Wolves of Rome

Chapter One: When In Rome

All rights reserved to me, any kind of plagiarizing or someone else trying to publish my story but me is punishable by law.

Copyright © 2012 by Amber Hanscom

Chapter One: When In Rome

When I made it into the Roma Airport, the first thing that greeted me was an Italian woman, who is all but crying as she wrapped her arms tightly around me.

"Oh, mia bella! Oh, you are home now!" She cried out in rapid Italian.

I blushed, and awkwardly wrapped my arms around my aunt Constance. "I missed you too, Auntie." I said in my polished Italian.

Constance smiled, whipping at the tears in her eyes. She looked so much like my mom it was scary-thanks to their northern Italian ancestry they the had same pale blond hair, and blue eyes. Her had a roman nose, a set of full lips that had deep laugh lines around them. She was beautiful, just like my mom had been. I could have been her daughter to anyone who didn't know better.

I did have a little of my father in me though-my green eyes were his, as was my nose, which my mom had called 'stubborn'. She said it made me look like a fighter.

I was a fighter. I didn't die in the car crash like they had. I busted more lips in school than I can count. I didn't like being messed with. And I hated seeing someone else being harassed. Which put me in the principals office more times than I cared to count. But my parents understood. They took my suspensions with ease, and stressed to me that i should save my fights for after school.

Looking at me you wouldn't think I was much of a threat-five foot four, lean bodied and I hated P.E. as much as the next person. But if I got mad, something else took control. Something wild. If I ever got kicked out of school for good, I could always have a career in street fighting.

Constance clasped my hand in hers and smiled warmly.

"I am so happy to see you. The last time I saw you, you were still in diapers. Now look at you! You are beautiful, Cianna."

I blushed, ducking my head so that my face was hidden by my hair. "Um, thanks, Constance."

She laughed, smoothing my hair from my face. "You shouldn't hide such a pretty face. Come, there are some people here that are dying to meet you."

She led me towards a large group of people, men and woman ranging from ages and sizes. Constance stopped before them, all their eyes were trained on me. I felt like a bug under a microscope.

"Cianna, these are your cousins and some distant family." she said motioning to the group.

My eyes traveled over the group. Besides the dark Italian features and amazing good looks, none of them looked as if they were related.

"This is my husband; your uncle Alanzo."

Alanzo was a large man, with broad shoulders and arms thick as boa constrictor. He had a thick bristly black beard, thick caterpillar eye brows and bushy black hair. If Constance hadn't said so I would have never have thought this giant, hairy man being her husband.

Alanzo smiled warmly down at me, and enveloped me in a bear hug. He held me like that for a long awkward moment before finally putting me back down on my feet.

"I am happy to see you, Cianna." he said in his thunderous voice.

I nodded, far too surprised to make any sort in reply.

"And this is your cousin, Ilario, and his friends; Marcello, Arlo, and Ercole." Constance introduced, pointing from one boy to the other.

Constance's son, my cousin, resembled his father with his strong, athletic build, dark hair and tanned skin. He was tall, perhaps an even six feet. He was handsome, he wore his hair a bit long, parted down the middle and ending at the nape of his neck.