Chapter 34: The Slap.
Alessandro’s POV
“What was that?” I asked Marcus, who stood beside me, as we heard a loud crash from the pack’s mansion.
We hurried into the sitting room and found Aurora’s mother, our supposed Luna, sprawled on the floor with one of the pack’s most expensive vases shattered beside her.
My father was kneeling next to her, trying to help her up. When he looked up and saw me, relief flashed in his eyes.
“Oh, thank heavens you’re here, son. Help me take her to her room. She’s drunk and needs to rest.”
I sighed, irritation bubbling inside me. Why was my father always covering up for this… this… annoying woman?
My father noticed my hesitation, and his expression hardened. “Well, don’t just stand there.
Do something and make sure no one outside knows what happened here tonight, understand?”
I sighed again, louder this time, and my father’s eyes narrowed.
“And why the attitude, Alessandro? She’s your mother, and you should take care of her.”
“She’s not my mother!” I snapped, my anger finally spilling over.
At that moment, I noticed Leonardo and Aurora descending the stairs. The sight of them together made my blood boil, and I clenched my fists at my sides.
My father stood up, glaring at me with anger burning in his eyes. “Then what is she to you?”
“She’s your wife, not my moth—”
But before I could finish, my father’s hand lashed out, striking me hard across the face.
*Psssssh!*
I staggered slightly, my hand instinctively going to my cheek as it burned from the slap.
My father’s voice thundered through the room, dripping with fury. “How dare you say that my wife isn’t your mother!
Even though she didn’t give birth to you or raise you, she’s still your mother. She’s still my wife!”
He stepped closer, his face twisted with anger. “Yes, your real mother is dead, Alessandro.
Gone forever. But that doesn’t mean you can disrespect the woman who took her place in this house.
My new wife may not have given birth to you, but she’s taken on the burden of dealing with you, hasn’t she? So don’t you dare say that again!”
I gritted my teeth, my fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The sharp taste of blood filled my mouth as I bit down on my tongue, forcing myself to stay silent.
“You ungrateful boy,” he continued, his voice full of venom. “You think you’re better than everyone else?
Just because you’re the eldest, you think you can walk around here like you’re already the Alpha. But you’re nothing, Alessandro. Nothing without me.”
I could feel the heat rising in my face, not just from the slap, but from the sheer humiliation of it all.
Leonardo and Aurora stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching everything unfold.
Leonardo’s face showed concern and disappointment, while Aurora’s expression was unreadable but I could feel her eyes on me, judging me, pitying me.
It was worse than the slap.
“You’re a disgrace to this pack,” my father spat, his voice cutting through the air like a knife.
“A disgrace to me. And you have the nerve to defy me in front of your brother and your stepsister? You think you’re better than Leonardo? You’re nothing compared to him. Nothing.”
Every word felt like a dagger, driving deeper into my chest, but still, I said nothing.
My fists remained clenched, my jaw tight, as I swallowed down the rage that threatened to consume me. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. Not here. Not in front of them.
“And don’t forget,” he continued, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper, “that you’re living under my roof. My rules. You think you can go around defying me, disrespecting my wife, and not face consequences? You’re delusional, Alessandro. Absolutely delusional.”
He stepped closer, his face inches from mine, his voice low and venomous. “If you ever speak about my wife like that again, I’ll do more than just slap you.
I’ll strip you of everything you hold dear. Your status in this pack, your position as my son everything. You’ll be nothing more than a disgrace unworthy of any respect.”
I could feel my nails digging into my palms as I clenched my fists tighter, fighting the urge to lash out, to scream back at him.
But I couldn’t. Not here. Not now. Not in front of Leonardo and Aurora, who were still standing there, witnessing every second of my humiliation.
“You think you can challenge me?” my father hissed, his eyes blazing with contempt.
“You think you’re strong enough? You’re nothing compared to me, Alessandro. Nothing.
And until you learn to show respect to me, to my wife, and to this pack you will remain exactly that. Nothing.”
I swallowed hard, the taste of blood still in my mouth, as I forced myself to nod, to accept his words even though every fiber of my being screamed in protest.
My father’s voice lowered but lost none of its venom. “You will take my wife to her room, and you will do it now.
And if I ever hear you speak like that again, Alessandro, there will be consequences. Do you understand me?”
I nodded stiffly, not trusting myself to speak. My father stared me down for a moment longer before turning his back on me, dismissing me as if I were nothing more than a servant.
I shot a glance at Leonardo and Aurora. Leonardo’s eyes met mine, but he looked away quickly, unable to hold my gaze for long.
Aurora’s eyes, however, remained fixed on me, a mix of curiosity and something else something I didn’t want to think about.
Humiliated and seething, I moved toward my father’s wife, forcing my hands to relax as I bent down to help her up.
She mumbled something incoherent, too drunk to realize the scene she had just caused, too oblivious to understand the damage she had done.
As I helped her to her feet, I could feel their eyes on me the eyes of the brother I despised and the woman I loathed with every fiber of my being. They had seen it all, every moment of my disgrace.
But I would make them pay. I would make them all pay.
And one day, I would make sure they understood exactly who Alessandro truly was.
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