"But I crumble completely when you cry." - 505

A common misconception about my kind is that we are equally human and wolf. The truth is that even when we are in our human forms we still have our wolf senses. Our sight is sharper and our hearing is enhanced. The one thing that is shared between the two states is emotion. When we're sad we can feel it deep in our bones and when we're angry we can become cold-blooded killers ready to eliminate the source of our rage. But when we're happy, it's this joy that motivates us. It squeezes our heart in the best way and our body fills with warmth.

My whole life I believed I loved Isabel and maybe I did. Love can take many forms but not all of them are strong enough to outlast the struggles that come with life. All I know is that when I look at Alessandra, a warmth overtakes me. The desire to hold her and never let her get away from me is so strong that I'm already planning our exit from the courtyard.

We stare at each other with wide eyes. I look at her neck where my canines have left their mark. Dark blood surrounds the wound and I'm sure mine looks the same way.

"What the fuck!"

Both of us turn to look at who just yelled. Isabel's glare meets my eyes as she stares at me with an expression that is so full of rage it would have made a weaker man look away. Her glare shifts from me to her sister.

"You just marked my mate, Alessandra!" she yells.

Alessandra looks stunned. We just got control of ourselves and the first thing we are faced with is a yelling woman ready to deck us in the face.

"I'm so sorry, Isabel.." Alessandra says.

"Sorry? You're sorry? You can't just steal him like that! We've been together for years!"

"This wasn't supposed to happen.."

"How could you do this to me?" Isabel yells.

She's crying by this point. I know her well enough to know that those tears are fake. Valentina pushes through the crowd to wrap her arms around Isabel. Isabel instantly falls into her mother's chest and begins to sob. Valentina gives Alessandra a disapproving look as if this is all her fault. Alessandra's eyes fall to the ground in defeat. Her lips pull into a pout and it makes me want to take her far away from here.

The action fills me with rage. This isn't her fault, she shouldn't have to look so shameful.

"What the fuck is wrong with you man? First, you make my sister an omega and then you go and mark my other sister?" Ricardo yells. He's charging toward me ready to attack. Honestly, I deserve it. This was not the plan and now Alessandra is stuck with me forever.

"Stop, Ricardo!" Alessandra shouts. Her eyes are brimming with tears as she looks at her older brother.

"Why Alessandra? He just marked you! He proclaimed Isabel as his mate years ago!"

"Exactly! Proclaimed. Isabel's mate is dead ok? Dead! We need to accept the fact and move on,"

I can tell the pack members are stunned. No one other than my family and the Romanos knew of this.

"So she doesn't deserve to experience love just because her mate is dead?" Ricardo exclaims.

Alessandra looks at the ground to gather herself. Her red eyes meet mine before they wander back to her brother.

"What about Zane's mate Ric? Doesn't she deserve to be loved?"

Her voice is a whisper and I'm surprised he even heard her. Ricardo is stunned into silence. His gaze shifts to me and I know I'm fucked. He walks over to me, completely calm and collected.

"Did you know Alessandra was your mate?"

"Yes," I answer.

"For how long?"

"Since her birthday," I tell him. I don't cower, instead, I look him right in the eye and tell the truth.

"And you sent her away?"

"Yes."

"Why? Why would you two lie?"

"We've never liked each other, how were we supposed to love each other?" Alessandra answers for me.

"No, you know what I think? I think Zane here couldn't commit to one girl," he says in a firm tone.

"That's not-"

"I mean that would explain why you have been drowning in pussy for the past two years right?"

Instantly, I look at Alessandra to see her reaction. She doesn't really react so I'm guessing this was something she was already aware of.

Fuck.

Wait, why do I care?

"Damn Mister Alpha, I say this with respect but why wouldn't you want Alessandra? She really knows how to make a man feel good if you know what I mean."

I feel my heart stop. Not in hurt, but in anger. My head whips to look at who the fuck just said that. My eyes land on a tall man. He's looking at me like we're buddies in a locker room. He couldn't be further from the truth. Our relationship is simply one of a murderer and a victim, or a corpse because that's what he's going to be soon.

"The fuck did you just say?" I ask him. Ricardo stands at my side ready to assist me.

"I-I just meant it like Alessandra is so cool and smart and she can do this thing-"

I don't let him finish. Within seconds I have my hands wrapped around his throat. His feet no longer touch the ground and his face is turning red.

"Go on. Tell me what the fuck was going to come out of your mouth."

He tries to speak but all that comes out is air.

"Put him down, Zane!" Alessandra shouts and I can hear her footsteps as she runs to where I am.

"Why? So you two can fuck again?" I ask her. My tone is calm but I know everyone around me can feel the rage coming from my body.

"It's none of your business! You were doing the same thing you fucking hypocrite!" Alessandra shouts. She's right but that doesn't mean I'm not going to kill this guy.

"Well it is my business," Ricardo says as he walks over to me. He takes the man from me and looks him in the eye.

"Did you touch my sister, Amir?"

"I-I we didn't have sex! It was just some other stuff!"

Ricardo chuckles in a menacing way.

"What the fuck did I tell everyone before she got to Italy?"

Amir looks at the ground, not wanting to say the answer.

"Alessandra Romano is off-limits," he says, his voice trembling in anger.

"You know what that fucking means? It means you don't touch her, you don't look at her, he'll you don't even breathe near her!" Riccardo's eyes are full of rage. Amir blatantly disrespected the orders of my future beta and for that, he will pay.

"Hey! You can't make me off-limits. I'm my own damn person and if I want to sleep with someone I will!" Alessandra shouts.

"I always knew she was a secret slut! First, she goes to Italy to find some new men and then she steals my man!" Isabel yells. I look at Alessandra and her eyes are full of unshed tears.

The sight unnerves me. She's always so strong and I think I've seen her almost cry today more than I have my entire life.

I control my anger and walk over to Isabel, my steps deliberate and my eyes stern. Her eyes grow wide as I approach and I see something in them I've never seen before. Fear.

"You will respect your luna." My voice is firm and I'm practically shaking in anger.

She simply nods and looks at the ground.

"I-I will respect my luna."

I never want to see Alessandra's eyes full of tears again.