Chapter 1: Shadows of the Past

The scent of blood and whiskey lingered in the dimly lit club, mixing with the heavy bass pounding through the speakers. Luca Valentino sat in his private booth, fingers curled around a glass of scotch, his sharp golden eyes scanning the room. He had spent years ruling the underworld, carving his place as the Alpha King of the Valentino mafia. Yet, the void in his chest remained—a hollow ache that no conquest or bloodshed could ever fill.

Isabella.

Her name was a whisper in his mind, a ghost that haunted him through sleepless nights and endless battles. It had been ten years since she was ripped from his life, stolen away, and sold like a piece of property. He had searched every dark alley, every underground auction, but she had vanished without a trace, until tonight.

Dante, his most trusted enforcer, slid into the booth across from him, his expression grim. "We found her."

Luca's entire body tensed, his grip on the glass tightening until it nearly shattered. "Where?"

Dante hesitated for the briefest moment before answering. "In Emilio Moretti’s estate."

Rage burned through Luca’s veins like wildfire. Moretti. The bastard who had been a thorn in his side for years, a rival Alpha who thrived on trafficking Omegas, bending them to his will. Luca had always despised him, but now, knowing he had her—it was a declaration of war.

"She's been there for years, Luca. Kept under heavy guard. They say Moretti claims her as his prize, his personal Omega."

The words sent a deep, primal growl rumbling in Luca’s chest. His wolf raged, demanding blood, demanding vengeance. No one had the right to claim what was his. No one.

His mind raced with memories of Isabella—the way her soft laughter had once filled the air, the way her scent had wrapped around him like the sweetest of temptations. He had sworn to protect her, and he had failed. But now, he would make things right.

Flashback: Ten Years Ago

A young Luca, barely sixteen, stood by the lake behind his family estate, watching as Isabella twirled barefoot in the grass. She laughed, the sound like music to his ears, her long dark curls bouncing with each spin. The moonlight made her hazel eyes glow like liquid gold.

“You’ll fall,” he warned, arms crossed but amusement tugging at his lips.

Isabella stuck her tongue out at him. “You always worry too much, Luca.”

With a sigh, he reached for her hand, pulling her toward him. “That’s because you’re my Omega. One day, I’m going to claim you, and no one will ever take you from me.”

Her smile softened as she gazed up at him. “Promise?”

He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing against her soft skin. “I swear it.”

Present Day

Luca’s jaw clenched as he snapped back to the present. He had failed that promise, but he would not fail her again.

"Get the team ready," he ordered his voice like ice. "We're bringing her home."

Dante nodded and left without another word. Luca sat there for a moment longer, finishing his drink in one swift gulp before rising to his feet. The air around him crackled with unrestrained fury. Tonight, Moretti would pay for his sins. And Isabella would finally be his again.

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