Luna's Rejected Vengeful Mate
Luna’s Rejected Vengeful Mate Chapter 53

Isola, Italy

Fabrizio

Massimo followed me out of Teresa’s apartment and into the car. I had a lot of explaining to do, but my mind was on the photo in the bedroom. My daughter was alive, hiding from me and everybody else. She collaborated with a scumbag; her major goal was to hurt Maurizio, Massimo, and their loved ones.

And I was stuck in the middle. My eagerness to see my child alive fought with the fear that Teresa would try to harm Elisa and her unborn baby. Elisa and Natalia were the reason I was back on my feet after Teresa’s “death”. What a joke! The two girls gave me the love I missed from my daughter and treated me like family, like their second father. I consider them to be my children, not my employees.

And now, I discovered that my flesh and b***d, my daughter, had played such a dirty trick on me. So what if Maurizio forced her to leave Massimo? So what if the baby in her womb was another man’s child? I would have forgiven and supported her if she had told me the truth. I was her father for heaven’s sake. I would never abandon her.

With a shattered heart, I sat in the passenger seat and waited for Massimo to arrive. I had already decided how to proceed. I would do everything in my power to prevent Teresa from hurting Elisa and the baby. My hope was that my daughter made those plans out of recklessness, and not out of monstrosity. Teresa’s actions made her seem to be a monster, and I prayed to God that she wasn’t.

Massimo came running, took the driver’s seat and turned my way. I closed my eyes to gather the strength I needed to face him. I felt embarrassed and humiliated by Teresa’s behaviour.

“I know how you feel, Fabrizio and I am sorry I had to tell you those things about Teresa. I know she is your daughter, but that doesn’t change the fact she is behind my father’s attack and she is the one who wants to hurt Elisa.” Massimo’s voice was firm, full of stubbornness.

He was right. There was no excuse for my daughter’s actions.

“Fabrizio, I am waiting. You said Elisa is in California. Do you know where she is staying?” Massimo’s voice broke me from my thoughts.

I looked at him and he patted my shoulder. I saw sympathy in his eyes and that brought tears to mine. Teresa, what did you do? I thought and took a deep breath.

“Elisa is staying with Natalia and her husband, Massimo. And Natalia’s husband is Blake Hunter, your business associate.”

“What?” Massimo jumped in his seat. “You mean Blake’s wife is your former employee? The one who was supposed to be my advocate? Elisa replaced Blake’s wife?”

“Yes, Massimo, that’s correct. Natalia is still my business associate. Both she and Elisa work with me from California,” I explained.

“So, if Teresa went to California to harm Elisa, that means she knows where Elisa lives. And to get close to her, she must have requested the help of someone… someone who knows Blake well,” Massimo concluded.

“I suspect Mattia has something to do with it,” I replied. “Let me call Mario again. He can help us. He did a good job investigating Mattia.”

I picked up my phone and called Mario. He was the only one I could rely on for such information. He had connections all over the world. It would be a piece of cake for him to replace out what I needed.

“I need to contact Blake,” Massimo said but I cut him off.

“Let’s wait for Mario’s reply. If we know who they contacted, it will be easier for us,” I suggested but Massimo thought otherwise.

“If I tell Blake, he will focus on replaceing who his enemies are and that will give us the heads up, Fabrizio. Blake will take precautions and protect Elisa until I get to California,” he said.

“You mean until we get to California? I am going with you, Massimo,” I declared and he looked startled.

“What? Do you think I will allow Teresa to harm Elisa or the baby? Over my dead body, Massimo. Let’s see what she will do when I face her.” I had a stony expression with my last words, but only God and I knew how my heart bled having to reject my child over two other innocent lives.

Massimo picked up the phone and called Blake.

“Hey Blake, how are you? Sorry for the late call. Could you please move to your office? I need to talk to you in private. It’s urgent.”

I didn’t hear Bake’s reply, but soon, Massimo spoke again.

“Blake, I know Elisa is with you. Don’t interrupt me, please. That’s not why I called you. No, I am not blaming you, Blake. Elisa is in danger and I need your help. Now Listen…”

The Dark Moon pack, California

Natalia

It had been a few days since I saw Elizabeth at the hospital, and I still hadn’t told Blake. I knew I had to reveal the truth because he had noticed my abnormal behaviour. My husband knew there was something wrong with me.

My fear of Blake’s reaction when he found out I had met with Elie and Drake stopped me every time I tried to tell him what had happened.

Elia’s words were in my mind. I couldn’t keep it a secret anymore. I had to warn Blake about Ace and his actions. I didn’t want my husband to go crazy and look for Drake though. The outcome of that encounter scared me.

Drake had convinced me that he no longer had evil intentions against Blake and my father and I was worried about Elisabeth and her condition. She seemed fragile at the hospital. If Blake found out and reacted the way I suspected he would, where would that leave my sister and her baby? I needed to contact my sister to see how she was doing.

I locked myself in my room and sent Elisabeth a message.

“Hey Elie, how are you doing? Is everything okay with the baby?’

It wasn’t long before she replied.

“Good morning, Nat. Yes, we are both doing great. I am sitting in bed reading stories to my baby boy.”

I smiled. My sister’s face came to mind. She was smiling while reading the story to her unborn child.

I video-called her. That was the only way I could see her.

Elisabeth’s smiling face appeared on the screen.

“Hello, Nat. how are you?” she asked and I smiled.

“Feeling awkward talking to you like this,” I admitted, and I saw my sister’s pained look.

“Yes, I know. I am to blame for this,” she apologised but I cut her off.

“Enough of this talk. I wanted to see how you are doing, Elie. Do you need anything?” I asked.

“No, Drake has been working more hours and we bought all the things we will need when the baby is born, Natalia. Don’t worry about me. We can handle it,” my previously spoiled sister replied and amazed me with her simplicity. Elisabeth used to be the demanding daughter of our family and now she had turned into a simple pregnant woman.

“Is Drake at work now?” I asked and Elisabeth nodded.

“Yes, he is working at the motel reception today. The good thing is that a tenant has requested to work a few hours a day, which allows Drake to stay with me for a few more hours. Oh, Natalia wait a minute,” my sister said and I heard her talk to someone.

“Hello, Elisabeth. I brought you some soup Tia prepared for you. Drake was busy and I offered to bring it for you.” the woman had a strange accent when she spoke to my sister. Was she Italian?

“Ah, thank you, Teresa. Please leave it on the side table. I will eat it later. Please close the door on your way out,” my sister replied.

“Sorry about that, Natalia,” Elisabeth smiled at me.

“Who was that?” I asked.

“She is the one I mentioned before. She is staying at the motel for a while and occasionally works at the reception. Her name is Teresa and she is Italian. Another hurt soul from a broken relationship,” Elisabeth teased me and I smiled.

“She is keeping me company these days; she is around my age. Drake is busy running errands for the motel and I get bored. With Teresa’s company time goes by easily,” Elisabeth continued.

“I am happy to know you have someone close to you, Elie. I wish I could be there for you,” I replied and my sister’s sad smile indicated she felt the same way.

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation.

“Baby are you all right?” Blake had returned from the meeting he had with the developers.

“Elie I have to go. Talk to you later.” I disconnected the call and walked to the door, my heart hammering in my chest. I felt like a teenager caught doing a mistake.

When I opened the door, he entered the room and took me into his arms. I hid my face in his broad chest, hugging his muscled body.

“Natalia? Is there something wrong with you, sweetie? Why are you so upset?” My husband led me to the sofa and had me sit on his lap.

“It’s now or never, Nat. you should tell him about Elisabeth and Drake. Our pup is very upset with the ups and downs of your moods. You don’t want to harm our baby, do you?” Leia stepped in and I knew I had to tell Blake.

“Blake, I need to tell you something, but I want you to promise me you will keep calm and listen to me till the end,” I whispered and that upset my husband.

“Honey, did anything happen to you or our baby? No, that wouldn’t be the case. I still sense the baby and you seem okay to me. What is it?” He was anxious to replace out what I wanted to say.

“The day I went to the hospital with Elisa, I saw Elisabeth and Drake,” I dropped the bomb.

“You saw who?” Blake jumped from his seat and I found myself holding on to him like a koala on a tree. It was the only way not to hit the floor with my round belly.

“f**k, Natalia are you all right, sweetie?” Blake held me tight and placed me back on the sofa carefully.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Blake? Have you lost your mind?” Leia took charge and verbally attacked my mate. “What if Natalia’s reflexes were not as good as they have proven to be? What if something happened to our pup?” my wolf growled.

“Leia you can’t blame Blake for his reaction,” Aries interfered growling back. “Both he and I were shocked to hear Natalia say she saw Drake and Elisabeth.”

“Don’t you dare patronise me, Wolfie! Is that clear? If anything happened to my pup I wouldn’t spare you, or Blake. I would never forgive you,” she yelled at Aries.

Leia was out of control. As soon as I realised Blake’s move, my adrenaline sky-rocketed and I hooked myself onto his torso, startling Leia, who seemed exhausted from the pregnancy and needed more sleep.

My mate and his wolf had forgotten all about Drake and tried to calm a raging Leia who had them both begging for forgiveness. Blake had paled at the thought that something might have happened to our baby and Aries couldn’t handle Leia’s anger.

“Baby, I am sorry. I should have foreseen Blake’s reaction and stopped him. I never meant for any of this to happen,” Ace tried to calm Leia by sweet-talking her.

“The only way for me to forgive both of you jerks is to give me your word you will listen to what Natalia has to say carefully and do whatever she asks,” Leia demanded and both Ace and Blake promised to do so.

“I have them where we want them, Nat. Don’t mess up. The rest, I leave to you,” Leia purred in delight and went back to sleep.

I kept a straight face and avoided looking into Blake’s eyes. He tried to hold my hand but I pulled back. He had given me a fright before and I wouldn’t make it easy on my husband.

“Natalia sweetie, I am so sorry. I was so shocked it slipped my mind that I was holding you in my arms,” he apologised.

With my eyes full of tears I looked at him and nodded. Keeping my voice low, I said.

“Consider yourself lucky that nothing happened Blake. Or else, you would never see me again. And now back to our conversation. Elisabeth is pregnant and having some issues. When I met with her and Drake, I confronted your brother. He admitted that he was behind the attacks. He no longer has anything to do with the rogues, though. When Elisabeth found out, she almost lost the baby and her life and that scared the s**t out of your brother. My sister threatened to leave him, taking the baby with her, and Drake vowed not to mess with you again.”

I stopped to take a breath and calm my rebellious heart. I wanted to smack his handsome face for giving me the scare of my life and k**s him for looking at me as if his life depended on my well-being.

“And you believed him, Natalia? Do you think it’s so easy to stop once he started?” Blake asked coldly and before I gave him an answer, Leia interfered and replied.

“When are you finally going to trust my abilities? I have read his wolf’s thoughts and Drake was telling the truth. The one we should be wary of is Ace Jones. He had been secretly helping Drake and was against Drake’s retreat. I have the feeling Ace is up to something. Don’t forget about Emma as well. She is his snitch,” Leia reminded my husband.

“Ace! That a*s.hole is looking for death,” Blake growled but I stopped him.

“Blake, Drake will take Elisabeth and leave after she gives birth to the baby. They don’t want to meddle in our lives anymore. All they want is a quiet life for themselves and the baby. Please spare your brother, honey. I know he messed with our lives, but look where we are now. Our baby is on its way and we love each other so much. Please, baby, do it for my sake, and only deal with Ace,” I pleaded with my husband.

Blake didn’t reply. His stony face revealed nothing but pure anger.

“Remember what you promised Leia, Blake,” I whispered, my eyes full of tears. “And if you want me to forgive you as well, you will do as I ask,” I put pressure on him.

“Until your sister has her baby and they leave, they better stay out of my face,” Blake growled, agreeing to my request and I hugged him, relieved.

“Well, that went well,” Leia teased me and I smiled.

“Thank you, Blake,” I kissed my husband and that was when his phone rang.

“It’s Massimo,” Blake said and picked up the phone.

“Hey, Massimo, what’s up?” he asked and then left the sofa, whispering that he would go back to his office for a while.

I nodded and wiped my tears I went to have a quick shower. After relaxing under the water, I wanted to sleep.

When he came back to our room, I was ready to hit the bed. He was pale and had a worried look on his face.

“Blake, what is it?” I walked to him.

“Massimo called. He knows Elisa is with us. He is coming to California,” Blake replied.

“That’s good news, baby. Why are you so worried?” I asked confused by my husband’s reaction.

Holding my hand, Blake helped me sit on the bed and he sat next to me.

“Natalia, Elisa is in danger. Massimo told me that Teresa, Fabrizio’s supposedly deceased daughter is not dead. She is alive and well and is in California. She wants to harm Elisa and her baby,” Blake told me, holding me tightly, afraid of my reaction.

“What?” I screamed.

“Teresa is alive? And she is in California?”

“She is the one I mentioned before. She will stay at the motel for a while and occasionally works at the reception. Her name is Teresa and she is Italian. Another hurt soul from a broken relationship.” My sister’s words played in the back of my mind and I cursed.

“Damn it. Elisabeth might also be in danger, Blake,” I cried.

“Baby what…”

“There is an Italian at the motel where Elisabeth lives. Her name is Teresa and she is close to my sister these days,” I cried.

“Blake, we need to save Elisabeth and her baby,” I cried in my husband’s arms, who had frozen on the spot with what I just told him.

“What?” he asked me, confused.

“We need to replace a way and contact Drake. I don’t want to scare my sister, Blake. The baby is due in a few weeks. What if Teresa wants to harm my sister?”

“Contact Drake? Natalia, are you losing it? Why would I contact Drake?” Blake protested and I growled.

“Because he is your BROTHER Blake. No matter what, Drake is your younger brother and Elisabeth is my sister. I would never allow anything bad to happen to Elie or her baby. Do you understand? Now, will you help me or should I take things into my own hands?” I threatened my husband standing up, ready to leave the room.

“Natalia wait! Fine, baby. I will help you. But I want nothing to do with Drake. You should call him, Nat. if I talk to him he may think it’s a trap. Before we do that, we should try to replace out who might be helping Teresa. Massimo speculates she has an accomplice here in California.

Drake’s words came to mind. “All you have to do is tell Blake to be aware of Ace Jones, Natalia.”

“Ace Jones,” both Blake and I growled our suspicions of the same person.