Elise, or Marco without this information.”
Mary sobbed and shrank into the chair.
Mary’s fear was palpable in the room. Aria leaned against Marco, but he stepped away from her, denying her his comfort. Tears welled in her eyes. He was blaming her for all of this.
“She was the only one that could remember her family from before we were taken. Villaneuva. But she knew she couldn’t curse her daughter with that name and he would find her if she’d tried to go home.”
“Who would find her?”
“Where are you from?”
“Where was Lupe from?”
Several of the alphas tossed questions over each other and the energy in the room shifted with power.
A look from the Cavanaugh alpha silenced everyone. “His name, Mary. We need his name.”
“Adrian. We never knew his last name—” Mary paused and looked straight past Aria to Marco. “I’m sorry, Marco. I tried to protect you from the burden of my shame.”
“Where are you from? Where were you kept?” Francis pushed gently. All of the men at the table leaned forward in anticipation.
“I don’t remember where I am from. Lupe always said that we were all stolen. That he took us from our families.”
“Do you remember anything else about the man in charge?” Carl spoke this time.
Mary shook her head. “I can’t.”
“We will protect you, Mary. You are safe.” Carl’s voice was so calming. Even though he wasn’t her alpha, Aria could feel him pressing calm toward everyone.
Tears poured down Mary’s cheeks and Marco took a step backward.
No. No. No. Aria reached for Marco’s hand again, but he recoiled.
“I don’t want to hear this. Just leave me out of all of it.” He whirled and took a step toward the door.
All eyes shifted to Marco and Aria couldn’t stop a whimper from slipping between her lips. The alphas magick slammed into hers like a hurricane wind, knocking her to her knees. Marco tensed and his shoulders went up.
Francis stood from his seat at the table. “You will stay, Marco DiSanti. You will respect your mother and the pain she’s shouldered alone all these years.” His voice echoed through the room, sending a terrifying shudder along Aria’s spine. She couldn’t imagine going against her alpha’s wishes, but Marco wasn’t bonded. He didn’t have the same connection to a pack that she did.
Marco stopped, his jaw tight. Aria cringed at the anger boiling in his features. His whole body was tight—calves, thighs, stomach, fists, chest. She wished she had the power to push calm into him, but they didn’t have that bond yet. Right now all she could feel was the physical manifestation of his discomfort.
Mary glanced at Aria and then past her to her son. “Please let my son leave. These are things he shouldn’t have to hear. I don’t want this burden on his shoulders, Mr. Dubois. Or on Elise’s.”
Francis’ expression softened. He glanced to several of the other alphas at the table before nodding to Mary.
“We will respect your mother’s wishes, Marco. Go with Aria.”
Chapter Ten
M arco’s whole body hummed . The energy was too much. And having been dismissed like he was someone’s child. He was fuckin’ done. No one was going to control him like this.
He shook off Aria’s hand and stalked out of the room, leaving the strangers to their bullshit meeting. He didn’t need to hear any more. His chest was going to explode and he wanted to punch something. Hard.
There had always been something wrong with the story his mother had fed him about his father. And to know the man was not only responsible for his mother’s torture, but other women—other wolves. Marco burst through the doors and kept walking, high-paced and angry.
Footsteps fell behind him and the hallway was nearly empty, save for a couple far down, coming toward them. Marco didn’t want to have it out with Aria in the hallway, but if she tried to feed him some line about pack bullshit, he was going to leave all this behind and go somewhere no