Alpha Moretti Chapter 20

“So, where you you want this picture frame hung?” I hold up the picture with my finger, and look over at Luca, who is obsessing a little too much at the tiniest details for his baby’s nursery.

“Above the lamp. Wait no, not there. Put it to the side where all the other pictures are.” He directs my hand and where the picture should go.

“No not that side, the other side. Yeah, right there is perfect.”

I hung up the frame, and took a step back. It did look like it was a great spot for a frame.

“How about we take a break? We’ve been at this for five hours.” I suggest.

Luca adjusts stuffed animals on the diaper table before stopping. “I guess that’s a good idea.”

I chuckle. “We can surprise our mates with food. I know they’re out reviewing training today.”

Luca nods in agreement and we step out of the nursery and travel to the kitchen. I go to the pantry and he goes to the fridge.

Luca is such a great guy. Easily my best friend here, no offense to Malik. I mean, he’s great, but just a little wild for me to handle.

“I found lemonade?” Luca takes out a pitcher full of the sweet drink. I grab a box of saltine crackers and hold it up.

“Crackers and lemonade?” I ask carefully.

Luca laughs. “The mom snacks are already happening, and my baby isn’t even here yet.”

I snort in amusement and pull out some small plates and cups. We put the crackers on the plates and pour the lemonade. I grab a set and so does Luca before we head out into the backyard.

“We can advance the 6 year old training. They seem bored. And more defense classes for the 13 year olds. They’re new teenagers and they get cocky with fighting. That’s not our focus right now.” Moretti quietly says his plans to Malik, who’s keeping track of his changes on an iPad.

“Hey babe, want a snack?” Luca announces our presence, and they both look over. Stress leaves their faces as they see us and the food.

“That’s be great, actually.” Malik speed walks over to us and greets Luca with a kiss.

I just walk over to Moretti and set his food down on a table that’s near him. As soon as I do so, he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls my small body into his much larger one.

“Thank you.” He kisses the top of my head in appreciation, and I feel my face heat up.

Head kisses will never get old.

“Are you hungry as well?” He asks, concerned.

“I might or might not steal a few crackers.” I smile innocently.

He rolls his eyes and let’s go of me waist so I can steal a chair from the table. He sits across from me, and we begin to eat and discuss his changes and improvements to training.

———

It’s about twenty minutes later, when things go horribly wrong.

I narrow my eyes as I smell something strange. A scent.

Vessel is pacing around in my head, and Moretti suddenly looks very alert.

My eyes snap over to the edge of the forest where I heard rustling. I wasn’t going crazy though with seeing things.

Elizabeth stepped out and onto our territory, looking really angry. Like, a damn scary angry that made me want to go hide. But like hell was I gonna do that.

Moretti stands up, and walks down the back porch steps and onto the grass. I stand up as well, and all the pack members currently training have halted their actions, to see what was going on.

More people step out of the forest, behind her. They all wore similar black cloaks to Elizabeth, but they weren’t lined a royal purple. They were more of a dark maroon and magenta mix.

I follow Moretti down the steps and stop somewhat behind him. Malik races to Moretti’s side, growling. Luca holds onto my elbow with both of his hands.

“Ansaldo!” Elizabeth calls, once show knows she has everyones attention, all eyes obviously on her.

I narrow my eyes in confusion.

There is no one by the name of Ansaldo here.

My eyes widen when Moretti responds.

“What do you think you’re doing here Elizabeth, trespassing on my land?” His voice practically booms over the entire clearing.

“I’m here to set things straight.” She practically sneers.

If I’m not wrong, I think I see Moretti, or should I say Ansaldo, barely flinch.

“Get off my territory, before my pack rips you to shreds.” He growls.

Elizabeth just laughs, shrugging him off. “Oh, you know you can’t do that, Ansaldo. No matter how hard you, or anyone else, tries.”

I look back and forth between Elizabeth and my mate, who is not looking back at me.

“What does that mean?” I jump in.

Elizabeth’s gaze snaps to me, and she gives a smile that looks innocent, but in reality it is far from that.

“That’s a great question, Liam. Care to explain, Ansaldo? Or should I?” Her light brown eyes travel back to my mate.

Ansaldo growls. “I have nothing to explain.”

Elizabeth laughs, which sent shivers down my spine. “But yet there is everything to explain. Like how you can’t hurt me? How you used me? And how you’ve been lying to Liam?” She innocently states.

The last part took me aback, but I tried my best not to let it show.

“You’re lying.” Malik snarls.

“I am anything but lying, my dear Malik,” Elizabeth shakes her head. “Don’t you want to know the truth, Liam? Of who Ansaldo really is?”

Ansaldo finally looks back at me with, desperation? In his eyes.

I look at him, back to Elizabeth, then back to him. “What does she mean?” I say with frustration.

“She means nothing.” He tells me.

“But I do,” she cuts right back in. “And if you don’t want to tell him everything, then I will.”

He turns back to the brunette. “Let’s talk in private, Elizabeth.”

She merely shakes her head. “You’ve been talking to me in private for way to long now. So let’s talk publicly, and catch everyone up, shall we?” Her eyes dart to me again. “Especially poor Liam.”

I feel anger rising up in me, but I’m not sure who to direct it towards. So I stay still.

“Centuries ago, Ansaldo here, had a mate. However, it really was not who he wanted. It was a witch. Of course the big, powerful and strong alpha had to reject her. Simply because she was not what he wanted,” Elizabeth begins, stepping closer to us.

“Stop-” Ansaldo tries to interfere, but she continues anyways.

“Of course, he took matters into his own hands. He didn’t want anyone to find out, obviously. So what does he do?” She snarls the last part. “He tries to kill her.”

She pulls off her hood, and moves her hair, showing hideous claw marks on her neck.

“But he clearly didn’t do the job right. Now being rejected, and on the brink of death, I realized that I didn’t want to be alone. I’ll admit, I did curse him. But it was out of protection, and to save myself. I can’t be harmed, and I can’t die, until he gets his next mate to mark him. But I’d doubt you would want to do that, considering he’s been lying to you.”

I look at Ansaldo, and he’s carefully watching me, shame evident in his eyes.

“Tell me the truth.” Was all I said. I was trying to fight off tears. Coming from a parent who was rejected, I cannot stand rejectors.

“Li…” he trails off.

“What have you been lying to me about?” I growl.

“Nothing really. Just a person named Kyle.” I look back at a shrugging Elizabeth.

“How do you know about him?”  I keep trying to blink back tears.

“Ansaldo was one of the head trainers at the Alpha Camp Kyle attended. Pretty much being the Alpha of all Alphas, it was pretty understandable on why he was there, and operating things.

“One day, he encountered Kyle reading a letter. And the scent on the letter threw him off. That’s when he discovered you. He got angry, and pretty much took Easton from his home pack, to be with Kyle.

“Now I’m assuming you know that Kyle and Easton quickly became close. But I don’t think you know that Kyle still wrote you letters every other day.”

A tear fell down my face, and I quickly turn my head to a guilty looking Ansaldo.

“Ansaldo took the letters before they were sent out, and burned them. I’m guessing he wanted you to be more vulnerable to coming back to Italy with him.” Elizabeth concluded.

I still looked at Ansaldo, and I shake Lucas hand off my arm.

“You lied to me.” I choke out.

“L-” he tries.

“You lied to me. You said you knew nothing about Kyle.” I cry.

Ansaldo says nothing.

“You knew how heartbroken I was, because his letters stopped arriving. You knew how much I loved him!” I yell.

“I was just trying to protect you.” He quietly says.

“Protect me? From what? A clear breakup that him and I needed? If you really wanted to protect me, you wouldn’t hurt me in the process.” I shake my head in disbelief.

“Please I-” Ansaldo reaches out to me, but I take many steps back.

“I thought I could trust you.” I scrunch my nose up in disgust.

“You can, I promise you can.”

Elizabeth stands to the side, a satisfied grin on her face.

“I can’t. And I can’t stay here anymore. I need to go home. To my real home.” I wipe the tears freely flowing down my face.

I turn and run back into the pack house I now suddenly really despise.

I hear Ansaldo try to run after me, but I think a few people hold him back.

I run into what used to be mine and Ansaldos shared room, and grab a suitcase.

I quickly pack the clothes I have been so generously given here, into the case.

I slam it closed, because there wasn’t much to really grab. Just a few pairs of clothes and that’s about it.

‘Liam, I’m sorry.’ Vessel whines.

I drop to my knees and begin crying again. I let Vessel take control as I hide in the back of my mind.

I don’t want to anyone to talk to me. Not after everything that just went down.

What else was a lie? Or did Elizabeth already cover it all? Was she actually telling the truth?

Of course she was. Ansaldo didn’t deny anything.

Vessel stands us up, and takes the suitcase off the bed.

He walks over to a phone and calls a cab. They said they’ll be here quickly before we hung up. Vessel looks around the room and finds a stack full of money, and pockets it.

We make our way out of the room, and silently make our way to the front door, until we’re caught by none other then Ansaldo himself.

“Liam, Wait, please.”

Vessel turns around and let’s out the most threatening growl I have ever heard him do. “He doesn’t want to talk to you, or anyone for that matter.”

Ansaldo studies me for a moment, before realizing he’s talking to my wolf.

“Please, let me explain.” He desperately tries.

Vessel growls again. “Elizabeth did all the explaining that needs to be done. And now we need to leave.”

He opens the door and walks out. Ansaldo doesn’t even try to run after, which is a smart idea on his part.

I’m so glad I let Vessel take control, or else I would be showing how much of a sobbing mess I was.

The cab pulls up, and vessel puts the suitcase in the trunk before seating us in the car.

“Airport please.” Was all he said.

Vessel looked out the window as the cab drove away. The pack house fading in the distance.