She's a young doctor. He's an Alpha born to lead a hidden community. "I need to explain the mate bond," he said. Her heart stopped. Literally skipped. "Oh," she said faintly. "That." He didn't look away, but he did lean back, giving her space-as if preparing for her to bolt. "You know we imprint," he said quietly. "You know our instincts take over when the bond gets strong. But you don't know what finalizes it." She swallowed. "Okay." "There's..." He hesitated, and that was a first. William didn't fumble words. "There's a bite involved." She stared. Blink. Blink. Wait- A bite? "As in-like-a literal bite?" she asked, voice tight. "Yes." "On my neck?" "Yes." "You bite me." "Yes." Her blood turned to ice. He continued carefully, like each word risked sending her sprinting for the door. "It's not violent. It's not meant to hurt. It's a mark-a bond-seal. It connects us on every level. Emotionally. Physically. Through our wolves." "I don't have a wolf," she snapped. His jaw flexed. "I know."

THIRD BOOK OF THE VELVET & VOWS SERIES 💍♟️ 𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍• Alessandro Moretti became Don of Milan after his father retired and returned to New York. When his sister was targeted by Rome's underworld, he took the city by force and claimed it as his own. Now he rules Milan and Rome as one of the most ruthless Dons in Italy. Victoria Marchetti is the daughter of a former consigliere, raised close to a world she never wanted. After her father was shot, she chose to become a trauma surgeon to save lives. She never wanted the mafia - she wanted a life far away from violence. 𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍•𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍• 𒁍• Alessandro & Victoria... Neither of them ever wanted this marriage. Alessandro never planned to take a wife. Love was a weakness, and marriage was only a tool of power. He rules as a ruthless mafia Don, where killing is part of survival. Victoria never wanted a life in the mafia. She became a doctor to save lives, not to stand beside a man who takes them. Violence is everything she chose to stay away from. They come from opposite worlds, forced into the same vow. One takes lives. The other fights every day to save them. #1 - gangleader 02/07/2026

Alina Vesca has always been soft, kind, and... a chubby, the only child of a powerful mafia family who secretly loves her rotten. She never wanted the Vesca life, preferring the warmth of her bakery to the cold streets of New York's underworld. Now, she's in an arranged marriage with Enzo Marcello, the cold, dominant heir of a rival mafia family. He's used to control, women who bend and break, and a world where love is dangerous. But Alina isn't like anyone he's ever known. She's gentle, unassuming, and real. And for the first time, Enzo finds himself noticing her in ways he shouldn't.