Caterina
Your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life, shouldn't it? As I look at myself in the floor-length mirror, the picture of a blushing bride, beautiful in every way possible. My long raven curls were hanging freely down my back, and my make-up accentuated my green eyes and full lips. I should be happy, excited and even ecstatic, right?
Today I will be marrying the man I loved, the man I fell in love with when I first saw him, the man who I thought was my fated mate.
Only for me to find out that he didn’t particularly feel the same way about me and saw me more as a nuisance.
How do you think I felt when I heard him say these words? The man who I thought was my mate turned out to be nothing of the sort. It was more infatuation on my side than an actual mate bond. Of course, he doesn’t know that I heard him say this; I happened to overhear him while he was in a meeting with my father.
So here I was in a wedding dress, feeling completely miserable and sorry for myself with not even a friend to cheer me up. I would much rather be on a stage right now, dancing my heart out to Tchaikovsky or Prokofiev, but honour decrees that I be here.
I suppose that I should feel happier. Sergio Andretti is the Alpha of the blue-blooded Onyx Myst Pack, the most well-respected werewolf pack in New York. Not only was he the alpha, but he was Capo and leader of the Andretti mafia family. In other words, I should be happier because my fiance was a powerful man.
But here I was, wishing I could be someplace else.
As much as I loved Sergio, and I had loved him with all my heart, I knew that I would never be happily married to him. He was always distant, cold and treated me like an annoyance instead of a lover. I would be nothing but a baby-making machine, churning out heirs for the Andretti family and doomed to be miserable.
Caterina, stop your nonsense and pretend you're in a play! I gently pat my cheeks and force a smile on my face. Today was my wedding day! I needed to smile and feel happier than what I did now. If I believe that I am happy, surely it will come to pass, yes?
My family would expect me to see this through with a smile on my face, especially my father, who was looking forward to this union to better his own connections in the mafia underworld. I think back to my family, how none of them was even in this room to help me prepare for my big day, and let out a sad sigh.
At least the Andretti family wouldn’t be worse than my own. Would they?
I sent up a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess, asking her for guidance and to help see me through today. I would be Mrs Sergio Andretti, the perfect bride and mafia wife, by the end of the morning.
A knock sounded at the door and caused me to turn around. When I do, I spot my little sister, Carlotta, as she peeks in with her eyes closed. Oh, boy, now I had to deal with this fake little puppet as well. “Are you decent?” she asks, and I let out a perfectly timed chuckle. “I am,” I answer her, and she opens her eyes before walking inside.
The unmistakable glint of jealousy flared in her green eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. “You look beautiful, Caterina - ever the virginal Mafia bride,” she gushes with a hint of envy to her voice and accentuates the word ‘virginal’.
I contain the roll of my eyes and only smile at her as she stares at me in the mirror, wondering why she was even here.
“Sergio is lucky to have someone like you by his side, and you’re lucky to have such a powerful man as your mate. Not to mention this gorgeous Spring wedding! Your babies will be beautiful, Caterina. I am so envious.”
Carlotta’s words cause me to do a double-take; why is she being so nice to me? She didn’t like me at all, even though we were blood sisters. Our mother favoured her over me for some reason. They all basically treated me like I was an Omega instead of the firstborn Beta.
“You will meet your mate one day, little sister, and when you do, it will feel like the entire world comes to a stop at the sight of them,” I say, explaining how I felt when I saw Sergio for the first time. It still hurts to know that the feeling was entirely one-sided.
I turn to look at Carlotta and notice the bruises and poorly covered hickeys on her neck and the top of her breasts. What has this perfect princess been up to, I wonder? I raise my eyebrows and I meet her gaze.
“Unless you’ve already met him?” I say with a giggle, and she grins at me.
“You never know, sister,” she says with a devious glint that I did not like.
We hear the organ sounding and look towards the door. “It’s starting. See you at the end of the aisle, Caterina.” She then kisses my cheek before leaving. My little sister’s attitude was completely different today; overly kind and showered me with compliments. This makes me feel uneasy, but I push the feeling down and cover my face with my veil. It was time to go.
My father waited for me at the entryway and had a scowl on his face.
“Hurry, Caterina,” he rushes me, and as I reach him, we link our arms. When I stepped into the church, I noticed that Carlotta wasn’t waiting for me as she had said. She is supposed to be my maid of honour, but she was not at her post. I didn’t like this at all.
What was she planning now?
Sergio was waiting for me, looking incredibly bored, but I could not help the happy feeling building in my chest. He looked impeccable in his suit, his muscular body barely containing it, with his raven hair slicked back and icy blue eyes blinking lazily.
Today I would be his, forever. My eyes drifted to my mother in the front pew again; she didn’t look happy for me at all but had a fake smile on her face. Her eyes scan the room as if she is looking for someone, then she looks at me again with disgust in her brown eyes.
Would I ever please them or make them feel proud to have me as a daughter? Even though I am eyed to be the next Prima Ballerina in the dance school I am in now and dying to attend Julliard, I doubt that I would ever be good enough.
We reach the end of the aisle, and my father places my hand into Sergio’s. He nods, and I join him on the podium before the priest starts the sermon. As he was going on about being joined in holy matrimony and linked to God, my eyes never left Sergio’s face.
I knew he couldn’t see me because the material my veil was made out of was quite thick, but he looked like he would rather be anywhere else but here. I sigh and resign myself to forever being his arranged bride - once wolves mate, they’re together for life even if the other person was not their mate.
“Since it is your intention to enter into Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.” The priest says, and I knew it was time for us to say our vows. Sergio sighs, then smiles. “I, Sergio Andretti, take you-”
A crackle of microphone feedback cuts him short, and the screen behind the altar that had been blank a few minutes ago now flashed to life with a video. By the sounds the people made on screen, it was evident that they were engaged in sex.
My face burns red with embarrassment, and I look away, uncertain of what to do next, but it is the name that the male whispered that stopped my heart.
“Carlotta…” he breathes out in reverence, and I realise that I knew that voice… I knew it very well. When I looked up at the screen again, only to have my heart shatter further; the sex tape on screen wasn’t just anyone or chosen at random. I stared up at the screen and saw it; he bared his fangs and sinks them deep into the nape of her neck as she let out a wail of ecstasy.
It was a mating ritual between Carlotta and my fiance, Sergio.
Caterina I turned to look at Sergio, but he had an impassive look on his face. “What is this? What’s going on?” I whisper to him and feel the hot tears slipping down my cheeks. This was not what I expected, not at all! I knew my sister hated me, but this was… this was disgusting! “Someone turn this off immediately!” He roars, and the screen goes dead, then he looks at me with a stony expression and sighs. “This is not how I intended for you to find out,” he says, but before he could continue, a scream pierces the air, and we turn our heads to the entryway where the sound had come from. My eyes widened at the sight before me; my sister was in tattered clothes with her makeup running and what looked like a rope around her wrists. “Sergio! That’s not me; it’s my devious sister!” she hollers and stomps towards us. The crowd in the church had now gone deathly quiet. I take a step toward her. “Carlotta, what-” “She tied me up because she was jealous! She wanted you to marry her inste
Caterina The door opens behind me, and I see my parents filing into the room, then closing the door. I turn around to face them, my eyes red from crying, but I see no regret in their faces. My mother walks towards me and grabs my wrist hard. “Don’t ruin this for your sister, Caterina,” She had the same bloodthirsty look in her eyes as my father did - beasts of the same blood. I wonder whose traits I inherited; it definitely was not theirs. My father stepped closer. “Or we will force you to turn rogue and give you to a wolf-fighting colony as bait. Keep quiet, keep your distance and do not disgrace this pack any more than you have.” He spits out his venom, equally as scalding as Segios. “You will have to tie me down to keep me quiet, father. This will be the last time this family abuses me, that I can promise you.” I say through gritted teeth while levelling my gaze at them. My father’s eyes widen at this, and he moves to hit me, but I
Caterina This is a wolf of The Blood Crest pack. The tyrannical and merciless Russian wolf pack who ruled the other half of New York. They were also mafia, Russian Bratva and Sergio’s mortal enemies. I see my father walk towards the man and speak to him. This terrified me; he had already promised me to the Lycans of Vegas. Would he offer me to this man as well? I know my father only wanted power, and the Bratva would be the perfect place to have a foot in the door. The man looked at my father, and his eyes flashed the deepest crimson I had ever seen. “Move,” he growls and steps past my father, whose eyes fell on me, but they held no intimidation against the man who had brushed him off. I step backwards, fear gripping my heart at the sight of this man stalking the room. His eyes were deep red, which signified he was an Alpha, and I have heard a lot about the Alpha of the Blood Crest Pack. Beast, he was every inch of the
Caterina I wanted a new start, and now it seems like I would get it. We exit my father’s mansion and come to a stop in front of a black and green motorcycle. There was a leather jacket lying on top of the seat. “Ever been on a bike, Caterina?” He asks as he gently puts me down next to him. I look up into his eyes, not sure how I’ll get used to the intensity behind his stare, and shake my head. “N-no, not at all,” I say and see the grin spread on his face again. This man terrified and intrigued me simultaneously, and it was making my head spin. “You’re in for a treat, then,” he says, about to place a helmet on my head, but then I remembered something. “Wait, I need to get my things, my clothing and belongings,” I tell him, about to turn around and walk back inside my home, when he pulls me back by my wrist. “I have just marked your entire family as my enemy. Do you really think they will allow you to waltz back in there
Kai I lay her down on the bed we would share from now on, our bed, and gaze down at her. My mate was stunning and had the essence of an Alpha deep inside her; she just didn’t know her worth yet. “We will show her…” my beast rumbles, calming down for the first time since I set my eyes on her. Yes, we will show her - we will make her a Queen. As soon as I lay my eyes on her back in that hall, I knew she was mine. Her scent reminded me of home, fresh Spring rain as it hit the forest surrounding our villa in Russia. The familiarity is what pulled me towards her, but it wasn’t until we made eye contact that I could confirm it. Even as Andretti droned on, all I wanted was her, and I had to kill a Beta pup to do it. The innocence she displayed didn’t match her smart mouth, and I couldn’t wait to see what else she had to show me. When I walk back downstairs, I hear my elevator open and listen to my pack as they stroll i
Caterina “I will ruin you, Caterina,” His words promised violence and so much more. This man was irresistible, his beast so much more so. I wanted him, wanted this Alpha to claim me, but I could see him fighting the desire to do precisely that. So I bring my hands up and cup his face, his crimson eyes closing as I do so while he leans into my palm. When they open again, the clear blue is back, and he smiles down at me. “Thank you, as much as I would love nothing more than to be buried deep inside you; I know you are nowhere near ready for me.” He says, then steps away from me and takes my hand in his, “Let me give you a tour of my home; our home,” I smile at his words, my lust replaced with excitement as he takes me around the massive penthouse. The place was beautiful, every piece of furniture and art painstakingly chosen to complement one another. This penthouse didn’t have the flashy wealth on display like at my parent’s mansion, even though I know that Kai is five times as we
Caterina I lay curled up on the bed, Kai’s warmth and touch slowly leaving my body. I never thought that meeting your mate would make you feel this intense animalistic hunger; like you just couldn’t get enough of the other. Is it because he’s an Alpha? Would it be different with any other wolf? The pull in my chest says different. Lifting up from the bed, I walk over to the walk-in closet that houses Kai’s clothing. His scent was the strongest here; musky and powerful. I close my eyes and drink him in, feeling my inner wolf yearn for him once more. It wanted to submit to Kai, I felt its need deep inside my core and I am afraid that I will not be able to hold it back for much longer. It’s only been day one - we still had a week to go. Taking a deep breath -regretting it afterwards- then I step out of the walk-in. I had nothing here, no cell phone, no clothing, so I decided to go downstairs. The clock on the wall shows 7 pm now;
Kai As soon as I left the penthouse, my wolf’s ears went flat, and he released a disapproving growl. “We’ll be back later; there’s work to do,” I tried to appease him, but I could tell he was anxious to get back to her. Her actions while she was on top of me nearly snapped my self-restraint. Her grinding, her hands all over me, her scent and naked pussy against my throbbing cock - it made me want to claim her right then and there. What little self-control I had pulled my beast back in and let her go. We were so close, so damn close… But now, I have to focus on work and step into my role as Pakhan. I got into my Bugatti Veyron and hauled ass out of the penthouse parking lot before I changed my mind. I owned a few clubs on Billionaire’s Row; by a few, I mean all of them. Men with money have different tastes; most of them border on illegal, but I do not care to cater to those types of needs. Money, dominance and women ruled these men, an