The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

"You didn't have a twin," I said coldly. Chloe hugged me tightly to cool the flames spitting up inside of me.

"He did, nipote," Nonna spoke up with a fiercely sad expression. Her fist was gripped tightly around her spoon. Mom gave her a pitying look, reaching out to support her. "I gave birth to two boys, just like you and your fratello." My brows knit as I soaked in this information. "Then, where is he now?"

A sorrowful look passed between everyone as they looked around at each other, everyone knowing what I was just starting to guess to be the reason.

"He died," my father said. "He was murdered in cold blood because he didn't have a wolf."

As Pops told his story, telling me about his brother, this uncle that I never knew, and told me about the circumstances around his death, more and more I began to realize why he was so much harder on me than he ever was to Miles. Chloe stayed seated on my lap, hugging me, supporting me while I clung to her the entire time.

"I'm so sorry, son. I'm so sorry for making you suffer because of my own trauma."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Mick implored. "Why.... Why did you let me think.... I thought you thought the worst of me."

"Never," Alpha Dario wiped his eyes with the backs of his hands. "I never thought that. I was just scared of losing you."

"It hurt Pops more than anyone when you ran away," Miles said. "I mean, it felt like absolute shit not knowing where you were and being apart from you, but it literally was killing Pops." Miles waved his hand in their dad's direction.

"I didn't know," I mumbled. Guilt was crashing inside of me, wave after wave, currents of sorrow and anger, cold and hot shooting through my veins and lingering in between.

"How could you, nipote?" Nonna had tears flowing from her wrinkled eyes. "How could you know if no one ever told you? Your resentment is not your fault, my precious grandson. It's not even your father's. Not completely. It hurt to speak of my Dante. It hurt for me to even hear his name. No one dared utter it for consideration of me, and that extended to my family too."

"Still," I rested my head on Chloe's nape. She held me there in place, the spark between us all that was keeping me from breaking into tears. I spent all my life thinking my father didn't love me. I'm having a hard time coming to terms with the reasons for his harsh treatment of me. His excitement when I shifted into Rome last night, all the blood and sweat that I was forced to put into training, and all my nights going to bed feeling like an utter failure; I'm seeing it all differently now. It's making it hard to compartmentalize everything to cope. Chloe whispered in my ear, "I wished my whole life for a family and parents that loved me the way I've seen your parents love you. I know you have so many doubts, and so much to sort out mentally, but I have no doubt that this man loves you."

As I stared into her beautiful brown eyes, that one statement resounded inside of me. My father loves me, and he always has.

~

Chloe POV

Mick was quiet all through dinner. Miles and I sat on either side of him, Miles for brotherly support that only a twin could give, and I just held his hand between bites of delicious food, trying to calm and comfort him as much as I could.

Nonna went around with each new dish being served and gave Mick and Alpha Dario the first servings, kissing them lovingly on the cheeks after handing them the new dishes. Luna Gail sat beside her mate, holding him much like I was holding onto Mick. It's crazy to think that she could have had two mates too, but one mad Alpha thirty for more power ruined that for her and Alpha Dario.

I think the state Alpha Dario is in health-wise is not just from heartache from losing Mick for the past few years. I think it's reliving losing his twin brother every day, the guilt from both eating away at him bit by bit every single day. He ruled this pack alone when he was created to rule beside his brother. It makes me anxious about what could have happened to Miles and Alpha Dario if Mick never came home.

Mick and his father went for a long walk after dinner was over. This time, he wanted to speak to him alone.

I helped Luna Gail with the dishes while Nonna prepared espresso for everyone. I'd never had coffee this late in the evening, but Miles told me I had to try his Nonna's espresso.

We sat in the living room, sipping espresso, which was really strong but really robust and smooth. I almost made the mistake of asking for creamer with mine, but Miles quickly placed his hand over my mouth to stop me before I could get the full sentence out. Nonna had poked her head around the corner to ask me to repeat myself, not having heard me, and Miles told her I was just complimenting her on her coffee.

"Don't ever ask for milk in an espresso in front of Nonna. Not after dinner. That's almost as bad as asking her to make it iced."

"Oops," I muttered, making his entire expression soften. His sharp stare cut into that part of me that made me feel light-headed with glee and butterflies flutter in my stomach.

"So, about your Luna ceremony," Luna Gail set her cup down and waved her hands excitedly. Miles wrapped an arm behind me on the couch and began stroking my back with his fingers. "I know things are a little tense right now in the pack. You have so much going on, so Dario and I would really love to help by planning the ceremony."

"Mom," Miles sighed. "She might not want a ceremony this soon."

"Why wouldn't she?" Luna Gail scowled at her son. "She's the Luna now. I think the pack needs this. It will be a celebration of our new Luna and the goddess using her to bring our son home."

I'm glad she is taking the fact that I'm being hunted by my ex-mate and who knows how many assassins as a positive. Here I was thinking I was putting everyone out.

"A Luna ceremony is always open to other packs so they can come and pay their respects. I don't think, given the circumstances, that an open pack is something we can permit right now."

"Oh, you're right," Luna Gail sighed. "I'm just so excited that we have you with us now, Chloe. You're like our own miracle in so many ways."