Farren's Point of View
Everything looked different from the vantage point of a car. The buildings seemed to lean away from us. The people as well. Although, the Amador family crest flattened itself against the side of the car. Maybe that was why the people tended to lean and look away. They wanted to live in peace, and our presence blew them in every direction except ours.
It was a sorrowful sight. To know that I was now part of the reason these people hurried inside and shut their doors. Stopped whatever they had to do and fled. But my brother was driving and I couldn't yell at him to stop. Place a few dollars in their hands and tell them to spoil themselves a bit. That I was sorry for causing so much unrest in their lives.
Camilo had sauntered off the moment he realized he was unwelcome. Smiled at my brother and walked away with his hands in his pockets. As if nothing in the world could keep him from me. Not even my own reluctance. Benicio had bristled but our conversation was over. For now. I was sure I would get an ear full the moment we got home.
But I was still in my own mind. Kept my hand firmly tucked beneath my chin as I stared out the car window. This was not in my plan. To find my mate. Settle down. None of it was planned. I had dreamt of the day when I found my better half but this half was nothing better. He was what I had fled when I had gone with Priamos.
My youngest brother would be utterly disappointed to learn of this new development in my life.
We drove past a few schools. Children lazed around outside. Waited for their mothers or fathers to come and collect them. None of them looked at us when we drove by. Hid their eyes with quick glances away. Or laughed at each other nervously. This broke me even more. They were at the ages I had been when I had gone away. Because this place was no place to raise a child. Fucking hell. At this rate, I would refuse to have my own children. Especially if it was with my mate.
The urban feel of the city passed soon enough. Gave way to lush green trees and horses grazing on the side of the road. We weren't far out of Lupitum. Maybe a kilometer or so. This was where the men of the Amador family lived. Far enough away from the main mansion that there wouldn't be too much trouble and close enough that, if shit hit the fan, they could assist quickly and efficiently.
Mother had always wanted to live on this side of town when I was growing up. Once upon a time, she had. Back when Santos was alive. Back when my mother still had a mate and not some horrible man who had abandoned her whilst pregnant to return to his family in America. Santos had adored his mate and four boys. Or so they had always told me.
Being the half-sibling had always come at a price. Secrecy was one of them.
Benicio turned into a long driveway when houses started to pop up on either side of us again. This was the neighborhood kids could still play happily in. Yes, it was built on darkness and drugs but the kids were always safe. Guarded. The most precious treasures of them all. On the other side of this neighborhood, there was a dead end. Walls covering the exposed side. No one was getting in, except through the main road. The one where even if you didn't see them, there were men all around you, watching as you came and went.
Their house wasn't as lavish as the one Camilo had. Rightfully so. But it was more than they had had in a long time. Poverty had struck them the hardest when Santos was killed. Forced them to move to a very unsavory part of town. That was where I had grown up. With a roof that was caved in. Walls with large cracks in them. The whole nine yards.
Now, they lived in a palace compared to those years.
The house was mostly Hacienda-style. With large pillars and wide arches. A fountain with moss covering it gurgling in front of the home. Sweeping staircase leading up to the front door. Thatched roof of brightest red. Vines crawling along the walls. My mother had clarified that this had been their previous home. That Santos had built it for her. You could see this in the way everything was placed. Built. A love letter to my mother. An ode to the life they had lived together.
The car stopped and I noticed Louisa on the top step. Her hair was pulled back in a braid. Hand on her growing belly. Romano was beside her, clutching his stuffed rabbit. The boy was one of the only sources of happiness I found in this house. Because of its origins, the house left me feeling like an outsider. My brothers acted as if I was one, as well. Louisa also made it clear that once my mother passed away, she would be the lady of the house.
Not that I wanted anything to do with this place. I wanted to return to my true home. Back in Ireland. Cuddle up with my nephew. Laugh with my family over a pint of beer whilst it poured cats and dogs outside. The heat of this place was no longer my friend.
Climbing out of the car, I inhaled the scent of freshly cut grass. Savored the lingering scent of Camilo still on me. It was both a blessing and a curse. Louisa's face turned into a scowl the closer I got. Morphed into something from another world. She had made her distaste for me clear since the day I had gotten here. Benicio truly had gotten the shortest stick when he realized she was his mate.
Not as short a stick as my own, though.
"What nonsense did you get up to this time, Farren? Honestly, your brother puts up with enough shit without you adding on to it." Louisa hissed. Romano's face lit up when I stepped in beside him. The boy extended his arms but his mother tugged him back to her side.
"Has mommy been moaning again, little Romeo?" I cooed when I looked at the boy. Ignored Louisa. The pet name came when he tried to woo me to his room with a rose he had stolen out of his grandmother's vase. Apparently, no one wanted to play legos with him. Except for his Abuela. But her health was failing. And the playing became less and less.
"Farren! Are you listening!" The woman hollered.
Forcing my face to remain blank, I looked up at her. Batted my eyelids ever so slowly at her. Drew out the moment, as Nerezza had taught me. Because nothing irritated people more than acting as if their urgency wasn't important. Like their presence was a nuisance.
"I heard you, Louisa. But that doesn't mean you are entitled to a reply. As you heard, I was in the middle of a very important conversation." This made her bristle. Let her eyes narrow in on me. Ants started fighting inside my stomach but I held my ground. Stared her down.
Scoffing, she stood to the side. Dropped her anger and let it sink into irritation. "Still acting like a princess, I see."
"Well, I am the daughter of a king. Unlike you, I was brought up with manners. What was your father again? A pimp?" This struck another chord in her. Louisa's eyes went wide and her mouth opened. I could see her forming the words. Could see her getting ready to throw them but Benicio cut in. Stopped her in her tracks.
"Louisa, Farren, that is enough. Louisa, take Romano to his playroom, I need to speak with my sister."
Her nostrils flared and being ordered around but she didn't protest. Picked up Romeo with a humph and set off into the house. I followed a little ways behind her. Ignored the murmuring of my brothers behind me.
Turning right, I aimed for the stairs. Stepped on the first one before Benicio spoke up again. "Farren! I asked to speak with you!"
Turning around with a sigh, I leveled a flattened glare his way. Let my slight irritation hang in the air between us. "I know. I just wasn't in the mood for it."
"His mate, Farren? Seriously? Do you know who he is? What he does?"
"Yes. I do. If my memory serves me right, he is your boss. Which makes you almost as bad as he is."
"I have no choice in this, Farren. I do what I do to support my family. On the other hand, he enjoys this life. It amuses him. He isn't like us. Please. Just keep your distance from him."
"Trust me. I was fucking planning on it. Not like I will be around for much longer anyway. I knew when I am not wanted."
This seemed to strike him in the chest. Benicio took a step back. Looked up at me with wide eyes. Sad eyes. The eyes my mother had made when I had decided to go with Priamos instead of staying here with her. Because I was still their blood, even when I never wanted to be.
"That isn't fair, Farren."
"Nothing in life is fair. The moment she is gone, so am I." With that said, I trotted up the stairs. Felt my short dress bounce against the top of my thighs. Benicio stood and watched as I vanished up the stairs. Took a sharp right turn and he was gone from sight.
The events of today had left me feeling drained. Done. I had found my mate but it was unlike anything I had imagined for myself. For some reason, I had hoped I would find my mate in the hills of Ireland. A farmer with sheep. Cottage with a burning fireplace. Hanf-me-down rugs and a love for nature. Not some mafia man who wanted to rule the world.
Crashing onto my bed, I felt tendrils of fatigue setting in. Not the kind where your body screamed to sleep but the kind where your mind refused to process anymore. The kind that ripped into your soul and refused to let go. It pulled a yawn from my mouth. Forced edges of black into my vision.
I fell into the abyss. Needless to say, no one noticed my absence come dinner time. Thus, I continued to doze. Fell in and out of relentless dreams. Which was a dangerous thing, considering I heard a loud thud. Heard footsteps walking closer. But it was a dream.
Until it wasn't. Until I woke up to a dark room and an even darker figure leaning over me. The scream lodged itself in my throat. Bubbled and broke on my tongue. Shriveling back to the other side of my bed, I felt cold fear slithering down my spine.
Reaching to the left of me, I hastily put on the bedside light. Flooded the room with a soft glow. Camilo stood on the other side. Frowned so deeply I was sure he had carved it onto his face.
He had broken into my home. Came straight to my room. I wanted to vomit. Would I ever be able to escape him?
Camilo's Point of ViewShe looked delectable stretched out on her bed like that. Dress riding up over her ass. Legs slightly spread open. Hair tossed in every direction. Her skin glowing from the soft moonlight streaming in. Almost like a maiden desperately trying to lose her innocence. But she was no maiden and I knew her innocence was thinly spread. She had been the whore of the king. A concubine who held so much power the king proclaimed her his daughter instead of a whore. Which took the world by storm. I had admired her friend, Nerezza, more than her over the years.Watched as the three of them climbed the ladder of power one step at a time. Phaedra had won in the end. Farren and Nerezza had been cast out. What luck I had that one of the three most powerful women in the werewolf world had landed on my door. Turned out to be my mate. What an exciting feat. Father would have been proud.Or so I liked to think. Because I was too young when he passed that I could barely remember his
Farren's Point of ViewWaking up early had always been my worst nightmare. Until I had endured a true nightmare last night. It shook me to my core. Ripped out a piece of my chest I was unsure whether I would be able to fill it again. Because it involved a faceless man lurking in the shadows. Watched me whilst I tried to sleep. Stroked my hair whilst I moaned for him to get away.That's what happened when Camilo entered my room last night. Left a hand print on my soul that I would never be able to wash off. I felt dirty. Disgusted. Tainted in a way I had never experienced before. Because he had broken into my room last night. Acted as if it was the most normal thing on earth.It wasn't. I had hid my trembling. Shoved my fear so far down I nearly choked on it. But the moment he left, I felt a small sense of relief. Until I had to sleep. The thought of him coming back. Of watching me. It sent shivers down my spine.There was an undeniable danger surrounding the mafia boss. A threat that
Farren’s Point of ViewThere it was again. That cursed word. Hanging from his lips as his mother whipped her head back to me. Took me in, as if seeing me for the first time. I felt my mouth open slightly. Let my teeth shine through. Because I had nothing positive to say back to him. Fear turned to acid in my mouth. Dried up the last reserves of spit I had.Honestly, I wanted to scream at him to run. That I had a mate, whom I hadn’t accepted yet, but that was beside the point. Camilo wouldn’t hesitate to murder the man in front of me. Kill him in his bed and move over to his mother. Slit her throat. Most likely drink her blood. Because I was the mate of a mafia boss. But I was also the mate of one of the most handsome men I had ever seen.But it was his mother’s expectant eyes that froze me in place. Instead of running, I smiled down at her. Swallowed hard before looking back at her son. Who was also staring expectantly at me. Noticed a slight twinge in my face. "I'm Rafael." The man
Farren's Point of View I knew something was wrong the moment we drove into the estate. My mother stood on the porch. Foot tapping. Eyes narrowed in slits. Arms crossed over her chest. Benicio stood a ways behind her. He refused to look anywhere but at the car. Yes, something was definitely wrong. When I came back from my years-long trip, as they had put it later on, no one had come out to greet me. I had to get out and find them one by one. The house had been foreign and strange. But they had remained in their designated spots. Refused to come to greet me at the door when they knew I was coming. "What did you do now?" Louisa asked with an exasperated sigh. I glared at her but slid out of the car. The lingering fear from my stalker had vanished. Dulled into a smooth rock that sank to the bottom of my stomach. Seeing them out on the porch, there was a different kind of fear. Had Priamos passed? Or Nerezza? Or any one of her mates? The thought was stifling. Brought new heights to my
Camilo's Point of ViewGetting back inside the mansion without anyone spotting me took more out of me than I had thought. If someone saw me, they would tell mama in a heartbeat. Sometimes I wondered who truly ran this operation. The woman was formidable. Strong-willed. The best mother on this side of the planet. But she was also nosey. Judgemental. Strict. And sometimes I wondered if she still saw me as a child to be scolded. That's why I snuck out. Snuck back in. Tried not to make a single sound as I walked down the hallway.Some part of me got angry at the fact that my men didn't notice me enter. If I could move about so easily, their don, then who was to say someone else couldn't? At least my secret for the night was safe. I wasn't in the mood to explain to my mother why I had gone out. Or wanted to tell her that I had found my mate. That conversation would go over difficult.Reaching the top of the stairs, I took in a breath. Steadied my hand on my knees. I might have been the bo
Farren's Point of ViewSteam billowed out of the shower as I stepped out. Trailed behind me when I walked to the mirror above the basin. There was something rather soothing to having scalding water hit you with force. Massage away some of the lingering tension. But it couldn't wash away the dread I had for the rest of my stay here.It was no secret that my mother had cancer. That she refused treatment. We kept it quiet, though. Acted as if nothing was out of place. At night, I would bring her food when the servants weren't there. Hurry a bowl to her when she wanted to throw up.Cancer was a horrid thing. Even more so to wolves, seeing as we healed much faster than humans. Our bodies would cave in sooner than humans' as well. Blame our genetics. A blight on our race. I was here to help my mother. The last thing I could do for the woman who had given birth to me. Nerezza had been more of a mother than Elizabeth ever had. When my father left her, she never quite recovered. Or so Priamos
Farren's Point of View My mother had glared at me when I had come down the stairs. She had been waiting with Benicio and Louisa. Leon stood more to the back. Had his arms crossed over his chest. Glared silently at Camilo walking behind me. He looked less menacing than my mother or brother. But still not pleased that his baby sister was going with his boss somewhere. For all they knew, I could be kidnapped and murdered. Louisa was the first to speak up. Made her voice heard when no one asked for her opinion. "I don't think this is right, Benicio. She should stay home and tend to her mother for us. That's why we called for her. Not to run around with," her eyes swept up Camilo's body as she sneered. "Him." "If you simply called her to tend to your mother, why not just hire someone qualified to look after her. I pay you more than enough to sustain it, Benicio. But if money is the issue, let me increase your salary. I only want to help my dear mate." Camilo said from behind me. Glanci
Farren's Point of View My lungs squeezed out every bit of air I had inside of them. The pit in my stomach grew into a black hole. This was what nightmares were made of. Without thinking, I let go of his hand. Leaned a bit back so as to not be any closer to him than necessary. This was the worst possible outcome of all. Camilo found out about Rafael before I had gotten the chance to flee. From the look in his eyes, I knew what he had in mind wasn't pretty. Or acceptable anywhere else but in Lupitum. "How did you find out?" I breathed. I could feel my eyes widen. Hands tremble on my lap. The moment we had had before this was shattered. Gone with the wind. There was no getting it back and the minuscule amount of honesty he had given me was shattered. Camilo smirked. Tossed a grape into his mouth with one easy movement. Swallowed it down after chewing a few times. This was the man who controlled this city. The man who could have people vanish in the middle of the night. And I had cros