Chapter 4 Four
Elara’s POV
“Would my queen like me to take this one’s head?”
I stared at my lieutenant whose dagger was dangling dangerously close to the traitor’s neck. The bumbling fool was trembling from head to toe.
“Take him away.” I ordered.
With a nod of his head, the traitor was dragged away to the dungeons. I’d deal with him some other time.
I stood on the rooftop of one of the tallest buildings, looking down at the city that had once threatened to swallow me whole. Now, said city was mine. I was no longer the weak omega running for her life.
I was a queen.
Two years had passed since the day I fled from Luca Blackstone and the Blackstone Pack. Two years since I joined the rogue syndicate under Kael’s leadership. Kael was long gone though, taken out by a rival faction during one of our operations.
I’d fought, clawed and outsmarted every single rival until I emerged on top. Now, I was the ruler of the rogue syndicate. The most powerful underground force in Nightshade City.
We were no longer a ragtag group of outcasts. Under my leadership, we’d grown into a force to be reckoned with.
"Boss,” A voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to see one of my top lieutenants, Thorne, standing behind me. His scarred face and cold demeanor had earned him a reputation among the rogues as a merciless enforcer.
"What is it?"
"We’ve received word from our informants in the Blackstone territory," Thorne said. "They’re planning a council meeting with the other mafia leaders."
The mention of the Blackstone territory sent a familiar pang through my chest, but I forced it down. Luca Blackstone. His name had been whispered on the streets lately, rumors of his struggles to maintain control over his mafia empire.
The cracks in his power were beginning to show, and it was no secret that my syndicate had been chipping away at his territories.
It had been a long time since I’d seen him. I wondered if he still thought about me, if he ever regretted rejecting me so brutally that night. Probably not. He was too proud, too consumed by his need for control and power
"Where is the meeting being held?" I asked, my gaze never leaving the skyline.
"In the neutral zone," Thorne replied. "At the old cathedral. All the mafia leaders will be there. Blackstone, the Warrens, the Kordovas. It’s a perfect opportunity to make our move."
A cold and calculated smile made its way to my face.
"Perfect indeed."
The old cathedral was like a relic from another era. Tonight, it was the site of a council meeting that would determine the balance of power in Nightshade City.
I arrived with my inner circle. Thorne, Aria, and Darius. They were my most trusted lieutenants among the Syndicate. We walked through the doors of the cathedral with our heads held high. Our presence sent a ripple of surprise through the assembled mafia leaders. They weren’t expecting us.
The room was filled with wolves I had grown to recognize over the years. Most of them were mafias from the various territories. Their eyes followed me as I made my way to the center of the room. Then I saw him.
Luca.
He stood near the head of the council table. His presence was as commanding as ever but there was something different about him now. He looked more tired, the weight of leadership pressing down on him in ways it hadn’t before.
We locked gazes and for a brief moment, everything else disappeared.
"Elara Winters," Luca’s voice broke the silence, his eyes narrowing as he took in my appearance.
"I didn’t expect to see you here."
A smirk found its way to my lips and I didn’t bother trying to control it.
"That’s the problem with you, Luca. You never expect what’s right in front of you."
The other mafia leaders exchanged glances, sensing the tension between us. I could feel the weight of their curiosity pressing down on me, but I refused to let it faze me.
Luca stepped forward, his gaze hardening. "So you’ve come to play with the big leagues now, is that it?"
I raised an eyebrow, my voice calm. "Play? No, Luca. I’ve come to win."
The council room fell into a tense silence as Luca and I stared each other down. The air between us was crackling with unspoken history and unresolved emotions. I could see the recognition in his eyes. He was finally beginning to realize who I had become.
Just as he tried to respond, one of the mafia leaders, a hulking wolf from the Warren family, cleared his throat.
"Let’s not waste time on personal drama. We’re here to discuss the future of Nightshade City."
I turned my attention to the rest of the room, my expression cool and unreadable.
"The future of Nightshade City is changing, whether you like it or not. The rogue syndicate is no longer just a whisper in the shadows. We’re here to stay and you’ll have to decide whether to work with us or against us."
There was a murmur of unease among the leaders. I knew my words had struck a nerve.
Luca’s eyes never left me as he spoke. "And what exactly do you want, Elara?"
I met his gaze without flinching.
"Control. Cooperation. Respect. We don’t need to be enemies, Luca. But make no mistake. I won’t hesitate to take what I want if you stand in my way."
For a moment, Luca said nothing, his expression unreadable. I could see the storm brewing behind his eyes. There was conflict between his pride and the reality of the situation. He had underestimated me once before and now he was facing the consequences.
As I turned to leave the meeting, the tension between us still lingered. Thick and unresolved. I could still feel his eyes on me as I walked away, and for the first time in years, I knew that Luca Blackstone regretted his decision.
This was just the beginning. I planned on making him pay in the worst way possible.