Mated To The Mafia Werewolves

“Are you coming with me to the monster’s villa, or should I do this alone?” Arabella murmured. Her voice was hoarse from crying too much. Her eyes were swollen and painful, but compared to the ache in her heart, it was nothing.

As Thalia didn’t respond, Arabella reached for the car door, but Thalia swiftly snatched the keys from her hands, tucking them into her pocket.

“What the hell?!” Arabella exclaimed, her face contorted in a glare. “I shouldn’t have told you my plan. I knew you’d try to stop me!”

“Of course I will,” Thalia said. “I’m trying to reason with you, Bella. Going to Sandro’s villa to confront him might be the riskiest decision I’ve ever heard.”

“He killed Blaze,” Arabella said, her body trembling. “He killed Blaze!”

“We don’t know for sure,” Thalia pointed out.

“Blaze was talking to me, and then the shot rang out. I couldn’t hear his voice anymore, Thalia. You might think I’m going crazy, but I heard it,” Arabella said, her eyes shimmering with tears once more.

She had thought it would be impossible for her to cry again after shedding tears nonstop for an hour since it happened, but she was mistaken. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her palm but regretted it instantly as pain flared in the area.

“You told me that,” Thalia said. She stepped forward, gripping Arabella’s shoulder and staring into her eyes. “You need to stay calm, Bella. Whatever happened at the villa, it might be a trap. Plus, we can’t go in there without being prepared.”

Arabella shook her head. Thalia seemed to be taking this better than she was. Why? She couldn’t tell. Thalia loved Blaze dearly, but it felt as though she wasn’t as concerned about everything she had said. Thalia seemed different. Arabella couldn’t help but notice. If she were the Thalia she had first met, she was sure she would have gone to the De Luca’s villa without being told.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Thalia murmured. “And I feel just as unhinged. But we need help. We can’t do this alone.”

“How do we get help, Thalia?” Arabella asked. “Blaze might be bleeding out for all we know. How long before we reach him to know if he’s truly fine?”

“My brother is going to be fine,” Thalia assured Arabella, though it was more for her own reassurance. She felt the need to say it. Blaze was going to pull through. She could feel it deep within her. Call it a sibling bond, but that was what she believed.

“I’d like to believe that,” Arabella said.

“Come on, let’s introduce ourselves lest we appear rude,” Thalia suggested, clutching Arabella’s hand and leading her back to the pack house.

For the first time since they arrived, Arabella took a moment to study the pack house. The air was thick with the earthy scent of damp moss and the fresh, wild fragrance of pine. The pack house itself was set back in a wide valley, surrounded by dense woodland on all sides. It was a massive structure with imposing stone walls and several chimneys that seemed to expel smoke from a central fire pit she could see in the heart of the building. The roof, made of wood with a wooden frame and a covering of what she presumed to be thatch or some other grassy material, appeared sturdy but weathered. It stood large, encircled by several sizable wooden outbuildings connected by low, winding walkways. It seemed in better condition than the outbuildings, which looked older and more weather-beaten.

Arabella wondered if this would be her home for the rest of her days. A small part of her resisted the idea. Although they seemed welcoming with their broad smiles, she didn’t want to be confined here forever. But she knew she had no say in the matter.

“You must be Arabella Collins,” a middle-aged woman greeted with a warm smile, stepping forward. “I am Clarisse,” she introduced herself.

Arabella was taken aback that the woman already knew her name. She turned to Thalia, raising her brows, but Thalia wore a shocked expression as well.

“How do you know my name?” Arabella asked.

“We’ve been expecting you,” Clarisse simply stated.

Arabella had more questions swirling in her mind. She wanted to ask Clarisse what she meant by expecting her, but considering the number of people who had come out to greet them, she sensed it wasn’t the right time for that.

“I know you have a lot of questions, but here isn’t the right place,” Clarisse said, and Arabella nodded.

Then Clarisse added, “Everyone, listen. Miss Collins here will be staying with us until she deems it fit to return to her world. She holds significance here. I want her protected at all costs.”

Arabella heard murmurs, but no one objected.

“Now, get back to your activities. We’ll give her a proper welcome tonight,” Clarisse announced.

The crowd nodded and dispersed, leaving Arabella with Clarisse and Thalia.

“Come with me,” Clarisse said, leading them to another building that resembled a cabin.

As Arabella stepped in, she paused near the entrance. Her body tingled all over, and her eyes narrowed at Clarisse, who wore a knowing smile.

“What is this place?” asked Arabella as faint murmurs filled the air.

“This is one of your ancestors’ abodes, Arabella. We collaborated with them,” Clarisse explained, causing Arabella to furrow her brows.

“We were promised you after the last Phoenix when your ancestor was cruelly taken from us. And now you are here,” Clarisse said, smiling warmly at Arabella, who still looked bewildered.

Arabella turned to Thalia, who shrugged in confusion.

“I’m just as puzzled, Arabella. I never even mentioned you to Clarisse. I only said I was coming here for a vacation with someone and hoped to speak to her once I arrived,” Thalia explained.

“She’s right,” Clarisse confirmed. “We didn’t have prior discussions. Also, can’t you feel the powers here?”

Arabella did feel it, but she didn’t want to acknowledge it to Clarisse. If her ancestors knew she was going to come here, why didn’t they make it happen sooner? Why subject her to unnecessary suffering?Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.