Chapter 100 Venice

(Alexander POV)

It is once again the full moon of the Summer Solstice and Hope will be 21. In the wolf world, 21 was an Alpha's debut, and I wanted it to be special for my mate. We had just arrived in Venice. It would have been more appropriate to have a romantic rendezvous in the "City of Love", unfortunately Paris was cluttered with wolves. I just didn't have the manpower to fight off all the wolves once my mate went into heat.

The train ride for me was quite relaxing, sipping on an espresso while viewing the beautiful countryside through the large windows of the train. And even if the three girls were so loud, giggling on the train while sipping on champagne, the noise of their happiness was quite... soothing. I just didn't like how all the men would stare.

I wanted it to be just us, yet Hope needed her two Priestesses to be with her. Mark and David stayed behind at our mansion on the French Riviera making security tight. I had brought an army of my men to keep the grounds and the road which leads to our mansion off limits to prying eyes and ears.

I had asked Arthur to give us a few days alone before we formally join them to bring down Jacques' uncle. He understood what I meant and congratulated me on starting a family.

According to the Doc, if her estimate was right, it would be today. I figure it will come when the full moon is high in the night sky. And so I will make sure we are alone in our suite at the Palazzo Pisani Gritti or otherwise known as the Gritti Palace Hotel.

I have been here before during my travels when I was still in university in London. This is special because this will be the first time I will be with my mate and wife.

The Gritti, formerly the residence of Doge Andrea Gritti in the 16th century, is now a beautiful hotel where history and culture meet on the Grand Canal. The general manager of the hotel was already waiting to greet Hope at the entrance.

"Buongiorno Signora e Signor Ulrich e compagnia! " The general manager welcomed us as Mrs. and Mr. Ulrich and company. The three girls giggled as one by one the general manager shook their hands. "I am Lorenzo Conti, the general manager of this wonderful hotel. Your suites are ready for you. All we need are your passports to check you in." He takes Hope's hand into his, "Signora Hope, in behalf of Gritti Palace Hotel, we are happy you are staying with us. If there is anything you need to make your stay more enjoyable or comfortable, do not hesitate to ask anyone here."

"Grazie, Signor Conti. It is such a beautiful hotel. I'm excited to spend my birthday here." Hope blurts out.

"It's your birthday? When, Signora Hope?" The general manager started sweating. I forgot to tell them. Oops.

"Tomorrow. Uhm, domani." Hope tries to use italian. This is what I love about Europe. It is a hotpot of so many cultures in just one area.

"Forgive me, Ms. Hope. I did not know this was a birthday celebration. I will reserve our best table for all of you for dinner tonight." He wipes his forehead with his handkerchief hoping Hope wouldn't make a fuss.

"That would be so nice of you to do that for me. What time will dinner start?" Hope smiles and puts a hand on his arm and I saw him relax under her touch.

"8 PM, unless you would prefer an earlier time." Lorenzo was already preparing the menu in his head. I butt in before Hope can say that 8PM would be fine.

"Signor Conti, can you adjust it to 7:30? I would like my wife and I to retire early tonight."

"Si, Signor Ulrich. We will have everything prepared by 7:30 tonight." He bows and orders the staff to escort us to our rooms and hurriedly goes to prepare for Hope's celebration.

"You girls have fancy dresses for tonight or do you need to go shopping?" My question was directed to Leia and Maria so I could have some time alone with Hope. During our train ride, the three of them were huddled at a table away from me, engrossed at whatever they were discussing or planning.

"We'll go shopping if you lend us a credit card." Maria says in a high pitched sing-song voice. Hope pays these two so much money. It's a wonder what they do with it.

"I just paid all of your credit card bills, Maria. I even had your credit limit increased. You shouldn't have a problem paying for anything you want." Hope gives her a wink.

"You increased my credit card limit?" Maria screams which gains the attention of the other guests in the hotel." I love you. I love you. I love you!" Maria gives Hope a hug.

"Maria, you have to stop buying mundane stuff. How are you going to buy a car if you can't save?" Leia interjects, scolding Maria for her spending.

"Hey, I need all the shoes I buy. They aren't mundane." Maria pouts, holding onto her carry on which has all of her shoes. "I know Hope likes wearing sneakers and I have nothing against that." Hope snickered, not offended by Maria's statement. " But a girl needs strappy heels when they're sad and all alone. Just like me." Leia rolls her eyes at Maria and turns to me. "Sure Alexander, we'll go shopping so you can have some time with Hope."

"Aaaahhhh, that's what he meant by shopping. Silly me." We all laughed and headed to the elevator to bring us to our suites.

Maria and Leia were impressed with their suites. Since they didn't have to share, Maria said she was going to hook up with an Italian. Leia just wanted to get drunk and throw Maria into the canal. Maria pinched Leia. These girls are such pranksters.

"Good thing I brought a couple of nice dresses to wear. I thought I was just going to stay in the room, barefoot and naked." Hope tells me when we were finally alone.

"Soon, my love. Birthday celebration first then we stay locked in our room with a 'do not disturb' sign on the door knob." I kiss her forehead.

"Are you okay with me bringing the girls? I know they're a handful, but they are always useful. Plus, I need to go over the plans with the girls for the upcoming event. Arthur wants it done right in front of everyone so, he and Jacques can rise in rank then and there. It's a sinister plot, but it's the only way he can scare the pants of all the heads of the various mob families, especially Jacques' Uncle Jean Luc."

"I like the girls. They're family. I'm actually surprised you get along with Leia so well given my history with her." I wanted to see if Hope would get jealous. She laughs at me and sits down on the sofa. Apparently, not.

"Nope, not jealous. Not even with Ava. I'm impressed she has done so well with Arthur's organization. No one dare crosses her." Ava has become Arthur's face in his crime syndicate. Everyone and anyone deals with her first before they can reach him.

"Truth be told, all you girls together...you can rule the world."

"And if I go into heat soon, you'll have to deal with another little girl."

"That my love, I'm counting for." I pull her off the sofa and give her a kiss, a preview of good things to come.

__________


Dinner was served at exactly 7:30 PM ahead of the other guests. Dinner usually starts at 8PM here in Italy, so we had 30 minutes to unwind and soak in the amazing view of the Grand Canal.

The girls, as usual, were color coordinated, wearing the colors they represented in the Circle of the Ring of Lupa. Hope was wearing a bright canary yellow asymmetrical one shoulder knee length cocktail dress, Leia was wearing an off shoulder floor length gown while Maria was wearing a baby blue bustier type cocktail dress with a tutu type skirt. I was in a black tux. Nothing fancy to describe what I was wearing.

Hope was happy to be in a country where she was able to drink in public. Italy's legal drinking age was 16 so, she's been asking for anything alcoholic since we got here. Right now, she was sipping on a Negroni and I had to tell her to tone it down a notch. She gave me "you aren't my father" kind of look and drank it bottoms up and asked for another one. Leia and Maria did the same thing so she asked the server to make it three more. I think I can handle three drunk girls...I hope.

The dinner was amazing. We sat eating, talking, laughing while we watched the full moon of the Summer Solstice rise high into the dark sky. It was almost 10PM when Hope said she was starting to feel hot. I knew it! Time to get the bill and head into our suite.

The two other girls wanted to stay so I told them to just sign everything to our room. They nodded and blew Hope a kiss and Hope did the same while giggling. She was in heat and tipsy. Oh boy.

Once inside the elevator, I could already smell her. Echo, my wolf growled. He had his ears up, waiting.

"Alexander, honey, it's hot. Can I take off my dress?" She starts looking for the zipper of her dress. She's drunk. Cute.

"Not yet my love. Two more floors and we'll be in our room and you can do whatever you want." Elevator move faster. My mate is about to get undressed.

"Okay. But I'll take off my heels. They're pinching my feet." She takes off her heels and holds them in her hand. "For my birthday, I wish heels were comfortable for all women! There I said it!" She raises her hands, proud of herself. One more floor. Hurry elevator.

I fished for the key card in my pocket. The elevator door opens and I guide her through the hallway to the door of the suite.

"Yes! I get to take off my dress. She unzips her dress and falls to the floor. She walks to the bathroom in her panties and I hear the shower turn on.

I hurriedly get undressed and follow her inside the bathroom. She was letting the water run down her naked body while she leaned on the tiled wall. Not even the water could her mask her scent. I open the glass door of the shower enclosure and cup her breasts from behind, she moans and tilts her head back to my chest in pleasure.

I slid my hands down her body, caressing her until I found her mound and started to play with her wet hair. She suddenly turns around and wraps her arms around my neck, bringing my head down to kiss her. "I need to kiss you. My lips are aching from need," she whispers into my ear. She kissed me, plunging her tongue into my mouth, coaxing mine, into a long torrid kiss.

Echo was going crazy, wanting to burst out so he could take control. I kept him at bay because I wanted Hope to enjoy this.

She turned off the shower and started toweling herself dry. "I want to do this outside with the beautiful view of Venice." I took a towel and dried myself too. When we were done, she led me into our room and turned off the lights. She then, guided me to the balcony where the moonlight was shining and opened the doors.

I could feel the heat emanating from her body, coming out in waves. She was clearly in pain and could only find comfort with my touch. After she opened the doors, she went and sat on the sofa fronting the balcony doors just inside our room...legs wide open, beckoning me to take her.

I leaned down in front of her and caress her thighs. She shivered and leaned back on the sofa, her hands clinging on the throw pillows. I place small kisses on her thigh, going towards her sex.

Her scent was strong and it took me every ounce of willpower I had not to take her at once. I licked her, stunned she was already so wet, her clit engorged. I only had to lick her a number of times before she came.

"Alexander, please. Make love to me. I need you now." She groaned in frustration. I positioned myself in between her legs, the head of my shaft at the tip of her wet slit. She felt it, and with one of her hands, she led me inside. I thrusted my entire length in her and began to move out, but I was stopped by her legs, as she wrapped them around me.

I felt Echo take control, and I started thrusting faster and harder. She dug her nails into my back when she finally found her release. Her body convulsed with the waves of ecstacy while I found mine, pouring my seed into her. I fall on top of her, spent.

"Moon Goddess, may you bless us with a child," I silently prayed, catching my breath, as I laid my head on Hope's breasts.