Mated To The Mafia Werewolves

Arabella panted heavily, pressing a hand to her chest. The other hand wiped the sweat from her face as she tried to steady her breathing. She glanced around, searching frantically, hoping Sandro hadn’t dispatched his guards after her.

Somehow, she’d managed to escape. Arabella couldn’t quite fathom how it happened, but the moment Sandro exited the room, she found herself outside the pack house. It was as if something had taken hold of her, propelling her deeper into the woods without pause.

Arabella mused on whether the guards had been asleep, missing her departure from the room. She also puzzled over how she’d managed to leave a heavily fortified chamber. She concluded that she must have somehow breached the barrier, her determination overcoming the obstacle.

Summoning the last reserves of her strength, she burst out of the woods, her gaze fixed on the Phoenix cave, just a short distance away.

But she doubted she could reach it.

Arabella stumbled, trying to walk further. Her foot caught a pebble, and though she fought to regain balance, it seemed nearly impossible. She braced for impact, but a sturdy arm wrapped around her instead.

“My queen,” the voice said.

Arabella blinked, clearing the haze from her vision to focus on the face above her. He was one of the guards who usually patrolled near the woods.

Arabella wondered why she hadn’t spotted him until now. Her mind must have been preoccupied, and she was too exhausted to notice.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his eyes filled with concern. Arabella gently pushed his arm aside, attempting to stand, but she faltered.

The guard’s arms encircled her once more. Instead of resisting, she allowed him to steady her.

“Take me to the cave,” she whispered. “Take me to Blaze.”

“Yes, my queen,” the guard replied without hesitation, respecting her wish without further inquiry.

***

Blaze jolted awake abruptly, wheezing. His eyes widened as he scanned the room.

“What the hell?!” Thalia screeched, her eyes widening as they locked onto Blaze.

“Where’s Bella?” Blaze rasped, clutching his throat.

“Cole!” She screamed, snapping out of her initial shock. She enveloped him in her arms, tears streaming down her face.

He was alive. Her brother was alive!

“Where the hell is Bella?!” Blaze demanded again.

“Unbelievable!” Thalia scoffed, her voice tinged with irritation despite her surprise at his revival. “How can he wake up and ask for the woman who put him in danger in the first place?! I’ll never understand what she did to you, but I hope you snap out of it soon.”

“Where’s Bella, Thalia?” Blaze’s gaze bore into hers.

Thalia opened her mouth to respond, but Arabella’s voice cut through.

“I am here!” Arabella cried as she burst into the room.

Blaze rose unsteadily, moving towards Arabella, who was rushing toward him.

They met halfway and embraced.

“You’re alive,” Arabella wept. “You’re alive!”

She cradled his face, her eyes searching his. Arabella wondered if he might vanish as if she were caught in a hallucination. He had died right before her eyes. He had stopped breathing. Though Orga had warned her he might be revived, she hadn’t fully accepted the possibility while in Sandro’s custody. Seeing Blaze alive now unleashed all the emotions she’d suppressed.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you,” Arabella sobbed into his chest. “I wanted to, but I was too weak, and…”

“Hey, hey…” Blaze cupped her face with his hand, shaking his head. “I’m alive, and it’s not your fault.”

“It is,” Arabella insisted, shaking her head. “If we hadn’t left, you wouldn’t have been in that position.”Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“True,” Blaze managed a weak smile. “But I was meant to be your protector, not the other way around. So I failed you, too.”

“But how are you not dead? Considering the prophecy and all…” Arabella wondered aloud.

“I told you never to worry about that,” Blaze said. “And I believe the goddess wanted us together, or I wouldn’t be talking with you now.”

“I’m just glad you’re alive,” Arabella replied.

Thalia sighed as she watched them both. She wanted to scold him for his recklessness, for putting himself in such danger, but she couldn’t. Blaze was alive. That was what truly mattered. She hadn’t been so terrified in her life as she was when she saw Blaze lying helplessly in the corner.

Thalia had prayed fervently to the goddess for him to come back to life. She’d even vowed to do all that was right in her eyes. The last time she’d prayed this intensely was after her parents’ death.

She’d pleaded for them to return, but her prayers hadn’t been answered. Thalia had assumed it would be the same for Blaze. Again, she was grateful that the countless nightmares of him dying hadn’t come to pass. She wondered what she would have done if Blaze hadn’t woken up.

Orga entered the room, flanked by two warriors on each side. When he saw Arabella, he stopped, his brows knitting in amazement.

“H-how did you get here?” Orga asked astonishment in his voice.

“I escaped. It’s a long story,” Arabella explained.

“We were on our way to rescue you, but I’m relieved to see you here,” Orga admitted.

He’d spent the whole day pondering how he could save Arabella without inciting a war in Sandro’s camp. He knew he couldn’t take her without facing Sandro, and he suspected it wouldn’t end without bloodshed.

Arabella smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”

Despite her gratitude, she was secretly relieved they hadn’t arrived. Sandro would have likely used them for his vile purposes, and their powers would have been useless. She hadn’t been able to harness hers, and she doubted they’d fare any better.

“Now that you’re back, what’s our next move?” Orga inquired.

“Continue training and then launch an assault on Sandro’s pack,” Arabella declared, determination etching her features. She hadn’t been able to take down Sandro alone, but with everyone together, she believed she could.

And she wanted to move swiftly; she couldn’t bear the thought of Sandro hunting her down once more.

“We must gather for a meeting,” Orga declared, and Arabella readily agreed with a nod.