Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

BELLA

The sun is just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a soft golden glow across the expansive training room as I dodge Nic's swift uppercut. My muscles burn with exertion but I relish the adrenaline pumping through my veins. This is where I feel most alive—locked in deadly dance with an opponent, all other worries temporarily forgotten.

"You're distracted today, Bella," Nic grunts, narrowly missing my jaw with a sharp jab. "Thinking about your upcoming debut at the auction?"

There's an edge to his voice that sets my teeth on edge. I spin away, dark hair whipping across my sweat-slicked skin. "That's none of your business," I snap, channeling my frustration into a roundhouse kick that he barely blocks.

Nic's greenish eyes flash with something unreadable. "It is my business when I get chewed out by Alessio for not knowing you were popping illegal suppressants like candy," he growls. "Did you really think they wouldn't notice eventually?"

Ice shoots through my veins and I falter, giving him an opening to sweep my legs out from under me. I hit the mat hard, air rushing from my lungs. In an instant, Nic is on top of me, pinning my wrists above my head. His body is a solid weight against mine, every hard plane pressed intimately close.

"Get off me," I hiss, hating the breathy quality of my voice. His proximity makes my head swim, his alpha pheromones trying their hardest to sink into me. He doesn't affect me like he once did. Not now. Not after I've had the Carbones. Nic's eyes darken as he leans in closer, his breath hot against my cheek.

"You were reckless," he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me. "Everyone around you pays the price for your selfishness. Is that what you wanted?"

It's only now that I notice the bruising under his eyes, as if he'd been hit hard. I know in my gut that one of my dads did that to him.

I twist beneath him, but he's so fucking solid. "What I want is to be free of this life," I spit back. "Free of the expectations, the manipulation, the constant threat of being sold off to some prick with enough money or drugs to pay for me."

Nic's grip on my wrists tightens fractionally. "And you thought illegal suppressants were the answer? Damn it, Bella, do you have any idea how dangerous those are?"

Yes. Yes I do.

"I don't need a lecture from you," I snap, finally succeeding in bucking him off. I spring to my feet, putting some much-needed distance between us. "My heat, my body, my choice."

Suppressants have side effects. Serious ones that if gone unchecked, can permanently alter an omega. It can take away their ability to produce hormones, or it can cause her body to overproduce too. Either way, it sucks.

I shake off Nic's concerned gaze and stride back to the center of the training mat, every muscle coiled with tension. "Again," I demand, raising my fists.

Nic hesitates for only a moment before matching my stance, his eyes never leaving mine. We circle each other like twin predators, waiting for the perfect opening to strike. The early morning sun bathes us through the window in shades of gold and crimson, the air electric with unspoken words.

I lash out first, a flurry of precise jabs that Nic counters with fluid grace. We fall into the familiar rhythm of our deadly dance, trading blows and blocks as the rest of the world fades away. This is the one place I feel truly in control.

"The auction is in two days," Nic says between strikes, his tone carefully neutral. "Alessio expects you to be the star of the show."

A bitter laugh escapes my lips. "Of course he does. His prized breeding mare." I punctuate my words with a vicious kick to Nic's ribs.

He grunts but doesn't falter. "It doesn't have to be like this, Bella. There are other ways?—"

"Other ways?" I snarl, slamming my palm against his chest. "Like what, Nic? Running away? Hiding like a coward while my fathers hunt me down?"

Nic catches my wrist, his grip firm but not painful. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that steals my breath. "I'm not talking about running," he says lowly. "I'm talking about fighting back. Taking control of your own fucking life."

I yank my arm free, my heart hammering against my ribs. "You're delusional."

Little does he know there's already a plan in the works. The plan just doesn't include him. I can't trust Nic. Not after everything he's done.

Nic steps closer, his broad frame blocking out the rising sun. "I have a plan, Bella. One that can get you out of here before the auction. But you have to trust me."

A harsh laugh tears from my throat. "Trust you? After everything that's happened between us?" Images of tangled sheets and desperate kisses flash through my mind, followed by the gut-wrenching pain of betrayal.

Memories flood my mind, overwhelming me. We were foolish and naive in our teenage years. Nic made a promise that he would ask his uncle Liam if he could claim me for his own when my heat came. But he never followed through. Suddenly, he disappeared for two years, and when he returned, Sam had taken his place as my protector. And in those two years, Nic had changed into someone just like Alessio and Liam.

Nic's jaw clenches. "I know I hurt you. But I'm not that same foolish boy anymore. I want to make things right."

"By what, whisking me away like some knight in shining armor?" I sneer.

He takes a step towards me. "If it was a Carbone asking you to trust them, would you?"

"You're jealous…" I say with an amused laugh.

Nic's eyes flash with a mix of anger and something deeper, more primal. "Maybe I am," he growls, closing the distance between us in two long strides. "Maybe the thought of those Carbone bastards touching you makes me want to tear them apart with my bare hands."

I tilt my chin up defiantly, refusing to be cowed by his alpha posturing. "I'm not yours to be jealous over, Nic. You made that perfectly clear when you abandoned me."

"It was the biggest mistake I ever made," he mutters.

"Yes, it was. I'd hate to lose me too."

He gives me a side eye'd glare. "Some things never change, do they?"

I fold my arms over my chest and shrug. "Guess not."

Just as Nic opens his mouth to reply, the training room door swings open and a harried-looking assistant rushes in. "Miss De Luca, your presence is requested for a fitting for the auction," she says breathlessly, her eyes darting nervously between Nic and me.

I step back from Nic, my heart still racing. "I'll be right there," I tell the assistant coolly, not sparing Nic another glance as I stride past him towards the door.

The walk to my bedroom feels longer than usual, my mind churning with conflicting emotions. Nic's words echo in my head, taunting me with the possibility of escape. But I know better than to trust him. Not again.

As I push open the door to my room, I'm surprised to find not just the usual trio of stylists waiting for me, but also my mother perched on the edge of my bed. "Mama?" I ask, confusion coloring my tone. "What are you doing here?"

She rises gracefully to her feet, her warm smile not quite reaching her eyes. "I wanted to be here for your fitting," she says softly, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from my face. "It's not every day my daughter prepares for her debut."

There's a sadness in her voice that makes my chest ache. I know she hates this life as much as I do, hates the thought of me being sold off. She's the one who called me that day in Oregon. She's the one who warned me and gave me a head start.

Her eyes flit to the three others in the room. The tailors the alphas sent to dress me up like a pretty doll for all the alphas to gawk at. She can't talk with them in the room. Everything we say will be reported back to my fathers, and she's the one who will suffer.

I allow the stylists to usher me behind the dressing screen, my mind still reeling from the unexpected presence of my mother. They work efficiently, stripping me of my sweat-soaked training clothes and slipping me into a shimmering gown of ivory silk. The fabric clings to my curves like a second skin, the plunging neckline and daring slit up the thigh leaving little to the imagination.

As they fuss over the drape of the skirt and the placement of glittering jewels at my throat and wrists, I catch snippets of their hushed conversation. "...the talk of the town, this auction..."

Bile rises in my throat and I clench my fists, the sharp bite of my nails against my palms grounding me. I won't let them see how their words affect me, won't give them the satisfaction of knowing they've gotten under my skin.

Finally, they step back, admiring their handiwork with critical eyes. "Stunning," one of them breathes, her gaze raking over me in a way that makes my skin crawl. "The alphas won't be able to keep their hands off you."

I meet her stare with a cool one of my own, my lips curving into a razor-sharp smile. "That's the idea, isn't it?" I ask sweetly, venom dripping from my every word. "To be the perfect omega, all dressed up and ready to be bought."

The stylist's smile falters, a flicker of unease crossing her features before she quickly masks it. "Yes, well, I'm sure you'll fetch a pretty penny," she says brightly, her tone just a touch too brittle. "Now, let's see what shoes will go best with this gown, hmm?"

I tune out their chatter as they debate the merits of various stilettos, my gaze drifting to the full-length mirror in the corner. The woman staring back at me is a stranger, all polished veneer and cold, glittering beauty. The kind of woman men would kill to possess.

A bitter laugh threatens to bubble up my throat. If only they knew the truth—that beneath the expensive silk and sparkling jewels, I'm just a scared little girl desperate to escape the gilded cage she was born into.

They back away as I assess myself in the mirror, talking with each other in a little group by the door. Mama comes over to me, looking into the mirror at my side with tears shimmering in her brown eyes. Eyes that match my own exactly.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I never wanted this. Not for you or your sister…"

Rosa's face flashes through my mind. The last time I laid eyes on her was in this very room when I begged her not to go.

I give her a watery smile. "I used to blame you for letting it happen."

She sucks in a shuddering breath. "Maybe I deserve it."

I shake my head, cutting her off. "No. None of us fucking deserve this, Mama. One day it wont be this way."

A knock at the door jolts us back into the present.

"Miss De Luca?" It's the same harried assistant from before. "Your presence is requested in the main hall. The auction organizers wish to go over some last-minute details with you."

I take a deep, steadying breath, squaring my shoulders and smoothing my features into an expressionless mask. "I'll be right there," I call out, my voice steady and calm despite the dread churning in my gut.

The stylists make a few final adjustments to my hair and makeup before stepping back, their eyes shining with a mixture of awe and envy. I barely spare them a glance as I strip out of the dress, change into a simple pair of jeans, sneakers and a white t-shirt, and stride towards the door.

As I emerge into the hallway, the assistant falls into step beside me, her tablet clutched tightly to her chest. She rattles off a list of names and titles, each one more pompous and self-important than the last. I tune her out, my mind already racing ahead to the upcoming meeting.

The main hall is a grand, sprawling space, all gleaming marble and soaring ceilings. Massive chandeliers drip from the rafters, casting a warm glow over the assembled crowd of organizers. The auction wont take place here, but the celebratory banquet afterwards will.

I spot Alessio and Alpha Marco immediately, their dark heads bent together in conversation with a group of well-dressed men I don't recognize. Marco rarely shows his face, always off on some errand or another. Liam sees us and heads over too, the trio finally together.

As if sensing my presence, Alessio looks up, his piercing gaze locking with mine across the room. A slow, predatory smile spreads across my father's face and he murmurs something to the men before striding towards me, Alpha Liam and Marco trailing in his wake.

"Belladonna," Marco purrs, his eyes raking over my form with undisguised loathing. "You look glorious, my dear. The alphas won't know what hit them."

I force a smile, my skin crawling under his lascivious gaze. "Thank you, Alpha."

The heavy oak doors at the end of the hall swing open, revealing the imposing figures of the Carbone alphas. Dante strides in first, his tall frame exuding quiet power and confidence. Silas and Hector flank him on either side, their gazes sharp and assessing as they sweep over the assembled crowd.

The air in the room seems to thicken, crackling with a sudden tension as the two alpha packs size each other up. I can feel the weight of their stares on me, the intensity of it making my breath catch in my throat.

I pray to any god that is listening that the heavy sweat and perfume I'm wearing will mask our matching scents. After our mating the other night, we all smell the same, and it would send my fathers into a murderous fucking rage. The thought is almost worth it though.

Dante's eyes meet mine across the expanse of gleaming marble, a flicker of something deep and primal flaring to life in their amber depths. His nostrils flare slightly, no doubt catching the scent of my heady omega pheromones even from this distance. Beside him, Silas and Hector's gazes burn into me with equal intensity, their powerful alpha auras washing over my heightened senses.

The Carbones approach with predatory grace, their every movement exuding raw, barely leashed power. The air seems to part before them, the gathered organizers and staff scattering like leaves in an autumn wind.

"Alessio, Liam, Marco," Dante greets coolly as he comes to a stop before my fathers, his voice a deep, resonant rumble. "I trust the preparations for the auction are going smoothly?"

Alessio plasters on a shark-like smile, his dark eyes glittering. "But of course, Dante. No expense has been spared to ensure this will be a night to remember."

Liam nods in agreement, his gaze sliding to me. "And as you can see, our Belladonna is the crown jewel of the event. She will make some lucky alpha very happy."

Silas's hands curl into fists at his sides, the only outward sign of his simmering fury. Hector remains stoic as ever, but I can see the muscle ticking in his jaw, his smokey gray eyes burning into me with an intensity that steals my breath.

Dante steps forward, his towering frame exuding a calm, lethal power. "Belladonna," he murmurs, his deep voice sending shivers racing down my spine. "You look stunning, as always."

He reaches out, brushing a lock of hair back from my face with a gentleness that belies the coiled strength in his muscular form. His fingertips graze the sensitive skin of my cheek, and I have to fight not to lean into his touch, my omega instincts yearning for more.

Alessio clears his throat pointedly, and Dante drops his hand, stepping back with a polite smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Shall we retire to the study to go over the final contracts?" he suggests smoothly, gesturing towards the grand double doors at the far end of the hall.

Liam nods, his gaze still lingering on me in a way that makes my skin crawl. "Of course. Bella, be a good girl and fetch our guests some refreshments, will you? We have much to discuss."

I dip my head in a show of demure obedience, even as anger surges through my veins. "Yes, Alpha."

I stride towards the elegantly appointed bar, my heels clicking sharply against the polished marble. The weight of multiple gazes burns into my back—the hungry stares of the Carbone alphas, the cold calculation of my fathers, and the searing intensity of Nic's emerald eyes.

As I reach for the crystal decanter of aged scotch, Nic appears at my side, his warm breath ghosting over the shell of my ear. "What game are you playing, Bella?" he murmurs, his voice low and rough with barely restrained emotion.

I tilt my head to meet his gaze, my lips curving into a razor-edged smile. "Who says I'm playing a game?" I retort, arching one perfectly groomed brow. "Maybe I'm just embracing my role as the dutiful omega daughter."

Nic's jaw clenches, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and possessive heat. "If you're planning something, I need to know."

I laugh bitterly. "Oh do you? You've had a massive change of heart over the last week. I wonder why that is, Nic."

Nic's eyes narrow, a muscle ticking in his jaw. "You know exactly why," he grits out, his voice low and rough with barely restrained emotion. "I can't just stand by and watch as they auction you off like a piece of meat. Not when I?—"

"Nic." Hector's deep, commanding voice cuts through the charged air like a blade, his towering form seemingly materializing out of the shadows. "Is there a problem here?"

Nic stiffens, his broad shoulders tensing beneath the impeccably tailored lines of his suit. "No problem at all," he replies coolly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Just having a private conversation."

Hector's eyes flick between us, his chiseled features an inscrutable mask. "Is that so?" His tone is deceptively casual, but I can hear the undercurrent of menace beneath the words.

I place a placating hand on Hector's arm, the heat of his skin searing through the rich fabric of his suit. "Everything's fine, Hector," I murmur, my voice soft and soothing. "Nic was just being Nic, as usual. He's harmless."

Nic's eyes flash with barely contained fury, his hands curling into white-knuckled fists at his sides. For a moment, I think he might actually take a swing at Hector, consequences be damned. But then he takes a step back.

"So it's like that then…"

Hector laughs. "Why are you looking at her like that? Aren't the two of you cousins?"

Nic's face screws up into a look of disgust that matches my own. "By marriage, prick."

Hector clicks his tongue. "Brings a new meaning to keeping it in the family, right?"

Nic's lips twist into a cruel smirk, his eyes glittering with malicious amusement. "You don't know the half of it, Carbone," he drawls, his voice dripping with insinuation. "Bella and I used to fuck like rabbits back in the day. All night, every night, until she was screaming my name and begging for more of my fucking knot."

Hector's eyes darken with barely contained rage, his powerful alpha aura surging to the surface and crackling through the air like an impending thunderstorm. His ring-clad hands flex at his sides, as if itching to wrap around Nic's throat and squeeze the life from him.

I can practically feel the fury radiating off of Hector in palpable waves, his every muscle coiled with tension and the promise of violence. He takes a menacing step forward, his lips curling back from his teeth in a feral snarl.

But before he can lay a hand on Nic, a cold, eerily calm voice cuts through the charged atmosphere like a blade of ice.

"Is that so?" Silas's smooth, cultured tone belies the seething, calculated rage simmering just beneath the surface. He seems to materialize from the shadows behind Nic, his molten eyes glinting with lethal intent in the muted light of the hall.

Silas's voice is like the whisper of a blade being unsheathed, his words dripping with icy menace. "You would do well to watch your tongue, Nic, lest someone rip it out and feed it to the dogs."

Nic spins to face him, a flicker of unease darting through his emerald eyes before he masks it with a defiant sneer. "Is that a threat, Carbone?"

Silas smiles, a chilling curve of his sensual lips that doesn't reach his amber gaze. He steps closer, crowding into Nic's space until they are nearly nose to nose. "Oh no, Nic. Threats are for men who lack the conviction to follow through." His voice drops to a lethal purr. "When I promise something, I deliver. Every. Single. Time."

The air between them seems to crackle with barely restrained violence, alpha pheromones thick and suffocating. Nic's throat works as he swallows hard, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple.

Silas cocks his head, studying Nic like a hawk eyeing its prey. "You seem to forget, Nic, that Bella is no longer yours to claim. What you two may have had in the past is just that—the past. And if I ever hear you speak of her in such a disrespectful manner again..."

Silas's voice drops to a lethal whisper, his breath hot against Nic's ear. "...I will personally ensure that every bone in your body is broken so thoroughly, even the most skilled surgeon won't be able to put you back together again."

Nic stiffens, a shudder rippling through his muscular frame. He tries to step back, but Silas's hand shoots out, gripping the back of his neck in an iron vice.

"Do we have an understanding?" Silas asks softly, his tone almost conversational if not for the undercurrent of pure, unadulterated menace.

Nic swallows audibly, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Yeah," he grits out, jaw clenched so hard I can hear his teeth grinding. "We're clear."

Silas smiles, a cold, razor-edged thing. "Good." He releases Nic with a shove, sending him stumbling back a step.

Hector looms at Silas's side, his massive frame vibrating with barely leashed violence. His glare blaze into Nic, promising a world of pain if he so much as breathes in my direction again.