither could my killer mate.

"Yes, well, I thought it best to take some time to think about some things after my morning was interrupted by a brutal death. Jade offered to show me around and I accepted."

I responded, glad for the firm edge in my voice as I watched him for his reaction. We stayed in silence for five seconds, just watching each other and for a moment, I was sure I said something stupid. My hands stopped shaking as soon as the grin stretched across his lips. A grin that did not reflect any sort of humor at all.

Ah shit.

For every step he took forward, I took one back until I was cornered against the same glass windows that were cold against my back. I could see him more clearly now and his handsome features were like a punch to the gut as the mate bond came alive within me. The flutter of a part of me that I never thought I would feel was also there and I so wanted to clutch onto that thread and stop living in fear.

But then the man standing before me, the looming danger stopped me from indulging because all my focus had to be on my painfully handsome mate who was now watching me like I was his prey.

Eyes glimmered with promise and something hot and dark as he lowered himself to my level. His body was large against my own, his menthol smelling breath brushing across my lips as he placed his hands against each side of my head. I was well and truly trapped, barely breathing as I held his smoldering gaze that had not shifted at all.

"Brutal death?" He chuckled lowly, darkly as his eyes flashed with the ruthlessness that was reserved for his enemies.

It was gone as quickly as it came, but the shiver that ran up my spine was enough to confirm that I had, indeed, seen it. Self preservation came to the fore. My instincts came alive, readying me to fight the monster that lurked underneath the surface of this beautiful man.

"You probably already know this but I am capable of much MUCH worse than that, baby. Despite his disrespect, he was still a pack member and a quick death was mercy enough. Any other person would have gone through agony beyond their wildest imagination for disrespecting you. And nothing would have stopped me, not even you, my beautiful wolf."

My heart clenched at the term of endearment that seemed to do things to me internally. My blood ran cold, though, at his words that reminded me of the lethal killer this man was. He meant every single word. Heck, he had sugar coated it for me.

I knew he would have ripped them apart limb by limb and enjoyed it. The crazy glint in his eyes was enough to confirm that he was that fucking mental.

"But why? Why not banish him or imprison him? Why go to such drastic lengths?"

I knew better than to ask that question because, deep down, I knew the answer. I knew I was opening a can of worms and that was clear enough when his hand wrapped around my throat. My breath hitched, my palms sweaty as I willed my body to relax and prepare for any eventuality.

But it refused to respond. It couldn't when he was so close to me, his grip on me more gentle than I expected it to be. The pressure was just enough that I could every single one of his fingers and, for a moment, I wanted more.

You are fucking insane, Alexandra. Depraved...

Despite knowing better, willing myself not to indulge the dark side of me that enjoyed the thrill of danger that came with having my life in his hands like this, I still let the arousal wash over me. I let myself feel all the goosebumps that spread across my skin at our close proximity and his touch.

He pulled me close by my neck, our lips now inches away from each other and my panties soaked from the prospect of becoming his again.

Of experiencing the mind blowing orgasm he gave me only a few hours before. He could see it. The want and longing in my gaze.

His own eyes darkened threateningly with promises of sheet clenching-dirty-nasty-mind blowing sex.

"Because no one insults MY woman and gets away with it! You are mine, Alexandra, and anyone who thinks they can hurt you is a dead fucking man!"

He seethed, the golden glow of his eyes showcasing his wolf for a moment before he reigned himself in. I had not seen Dante so unhinged and the sight, though scary, was exhilarating. There was something about his words, his rigid body and grip on my neck that made my nipples hard and my body alive with the need to have him inside me.

Goddess, Alexandra, what the hell is happening to you?

The plan was to stand my ground against him. To show him that he couldn't get under my skin but now, now I wanted him to fuck me against these windows and on every single surface of our house.

I have lost my goddamn mind...He's a killer, not that I haven't been in my fair share of wars. My hands were also tainted with the blood of those who had attacked us.

But that's where the difference is, right? I had to fight back to protect my pack and people. He kills with no regard or reason. He is unhinged and as soon as he realizes that I fall in the category of loose ends, he will end me.

The thought was enough of a wake up call to erase the fog of lust and replace it with defensiveness. He seemed to note my change instantly, his eyes seeming to...soften?...

I was too stunned to process that, let alone his free hand brushing against my cheek in an almost endearing manner. Almost as if he was comforting me. It made my heart soar, warmth blooming within me as I watched him.

I couldn't help it.

"I would never hurt you, Alexandra. That is a line I would never cross. I give you my word that you are safe from me but if I find out you've betrayed me, that you have let another man touch you then there is nothing in this whole fucking world that could save him from me."

It was a firm promise. Almost as sure as a blood bond and I was speechless. He seemed ready to turn at the very thought of another man being with me. Unease unfurled within me as he levelled me with a gaze that seemed to be more knowledgeable than I was comfortable with.

It petrified me as much as the lump that settled in my stomach at his words. He would, without a doubt, kill Reed. He can never know that Reed and I were together.

Despite his promise to never hurt me, I kept my guard up.

No matter how much I wanted to believe him.

He'd kill Reed. And it won't be merciful like the death I witnessed this morning.

I forced myself to hold his gaze, to relay that I understood and it was only after he was satisfied that he let me go and walked towards the kitchen. I breathlessly stared after him, my heart hammering in my chest as I processed it all.

"I'm going to introduce you to the pack tomorrow at the breakfast gathering. Afterwards, you can begin your duties as my Luna. Its a lot but I'll have someone help and guide you through it. I will also come in whenever I can but it won't be as often seeing as I am swamped as well."

He stated, a small smile on his lips as he carried on the conversation as if he hadn't just posed a chilling threat. No, he simply sipped on his beer as he flipped channels on the TV and gestured for me to sit beside him. The man would take some getting used to.

He was mercurial as hell.

Tired of trying to understand this overwhelming and confusing man, I decided to listen and perch myself next to him before grabbing his beer and taking a sip. It was a bold move and he seemed to feel the same as he watched me through an indiscernible look and grin but I was too tired to really care.

"Your pack is beautiful."

I muttered, truly meaning it as we watched some mindless late night cable, a forensic show. He chuckled from beside me as he swallowed a sip from the bottle before handing it to me.

"Our pack, my little wolf. You're going to be an incredible Luna. I hope you know that."

His words comforted me, brought me some sense of confidence for the days to come. It may have been the mate bond eliciting the feelings within me but I didn't care. I chose to revel in his trust in me for this one night.

One night where we shared each and every single beer and watched mindless cable. All a few ft. away from the place where he had killed a man for me.

He is Dangerous.

Disturbed.

Lethal.

But he is mine and I am his.

***