Chapter Twelve

Lorenzo’s POV  

The drive back to the pack house was a blur, Rafe wanted to drive but I had refused to let him so i now my hands gripping at the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles had turned white, my mind spinning with thoughts that refused to untangle themselves. 

Arielle.  

My mate.  

I had spent years thinking I would never find her, especially since the Moon Goddess had cursed me to walk this earth alone, that was the fate of our family mateless and childless. So it had never crossed my mind, at best I would have mated some woman or gotten a breeder at worst.

But now, after I had finally given up hope, she had been dropped into my lap—only to be ripped away before I could claim her and the price to save her was very steep.  

" You really need to slow down" Rafe huffed, but I wasn't really listening. 

Vincenzo knew exactly what he was doing when he made his offer giving up my West Coast empire wasn’t just about land or power although that was quite a substantial amount of it —it was about control. 

 If I handed that border over, I would be showing weakness and proving to my enemies that I could be manipulated, that love could be used as a weapon against me.  

I couldn’t afford that. Not in my type of business weakness led to death and I didn't plan on dying anytime soon. 

But at the same time, the thought of leaving her in Hell’s Pit made my blood run cold. She wouldn’t survive. No matter how much time they gave her to heal, no matter who they let her fight—it didn’t matter. 

She was not a warrior. 

My gut tightened with rage at whoever had gotten her into this situation in the first place I felt like pounding them into the ground. 

I slammed my foot against the gas pedal, 

" Shit " someone muttered behind me as I sped through the streets, but no amount of recklessness could silence the battle waging inside me.  

By the time I pulled up to my pack house my head was pounding and the bright lights to brighten up the house did nothing to help me at all, it was busier than earlier with women trooping in and out delivering food and parcels.

Dinner must have been under preparation. I stalked away from the car and to the shed, ignoring Rafe calling for me, I just wanted to walk and not have to see a single soul. Once I had gotten my tension under control I moved back towards my rooms. 

Rafe was already waiting for me inside, sitting in one of the leather chairs in my living room, nursing a drink. 

His sharp gaze flicked to me the second I walked in.  

"You look like hell,again" he muttered, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.  

I ignored him, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it onto the couch. I poured myself a drink, knocking it back without tasting it.  

“I take it the meeting with the council didn’t go well,” Rafe continued, his voice laced with dry amusement.  

I shot him a glare and he huffed 

" Come on you can't be that surprised " he asked and I sighed. 

No I wasn't.

" He wants my West Coast territory in exchange for Arielle.” that wiped the smirk off his face.  

“He’s testing you,” Rafe said after a beat of silence. 

"Seeing how far you’ll go for her.”  

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.

 “I know.”  

" And?” Rafe asked setting his drink down on the table 

“And I don’t know what the fuck to do.”  

The words felt foreign coming out of my mouth, I had never admitted to uncertainty. Never let anyone see hesitation in my decisions. But Rafe was my second-in-command had been for years and more than that he was a friend. 

If there was anyone I could speak freely with, it was him.  

“I can’t let her die,” I muttered, staring at the floor. 

“But I can’t give him what he wants either even if it was based on principle " 

Rafe sighed.

 “Then you need to find another way.”  

I scoffed. 

“Oh yeah? And what do you suggest?” I asked leaning back into my chair. 

He fell silent, and I shook my head, draining another glass of whiskey before stalking towards my office.  

I needed to think.  

To plan.  

To figure out how to get my mate back without losing everything I had built.  

My office was dimly lit, the lights had been turned down, someone had been in here even though their scent was almost gone now overpowered by the scent of aged leather and cigar smoke clinging to the air. 

I sank into my chair, rubbing my temples, but before I could settle into my thoughts, a soft knock sounded at the door.  

I tensed.  

Then the door creaked open, and Olivia stepped inside, she smiled at me looking like she had just gotten good news or something.

Maybe it was her dress, it seemed new it was simple cream-colored dress and her delicate frame accentuated the soft fabric. 

She was an omega—a rarity in my world. Most omegas avoided men like me.

The Mafia circle as a whole was a big no for them especially when most of them were too weak to survive the brutality of this world. 

But Olivia had always been different, she was the daughter of one of my most trusted advisors, and she had been raised in this place and all it's dangers were not new to her.

Despite her soft-spoken nature, she had a way of slipping into rooms unnoticed, and she was very observant so the person who had likely dimmed my lights was her. 

She wasn’t a threat–persistent but not a threat.

“Alpha Lorenzo” she greeted with a small, shy smile. 

" Olivia" I replied shooting her a small smile 

" How are you " I asked and she smiled 

" I'm fine alpha but are you ok. You look troubled.” she muttered 

I let out a bitter chuckle. 

“That obvious?”  

She tilted her head slightly, offering a small, knowing smile. 

“I’ve seen that look before. My father gets it when he’s forced to make difficult decisions.” she replied and I smiled  

" I'm fine " I sighed, leaning back in my chair, she didn't make to leave 

“What do you want, Olivia?” I huffed and she stepped further into the room, her hands clasped in front of her. 

"I heard what happened.” I raised a brow. 

"Did you?” I asked, there was no way she knew anything but I asked anyway she nodded. 

“I heard that Vincenzo was threatening you again" she said and I almost laughed 

" I see. " I muttered, that was so close to the truth and yet so far.

" Threaten would be such a big word though" I muttered and she smiled.

" Of course alpha "  

I stayed silent a bit then I looked up at her 

" If you had a choice between duty and marriage, what would you do" I asked she was silent for a while and then moved closer, perching delicately on the edge of the chair across from me. 

" What do you mean" she asked and I sighed 

“There’s a girl,” I muttered, swirling the remaining whiskey in my glass.  

Olivia perked up, interest flashing in her gaze. 

“A girl?”  

I nodded, staring at the amber liquid. 

“She’s in trouble. And I need to get her out.”  

Her brows drew together. 

" Why can’t you?”  

I let out a humorless laugh. 

“Because the bastard holding her wants something I can’t give.”  

“The West Coast,” she murmured, surprising me.  

I turned to her sharply. 

" How do you know that" I asked and she smiled 

" That's the only thing that Vincenzo would ask of you " 

" This isn't about him though" I muttered and she smiled grimly

" I'm not that stupid alpha " she muttered leaning forward slightly, her expression thoughtful. 

" this girl… she must be important if you’re considering it.”  I gave a stiff nod.  

" I want to give you some advice.” she muttered and I smiled 

" Ok" 

“Why would you hesitate?” she interrupted, tilting her head. 

“Why haven’t you accepted Vincenzo’s deal?”  

I frowned.

 “You know why.”  

She nodded, as if expecting my answer.

 “But if you lose this person that's so important to you , what would be the point of keeping your empire?” I stiffened.  

She continued, her voice soft and not stammering 

“You’ve built your name on strength, on power. But what’s the point of all of it if you let the one her die and it consumes you patient " 

I clenched my jaw.

 “You don’t understand.” she smiled faintly. 

“Don’t I? My Lord, I may not be an alpha, but even I know what it means to lose someone you love.”  

I didn’t respond.  

She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering. 

“Power is fleeting. Empires rise and fall. But the loyalty of people you help … they are eternal.”  

I scoffed. 

“Maybe. But that doesn’t make it any less true.”  

"You sound like a fairy tale.”  

She laughed softly. 

I rubbed my temples. 

"You think I should give up my West Coast stronghold.”  

She shrugged. 

"I think you should ask yourself if you’ll ever forgive yourself if you don’t.”  

Silence stretched between us.  

Olivia's words clawed at something deep inside me—something I had been trying to ignore. I had spent years building my empire, ensuring that no one could challenge me. I had fought, killed, and bled for every inch of my territory.  

But none of it had ever made me feel the way Arielle had in just one night.  

I didn’t even know her.  

But I felt her in my bones.  

The way she had looked at me—so full of fear, yet still defiant. The way my wolf had recognized her before I had even known her name.  

She was mine.  

And I couldn’t let her die.  

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face. 

“Get out, Olivia.”  

She blinked, startled. 

“I—”  

" You didn't do anything wrong " I muttered lowly

“Go.” I couldn’t deal with her lingering in my space any longer especially with her advice still in my ears. 

Her lips parted as if she wanted to say more, but then she stood, smoothing down her dress.

 “Of course, my Lord.”  

She turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her.  

I sat in silence for a long time.  

Her words echoed in my head, over and over, again like some badly playing drum. 

I needed to make a decision.  

But no matter which path I chose, it felt like I was already losing.