The Alpha's Mafia Luna novel Chapter 12

I hesitated. Then I exhaled and asked, “How’s your head?”

She tapped the side gently. “Still there. Doctors said I was lucky.”

I looked away. “Didn’t feel lucky when I hit you with a book.”

Mira shrugged. “I’ve been hit with worse.”

Something softened in my chest. Guilt, probably. But also a strange

kind of respect.

Damian’s voice broke the awkward silence. “She’s been recovering in

one of the safehouses.”

“She should’ve stayed longer,” I said before I could stop myself.

“I asked to return,” Mira said. “I wanted to see if you’d stabbed

anyone else.”

I smirked. “Not yet. But there’s still time.”

Evelyn cleared her throat behind us. “If we’re done with the

emotional reunions, I’d like to report that Selene is progressing. She

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can now walk without threatening to destroy the floorboards.”

“She’s exaggerating,” I added dryly.

“She’s being kind,” Mira muttered under her breath.

Damian stepped fully into the room now, hands in his pockets, the

shadows curling around him like they belonged to him. I hated how

much space he took up. Not physically. Just… in the air. In my

thoughts.

His gaze swept over me. Not lingering. Not indecent. Just sharp. Assessing. Like he was measuring what had changed in the five days

he’d been gone.

“She looks different,” he said simply.

“I didn’t shave my head or anything,” I muttered.

“No,” he said, stepping closer. “But you’re holding yourself like you’re

ready.”

“Ready for what?” I asked slowly.

His eyes didn’t leave mine. “Italy.”

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My heart did that annoying thump it did whenever he said something

unexpected.

“Excuse me?”

“I have work there. And you’re coming with me.”

I blinked. “You’re joking.”

“I don’t joke.”

“Exactly why this sounds suspicious.”

“You’re Luna,” he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the

world. “You’re meant to walk beside me. Not sit in a gilded cage

waiting.”

I hated that the words made my stomach flutter.

Beside him.

Not behind.

“But Italy?” I echoed again. “Like… pizza and mafia?”

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Mira coughed to hide her laugh.

“More like vineyards and weapons negotiations,” Damian said. “I

have an Alpha meeting. Several, actually. And I need you there.”

“Why?”

He didn’t answer right away.

Then: “Because they need to see what I built.”

I flinched at that. “You didn’t build me.”

“No,” he said, stepping even closer. “But I gave you space to rise.”

I didn’t know how to answer that.

My fists clenched. My throat felt dry. And before I could say anything,

Evelyn snapped her fingers.

“If we’re going to Italy, we need to pack. Tonight.”

“I’m not-” I started.

“You are,” Damian interrupted.

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I glared. “You left me for five days. You don’t get to make demands.”

He stared me down. “I gave you time to become what you were meant

to be.”

“And what exactly is that?”

His voice dropped an octave. “My Luna.”

The silence that followed was thick.

Evelyn cleared her throat again. “Mira, help me organize wardrobe

options.”

Mira nodded and followed her out, but not before throwing me a

wink.

I stayed still. Damian didn’t move.

“You could’ve warned me,” I said.

“If I warned you, you would’ve panicked.”

“I still am panicking.”

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“Good. That means you care.”

“I don’t.”

He smirked faintly. “Keep lying. You’re getting better at it.”

I hated him.

I hated that he wasn’t wrong.

As he turned to leave, his voice echoed behind him: “We leave at

dawn. Get ready.”

The door shut.

And just like that, my entire world shifted again.

I was no longer the girl locked in a room sharpening spoons,

I was going to Italy.

With a mafia Alpha.