"Find someone who shares your definition of love." - Mark Anthony

I wake up with a stretch and smile as the sun shines in through the window. I'm still not used to living in a castle but it sure does have its perks. My smile vanishes when I remember that in a couple of days Zane and Isabel will be getting marked in the very castle I've grown so fond of.

It's an old tradition to get marked in front of the entire pack but it's usually done back home in Tahoe. My sister, however, wants to follow the old tradition of getting marked in the spot that many of the pack's alphas and lunas have gotten marked. I think the last time it happened was with Zane's great grandfather. Most wolves don't have the patience to arrange a whole trip to Italy to get marked, but Isabel and Zane were able to wait a full two years.

Wonder what people think of that.

As the day of their marking approaches, my wolf grows more silent. She hasn't spoken much since we landed in Italy two years ago but now all I've received is radio silence. I'm hoping that once Zane marks Isabel it will fully sever our connection and my wolf will finally take the hint.

"Rise and shine, gorgeous!"

I turn my head away from the window and smile when I see Vincenzo. In my time here, I've made some friends. I have a lot more friends here than I do back home. Vincenzo is my best friend though. He's my hype man who occasionally also plays the part of my wingman. I also help him out with the ladies more often than not.

I'm not stupid, I know he was sent here to spy on me for Zane, but I think our friendship has made him switch sides. Now he flirts with me all the time and sets me up with a hookup now and then. I'm still a virgin but there are so many sexual acts that don't require intercourse. There's just always been something missing when I'm about to have sex. It feels more profound somehow and perhaps that only applies because I've never done it before.

I'm sure Zane has a whole harem by now.

I haven't asked about him but word gets through the grapevine even on another continent. He hasn't been very faithful to his "mate." People believe that his ways will change once he marks Isabel but I think he should get "whore" tattooed on his forehead.

"Oh god, please tell me you didn't fuck him!"

My brows furrow in confusion. What is he talking about? Then I smell it, sex.

"No, he was just showing his appreciation to me, if you know what I mean," I tell him with a laugh. He lets out a sigh of relief. I'm guessing reporting back to your cousin, who is also your soon-to-be alpha, that you failed at the one task you were assigned is not the best thing in the world.

He falls onto his back on my bed.

"Ah, I get to live another day."

"I doubt Zane would kill you if I slept with someone else."

Silence.

He whips his head around to me and gives me a look that suggests I'm stupid.

"For someone who is mated to an alpha, you don't understand all the logistics."

"What do you mean?"

"Wolves are possessive over their mates, but alphas are a whole different story. Imagine the restlessness you feel that drives you to find meaningless hookups or participate in every race our pack holds. Now multiply that by 10. That's what Zane feels."

"Seriously? You're exaggerating,"

"You think Zane is buried in pussy because he's sex deprived? I bet your sister would open up her legs if given the chance."

I just look at him with an eyebrow raised.

"Still don't believe me? Zane looks forward to the updates I send him. Watch it's 1 AM over there right now but if I text him something about you he will read it." He proceeds to grab his phone and text something to Zane. We both stare at the screen and in a couple of seconds, it shows that he did read the message. He's too much of a dick to respond but the message was seen by him.

Weird.

"Alright enough talking. You have to get ready so I can drop you off at the elder's house and you can do whatever the hell you want to do with that psycho old lady."

"That lady might have answers to some questions I have," I answer him with a stare that leaves no room for question.

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you.."

Vincenzo leaves the room and I try to get dressed in a hurry. What does one wear to a meeting with an oracle/werewolf who happens to be centuries old? I settle on an all-black outfit. Not too formal and not too casual.

I take a look in the mirror and evaluate my appearance. My hair has gotten longer and I usually leave it curled instead of straightening it like I used to back home. I've started wearing makeup more often too. Why didn't anyone tell me a smokey eye could change your whole look?

I rush down the stairs of this glorious place and end up bumping into someone.

"Someone's in a rush to see me," the man says. I look up and see that it's Amir. He's looking at me with lust in his eyes. His hands grab the crooks of my arms and bring me closer to him so I can feel his erection pressing into me.

Amir was the guy I hooked up with last night and he is as handsome as they come. His eyes are a deep black and his brown skin glows in the sun. I bite my lip and weigh my options. Would Vincenzo mind if I was late? How many times has he been late for our plans because he was chasing some girl? As if he can read my thoughts, a honk echoes through the foyer of the castle. I push away from Amir, give him a wink, and walk out the door.

I walk towards Vincenzo's car and hop in. He gives me a scowl that says he is not happy with my decision to go meet this lady. I look out the window and he starts driving. I want to tell him why I'm going, I do, but how do I explain something that I don't even understand to him? I know we are close but if I told him he would report it back to Zane and that can't happen.

The drive doesn't take very long. Within minutes I am staring at a shack? Cottage? It doesn't look very well maintained but this woman is my last hope. I turn my head to Vincenzo who looks disgusted with the sight in front of him.

"I'll mind-link you when I'm done."

"You must be crazy if you think I'm going to leave you here alone."

"What's the worst that can happen?"

"They say that she got so many visions of the future that she can't tell what's real anymore!"

"I'll be fine, but if it makes you feel any better you can wait in the car." He wants to argue with me but decides against it. I get out and walk towards the shack. The steps leading up to the door are unstable and creak with my weight. This place is in desperate need of renovation. The owner needs to watch some HGTV and fix this monstrosity.

I'm one step away from the door when it flies open. There is nobody behind it but I can see inside. With a few more steps, I'm standing inside the run-down home of Salvaza de Medici.

I walk in and am shocked to find a beautiful home.

Looks like someone does watch HGTV.

It's glorious and a lot bigger than I anticipated. There are plants everywhere as well as crystals.

"I've been expecting you." My hand goes to my chest and I nearly let out a yell of fright. I turn around and am face to face with none other than Salvaza de Medici herself. She's the sister of Donata, the elder back home. While Donata is more of a people person, Salvaza is a recluse. I can't remember the last time I saw her at a function in the last two years.

Salvaza and Donata were part of the Medici family, a powerful banking family that ruled Florence. They ran away when they discovered they had become supernatural. The sisters were born human but the goddess had other plans for them. One morning they woke up with the ability to see into the future. From that point on they were to live the lives of honorary werewolves who had psychic abilities.

Salvaza and Donata are the oldest living members of the Luna Rossa Pack. They were born in the Italian Renaissance from what I know.

"Tell me what brings you here, dear."

"This is going to sound crazy but there's this statue that looks exactly like me!" I shout. She looks at me like it's no big deal.

"Do you have an artistic lover? Maybe he made it in your honor."

"What? No! This statue is one of the ones that wrap around the castle. It's a statue of a past luna."

"Well, it's normal to find similarities. She might be one of your ancestors."

"This isn't a similarity. She looks exactly like me!"

"Why don't you give me your hands and I'll tell you what I see."

I place my hands out, my palms facing up. She places a crystal in each of them before closing her eyes and holding a crystal of her own. Salvaza takes a deep breath and mumbles something in Italian.

"Alessandra Romano. Daughter of betas and the youngest child of three."

Yeah, by a couple of minutes.

"You were kicked out of your pack by your mate. You have made a good life for yourself here. You miss your family but you're glad to have made some friends here. You are dreading the day your mate marks another."

She continues to spew information that I already know. Tears well in my eyes as I realize that I'm going to be like her. Mateless. But it isn't because the goddess didn't give me a mate, it's because he wants someone else.

"...your mind is plagued with questions. Seeing the statue has confused you and you want answers."

She abruptly stops talking. Her eyes start glowing white and I have no clue what the fuck I'm supposed to do in this situation. Is this normal? Do I call for help?

"West. You must go west."

She gasps and takes a deep breath in, clutching her throat. Her eyes are wide as she looks at me with a gaze that pierces my soul.

"You go west."

"I know. You already said that Salvaza."

"No, you don't understand! They want you to go west." Her eyes dart around the room in a panicked manner. She leans in to whisper in my ear.

"She wants you to go west."

"West could mean anything! Am I supposed to just grab a compass and start walking?"

"I don't know dear. The spirits give me information to deliver but it is up to you to interpret it."

With a sigh, I lean back against the wall. This visit is only causing me to have more questions. What could going west mean? Do I go to some different country or is west a metaphor for something?

West! How did I not think about this before?

"Thank you, Salvaza! I know what to do now!" I tell her. With a jump, I'm up and rushing towards Vincenzo's car.

"Be careful! I sense something ominous is approaching!" Salvaza shouts at me as I go down her creaky stairs. I offer her a nod and a smile. When I get to the car, Vincenzo is taking a nap.

So much for protecting me.

I knock on the window so he can unlock the car. He wakes with a startle and scans his surroundings, looking for a potential threat. His sight lands on me and he lets out a sigh of relief.

"Hello? Open the door! It's cold."

Vincenzo unlocks the door and I plant myself on the leather seat. New confidence surges through me and I look at Vincenzo.

"Take me to the west wing."