What changes?
Of course, she didn’t answer, and Carlo knew what that meant.
“Is my man okay?” Arturo’s voice was rough with the promise of retribution.
Carlo had to swallow his need to growl at his own Alpha. Now that he had claimed Nanshe, the wolf didn't like how Arturo was speaking to her.
But he also understood the fear inside his Alpha.
“He's fine. He just has to adjust. If I can get him to a place he is comfortable, he can ride out the storm much better. Can we have someone take him to his room?”
“You will explain to me what is going on with my wolf, first.”
Nanshe rolled her eyes and faced the Arturo. “What is going on with your wolf is beyond you. You forget who is more powerful. I have respected you, Alpha—everything you have demanded—and I understand your need to protect him. But what's done is done. He is my mate. You all saw him claim me earlier. Do you think I could do anything to him that would harm him?”
Arturo stomped over to Nanshe and got right in her face. “I don't give a shit who you are. Do you understand me? I will rip you to shreds and throw your body into the fucking sea, if that's what I have to do. Anything to protect what belongs to me. Now, do you understandme? You may be his mate, but I am his Alpha. I am family. I would never let anyone harm him, no matter who they are.”
“I understand your fear, but arguing when he is in this state is not going to help him. His wolf will need to come and protect me. And it will only involve him battling more against what's happening inside. Please, get me and him to his bedroom so I can help him. What I need to do doesn't need to be done in front of anyone else.”
Arturo glared at Nanshe before finally nodding and stepping back. “Fine.”
“Dominic and Romano, get him into the car to drive him home”
“We'll all follow. Nanshe, you will ride with me.”
“I need to be with my–”
“You will ride with me.” Arturo’s tone didn’t allow for more argument.
Carlo groaned, once again struggling against the need to fight for his mate. He fell to his knees on the ground, a cry wrenching from his body.
“Be calm,” Arturo demanded. “I am just making sure you're protected when you're at your weakest. I will not harm your mate, as long as she does nothing to harm you. This, I promise.”
That was as good as Carlo was going to get. He knew no one could get in Arturo’s way when he was like this.
“Damn, you have to lose some weight. I heard the keto diet is actually pretty cool. And since you're a wolf, you would do well eating all that protein.” Romano snorted. “Protein. I would’ve said something else you could take for all the protein, but I don't think you swing that way and you might you beat me. Let's get you in the car.”
If Carlo wasn't battling with the Chaos, he probably would have punched Romano. For now, he’d let the younger wolf lift him in his arms, Dominic right at his side, and carry him to the elevator to leave the arena.
Arturo had the presence of mind to make sure he and Nanshe got into the elevator with them and ride up in the first wave of people exiting. They powered out of the arena where mages stood by, still maintaining a protective barrier.
“We're fine. We're going to travel to our homes. Let Giuliana know what is going on, Pasquale, once you get to her. All the other wolves will be dismissed to patrol their various areas once we have reached our pack lands,” Arturo ordered.
As one, the wolves moved. Carlo could do nothing else, his head lolling to one side. But shit, he felt horrible, a power struggle happening within his own body he couldn't stop or change. His wolf was snapping and snarling at the Chaos, trying its best to destroy it from the inside out.
Knock it the fuck off, Carlo warned his wolf.You're just killing us. But his wolf didn't listen. He kept fighting. Carlo jerked in Romano’s arms.
“If you do that again, I'll drop you on your goddamn head like you were as a baby. Cool off.”
Oh yeah, Carlo was definitely going to get Romano back after all of this.
They all piled into the car, with Nanshe getting into another car with Arturo. She spared him a last glance before she got in, her gaze filled with worry.
You can still talk to me like this in my head, right?
The relief in her voice was overwhelming when she responded.“Yes. Let's just keep this connection open so I know you're fine as you travel.”
Are you worried about how the Chaos is reacting with my body?
