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Venetto visibly relaxed at the Queen’s words, and it was only then I realized that he had been wary about the kind of welcome he would receive from my birth mother. “It would be my pleasure to speak with you, Your Majesty.” His tone was gruff with emotion. He glanced sideways at Domenico, and his voice took on a wry note. “I must confess, however, that meeting Your Majesty was not the only reason I have come here. As you may know, my lands have been unfortunately subjected to a good deal of upheaval. It is for this reason that I greatly welcomed the proposal Domenico Moretti presented me with.”
Proposal...from Domenico Moretti?
“But he’s married,” I gasped.
Silence.
My father looked like he badly wanted to laugh while none of my family wanted to meet my gaze. The other proposal bearers, however, had no qualms. Half of them were grinning. The others were also avoiding my eyes discreetly.
I looked at my father in confusion. Well, wasn’t he?
Unbidden, I found myself looking at Alejandro.
That one looked like he wanted to kill me.
Finally, Domenico Moretti cleared his throat. Like his younger brother, he possessed the same black hair and green eyes as well as the tall, lean build the Morettis were known for. All in all, he looked a lot more handsome and intimidating than what rumors led me to believe and when his intense gaze landed on me, I did my best not to fidget, not wanting him to think I was some silly princess.
His lips twitching, Domenico said solemnly, “Yes, I am indeed married and will stay that way permanently.” He glanced at the younger man beside him, one who had remained silent all this time.
Again, I found my gaze straying towards him, and when our eyes met, he snarled, “You idiot.”
I gasped, but everyone around me burst into laughter. Even Vladimir cracked a smile.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Alejandro snapped as he stalked towards me. “You don’t need another prince other than me. You don’t need another Cavaliere other than me. You don’t need anyone but me.” He shook my shoulders hard with each word.
“B-but—-”
He growled, “I’m the one proposing marriage. Idiot.” He said it with such furious relish it was as if he was dying to say it to me a hundred times more.
I echoed disbelievingly, “Marry...you?”
“Yes,” he roared. “I’m the one who’s proposing marriage and if you know what’s good for you, mine is the only proposal you’ll consider.”
My head reeled.
Alejandro was breathing hard, and he looked like he was having an internal struggle. Half of him seemed to want to strangle me, the other half wanted to do...well...unspeakable stuff. When he cupped my face, I couldn’t help but tremble. His voice low, he said, “I cannot and will never love you, Calys. But I offer you everything in me – my life, my honor, my strength. And if you marry me...” He knelt down on one knee. “I also offer you the entire might of the Moretti pack.”
In the background, gasps and whispers abounded, for the promise he made was no small thing. To have Alejandro Moretti as my Cavaliere was already a feat in itself, and that was only with no one knowing he also happened to be The Masked Wolf. But to have the entire Moretti pack fighting for us? Warriors who were almost as good as Alejandro but just as loyal and cunning?
Alejandro held my hand and touched his lips to my knuckles. “Choose me, Princess, and I swear to be the warrior who will win every battle for you.”
CALYS
“Excuse me, but do you know where my father’s gone?” I tried not to sound desperate as I asked the panther stationed at the end of the hallway leading to Venetto’s room. I had been to his room and Amalia’s, hoping to catch sight of Venetto, but he wasn’t in either place.
Paulo appeared surprised by my question. “I thought he was with you.” In his mid-forties, he had worry lines on his forehead, something I was sure had to do with the monumental task of looking after my father. Venetto hated having guards with him, seeing them as babysitters he didn’t need.
At his reply, it was my turn to be bewildered. “Me? But I haven’t talked to him since we met at the hall.”
Paul scratched his head. “Well, that was what the pack leader told me. He’d be meeting you at the back, I think.”
“Oh. Maybe he sent someone around to ask for me.” Venetto, like most old-school pack leaders, didn’t own a mobile phone. “I’ll go look for him there. Thanks, Paulo.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, it’s all right. But maybe if I miss him again and you see him first, could you tell him to wait for me?”
Turning around, I headed to the back, hoping I would indeed find my father there. I badly needed to talk to him. I had to know if Venetto was aware of what was between Alejandro and me, needed to be sure that he was aware he had practically given the werewolf prince the right to break my heart over and over by showing his support for Alejandro’s proposal.
