The Alpha, the Witch and..

**...and the audacity of this bitch.**

11:20 PM — 2nd floor of the castle Fenis Castle, Aosta

Sunny Hirsch tried to speak but couldn't. She just coughed and choked, feeling the air go out of her lungs.

At that moment, moment, Otávio Blaze appeared at the bathroom door and said:

"What's going on here?"

Nanci Esposito released Sunny Hirsch immediately as if nothing had happened. She said:

“Nothing, Otto. We were just talking about how I want to give her a necklace as a thank you for taking such good care of you, Otto. Isn't that right, Miss Hirsch?”

Sunny Hirsch coughed trying to get air again.

Otto Blaze eyed the two suspiciously. He wasn't convinced at all, but Nanci Esposito grinned and said,

“Don't worry, Otto. Sometimes we have our differences, but nothing serious. Shall we go? It's almost time for your father's speech. You don't want to miss it, do you?"

The suspicious face was replaced by panic.

"Let's go."

Nanci took Otto's hand and left without looking back.

Sunny Hirsch's chest tightened as she watched Nancy Esposito and Otto Blaze walk away from her. She didn't want to be alone in that strange castle, full of masked people and follow them but had to go down a long spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever. Sunny carefully held the hem of her white tulle dress, which contrasted with her high-heeled red shoes.

“Sunny Hirsch” purred Bruno Blaze with an affection and love that felt like they had been lovers for years.

Sunny Hirsch raised her head.

The men standing on the stairs split up so she could pass through them. They were wearing black suits and masks of different colors and shapes of wolves. All members of the Blaze clan wear a wolf mask.

“Gentlemen,” murmured Sunny Hirsch.

Bruno, Enzo, and Valerio lifted their masks. Their eyes sparkled when they saw her in that ball gown. There was an embarrassingly large bulge in Argento's tailored trousers. Cassian whispered to Valerio "I'll be first". Alessandro stopped breathing. Marcus and Thiago were standing at the bottom of the steps. They didn't say anything, but the silence of their pent-up hard-on said it all.

Sunny felt like a deer running through a pack of thirsty wolves. In their eyes, there were expressions of surprise, delight, malice, and desire.

*Someone buries me 6 feet underground* Sunny Hirsch thought mortified.

Sunny Hiesch quickened her pace until she reached the bottom of the stairs and… tripped over a step. She let out a low “ah” and prepared to fall, but felt two strong arms wrap around her.

Sunny Hirsch opened her eyes. At first glance, she thought it was Thiago Blaze. But not. That man had gray hair, almost white. But the angular face, dark blue eyes, and contoured lips. He was muscular and incredibly tall. His hands were firm around her. He looked like a cross between Marlon Brando's (young) and Chris Hermsworth's beard in Thor. If Marlon Brando had stayed hot into his 60s, he would probably looked like that.

Antonio Blaze.

Sunny Hirsch knew who he was. She had seen pictures and had shivered at the possibility of meeting the patriarch of the Blaze clan. Of all the Blaze brothers, Thiago was without a doubt the most look-alike Antonio. But she could see all the brothers (even Otto) in that chiseled face.

“Are you all right, my dear?” Antonio Blaze asked in his Italian deep voice.

Sunny Hirsch felt her face flush and her body shake.

"Sorry, sir. I… I…” she stammered, not knowing what to say.

Antonio watched her with a piercing gaze.

"You don't need to say sorry. It was a pleasure rescuing you,” Antonio Blaze said. Sunny Hirsch released herself from his arms.

"Who is this?" asked a woman.

Sunny Hirsch knew it was Catarina Blaze and quickly walked away. The mask was a glorious blessing saving her from that crazy family.

“Honey,” Antonio Blaze said with a smile. His eyes, however, followed the young blonde into the crowd. It had been a while since he had seen such a beautiful woman. And it was certainly the first time he had seen such a beautiful woman run away from him on their first meet.

"You can't even behave during a public event anymore?" hissed Catarina Blaze. She chose an elegant dress but at the same time full of glamorous. It was made of silk and velvet, in a deep red color that matched her mahogany eyes. The dress had a fitted bodice and a full skirt that reached the floor. Catarina's mask resembles a fox. It *should* be a wolf... be something about it was just a red fox.

Antonio Blaze hugged Catarina and kissed her cheek.

“Tonight is just ours… Should we go?”

All of the Blaze brothers immediately straightened up as they saw Antonio Blaze take the stage. The patriarch was, of course, the first. He was the only one at the party not wearing a mask. As soon as he jumped onto the stage, the music stopped and the guests immediately turned towards the stage. No employee or advertisement needed attention. The mere presence of Antonio Blaze was enough to silence a whole castle. The Blaze brothers took the stage next. Marcus and Argento were closest to Antonio Blaze.

“Good night,” said Antonio Blaze. The voice echoed in the microphone. “It is with great joy that I welcome you to this magnificent Fenis Castle, a stronghold of our history and our culture. This is the twentieth annual masquerade ball.”

*If this girl dares to take one more step closer to my son-in-law*, thought Nanci Esposito looking at Sunny Hirsch's blonde hair standing out in the crowd, *it will be the last thing she will ever do.*

“Today we are here to celebrate the success of Wolf Group which has taken its place as Europe's largest conglomerate.”

On stage, Thiago Blaze noticed movement in the corners of the room. Everyone was mesmerized by the echoing patriarch's velvety voice, except those who had just appeared in the corners.

“...we are a pack that is not afraid of challenges, that always seeks to grow and adapt to changes in the market. We are a company that values loyalty, prosperity and family.”

In the audience, Sunny Hirsch frowned. She might not understand Italian, but she knew what *”famiglia”* meant. And she knew enough about Antonio Blaze to stifle a laugh. Some men like so much "family" that they have several of them.

“A lot of people ask what is the secret of the Wolf Group's strength?”

*Tax fraud, adultery, sexual slavery, domination,* listed Argento Blaze mentally *orgies, extortion, bribery, human trafficking…*

Antonio Blaze responded with a smile, “The answer is family! ”

Some of the Blaze brothers had to take a deep breath to keep from laughing out loud this time.

“...so I want to drink to the Wolf Group, to our pack, to our legacy. May we continue to be leaders, and may we expand and generate more opportunities for our people, and our country. May we maintain our union, our trust, and our loyalty. May we live with happiness, health, and love. *Salute!*”

Everyone applauded as if they had come out of a hypnotic trance. After Antonio left the stage, Marcus Blaze walked to the center of the stage. The crowd fell silent waiting for the man in the white wolf mask to speak. But before Marcus could say anything, a crash echoed through the hall. Marcus fell back, taking a bullet to the center of his chest. He gasps and falls to the ground.

The guests screamed and panicked. Some rushed to the exits, and some ducked under tables. The Blaze brothers took off their masks.

“Marcus!” shouted Antonio Blaze as he climbed onto the stage. “Marcus, my son!”

Antonio Blaze's heavy footsteps running back to the stage were drowned out by the screams of fear from the guests. He yelled upon seeing the blood, “Call the doctor. Where is the doctor?”

Antonio Blaze took off Marcus' mask... only to find Thiago under the white wolf mask. Otávio immediately dropped Thiago to the ground, shouting “Marcus? Where are you, Marcus?”

"I'm here," said Marcus Blaze.

Marcus Blaze took off the black wolf mask that *should* be on Thiago's face,

"Marcus," said Antonio Blaze relieved.

Thiago Blaze was still on the floor. Alone. Not even his father cared if he lived or died. He felt Antonio's embarrassed look on his face as the brothers realized that, in the end, they could live or die. Nothing mattered more to Antonio than Marcus, the heir. The golden child.

Thiago Blaze's world was turned upside down as he looked at the silhouette of Sunny Hirsch disappearing into the crowd. She looked beautiful in that dress. He regretted not having said it.

*She doesn't care if I live or die*, thought Thiago Blaze. He felt something deeper in his chest than the bullet.

Pain.