“You heard me perfectly well.” Arturo’s amber eyes shone fiercely.
He meant it. Dominic.Capo di Tutti Caposof his own pack. He’d never even aspired to that. He’d been content leading his own small crew of soldiers and being fiercely loyal to his boss.
“I don’t know if I’m cut out for it,” he protested. “I’m nothing like you.”
“You don’t have to be. No two leaders are exactly like, but the important thing is, you’ve got the right qualities to lead a pack. You’re strong and you’re fearless and you’re capable. And you’re harsh, but fair. You’re well known, and well respected, in the city. There is no-one else I’d rather see as leader. You and I would be able to work in cooperation, rather than competing with each other. No more pack wars. No more wasting time and money when we could be making money. No more crying widows. They’re so loud when they cry. I find it distracting.”
Yep, that was Arturo, all heart.
Dominic looked at Zoey. “My mate would have to agree to this. Asking her to be the Alpha’s mate is a lot.”
“It’s…” Zoey had a dazed expression. “I mean…it would mean peace for the city, wouldn’t it? Peace for the packs? If it would, then I’m willing to try my best.”
“You think that they would even accept me as their Alpha?” Dominic asked Arturo.
“With me backing it, yes. The Bianchi family has been driven out of town and is in disgrace. This would allow them to stay in their homes and keep their property.” Arturo looked at his niece. “I know it’s time to let you free to live your own life. As long as you’re under my roof, I can’t resist my urge to protect you so much that I’m smothering you. It is agonizingly hard to let you go, but it is what is best for you. Maybe if I hadn’t been so overprotective with your mother, she would have been able to choose a mate and she would have been happy.”
“Uncle,” she said, and hugged him, crying. “I know you did it because you love me. You did the wrong thing, but it was for the right reasons. Thank you.”
“I’m a Capo?” Romano said, looking comically happy.
“This is what you focus on?” Dominic said, irritated. “IfI decide to take over the east side, and that’s a big if, you’re a Capo until you finally drive me nuts and I fit you with concrete galoshes.”
“Excellent!” Romano tried to fist-bump him. Dominic ignored it. “I should last a good year, at least. Maybe two.”
“Optimistic,” Dominic muttered. “And I still didn’t say I’d do it. I need a few days to think about it, Arturo. But I appreciate your faith in me.”
He stood up, and Zoey joined him, grimacing a little. “Frickin’ hell,” she groaned. “Chaos realm hangover suuucks.”
“I hear that,” Dominic said. “I feel like a million-year-old wolf with arthritis. Right now I couldn’t be the Alpha of a cub scout pack.”
“Sorry I missed it,” Romano said cheerfully, standing up too. “Do you want me to carry you? Can I get a walker for you, grandpa?”
As they limped towards the door, Zoey’s phone rang with the “Mama mia” ring tone indicating that it was her mother. She’d called multiple times since the ghoul attack made the news. Dominic grabbed the phone from Zoey.
“Dominic! I will cut you!” she yelled.
“Mrs. Eastgate,” he said, smirking at Zoey. “So glad you called! Are you having a nice day? I have news for you. You’re going to need to make space in your calendar for a wedding.”
Epilogue
Zoey and Kalinda took a seat in a corner table at the trendy new coffee shop that was simply named “District 17.” There was a line down the block and a two-hour waiting list for lunch, but Zoey knew the owners, and she was also the mate of the Lombardi Pack Capo, so one table was roped off and sat empty when she wasn’t there, always available for her.
The ghoul attack of the spring had made international news. The neighborhood’s proximity to the portal had given it a weird kind of cachet. Of course, there was a veritable army patrolling the portal these days, and Benedict was dead so no more illegal portals would be opened. The odds of another attack were unlikely, but there was still that roller-coaster thrill of being near something so potentially perilous. Trendy boutiques were springing up, and homeowners gave paid tours of the ghoul-damaged neighborhoods, where all the damage had been carefully preserved.
Guiliana had opened up a consignment store, selling off all of her designer clothes. She no longer had Arturo’s limitless credit card at her disposal, but she turned out to have a great eye for vintage and gently used items, so when she wasn’t working as a med-mage, she was scouring thrift shops for new items to snap up, upcycle, and sell.
Kalinda had entered into a lucrative partnership with the District 17 coffee shop, and they carried a line of her home-baked goods and provided the gourmet coffee for her catering events. They were looking to go national.
Kalinda had also, of course, catered the enormous wedding bash thrown by Dominic and the Lombardi pack. Zoey’s entire family had attended, glowing with happiness, and now Dominic had permanently rented out an entire luxury suite for them in a South side hotel, so they could visit whenever they wanted.
“You guys!” Danielle called out, hurrying over to them with a tray. She set down two coffee cups and a carafe, and handed them menus. “You look great, Zoey. Hey, Kalinda, love the new ‘do.” Kalinda’s hair was braided and piled up on top of her head in an elaborate bun.
“I do look pretty hot,” Kalinda agreed. “The usual for me, Danielle. But sit down and hang out for a minute!”
Danielle sank into a chair and stole Zoey’s coffee.
“Decaf!” Zoey called out to a waiter who hurried to get her a cup.
