The dense atmosphere at Full Moon pack’s house was palpable by every single inhabitant.

The community was on edge, with cracks forming on its strong pack unity. The fight of life against death had created a sad smoke of uncertainty and constant agony inside each heart.

Elena, Rex and Giulia were recovering at the infirmary of Full Moon Hospital, all in the same room. All very silent, in their private world of thoughts. All with broken ribs, perforations, constellations of deep scratches. Minor issues compared to what Marco had reported… If there was going to be a Marco left.

In that particular moment, Alpha Giacomo and his Beta were at the infamous Black Devil pack, where their beloved Marco was under intensive therapy and medically induced coma. Still miraculously alive. At least, those were the latest news, just from that morning. According to the doctors and the several specialists, the chances of his survival were tiny. But hope was always the last to die.

Crucifero was not at the side of his mate. Not even when they had operated his mocked hand or sewed several of his lower body injuries. And he wasn’t the one who had donated the precious blood for his mate, considering he had the same blood group. Elena felt outrageous first, just to feel guilty straight after, when they had heard what had really happened to Crucifero.

Black Devil Alpha ~ Elena still had issues thinking of this Alpha and her fated mate as the same person ~ had to chain his own Beta down. And very far away from their pack hospital, where he couldn’t sniff Marco’s scent. Keeping you far away from your dying mate may seem inhuman to some; however, it was solely for safety and practical reasons. The doctors were unable to do their job with a ferocious werewolf who was like a ticking nuclear bomb. Also, everyone else inside the hospital or its surroundings was safe from his fury.

When Crucifero arrived at the school and saw Marco in those conditions, had almost lost his mind if it wasn’t for a weak breath from Marco himself. So Crucifero and Gamma Rolando brought him straight to the emergency room at Black Devil, moving mountains and oceans to make sure all the best surgeons and medical specialists were taking care of Marco.

Elena was extremely sad for Crucifero. Not imagining how she would feel if her mate had been taken away so brutally by the destiny itself. Destiny that had created your mate for you in the first instance.

As per Alpha Ciro, he was kept alive at the Black Devil dungeons. Unsure on how long he would have lived after Crucifero was free to circulate again. In all honesty, the mad Alpha managed to throw an accurate and almost infallible plan… if it wasn’t for Black Devil Alpha’s incredible sense of smell ~ Elena blushed at the thought.

Ciro sent several rouges into Full Moon territory making sure nobody understood it was a pre-planned attack from Lord Skull but just a rouge attack. And one of those mutts managed to get the blood’s scent of Elena father. Another team of warriors from Lord Skull was sent to distract Black Devil, and being coward up to their roots, they burned their woods and homes at the borders, avoiding a frontal attack against the formidable Black Devil warriors. All of this meticulous strategy was solely elaborated to kidnap Elena and Marco. The latter because was the mate of the ferocious Killing Machine and considered a mean to negotiate with Black Devil. And about Elena, well, Alpha Ciro’s madness had totally burnt out his brain alive: he wanted to mate with her to make her the Luna of his pack and provide a strong heir. Being an Alpha’s daughter, she was considered stronger, with the bonus of coming from the pack that welcomed several of Alpha Ciro’s people. So, all was very convenient for the foolish Ciro. As if Black Alpha was going to let that happen to his mate. Silly Ciro had no idea about Elena being mated to the legendary Black Alpha, the raven nightmare, the boogieman. No one else knew anyway, Elena hadn’t spoken a word. Yet.

And fortunately for our dear Rex, and not for Marco, Alpha Ciro’s men confused the two. Hence the reason why Rex survived, and Marco was barely alive.

If a fog of sadness was hovering over Full Moon and Black Devil territories, everyone was happier than ever at Lord Skull’s, celebrating and partying. The chain of oppression finally broken.

For now...

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Few days later

Full Moon members close to Marco were given free access to Black Devil pack. With the only condition to notify either their Gamma or Alpha. Elena didn’t feel like calling her own mate, so she tried to manipulate Rex or Giulia in doing so, and even her own father. At first it worked, she was acting very casual. “Hey Rex, fancy to visit Marco today? Ok cool! Call the Alpha while I grab some snacks!”

Or

“Daaad!! Let’s go to visit Marco! Call the Alpha, I’m going to pee.”

The first time they went into Black Devil territory, Elena had turbulent feelings. Her wolf of course was in total joy, happy to have a peek at her future pack and her mate.

Marco was kept at a special facility on a secluded area. Elena, Giulia and Rex together with two Full Moon warriors were accompanied there by a Black Devil scary element, full of tattoos, that didn’t even manage to speak a word to them apart from some growls.

When they arrived, Elena barely noticed her dad standing in front of the Medical facility next to Gamma Rolando. She was too shocked by the scene on the right of the building! If she was a cartoon, her eyes would have popped out from her orbits with springs attached.

Her mate was there, with his back casually leaned on a tree and his huge arms crossed on his chest. Just wearing underwear!

It was like a piece of cloth threw over mountains of muscles. And there were three she-wolves drooling all around him, while he was in the middle talking to them, like it was very normal for him not to wear anything and go around like that.

How dare he? Elena was fuming and only when her elongated nails had pierced her hands, she decided to play his game.

Game on, mate.

She felt his glare the moment they opened the door of the car, his scent hit her again making her forget about his nudity. Almost.

Without sparing a glare at his direction, Elena proudly walked toward her dad, hanging from Rex’s arm. From her peripheral vision, she noticed that he suddenly stopped talking and stood up straight. Interesting…

When his deep voice reached Elena’s ear, she shivered against her will. “Girls, go back to the training fields, we will continue this conversation later.” 

Hell no, you won’t! Elena growled internally. “Are you ok?” Rex asked her with his eyes furrowed. She just nodded with a pout.

“Welcome to Black Devil territory! I’m Mirko, and you already know my gamma here, Rolando.” His husky voice was polite but hid a powerful, almost scary, dark side. “And these are my warriors Rick and Curt.” Alpha Giacomo started to introduce us. “Then we have Rex, my gamma’s son, and Giulia, which is Marco’s sister.” He continued to explain in a monotone. His facial features were tense, but Elena could see he respected Alpha Mirko. Even though he was in underwear… 

“And this is my daughter Elena.”

At the mention of her name, Elena finally glanced at Mirko who was, of course, looking at her. Very intensely. The shadow of a smile was lingering on his beautiful face. 

“Thanks for taking care of my brother, Alpha Mirko.” Giulia said, nodding at him and then looked at Elena, expecting her to add something. “Yes, thank you for rescuing us back at the school! Your wolf’s a beast!” Rex exclaimed, making Alpha Giacomo raise an eyebrow and Mirko laugh. Elena froze. His laugh was the best music she had ever heard. Why everything about him was so damned perfect!

“Shall we go to see Marco?” She finally blurted out. The proximity of her mate was too much, Elena was about to jump on him. 

“Oh! So she can speak!” 

That mate of her…

’You should just mark him and made him shut up’ Titilas finally intervened. 

’Your comment was unnecessary, Titilas’.

“I need to attend a pack meeting with my warriors, but my Gamma will be around if you need anything.” Mirko then said, heading toward the woods...  the same direction taken by those she-wolves. Elena puffed and crossed her arms, receiving a questioning look from Giulia. 

“Thank you Alpha Mirko, we will only stay one hour.” With that, Alpha Giacomo followed Gamma Rolando inside the building, together with her friends. Elena was about to go in as well, still frustrated at her mate, when sparks exploded on her wrist.

“Hi mate.” Mirko smirked at her. 

When Elena looked at his eyes, her mind floated away, to the island of insanity. But judging from his expression, she had the same effect on him. Which gave her courage to speak up. 

“Funny you call me mate” She muttered, tying not to glare at his chest. She noticed he was full of scars, which made him even more sexy if that was possible. 

“What?” He furrowed his eyes, with a confused face. 

“Don’t you wear clothes in this pack?” She continued. “Or do you stay around girls naked like this, even after finding your mate?” And then she stomped her foot. He seemed so puzzled and surprised; it was hilarious.

“I didn’t thin-“ But Elena interrupted him.

“Ok! I will also do the same! Guess is nice to aerate my bum from time to time.”

Mirko then pulled her in his arms, cradling her cheeks. “Fine with me.” He whispered in her ear; a wicked smile plastered on his face. 

“I will kill all the male population around you and enjoy the show.”

Elena bit her lips, as she felt butterflies and all the zoo going crazy around her stomach. “I need to check on Marco” She murmured, glaring at the door. Drunk from his scent and electrified by his touch, she was too shy to be in the arms of her big bad mate. And there was too much skin!

“I don’t normally wear clothes here in my territory as my wolf and I feel more comfortable without.” He then said, like a teacher that explained the water cycle to a child. When Elena glanced at his eyes, they were piercing her soul. 

“Oh” 

She didn’t expect that.

When his glare shifted to her lips, his big hand enveloped her much smaller one. When he leaned in, she automatically parted her lips and touched his chest with the other hand. Few inches away, their noses were almost touching...

“Elena?” 

Of course Rex-The Babysitter must always check on her. 

The spell broken, both Elena and Mirko blushed and quickly separated from each other; he was scratching the back of his neck, while she covered her mouth in shock.

“Ehmmm, so Alpha that’s how you take care of wild pines! Lots of water and some manure! Now I need to go! Byeee!” She patted his shoulder like they were old friends and then ran inside, pushing Rex on the side.

“What was that?” The latter asked. 

Mirko smirked and said: “Didn’t you know your Alpha daughter is a gardening master?”

“Gardening.” Rex repeated with a perplexed expression, not sure of what had  just happened. 

Ele must have lost her mind...after Marco’s incident.

Rex shrugged, observing Black Alpha. He was pretty scary in his human form. Sure, he was polite with them but only because Marco was his Beta’s mate. Rex had never seen a 'person' so massive and intimidating. 

And his wolf, oh my god. Rex wasn’t a pussy but that Godzilla/wolf that killed everyone in a blink, made him piss in his pants.

‘Could someone like him have a mate?’

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