"And like the moon, we must go through phases of emptiness to feel full again."

It's not her fault he can't keep it in his pants.

"Get out." With a sigh, I relax against my chair and watch as she gathers her clothes and leaves my office. She looks back at me over her shoulder with what I think is supposed to be a seductive grin. My only reaction is a dismissive wave. She flicks her dark hair over her shoulder and exits through the door we had crashed through a few moments ago. She runs into Hiro on her way out who looks at her with nonchalance before giving me a disapproving look.

Ah, here he goes again.

"Seriously Zane? You're becoming Alpha and marking Isabel as your Luna in four days!"

What he just said is the exact reason I was letting Amira suck me off. It served as an escape from my reality. Soon I would be responsible for nearly 1,000 werewolves. I don't mind that though, I've been preparing for this day my whole life and even more so these past two years. My main problem is the wicked wench I have to share that duty with.

Unfortunately for me, Isabel becoming an omega did not help her ego. She still has the power-thirsty look in her eye as well as the belief that she is still a beta. I guess telling her that she would be my luna one day was not the smartest idea.

"No need to remind me of what the future holds."

"You have to stop with your juvenile acts now that you are to be-"

"You are the one person who knows just how hard I have worked these past two years to become the best alpha I can be!" I said as I slammed my fist onto my desk.

My eyes flashed gold and my nostrils flared as I looked at Hiro. The desk I had been fucking Amira on was about to crack because of how hard I had pounded my fist.

I've spent my time working out and pushing my muscles to the point of agony as well as doing tactical training with my father and Beta Antonio. My brain is crammed with the layout of the pack both here in California as well as in Italy. I know how many people there are in each division of our army. Hiro's been my partner through all of it, so he has no reason to accuse me of slacking off.

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just that I think you are making a mistake with Isabel."

You and me both, buddy.

If the past two years have told me anything, it's that Alessandra and I were truly never meant to be. Most wolves would have had the urge to run and go be with their mate but I have been on my side of the world and Alessandra on hers. Personally, I think we have done better without each other. All the updates I've received on her have only shown that she is happy.

Yes, I receive updates on her. I don't have to worry about keeping boys away from her because Ricardo is just as protective over her as I am. Plus, I've got my cousin Vincenzo over in Italy to keep an eye on her so it's all good. I know it makes me a hypocrite. But it's not me who has murder on his mind when he thinks of another male touching Alessandra, it's my wolf Rafael.

It's true!

So what? He's an asshole, I was doing her a favor.

The keyword is almost.

See this is what I mean. It would have never worked out between us because I would just be fending off guys all the time and probably be charged with homicide. Even wolf laws have limits to the number of times you can commit murder.

"Zane?"

I turn around to see that Isabel is standing in the doorway.

"We have to go see Donata today, remember?"

"Hiro, check how this week's patrols went."

I grab Isabel's hand and lead her out through the packhouse. Everyone gives us a nod of respect as we pass. I've learned that my pack's respect has grown for me these past years as I have been putting more work into my future alpha duties.

Isabel swipes her hand away from me as we get closer to the door of the house.

"Holding my hand after you fucked a girl won't convince the pack that we are some happy couple."

"What we present is what they see."

"Yeah? Well, what about what they hear Zane? Everyone could hear her moans! Or did you forget that we have sharpened hearing?"

"For starters, no one needs sharpened hearing to hear what I did to her," I say with a smug smile. She responds with a roll of her eyes that are sparkling with jealousy.

"Second of all, alphas fuck around a lot. Most of their marriages are political anyways."

"Ours isn't political Zane! They think we are mates. No one cheats on their mate."

"Whatever, I won't continue after we are marked."

I never clarified that I never actually had sex with any of the girls, just the things in between. It just never felt right like it was too intimate.

By the time our conversation ended, Isabel and I were already in front of Donata's cabin. She opens the door before we could knock and welcomes us in.

"What brings you by today?"

"We want to make sure everything is looking good for our marking ceremony in Italy."

"Ahh yes, I've already checked and it's going to be a full moon! A necessity for the ceremony." Isabel smiles at this and my face remains the same.

"Here give me your hands, I'll try and see if there is anything else."

We both place one of our hands onto Donata's. It takes her a moment but she takes a deep breath and her eyes are white for a while. Suddenly, her body starts convulsing and she starts murmuring something in Italian.

"Oh my god is she ok?" Isabel asks.

"I don't know."

Immediately her body goes still and she opens her eyes in a hurry. Her breaths are heavy and I can hear her heart pounding. I don't know much about oracles but this must not be a good sign.

"Blood. All I saw was blood." Isabel seems shocked for a moment but she gathers herself together.

"So is there anything you can do to improve his mood?" Typical. She doesn't want anything ruining her path to power. Not my bad mood or Donata's prediction.

"What do you mean dear?"

"I mean that Zane has been an asshole this entire year! He gets ticked off at anything and the only time he's ok is when he's fucking other women." Donata's smile wavers and I'm not sure if she wants to grimace or laugh.

"Isabel go back to the packhouse, I need to talk to Donata."

"Gladly!"

She leaves the cabin with a huff and I listen in to make sure she is nowhere near the cabin before I ask Donata.

"What did you really see Donata?"

She frowns and takes a deep breath.

"Quite frankly, I'm not sure. I saw Alessandra in your arms, covered in blood."

I wince. That particular vision is lasered in my mind forever.

"Then I saw you. You were covered in blood, standing in front of a pile of bodies."

"So I'm going to become a murderer?"

"Well, this could be a metaphor. It could simply be a sign that you and Isabel mating will bring nothing but bad to this pack."

"What if it's another past thing, like the dream I had."

"I don't know what to tell you, Zane. This is something better suited for my sister, but she's in Italy."

I can feel my frustration grow. Sometimes I think Donata causes more problems for me instead of offering me glimpses into the future like she's supposed to. What type of oracle has visions of the past? That defeats the purpose.

"So how are you coping with not being with Alessandra other than being an asshole like Isabel said."

"I have someone at the police station give me the files of the criminals that cause havoc in California. Then I hunt them down and kill them."

"Ah, so bloodlust is your choice of coping." She looks at me in disapproval.

"It's the only way to distract Rafael."

And I'm running out of people to kill.