CHAPTER 143

CHAPTER 143
ANASTASIA

"Alright, that should do it," Jeremy said, letting go of my arm he just bandaged.

"It's a good thing your injury isn't that serious. Just give it some hours and you'll he healed."

"Thanks, Jerry," I appreciated, leaning back in my seat to relax.

But someone had other plans for me.

"Is it true that you battled with old man Woods?" Jeremy asked in a whisper, grinning at me.

My lips parted into a smile, as my heart swelled with happiness while I stared at Jeremy, recalling those wonderful times we'd sit here with Arnold and chitchat nonstop.

"Who told you that I went head to head with him?" I asked, sitting up with delight written on my face.

Jeremy planned to act mysterious, so I'd figure things out myself. That's when Arnold and Sonia came in, gossiping about me.

Sonia looked excited as she tried to imitate whatever she thought I did with Woods.

That gave me my answer.

"Let me guess. You got your information from Arnold, huh?" I smirked at Jeremy, revealing his source.

He frowned at me and said, "Damn, I wanted to sound mysterious."

I laughed.

Sonia and Arnold heard my voice. They turned over to face me, and Sonia came dashing over to my point, throwing her arms around me for a hug.

"Thank the heavens you're okay. Alpha Diego told us you came for a check up. I hope you didn't get badly injured?" She asked, being a darling.

I smiled and assured her that I was fine.

"Just a scratch," I said, showing off the bandage.

She smiled in relief and asked, grabbing a chair to sit next to me, "When did that monster take you from the mansion? No, wait! Tell me about your fight with the Alpha!" She grinned, chin resting on her hands.

Even Arnold acted like Sonia, grabbing a chair to complete the circle.

"What came first? The fist or your knee?" He asked, already giving a demonstration on how the fight went.

"No, it's her knee!" Sonia picked.

Jeremy asked curiously, "When did you start taking combat lessons? Tell me alone. Don't tell these two."

Their interest and childlike behavior towards me, made me happy.

And I know Diego must have given this same behavior to Arnold when he told him what happened.

Even if he didn't see how it all began, my Alpha knows his Luna didn't stand down but fought back.

Before the party, Diego already had a hunch on how things would escalate. We planned out all the possible outcomes that could take place and the steps needed to make sure our enemies don't escape us.

The moment the lights went out and we saw Woods and his accomplice invading the party, I knew right away that Woods was going to take me away.

Diego knew as well, that's why he made this easy for old man Woods by taking father and I out of the hall.

He didn't just do this to let Woods kidnap me with ease, but to start a fire in his absence.

When Father races downstairs to find Diego and let everyone know what had happened to me, that news will show everyone present, the kind of person Woods truly is.

So when the news of his death comes to light, no one will suspect my Diego.

As for the Mafias who came to support Woods, I didn't know Diego was also planning to use Woods absence to get them on his side quickly.

I asked him while he was bringing me down to the lab, "When and how did you get through to them?"

He gave me a smile and told me how he and Arnold cornered them while they were fleeing from my father's mansion. And my Diego smartly used their own problem to win them over.

"Every infected and power hungry wolf would want the most dominating product," He had said with pride.

Indeed, the cure was the key. Just as Diego had wanted.

He finally got them under his control, and showed them why you don't mess with him.

That substance he inserted into Woods body... He got Jeremy to prepare him a deadly drug that will plant fear into the Mafias.

And our genius lab doctor once again proved his skills by creating something unimaginable.

"I bet they're praying to the heavens to save them from Diego's wrath," I laughed within, leaning back in my seat to watch the trio talking.

But once again, I couldn't.

"Father," I flashed to his terrified face in the bushes and felt an ache in my chest.

Sonia noticed my expression and asked, "Is everything okay?"

I covered it up with a smile, saying, "Totally fine."

They believed me.

"Hey, have you seen Diego?" I asked, looking at Jeremy.

"I don't know when he left the lab. Is he still around?"

"He is," Arnold replied, revealing where my Alpha was hiding.

"We saw him making a call at the entrance. You don't have to feel worry. I don't think he's heading out," He assured, patting me on the lap.

Pleased to hear he was still around, I excused myself and went to find him.

"I need to tell him," I muttered, playing with my fingers worriedly.

Almost getting to the entrance where Arnold had seen him, I looked up and didn't see Diego there.

"Did he step outside?" I asked myself, getting closer, so as to ask the guards there.

Suddenly, someone held my hand from behind, stopping me in my track.

I turned around and found Diego staring at me with a smile. He was still on the phone.

"I'll call you back, father. I just saw Anna walking by," He said, ending the call.

"Father?" My eyes popped, realizing he was on call with my Dad.

"Yeah, Master De Great," He joked, pulling me into his arms.

"I called to find out if he was okay. I sent my guards over to the mansion, to get the place in order."

"Oh, okay," I responded softly.

He was sharing his discussion with father and his promise to send workers from Crescent to fix the damages caused by Woods and the others.

But when he noticed my silence... "Why's my Queen looking dull?" He asked, taking me by the chin.

"Were you missing me?" He smiled, placing his forehead on mine to make me feel better.

But the worry in my heart wouldn't stop.

I had to let him know.

"Diego," I called, still connected to his touch.

Gulping down the lump in my throat... "Father saw everything."

"What?" Diego uttered, drawing his head to look at me properly.

"Saw everything? What do you mean?" He asked, narrowing his brow suspiciously.

I told him everything.

"Father witnessed what happened out there. He followed us," I shared, almost letting out a cry.

Diego was stunned. But for my sake, he composed himself and said, cupping my face, "It's okay, Anna. You don't have to feel scared. We'll... We'll see him tomorrow and clear things out."

"What if he ends up hating you again? This is one of his rules and we managed to convince him into thinking you're not a Mafia and now..."

"Anna, relax," He comforted, caressing my face before embracing me tight.

"I'm sure everything will be fine. Don't worry," He assured me, squeezing me close.

I really don't want anything to ruin our union with father.

I want everything to be okay.

.

As promised, Diego and I went down to father's mansion to see him.

My Alpha already contacted Dad, so he'd be aware of our coming. When we arrived, we met him standing at the mansion's door, waiting for us with an emotionless expression on his face.

That made me worried again.

Diego noticed my mood and carefully held my hand, calming my troubling heart.

He may not show it, but I know deep down he really wants my father to see him for who he truly is.

He's nothing like the monster everyone thought he was. He's an angel, and I hope father can see this too.

Together, we stepped out of the car and walked up to father, who then gave us a light smile, welcoming us.

"How was the journey?" He asked like someone who was trying to force a communication amidst a problem.

"Very smooth," Diego replied, staring at him.

I noticed Dad couldn't maintain an eye contact with us and just looked into a different direction, inviting us into the mansion.

Instead of honoring this invitation like that, Diego went straight to the point at once. "Father... We know you followed us last night. You saw everything that happened, didn't you?"

Father paused.

His silence gave him away.

He lowered his head down and drew back.

"Dad," I called in a low voice, tempted to draw nearer and explain things to him. But Diego placed his hand on my shoulder, stopping me.

"Let me speak to him," He said, and I accepted.

Diego moved closer to father and spoke—his voice mellowed to respect him, "Father, I can understand how you must be feeling after what occurred last night. You don't know if you can trust me anymore. You're lost... With the goddess as my witness, I can truthfully say that I was never like this."

Father lifted his head to gaze at my Alpha.

"Just like you, I also had a father who warned me to stay away from bad company," Diego shared.

"He was mindful of the kind of people my brother and I moved around with. Don't do this, don't do that... I had a great home."

I saw my Diego's smile fading, as he dived deeper into his past, remembering all the bad and hurtful things he faced.

It made me sad.

"But I lost everything, thanks to Woods. He destroyed my world, my family. I had to rebuild everything back from ash, hoping to atone for my sins. If only I had listened to my father and stayed away from that man, by now they'd be here with me."

Father understood what Diego meant. His eyes showed it.

"Yes, I am a Mafia. I am dangerous as hell when messed with me. But if you get to know me better, you'll see that under all those scary layers hides a mere man who wants to be a part of a family I can call my own."

My heart sank when I heard his wish.

Even Dad couldn't stay emotionless for long after hearing that from my Alpha. He was affected by his words and looked sad.

"I've been a lonely man for long. But after I met your daughter..." He carefully took hold of my hand, pulling me close to his side. "She filled the emptiness in my heart, accepting me for who I am."

He turned to face me with a smile, pleasing my heart.

"You raised a gem, sir. A rare treasure one must protect." He kept looking at me, lost in my gaze like it's a spell.

"She gave me a reason to be happy, and I vowed to do anything and everything in my power, to make sure she gets the best. I don't care what I must do to keep her safe. She's my world, and I must protect her always."

My eyes welled with tears just listening to Diego's determination.

Something my father couldn't ignore. Our yearn for each other.

"I love your daughter with all of my heart and soul. I want to be a part of her world forever," He said, looking at Dad.

"That's why I'm here before you, not as an Alpha or a Mafia... But a son who needs a father to stand by my side, correct me when I'm in the wrong, lead me in the right part, and accept me for who I am."

Father gazed at us, then at our hands.

Just then, I saw his face beaming brightly. He opened his arms wide at us and said to Diego, "You don't need my approval, Diego. If the goddess has marked you both as mates, and my daughter chose you with all of her heart... Then you are indeed my son."

"Father," I busted out joyfully, diving into his arms.

Diego joined in, receiving father's hug.

He laughed, happily holding us close.

According to father, he saw Diego leaving with Arnold and decided to follow from behind, hoping to join in the search and save me from Woods.

But he didn't expect to watch last night's scene.

It was troubling.

"Woods, Linda, Cassandra, Damian... I feel so disappointed in myself for having so much trust in them. I'm glad they're now a thing of the past. I have you two, my real family."

I was so glad to hear this from him.

.

"Are you sure you want to do this now?" Diego asked, holding the container which held the main cure inside.

With our enemies finally out of our way, I felt it was time for us to step out of the infected zone and be our true self again.

"Yes, I'm ready," I nodded, grabbing our glasses of water from the beside table.

Diego pulled out the only two pills inside the cup, handed me one and held the other.

Together, we gulped it down, looking at each other like we're waiting for a miracle to happen.

"Do you feel funny?"

"No. How about you?"

"I'll only feel weird if you feel weird," He smirked, making me laugh.

"I'm sure we'll be fine. After all..." I grabbed his glass, keeping both aside. "It's our genius doctor who made it specially for us. We'll be alright."

I turned back to face Diego but found him gawking at me.

Squinting my eyes, I asked, "Now what?"

He smiled and said, "You're so beautiful."

On hearing this, my cheeks glowed. I couldn't keep it in even for a second. I was blushing hard.

Just then, Diego crawled over to me, his eyes lost deeply in mine.

I sat there, staring back at my Alpha, who slowly wrapped an arm around my body, as his lips fell on mine for a deep savor.

I fell under his enchanting touch, feeling my body being guided fully into bed, as our skin soon came in contact, connecting beautifully with passion.

As the room fell silent like the night, I whispered right under Diego, expressing a sudden desire swelling in my heart, "I'm ready."

Diego paused, looking at me.

He understood what I meant, but still needed to be sure.

"Really?"

"Yeah," I responded, wrapping my legs tight around his waist. "Don't pull out this time. I want it all. Your Queen commands you," I smirked, caressing his chest.

A grin came spreading across his face as he held my waist and whispered into my ear, "You just read my mind."

"Ah!" I moaned, falling my head back.

My body melted in his grip, feeling his cock thrusting into my wet hole sweetly.

He got the message clearly.

He got it.