“Ehy ehy!” A deep voice just came from behind Elena Marco. Elena’s face instantly lighted-up.

Rex had just joined the crew with the usual joyful expression, in his sporty outfit and easy-going attitude.

“How’s it going sis?” He came over to Elena, kissing her on the cheek and leaving a lot of saliva. On purpose of course.

“I already shower eh! Thanks Rexy!!” Elena complained with a roll of her eyes, cleaning up her face and promptly seeking for vengeance.

“Can’t believe you dropped so much tomato sauce on your t-shirt! Such a baby!” She said pointing her finger at his chest. When her silly friend looked down at what she was indicating, she quickly threw her hand to his chin, making him howled in pain. Classic trick!

“Babies!” Marco snorted.

“Hey Marcolino! Where’s Crucy?” Rex was already back at his mocking ways. He was still massaging his chin and had Elena’s head trapped under his armpit. She was trying to escape from his iron grip but without any result.

“Uh don’t ask that question please!” Elena quickly exclaimed, but it was too late. The damage was done.

“Glad you ask! That crazy mate would be my death! Do you know what he did yesterday? He-..” And Marco started to repeat his story again, adding even more details.

Elena, that in the meantime had escaped from Rex and managed to punch him, started to run away.

“I’m going to meet my dad at the refugee homes guys! He just mind-linked me!” She lied without hesitations; an evil smile directed to Rex.

“Nooo El!” Rex called her, looking at her in agony.

“Rex! I’m talking to you!” Marco barked at him.

With a huge theatrical sigh, Rex crossed his arms, glancing daggers at Elena, who was laughing and quickly ran away.

Fiuuu! She was safe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey sweety!” Her father welcomed her in his office with a tired smile. She decided to pay him a visit anyway.

His desk was covered with documents, while several books where scattered around the studio. “What are you doing daddy?” Elena used her favourite nickname to address him. She went straight to sit in his lap and gave him a huge hug. Feeling comfortable and safe in his embrace, his scent had always reminded her of home and warm love.

“Just some issues with that crazy mutt of Alpha Ciro.” His father replied, massaging his eyes. “He wants to take back the young boys that escaped with their mothers. He doesn’t care how young they can be or about their mothers” Her dad continued.

Elena frowned. “We won’t let that happen, will we?”

“Of course not darling. Full Moon and Crystal Wolf had joined forces to be prepared for any attack from that mad man. And I-“

“What about Black Devil, dad?” Elena questioned in a serious tone.

“What about them, sweety?” Her dad looked at her, puzzled.

“I mean, now with Marco being mated with their Beta and all, shall we try to conciliate with them and at least reach a solution for an alliance? The more the merrier!” Elena reasonably pointed out. “Alpha Ciro is a ticking bomb, a threat to every pack. I’m sure Black Devil Alpha would agree on some sort of negotiation with us. To fight together.” She continued, believing that her solution made totally sense and could really enforce their defences against a possible attack.

“Elena”

Ohoh, he used her full name. “As it could make sense for any other pack that usually represents a rivalry to us, it doesn’t with Black Devil.” Her father gritted out, carefully pounding his words.

“Even if I closed an eye in respect to our history, they are still the mate less pack, and where there are no mates then there is no control in their warriors and organisational structure. Years after years of werewolves without mates, with some exceptions certainly, but still.” He then stood up and headed to the window. The treetops were visible from where she was standing, moving and dancing with the strong wind. In that moment, her dad seemed a creature from the fairy world with the moonlight kissing his skin like he was her favourite among all.

“But dad, they let us attend their high school.” Elena countered. “True, but probably to clean up the fact that they haven’t done much about the mad man and all his people escaping from him.” Her father was now looking at her, his large shoulders covering all the outside. His posture looked tense and his features tired from the amount of work beyond managing so many refugees.

"But if-"

“They aren’t just the pack you want to associate with, Elena. End of the story.” Her dad interrupted her.

“Now go sweety. Later we can watch a movie together with you mother and make some pop corns” He added with a sweeter tone. “Ok Alpha” Elena smirked, leaving her dad with his work. A small kiss on his cheek before going back to her friends downstairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alpha Giacomo POV

When my daughter left the room without smelling anything suspicious, I finally released a deep breath of relief. It was never simple to hide out the smell of death, especially from an alpha wolf.

’You have to tell her’ 

My wolf Rutio finally spoke, after remaining silent for the entire conversation I had with Elena.

‘She will be a leader one day, you must-’

‘I know Rutio. Just not tonight’ I replied and then sat down my chair, screening around the room like hidden eyes were observing me.

‘Let her be young and happy for some more time. The storm is coming.’

When I opened the drawer, the smell of putrefaction invaded the office again, and I was there alone with my wolf staring at the thing that was inside the box delivered to me this morning.

A pair of eyes and a severed head with the mouth still gaping...

For a help that never came.