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Elena's eyes bounced left and right, right and left, tracking her friend's pacing. If there were a mark on the floor, it'd be from all that back-and-forth.

"I mean El, we were kissing passionately and then, suddenly, he pushed me away without any hesitation and jumped out of the window... without even bothering to open it. Imagine!" Marco complained with a lingering frown

"Did you heard me, El?"

She glanced up at him. "I did-"

"El! We were making out with so much passion, I swear! I never thought it possible. Then he just shoved me away, and whoosh," Elena jerked to the side, dodging some of the spray coming from that whooshing, "he jumped out of the window... and that's not even the end of it!"

"What more could there be." Elena muttered, snatching a tissue to wipe off his spit from her cheek.

"He didn't even bother to open it!"

"Open what?"

Marco looked horrified, putting his hand to his chest in a way that reminded me of an old lady clutching her pearls. "The window, El! He didn't open it!"

"I think that he-" Elena tried to say, but failed.

"After that? Nothing! Zero calls, no carrier pigeons delivering messages-"

"They are Black Devils, not spartans! I'm sure they've caught up to the smartphone era."

"My mate used me and discarded me aside like a condom!" Marco pulled his bronze hair.

"Technically, you can't reuse condoms more than once," she interjected, only to be met with a glare.

"Not helpful," he grunted before rising an eyebrow, "and how would you know about condoms?"

"General knowledge," she defended herself, crossing her arms.

It has been a week since they had started attending the new school, a week since Marco had met his 'special' mate and, lastly, a week since this lovely mate almost killed Elena on the spot, after Marco hugged her. She wasn't even a male!

Right now, Elena and Marco were alone in the labyrinthine kitchen of the pack house, oddly deserted. She stirred her spoon in her half-full mug, gazing nostalgically at the empty plate with annoying little mushrooms painted on it. Oh, wait, she missed a crumb. Her finger darted to trap the lone survivor on the tip before she popped it into her mouth. "Mmm, bliss," she sighed. She'd already smashed her allowed daily portion of apple crumble.

Giulia was strangely taking a nap, likely due to her brother's moodiness, and Rex was busy helping with the influx of refugees from Lord Skull, mostly widows with their pups.

Leaving Elena stuck with needy Prince Marco! With no more apple crumble.

He used to just list his conquests, sometimes providing too many details for Elena's sake. But he had never grumbled about one of these dates, only judged what they lack in a critical/ funny way. Elena was sure that his new relationship with his mate was an entirely different story, raising a whole bunch of insecurities, linked to real emotions.

"Oh El! And he never talks to me, like there's zero communication. I ask him questions or try to start any type of conversation, and nothing!"

Elena tilted her head. "No way! Have you tried talking about, um, hunting? Or his pack?"

"Of course..." he let himself fall loudly onto a chair that creaked in protest.

"So you don't know what his voice sounds like?"

"Oh, no, I know the sound of his voice, dominant but not in an arrogant way, deep but not old..." a dreamy look fell over his prince-like features, "It's perfect."

Elena beamed. "Is it?"

His smile dropped.

"Yea... I just hear him saying 'mate' and 'mine'. And not even in a lovely mode! He just growled them out and only when other males or females steal glares at my direction!!" Marco explained with sad eyes and hugging himself. All his vulnerability was coming up for the first time.

Elena always thought Marco was dipped in a pool of confidence and smugness after he was born.

Things looked different.

A small smile curled her lips at how in love Marco seemed already. "Maybe he just needs to get used to this whole new mate thing, and so do you." Elena suggested, sipping the rest of her chocolate milk - if she couldn't have more apple crumble she wasn't going to give up on the rest of the sugar family, "If he is anything like the Killing Machine everyone depicts him as, no wonder he doesn't speak." Her plan to calm Marco down worked.

"What does he do when you ask him questions?" Elena was getting excited for her input, "And you can point out how it makes you sad when he doesn't like to share with you."

"Nothing! He said nothing when I ask," Marco barked, throwing his arms into the air. "He just stares!"

Elena leaned back in her seat. "That's it?"

"Then he grabs me, mostly on my shoulders, and starts kissing me... and one thing leads to another and... oh you know how these things end, El!"

Marco seemed radioactive, with how red he'd become and almost glow.

A week of firsts!

Elena never expected to see a shy version of His Grace Marco. She well remembered (unfortunately) all the tales from his boys with lists of their pros and cons on whiteboards, the one-night stands she'd bumped into in the corridor when she needed water, the pushy admirers - few had to be chased away by the adults. Or, worse, the pictures Marco received on Tinder, or much worse, what he had replied with!

She shook her head, not wanting to relive those memories. And now Marco, the queer Prince, was acting all shy and insecure about his quiet, brooding mate, who had already captured his heart. If this wasn't romance, then what was?!

"Aaah and the icing on the cake, El! Yesterday night I received a text from a guy who asked to meet me just for a quick hook-up... and uuuh" Marco clapped his big hands near Elena's face, making her jump.

"He growled at my phone for like a whole minute and then he grabbed it, and puah! Out of the window, like it was just a piece of used soap!"

Wow.

Elena knew that mates were possessive but she had never heard these kinds of jealousy attacks... if the Black Devil Beta was this jealous, she couldn't imagine how the actual Black Devil Alpha could be...

Marco snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Full Moon calls El!!! Yuhuu!"

She blinked and glanced at his frown.

"I didn't finish eh! There's more!" He said, crossing his arms and facing her with obvious disapproval.

"What more could there be?" She muttered, looking Goddess-ward, wondering why the goddess assigned this mate to her best friend and let Elena deal with the aftermath of this match.

" Well, he wrote down the name of the guy in his stupid note-pad and down to his pocket." Marco gulped.

"I'm afraid he will kill the guy, Elena" Now he was whispering and looking around in fear. Like his mate would just be able to appear from the dark corner like a mischievous gremlin.

"Naa come on. Surely he was also with many guys before meeting you!" Elena was just (partially) joking, when Marco looked heart-broken, glaring at her like a lost puppy. "Do you think?" He asked her.

"I never thought you would turn out to be such a crypuppy!! Wake up, Marco!" Elena exclaimed, poking his ribs and refusing to let her friend wallow in despair. It felt like witnessing the fall of a king, and she couldn't bear to see him so despondent. Besides, if having a mate made you so miserable and anxious, then she'd rather postpone meeting hers for many, many years to come!

She regretted her words at Marco's drooping shoulders and quickly added, "your mate completes you and you will understand how to make it work in time. Just allow time for the mate bond to strengthen, my ROCKY!"

Yes Rocky. That was Marco's nickname, and it was short for Rocky Balboa. Not because Marco was like him in features or character, not at all actually. But because he had a huge crush on Rocky Balboa when he was a kid! The thought still gave Elena cramps.

When she finished mocking Marco for his crush on Rocky ~ it was at least five minutes of a well-deserved laugh ~ she finally hugged her friend, making sure his broody mate wasn't nearby to kill her.

"You would never forget that, you FARMER GIRL!" He retorted with a cunning smile. She growled at that nickname.

"Davide wasn't a real farmer! Only because he enjoyed taking care of his garden..." Elena explained for the millionth time to her malicious friend.

She should have been already known that it was impossible to win a verbal argument with Marco.

"I still remember your face when he came to our door with a bag full of organic carrots as a present for you, BUNNY!" Marco was continuing with those memories, laughing like a dying hyena.

Elena snorted loudly, punching her friend in the stomach, and making him cough. But still, he managed to continue laughing.

Damned Beta genes!

"I have to admit, he wasn't my ideal type." Elena stated, starting to smile herself. Davide was her ex- boyfriend when they were in their first year of high school.

Nothing too serious since Elena wasn't really into him. She had never dated many guys because everyone in her pack feared her father. After Davide, she had been hanging out with a couple of Beta's and Alpha's sons only, especially with the future Alpha of their neighbouring pack, Crystal Wolf. Full Moon and Crystal Wolf packs had always had a peaceful and friendly relationship since their previous Beta was Elena's grandmother.

Elena and Riccardo had been on a few dates but, since they both knew they weren't mates, things were never serious or had any feelings involved ~ at least from Elena's side. Sure, he was a handsome and funny guy, very protective of her and incredibly sweet, too much maybe. Riccardo had suggested several times to mate and merge their packs, thus creating a single, powerful one. But Elena was always reasoning with him, explaining that they were fated to someone else.

Rex had always mocked her about Riccardo, emphasising how girly he was. And that he had always imagined Elena ending up with a powerful wolf.

"The poor farmer is still scared of Alpha Giacomo's shadow!" Marco exclaimed, wiping his tears from laughing too much.

"Actually, now that I think about it, I have not seen him in a long time! He's probably in a serious relationship with his pumpkin!" And again, another fit of laughs, while Elena rolled her eyes.

When her dad had discovered her relationship with Davide, let's just say he didn't take it too well.

And now that Marco had mated with the Black Devil Beta... saying that his parents were very shocked by the mark on Marco's neck was an understatement. In fact, they had discussed for hours by themselves, after interrogating a very embarrassed Marco on how the two had met, how this Beta was and what he did.

Her father had already convoked a meeting in neutral land with the Alpha of Black Devil pack to discuss this new turn of events. There was this hope to reach a sort of short-term treaty between the two rival packs. But, since Black Devil Alpha was away for some reasons, the final decision was to be postponed.

Alpha Giacomo and company were very conflicted on how to handle the issue: they didn't want to lose Marco, but, at the same time, they didn't really want to welcome that crazy Beta onto their land. Marco, on the other hand, didn't mind the final outcome, he was happy to transfer into the Black Devil pack house, as long as he could move in very soon with his mate. A mate that was very impatient and annoyingly entering to Full Moon pack, without any notice, under the hawk eyes of Elena's father.

Elena still smiled at the memory from few nights ago, when Crucifero busted into their house while they were all having dinner together. He was completely wet from the rain, stained with blood and only wearing underwear. With a loud growl, he had marched to Marco, then carried him away, under the incredulous faces of everyone. Fortunately, her dad and the Marco's dad were attending a meeting at Crystal Wolf's territory.

"Ehy my folks!" A deep voice came from behind Elena and Marco. 

Elena's face lit up, forest green eyes sparkling.

Rex sauntered in, hands behind his head, sporting a goofy grin and cheeky dimples.

"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.

"Eww, I already did my facial, you slob!" Elena protested, hastily using her sleeve to wipe her cheek clean.

Revenge came next.

"Oh, can't believe you spilled tomato sauce on your shirt! Looks like I'll have to get you a bib for next Christmas!" Elena said, pointing an accusing finger at Rex's chest. As her best friend gazed down  she swiftly dragged her finger up to his chin, giving it a playful tap that sent his head jerking back, eliciting an exaggerated yelp of pain.

A second later, he had her in an iron grip.

Marco rolled his eyes. "Surrounded by pups. Where do I find the adults around here?" 

"Hey there, Your Grace!" Rex rubbed his chin, inching closer. "Where's your Crucifix today?" Crucifix as per Crucifero, Marco's freshly new mate.

Elena winced, her head still trapped under Rex's armpit as she trushed to get free. 

"Shh! Don't ask that!" She warned, but it was too late. 

The Prince Marco was unleashed. "Glad you asked! That mad mate of mine will be the death of me, I tell you! You know what he did yesterday? Hmm?! He had the audacity to..." And so Marco launched into the same tale once more, embellishing it with even more details. 

Meanwhile, Elena managed to wriggle free from Rex's not-so-comfortable embrace, delivering a punch before scurrying away."Need meet dad! He just mind-linked me!" She lied with ease and a grin aimed at Rex. 

"Nooo, El! Get back here!" Rex called after her, agony in his grey eyes.

"Rex! I'm talking to you!" Marco barked at him.

With a dramatic sigh, Rex crossed his arms and sulked, glaring at the door as Elena's giggles filtered through Marco's non-stop chatter.

And Marco was unstoppable.

Fiuuu! She was safe!

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

"Princess," her father greeted her with a forced smile as she entered the familiar office.

She had decided to pay him a surprise visit anyway.

His desk was buried under piles of documents, books were strewn across the small tea table and couch, and a few pages were haphazardly pinned to a notice board.

"What are you working on, Alphdad?" Elena used her favorite nickname. She came close, leaning in to give him a peck on the cheek. She always felt safe and comfortable in his presence, his scent bringing back memories of childhood and Sunday lunches.

"Just dealing with more drama from that loony mutt," Alpha Giacomo grunted, rubbing his tired eyes.

Elena tilted her head. "Alpha Ciro?" 

"Ciro. He's hardly worthy of the title anymore," he replied with a scowl. "He's demanding the return of the pups that fled his pack, showing no concern for their well-being or their mothers."

Elena pursed her lips. "We won't let that happen, will we?"

"Full Moon and Crystal Wolf have joined forces. We'll be ready for any attack. It's hard to believe we were once friends..."

"What about Black Devil, dad?" Elena interjected.

Alpha Giacomo glanced at his daughter, her curiosity a warning sign. "What about them?"

"I mean, with Marco now mated to their Beta, shouldn't we try to reconcile with them? Maybe negotiate neutrality or even form an alliance? Strength in numbers..." Elena suggested, believing her proposal made perfect sense and could bolster their defenses against potential threats.

"And Ciro is a ticking bomb, a threat to every pack. I'm sure this Black Devil leader could carve out some time from being the Alpha Nightmare – you know, and leave pups to sleep sweet dreams for a few nights – and agree to hash out some sort of negotiation with us."

Her father's hands clenched tightly over his thighs, the veins bulging. "Elena."

Uh-oh. 

"It might work with any other pack that's typically been a rival to us. But not with Black Devil. Never with Black Devil," he said between gritted teeth, carefully choosing his words and containing his temper.

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.

"Even if I turned a blind eye to our history, they are still the mateless pack, and where there are no mates, there is no control over their beasts and structure. Years go by with werewolves remaining mateless, only halves-" 

"But Marco found his mate-" 

"-with some exceptions, certainly, but still." He then stood up and headed to the window, where the treetops swayed and danced in the strong wind. The moonlight caressed his skin as if he were its favorite among all.

"But dad, they allowed us to attend the high school near their pack," Elena countered, hands gripping the head of his chair. 

"True, but probably to clean up the fact that they haven't done much about the Ciro's situation and all the migration." Her father turned to look at her, his large shoulders stiffening. To Elena, he seemed aged. She loathed it.

"But if-"

"They just aren't the pack you want to associate with, Elena. End of story," her dad interrupted, his tone final.

She almost stomped her foot down, but she suppressed it, knowing her father's mind was made up. But he was wrong...she could sense that. 

"Now go, princess, I need to review these...contracts by tonight," he gestured the door, moving back to his desk, his gaze to the stack of papers.

The weight of the world, or more like the pack, seemed to press down on his shoulders. Elena longed for normalcy, for his shoulders to return straight and rested.

 "Movie night later? Mom wants to use the popcorn machine," she proposed from the door, one hand grasping the opposite forearm. 

His yellow eyes lifted. "Of course, princess," he said, this time with a much softer tone. 

"Later, Alpha" Elena said, mustering a smile as she turned to leave, leaving her father to grapple with his duties and the burdens of leadership.

The burdens of an Alpha.

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

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, breaking his silence after the entire conversation I had with Elena.

'She will be a leader one day, you must-'

'I know, Rutio. Just not tonight.′ I replied, sinking back into my chair and scanning the room as if unseen eyes were watching me.

'Let her be young and happy just a bit longer. The storm is coming.'

As I opened the drawer, the scent of decay invaded the office once more. Alone with my wolf, I stared at the contents of 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.

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