The Lonely Wolf by Monica La Porta Page A

girlfriend Luisa, both werewolves, lived with Alexander and Ravenna and they had been named guardians too. Interspecies laws were complicated, and, even with the Immortal Council keeping everyone in line thanks to enforcers and liaisons, misunderstandings were a daily occurrence. Peter was following chain of command to the letter.
    “Is it necessary for me to be present?” The next day, Quintilius had back to back meetings with the CEO of a Greek shipping company visiting Rome to consolidate a five-year deal. “I know Raphael is in the best hands and the kid trusts you.”
    “Well, if you send the archangel an email to explain the situation, I’m sure it will be okay for me to go alone.”
    Quintilius lowered his forehead to the wheel and swore under his breath. “No, that’s okay. I think I can find a moment tomorrow to stop by Drako’s.”
    “Perfect. Just let me know when you’re free and I’ll meet you there.”
    “Okay. Say hi to my princess.”
    “Will do. See you soon.”
    Wallowing in misery, Quintilius remained before the gate of his house for several minutes before waving at the camera to let him in. Behind him, Iris’s car followed his until the main house, then she turned toward her cottage and he forgot about her.
    At the porch, Camelia waited for him, a bouquet of fresh cut freesias on her lap and a smile on her face. Every night, rain or shine, summer or winter, she would push her wheelchair out and greet him back from the office.
    He bent to brush her forehead with a kiss. “My sweet, how was your day?”
    “Lots of gardening.” She raised the scented flowers toward Quintilius. “How was yours, my alpha?”
    “Busy, but productive.” The clean sweetness of the bouquet mixed with Camelia’s perfume pervaded his senses, and he wound his arm around her shoulder and pressed her small frame against his side.
    With a small sigh, she accepted the embrace. “I prepared lemon scaloppini and a mimosa cake.”
    Camelia suffered from chronic pain and yet she managed Casolare del Lupo without any help, taking care of running the estate like a tight ship.
    “I would be lost without you, my pretty.” Reaching for her thin wrist, he brought her hand to his lips and pressed a small kiss to its back. Now and again, he wished he had fallen in love with her so long ago, but it had not happened, and the result was staring back at him. “Have I told you lately that you are the most beautiful, the most caring, the most loyal companion a wolf could ever ask for?”
    “Only once a day.” She chuckled.
    “Well, then it’s not enough. I’ll start calling you from the office to remind you how important you are to me.”
    She patted his hand. “I know, my handsome alpha. I know because I’m here.”
    Pack laws dictated that if one of the two parts in a marriage contract became incapacitated and unable to produce offspring, the other could repudiate him or her. When an alpha was involved, sending away a mate who wasn’t whole anymore was the norm.
    “Never say it like I’m doing you a favor. I told you time and again, I am the one taking advantage of you.” Once in a while, they would embark in such discussions. It couldn’t be helped with their history, but it always pained Quintilius to have to remind her how grateful he was for her presence in his life.
    Freeing herself from his embrace, she wheeled her chair to the side to face him. “It would’ve been your prerogative.”
    Something in her tone, or maybe his nerves were too frayed already, made him snap, and words they had never spoken came forth. “You can’t walk because of me.”
    Camelia’s eyes widened as she brought her hand to her chest. “It’s not true—”
    “It’s not entirely true maybe, but it doesn’t change the fact that you being in this chair is related to me.” Quintilius kneeled in front of her, so that their eyes were at the same level. “I should’ve married you. I would’ve taken care of you and none of this