BIANCA’S POV

My heart swirled with a mix of emotions as Alessandro stood before me, his expression haunted by the weight of his past actions. The memories of his rejection, the hurtful words, the physical pain—all resurfaced as he witnessed my transformed state. I could feel the intensity of his guilt.

“Bianca, I… Didn’t mean those things. I was wrong,” he stammered, a pang of guilt piercing through him. “I didn’t know you could transform like this. Please, give me a chance to make things right.”

I gazed at him with a mix of emotions swirling within me. “A chance? Alpha Alessandro, you had your chance when you rejected me without giving me a fair shot. I endured months of humiliation and pain because of your words.”

He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his mistakes. “I know I messed up, Bianca. I was blinded by my own prejudices. But now, seeing you like this, I realized how wrong I was. Please, let me make amends.”

I remained silent for a moment, seemingly contemplating his words. Finally, I spoke, my voice steady but with a hint of sadness. “I cannot erase the past, Alpha Alessandro. The pain you caused me runs deep. But maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to move forward. Maybe you can finally accept me.”

His lips sealed. He couldn't answer that. He wanted me by his side but not as his Luna; I couldn’t be the Luna of his pack because I was not from the pack.

Seeing his hesitation, my eyes watered. I reversed until I broke into a run, leaving him standing alone under the moonlight.

After that day, I avoided Alessandro like the plague. I made sure to time him every time I wanted to clean his room to avoid meeting him.

The pack as a whole refused to believe I was the same person, and even after I proved beyond doubt to be the Bianca they knew, they didn’t change their attitude towards me. The bullying from the males greatly reduced because they were attracted to my beauty, but the females continued, constantly reminding me that I didn’t belong in Valle Cervara.

The weeks blurred Into a haze of tension, my solitude echoing with the footsteps that shattered the uneasy quiet. Alessandro’s gaze locked onto mine, his demanding attention.

“Bianca, we need to talk.”

Facing him, I held back the waves of emotions threatening to crash on my composure. “Talk, then. But don’t expect me to forget.” Since my transformation, I had become more confident, speaking to Alessandro like a mate more than a help.

“I’m trying to make amends, to change things between us,” he said.

“Amends?” I scoffed. “You had your chance, Alessandro, and you threw it away like it means nothing.”

He took a step closer, desperation etched on his face. “I know I messed up. I want to fix this. Give me a chance to prove it.”

I met his gaze, unyielding. “Prove what? That you can’t see beyond your own prejudices? That you can’t accept me for who I am? Even when I have changed?”

His jaws clenched, frustration boiling over. “Bianca, I can’t make everyone accept you as Luna. The pack won’t understand.”

A surge of anger flared within me. “So, it’s not about us. It is about what the pack thinks? You are willing to let their opinion dictate your happiness?”

He hesitated, the truth hanging in the air. “I need their support to lead.”

“Lead where, Alessandro? Into a future built on lies and rejection? I won’t be a part of that.”

His eyes pleaded, but my resolve held strong. “I won’t accept you only behind closed doors. If you can’t stand by me openly, then we have nothing.”

A tense silence engulfed us, the weight of his refusal lingering. The air crackled with intensity as I turned away, but before I could take a step, I was violently pulled back.

Fear glazed in my eyes as Alessandro’s face lost its softness. “I have been too lenient with you, so you think you are above me. I am your alpha, and what I say stands!” He pinched up my chin, digging his fingers into my delicate skin. “You better listen carefully, you will perform your mate duties to me in secret whether you like it or not.”

My heart raced, a mixture of fear and defiance pulsating through my veins. The once haunting memories of his rejection had become a chilling reality. This alpha would never change.

His grip tightened, anger flickering in his gaze. “You will do as I say. You are mine, Bianca.”

Afraid he’d hurt me more, I kept mute until he left. Once he was gone, I found myself gasping for air, a knot of anger and frustration tightening within me.

A sudden snapping of twigs behind me startled me. I turned to see someone I never expected. My eyes widened. “You… How are you here?”

The man smiled, approaching me casually. He was the stranger I helped in the forest. “Don’t panic, I am here with the consent of your alpha.”

“But how?”

“Let me introduce myself properly. I am Alpha Leonardo; I am a friend of Alessandro,” he said with his hand outstretched.

I refused to give him my hand, still surprised by his memory. “How do you know who I am?”

“Your body might have changed, but your face remained the same… Still as beautiful as ever,” Leonardo commented with a smile.

My racing heart finally settled. I accepted his handshake, marking the beginning of our friendship.

Because of me, Leonardo extended his time here. With each passing day, we grew closer. He was not afraid to be by my side; people were talking, but he didn’t care. It gave me a sense of belonging, like I was finally wanted by someone.

While all this was happening, Alessandro watched from the shadows, his behavior towards me turned hostile again, but I could endure.

It, however, reached a boiling point when Leonardo publicly asked me to be his partner. That was when all hell broke loose.