Moonbound: Caught Between Mafia and Mate

Chapter 16: In the Shadows of the Past

Luna's breath caught in her throat as Matteo stepped out of the shadows. The moonlight illuminated his sharp features, casting long shadows across his face. His presence radiated a dangerous, predatory energy that sent a chill down her spine. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them thick and heavy.

She had heard so much about Matteo—the ruthless leader of the rival mafia pack, the man who wanted to destroy everything Lorenzo had built. But seeing him here, standing so close, was different. There was a cold, calculating intelligence in his eyes, something that unsettled her.

"You," Luna said, her voice steady despite the fear that churned in her stomach. "What do you want?"

Matteo smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm not here to fight, Luna," he said, his tone almost conversational. "Not yet, anyway."

Luna narrowed her eyes, her body tense and ready for any sudden movements. "Then why are you here?"

Matteo took a step closer, his hands resting casually at his sides. "I wanted to meet you," he said, his voice smooth. "The last of the White Wolves. The one who could change everything."

Luna's pulse quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm. Matteo was playing some kind of game, and she wasn't going to let him rattle her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Matteo's smile widened slightly. "Oh, I think you do. You're special, Luna. Your power... it's the key to everything."

Luna's jaw tightened. "My power isn't yours to control."

Matteo chuckled, a low, dark sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "No," he agreed. "But it doesn't have to be. You and I... we could work together. Imagine what we could accomplish. The strength of the White Wolves combined with my pack's power... we could reshape this world."

Luna's eyes flashed with anger. "I'd rather die than help you."

Matteo's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he took another step closer. "You think Lorenzo can protect you? That your little pack can stop what's coming? He's weak, Luna. He's holding you back."

Luna's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't let the fear show. "Lorenzo is stronger than you'll ever be."

Matteo's lips curled into a sneer. "Loyalty is such a fickle thing. When it's tested, it crumbles. I've seen it happen time and time again. And you, Luna... you're meant for more than what Lorenzo can offer."

Luna clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "You don't know anything about me."

Matteo tilted his head slightly, his gaze intense. "I know more than you think. I know that you're torn. You feel the pull of the wolf inside you, don't you? That power... it's intoxicating. You could be so much more if you just let go."

Luna's throat tightened, a mix of anger and fear swirling inside her. Matteo's words struck too close to home, stirring feelings she didn't want to acknowledge. She had felt the power growing inside her, the wild, untamed strength of the White Wolf bloodline. But she wasn't going to let it control her, and she certainly wasn't going to let Matteo manipulate her.

"You're wasting your time," she said, her voice cold. "I'll never join you."

Matteo studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he took a step back, his demeanor shifting once again to something more casual. "Perhaps not now," he said with a shrug. "But things change, Luna. And when they do... I'll be waiting."

Before Luna could respond, Matteo turned and disappeared back into the shadows of the forest, leaving her standing alone in the moonlit clearing. Her heart raced, her mind spinning with everything that had just happened.