Chapter 44

• By the time we arrived back in Netsville, I was taken aback by the transformation. The entire town had been cleaned up, partially rebuilt, and restructured, with the castle—once belonging to Alpha Domenico—set to become Stefano's new residence. The castle felt like a bitter token from Alpha Matteo, as though he hoped Stefano would settle for Netsville and forget about the packlands he was meant to inherit.
• As expected, Maria and Chiara were already there, busy preparing Stefano's quarters. They’d even set up rooms for me, complete with a spacious bed and a private bath chamber. Stepping into those rooms felt strange, as though I were entering an imposed life that could never feel like home.
• “I hear things between you and our Alpha are… progressing,” Maria teased with a smirk as she filled the wardrobe with fresh clothes.