The Alpha's Bodyguard

The desired ring

Restaurant D’Aggio.

5 years before the present events

My change in fortune had been definitive. From an orphaned omega without a wolf, I was now going to be the fiancée of the Alpha heir to the Gold Moon pack. Or at least that's what I hoped would happen in the next few hours, when I left the restaurant where Alessandro had taken me for dinner that night.

I noticed he was nervous while driving.

I was sure the ring he would use to propose was in the pocket of his jacket, because after recognizing each other as mates, what could possibly ruin our wedding?

We entered a very elegant restaurant, one I could never have dreamed of entering in my entire life.

“Your table is ready, young Falinni,” said the maître d’ upon recognizing the pack heir. “I’ll take you there immediately.”

I admired the sumptuous decor around me. It was the perfect place for a marriage proposal. As we walked toward the exclusive table in the VIP area, I wondered what other preparations Alessandro might have up his sleeve. Had he hired a violinist? Was he about to hand the ring to the maître d’ so it could be placed in the dessert according to his instructions?

I was very excited.

The waiter handed us the menu right away, and Alessandro ordered to sample the most exclusive wine in the place.

All the signs pointed to the imminent proposal.

“Do you like this place?” Alessandro asked after loosening his tie a bit. The poor guy was very nervous, I could even see he was a bit pale.

“It’s perfect, love,” I said, not realizing he hadn’t called me the same. “Did I tell you I’ve already submitted the scholarship documents?”

I wanted to make some small talk to divert the topic so he could relax a bit.

“That’s wonderful. I’m very happy for you.”

He seemed a bit distant, and I attributed it to nerves. The poor guy must have been going over everything he needed to do to make this moment wonderful, unforgettable.

“I don’t want your father to feel pressured into influencing the institute’s board to give me the scholarship,” I added. “I want it to be awarded to me based on my merits, not because I’m your mate.”

The maître d’ approached the table with the wine Alessandro had ordered, which he tasted like a true connoisseur and approved.

“Don’t you want to make a toast, love?” I asked, noticing Alessandro was about to bring the glass to his lips as if desperate for an alcoholic drink.

“I’m sorry. Yes. To your future, may you have a wonderful life.” Alessandro hurriedly said with a simple smile, nothing like the one that had captivated me the first time.

Nerves had made him very terse, and why did he toast to me and not to us?

Even so, I accepted the toast, and we clinked our glasses.

The wine was really delicious.

“Is there a dish on the menu you’d suggest, love?” I asked, seeing that I didn’t understand any of the dish names.

Alessandro drank the contents of his glass in one gulp and poured another. If it weren’t for the fact that he was an Alpha, and very rarely could liquor cloud his senses, I would have warned him not to drink too much and to remember that he was driving.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” he said before answering my question.

I got nervous.

Had the moment arrived?

So soon, before even ordering?

“Of course, tell me, love.”

Alessandro drank from his glass again and emptied it immediately.

He really needed to calm his nerves.

“I’ve been talking to my parents…”

“To whom you haven’t introduced me, by the way, darling…” I said as I extended my hand to place it over his.

I saw him press his lips together and decided not to interrupt him again.

“I’m sorry. What were you saying, love?”

Alessandro cleared his throat.

“I talked to my parents about us, about the place and how we met…”

“At the farewell night of the orphanage, yes. It was wonderful that you attended on behalf of your parents, the Alphas of our pack. Can you imagine if you hadn’t gone that night? Maybe we wouldn’t have met.”

I couldn’t help but interrupt him again. I was also nervous, despite trying to stay as calm as possible.

“Well, yes, about that night. I talked to them about what happened, told them who you are and what my wolf told me as soon as he saw you, also about what I felt and what you said you felt.”

Alessandro was really nervous and must have been going over the wonderful night when we met and recognized each other as mates to finally muster the courage to take out the ring from his jacket pocket.

“In short, after talking to them,” Alessandro continued. “My parents concluded that this cannot happen.”

Had I heard correctly?

“What can’t happen? What is it that can’t happen?” I asked, not wanting to believe what I was hearing.

“Our relationship, Ivania. That’s what can’t happen.”

I knew what he was referring to, but I needed to be sure. It had to come from his lips.

“We’re mates, Alessandro. What else do we need?”

I couldn’t believe it.

Was Alessandro rejecting me because of my status, because I was an omega without a wolf, because I was at the base of the social pyramid?

“Maybe we are, Ivania, but we’re not on the same level, you understand?”

“Not on the same level?” I said with a sarcastic smile. “If we’re mates, what does ‘level’ matter, Alessandro? The Goddess wanted us to be united; that’s why she made us companions. That’s what needs to be understood.”

“But you can’t even be sure of that, Ivania. You don’t have a wolf; how can you know you’re truly my mate if your wolf doesn’t manifest?”

“Are you repeating your parents’ words, or is that what you truly think, Alessandro? Do you really believe I can’t be sure of who my mate is just because I don’t have a wolf to whisper it in my mind?”

Alessandro’s empty gaze was enough to make me realize the answer. I was furious, starting to raise my voice, and the stares from other tables converged around us.

“This simply cannot be, Ivania. It’s for the good of the pack. An Alpha cannot have as his Luna an omega without a wolf. You have to understand.”

I had had enough, and it was pointless to try defending our relationship.

Alessandro wouldn’t budge; his family must already hate me, without even knowing me, believing I was some sort of opportunist deceiving their son. They would never accept me.

The Alpha’s charity was a sham, and I wouldn’t even accept his scholarship, which he could shove wherever it fit the least.

I stood up.

I wasn’t going to make a scene.

I wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of seeing me cry.

“Ivania, I, Alessandro Falinni, heir to the pack…”

“Don’t you dare say it!” I shouted.

I might be an omega without a wolf, but I still had my dignity.

I turned around and left the restaurant, determined that one day I would return to take my revenge on Alessandro and all the damn Falinnis.