"Don't ignore the love you do have in the world by focusing on the love you don't."

We live our whole lives believing there are two types of people. The ones who are good and the others who are bad. But what is good? What is bad?

Is a man who kills a mass of people for his one true love good or bad? Was he a bad man or a man who was self-destructing after he lost his life's purpose?

I'll never know if Lorenzo was bad or good but I do know he was a villain. Which I'm sure is confusing considering the fact I can't decide if he's good or bad so I'll explain it in the best way I can.

A hero would save the world even if it meant sacrificing their love because a hero thinks about the greater good. Lorenzo Moretti was the kind of man who would burn down the whole world if it meant he got another minute with his mate. This doesn't necessarily make him a bad person because I believe the man had good intentions.

Who knows, maybe I'm looking into this too much.

"Alessandra! Are you even paying attention?"

My mom's shrill voice startles me and I look up to see her staring at me with disapproval.

"This event is a big deal Alessia! Not only is this your first event as luna but it's also the Chandani Ball!"

I sigh and try to look interested. Don't get me wrong, I love the Chandani Ball. Callie and I always stay updated on what all the alpha families were wearing and how the event went when we were younger.

The Oberoi family is much like the Moretti/De Luca family. Their ancestors were some of the first lycans and they host this ball in a tribute to them. It's a gorgeous event that costs millions of dollars to plan perfectly and usually I'm more excited about it.

But now, all I can think about is Zane. He's been forced into this situation, forced to take a Luna he doesn't really want. I don't desire to be with someone who's forced into being with me. Why can't I have someone who wants me?

"Am I interrupting?"

Vincenzo steps into the room with his arms behind his back. He gives me an awkward smile before bringing his attention back to my mother.

"Oh, of course not! We were just looking at some dresses for the ball, here I'll get out of your hair," she says. Once my mom leaves the room Vincenzo inches closer to me.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm perfectly fine Vinnie. What do you want?"

He takes a deep breath before continuing.

"Ok, I know Zane is my cousin but I have to tell you this."

"What is it?"

"I saw Isabel and Zane together, she seemed a little too close to him."

I guess I should be surprised but I'm not. They've been together forever and here I am ruining their love. My brain knows this but my heart can't help the pinch it feels as Vincenzo speaks. Is this going to be my life? Always standing in the corner as my mate pursues another woman?

"I don't want to do this Vincenzo," I say as tears prick my eyes. He looks at me with pity and I hate the way it makes me feel. I'm Alessandra Romano, a skilled fighter, legendary runner, and a future healer, I don't need pity. I sigh and decide to finally get everything off my chest.

"It just sucks you know? My whole life I've been in love with my mate. I've had this idea that we would meet and fall in love. He would only look at me, he would only love me. I would be his and he would be mine and all would be right in the world."

I pause and see that Vincenzo's pity seems to have increased.

"Yet here I am. My mate sent me away to another country and just as I thought I was free of the bond the goddess sprang this reincarnation bullshit on us! I just want love, Vinnie, is that too hard to ask for? I just want to meet someone who makes my heart beat faster and I do the same to them. I want to grow old with them, have kids but now there's no way out."

I feel relieved to finally voice the thoughts I've kept to myself.

"You'll find it one day Alessia, I know it." He gives me a smile and a kiss on the cheek.

"You should rest."

I nod and lay down. I hear the door click as he leaves. I bury my face in my pillow and ignore the fact that I liked sleeping in Zane's room more because it smelled like him.

How nice life would be if I had a love that was forever? With those thoughts, I drift asleep.

A low growl has me jerking up from my bed. I'm not up for long because Zane pins me to the bed soon after.

"What the fuck Zane!"

He bares his teeth at me in warning. It would usually have my wolf cowering but now that I'm Luna, I'm his equal, he has no power over me.

"Get off of me you psycho!" I push him off but he uses his wolf speed to push me back down. This time my arms are pinned above me. His right hand has both of my wrists in a lock as he sniffs me.

The tip of his nose runs up and down my neck slowly. He's careful to not press all his weight on me since I'm still bruised from yesterday.

"Zane..." I whimper as my hips shift upwards involuntarily. I can't help it. I'm surrounded by his scent and with his body so close to mine I'm tempted.

He instantly pushes my hips down and looks at me with anger.

Ouch. My ego.

"Why was Vincenzo in your bedroom?"

"Um, what?"

He growls again.

"I can smell him on you, why was he this close?"

His grip gets tighter as I take longer to answer.

"Nothing he was just checking in on me."

His eyes tell me that he doesn't believe me, but he surprises me when he brings his face back down to my neck.

His tongue sweeps along my throat slowly, like he's punishing me.

"Zane.."

His lips wrap around the skin beside my mark and he sucks in. My hips thrust up again and his begin to match their rhythm. I try to free my hands so I can touch him but he's adamant to keep them in his grip.

"Tell me the truth, Alessandra."

My hips move faster and the friction only increases. His mouth starts moving closer to my ear and he captures the lobe between his teeth.

"Tell. Me."

I ignore him and focus on what's going on. Suddenly, he stops.

"Fuck! Damn it why'd you stop?"

"Tell me," he says as he teases me with a swivel on his hips.

"Nothi-" I gasp as he pulls down my tank top and wraps his lips around my nipple. He swirls his tongue around rapidly and then slows down again. His hips follow the same pattern and I'm so frustrated I could burst.

"Fuck! Fine, he kissed me on the cheek but it was in a friendly way!" I yell out.

He growls loudly. His eyes darken and he looks at my mark.

"Clearly these fuckers don't get the memo."

"What?"

Zane attacks my neck with his mouth leaving several hickies behind. His hips start their movement again and he finally stops teasing me. I can feel him through my thin shorts telling me he wants this as much as I do. His movements increase speed and mine do the same.

"Fuck!" I hear him mutter beneath his breath. His eyebrows crease and he looks at me. Our eyes connect before his flash gold. His canines come down and he sinks them into my mark.

Unlike the first time, this is much more pleasurable. My hips jut forward as I feel my release rippling through my body. My leg spasms and Zane goes still a few moments after.

I've hooked up with some guys here but never has it felt like this. Most of our clothes are still on and yet he made me come harder than I ever have before.

I turn to rest my head on my pillow and Zane pulls up the blanket to cover me. I hear him leave before darkness consumes me.