Prologue
Luciano's POV
Before you start this story you should know something. I'm not a good person.
20 years ago
The meeting was set for 2 pm and the day was overcast. I shouldn't have been there really but I was eager to prove myself capable of taking on responsibility.
"I'll be good. I want to come along." My mom exchanged an exasperated look with Dad, her black hair identical to mine gleamed in the sunlight.
She bent so she was around my height. Her brown eyes sparkled as she regarded me. "Luc, you can come some other time. Mamma and Papa will be back soon, you should stay with Uncle Tommaso." She ruffled my dark hair. I brushed her hand off.
"I'm not a kid," I growled. "How can I lead the pack in the future if I can't go for just an agreement meeting?" Mamma's face crumpled and I fought the urge to apologise to her. Uncle Tommaso always said a leader needed to be strong and assertive to protect their people like Papa.
Uncle Tommaso's laughter drifted towards us as he walked in to wish my parents farewell.
"Well said Luciano." He patted my back. He bowed to my father before they gripped each other's arms doing a weird man-back-slapping hug.
"So Tommaso, you agree with Luciano?" Papa asked curiously.
"Of course, Alpha. He is the heir to our pack and cartel. He is smart enough to recognise the importance of immersing himself in the business early." I almost preened in pride. Papa nodded in agreement but Mamma still didn't look convinced.
"He is a child. He should enjoy it while he can." She said.
"Luna, it is a mere formality, nothing serious. He will be quite alright and I, as this pack's Beta, will take care of everything on the homefront."
That was how I found myself there. Often, I wonder if anything would have changed if I hadn't gone. I still don't know the answer.
The meeting place was a neutral area between our territories. We left with a normal escort of eight elite soldiers as was demanded by the treaty we signed. A treaty to finally end decades of bloodshed between my pack, the Lupo-Mortale Pack and the Stonecold pack. I was proud to be the son of the Alpha that was ushering in a new era.
The ambush was unexpected. One minute we were at the meeting grounds, our men spread out to secure the grounds in preparation for the meeting, the next wolves were everywhere. Mamma grabbed me and shielded me with her body as we backed away from the fray. Our men held their ground, firing rounds of bullets laced with wolfsbane killing enemy wolves. It seemed we would win until the men in the trees began to shoot as well.
Unable to see where the shots were coming from or properly shield themselves, our men began to drop like flies.
"Lucille, take Luciano and run." Papa growled before shifting into a massive black wolf. Mamma hesitated, then grabbed my arm and began to run.
"No, Mamma. We can't leave Papa." I struggled against her grip.
She paused and held onto my arms tight. So tight that I felt my blood circulation cut off. Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears and her normally blue eyes looked silvery as she fought with her wolf.
"You wanted to be treated like a man? Well, this is what men do. They make difficult decisions for the sake of their pack, their familia."
I followed her quietly this time as we ran. The forest looked the same to me but Mamma ran with purpose following the scent leading us to the cars. To escape. We could already see our car when they jumped us. I don't know how far back they'd been following us or if they'd just hung around waiting for us to return.
There were five of them and they attacked immediately. Mamma pushed me to the ground, rounding on them and taking one out with a roundhouse kick to the temple. She was a whirlwind of motion and energy, her claws flashing as she took no prisoners. She disarmed one of his guns and shot him in the face with it, then slashed another across his face.
He yelled in pain, clutching his bleeding face, and the remaining two circled her with caution. I just stayed on the ground frozen, my bladder loosened with fear and my pants wet. Maybe I could crawl to the car. Get it started then Mamma would– I felt cold steel against my neck. The man Mamma had slashed across the face held me captive.
"Bitch. One more move and I kill the brat."
"Luciano!"
"Mamma!" I attempted to call out to her but the man's hand around my throat tightened and I could barely breathe. One of the men attempted to jump Mamma while she was distracted and she ripped out his throat, his blood spilling all over her face and dress. The man's knife tore into my back and I screamed as hot pain seared through me. Mamma froze. The man kept cutting and my screams rose in intensity.