Matias' POV:

I regret sending the best thing in my life away, but at least I can now put my plan into action.

Since I have the support of Lorenzo and now Henry, though Henry was more reluctant, I just need to wait for Lorenzo to compile a list of the others who he has on his side. Thankfully, the majority so far seem to agree that my father's morals are not where they should be as the leader of a formidable company.

My wolf is apparently working with me full time now, as he has not stopped chirping about Everest since we returned home after I almost went insane and killed Anthony's mate and children. The only thing that stopped me was my wolf's surprising resistance and desire to please Everest.

"He is not a bloodthirsty killer," my wolf told me when we returned home. "He, even though he hates Anthony, would be appalled if you hurt those pups or that woman."

He does have a point...

Everest is perfect and deserves the world.

I cannot say the same for myself or anyone in my family except for Matteo. Even Sofia has a surprising dark side that no one dares cross. Finding her mate was not the only thing that dissuaded Claude from pursuing her over Matteo.

There is a knock at my bedroom door and it slowly opens, revealing Anthony on the other side. Despite it being four days since I attacked him and him having enhanced werewolf healing, my attack was deep enough that he is still limping a bit. He has also been extremely hesitant around me and has refused to speak much past simple requests, orders, or affirmations.

"Lorenzo Marino is here to see you, sir," Anthony says simply. "He is waiting downstairs."

"I will be there in a few minutes," I respond, dismissing Anthony and looking in the mirror to fix my hair and make sure the bags under my eyes are not too bad.

Since Everest disappeared, I have been stuck with permanent eye bags and fear over how he is doing. Using the word disappeared is quite strong, as I sent him away, but it is easier to pretend that he vanished and will spontaneously reappear as opposed to recognizing that he is gone of my own hand. Part of me plans on taking him back, but if Henry is as apologetic as he was with me over the phone, I may lose Everest.

All that matters is his safety.

I have to keep telling myself that because if I don't, I fear I will go insane trying to keep him for myself when he and Henry come back for the official vote that appoints me as lead of the company.

Lorenzo shakes his hand as he greets me, a cup of coffee in his other hand. "Good morning. You did not sleep well."

I do not think I will ever appreciate this man's bluntness, but he is going to help me, so I will let it slide. However, he has always been one for telling me when I look horrible, and he definitely has a part in why I am so anxious about my appearance when going to the dinner parties I hate so much.

"His mate is nice," my wolf mumbles.

Bianca, Lorenzo's mate, really is a kind woman and she adored Cody. She was the one who talked him through his first heat because I was on a stupid business trip, and she always knew what to tell me when I felt as though I was not good enough for my mate. According to Lorenzo, she wants me to get Everest back because everyone who has not been appalled by his attitude actually loves him and thinks he is a great addition to the dinner parties.

Well, at least he should join some of them with Henry so it is not goodbye forever...

Just goodbye to my chances of being with him because that damn wolf is persistent and clearly wants Everest and Everest... well, if he chooses Henry, I hope he gets the life he deserves and that damn wolf better make up a thousand times for the pain he has caused my Everest.

"Better not call him 'my Everest' until he decides to come back," my wolf tells me, making me snarl at him.

"Stop saying shit like that!"

"You let him go... though it was for his safety, so I understand, but I miss him."

I mentally sigh at the beast whimpering in the back of my head. "I miss him, too."

Lorenzo finishes his drink and hands it to Anthony, who is hovering in the doorway, looking at us uncomfortably. "I will be borrowing Matias for the day. I trust you to know that he will be back here and not to follow or make snide comments. We would not want you to have two bad legs, would we?"

Anthony shakes his head. "No, sir. Please contact me if you are in need of anything."

I guess having the love of your life and your children threatened really does knock you off of your high horse.

Lorenzo's driver takes us to his house and he invites me into his office.

For being such a serious, dark man, Lorenzo's office does not match his aura. It has beige walls, pictures of Bianca and their kids, and there is a little play pen for when he watches his kids' pups while he works.

"I have gotten responses from six of the company leaders. With my vote and Henry Thompson's, we are at eight votes. Three of them are very firm on their support for your father... so there is only one option left that we have to convince."

I scowl. "Let me guess... Cody's betrothed?"

Lorenzo nods. "Yes, but thankfully my family is still close with him, so you should be able to convince him."

"If you're close with him, shouldn't you be the one to convince him?" I ask, my voice way more whiny than I intended it to come out as.

Especially as someone who's trying to become the next leader of the company.

Lorenzo shakes his head. "I will go with you, but you need to convince him yourself. Even if I tell him it's a good decision to vote you, he is still a bit unforgiving that Cody ended up being your mate and he still has not found his. He also feels as though you did not do your best to save Cody's life, as he's still under the impression that Cody had cancer."

I huff. "Are we going to his house right now?"

"Yes."

As Lorenzo said, we are soon pulling up to the mansion where my childhood rival and someone I still do not like, Emil Schwarz, resides. He's originally from Germany, but his family chose to move to Italy for better connections to their company.

His family has always been connected to the inner circle and Emil always had something for Cody. They were together for a while, when they were still teenagers, but when Emil turned eighteen and realized that Cody was not his, he was livid.

Especially since Cody was promised to be his mate, as Cody's family had connections and it has always been seen as important to keep the power within the family if it is possible.

Emil was even angrier when Cody ended up being my mate because he knew my family was the one demanding the surgery. Even though he knew Cody wasn't his, he still wanted him safe. It used to bother me, as I was irritated that Emil wanted to care for and be around my mate, but once I lost Cody, I grew to be more grateful.

Cody was a light in a dark room for anyone he met.

The dark building looms in front of me and I stomp beside Lorenzo, extremely childishly, as we reach the front door.

"Is he expecting us?" I ask, scowling at the dark, oak door.

Lorenzo chuckles. "He's expecting me."

"You didn't tell him that I'd be with you?!"

"He wouldn't have allowed me in if he knew you were with me."

"Oh, wonderful, I'm sure this is going to go great," I deadpan as the door opens, revealing Emil.

...And my little brother, barely hiding behind him.

"Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me," I snarl, making Matteo look at the floor. "How long have you known?!"

Emil growls at me. "Don't yell at my mate. Lorenzo, you did not tell me that you'd be bringing this mutt with you."

"You would not have invited me if you knew."

"Probably not," Emil grumbles. "Come in, then. Lorenzo, you said this was important, didn't you?"

Lorenzo nods and guides me inside, and I'm quick to grab Matteo's arm and drag him with me.

Emil scowls. "Unlike you, I do not think it appropriate to drag around Omegas like they are children. I would appreciate if you would unhand my mate."

Matteo pulls his wrist from my grip. "Let go," he whispers, pleading with his big, brown eyes. "Come on, Matias, he's my mate..."

I reluctantly let go, and I almost feel nauseous when I watch Matteo run over to Emil and lean into his side. It's even worse when Emil wraps his arm around my brother's shoulders and kisses his forehead.

"Oh, don't look so disgusted," Emil says to me, sitting down on the smaller couch in the living area and urging Matteo to sit on his lap. "I seem to recall you purposefully making out with Cody in front of me once you two discovered you were mates."

Yes, I was a bit of a petty wolf when I was younger and turned eighteen. As soon as I realized Cody was mine and felt the connection, I took every opportunity to rub it in Emil's face.

"This is not why I'm here," I say, glaring at Emil as his hand gets way too close to Matteo's thigh. "But how did you just now connect with him? You're a year older than I am and you have been around my family for long enough that you would have felt the connection sooner than now."

Emil nods. "Yes, but your brother has just turned nineteen. He didn't feel the bond before he was eighteen because I never initiated anything, as I felt he was too young and I wanted him to wait until he was old enough to connect with me. I have also been traveling for the past few years, so I did not have a chance to connect with him before now."

Well, I guess I can respect him for waiting until my brother was old enough to make his own choice.

"Unlike you, who jumped down Cody's throat as soon as you turned eighteen. He was still only seventeen."

And my moment of respect for him has flown out the window.

"But he knew I was his mate because he felt the connection."

"Humans have laws against eighteen year olds being with seventeen year olds."

I scowl. "They also do not have mates in the same way we do. Anyway, I am here for another reason."

Emil hums, grabbing Matteo's hand and getting my little brother to lean against him. "What are you here for then?"

"We are having a meeting in a couple of weeks and we are planning on voting my father out of the leadership position."

"And putting you in his place?" Emil asks. "That's a bit of a high demand."

I scowl. "You vote is the last one I need."

"And why should I give it to you? So you can pursue that Omega that you've shown interest in without having to force him through the same procedure they were going to put Cody through?" Emil rolls his eyes. "I know that the Omega has a mate. So why should I do anything for you?"

"Because you are going to hate my father as much as I am. I am not doing this just because I want Everest. If he chooses me, great, if he doesn't, I will accept it. I am doing this to protect wolves from my father's psychotic ways, and you will understand my anger."

Emil stays silent, silently urging me to continue.

"Cody never had cancer," I say, and Emil's eyes fill with confusion and concern. "He was healthy, the only thing that hurt him was his heats and his infertility made them a bit more painful. My father sent his head of security to kill Cody because he was angry with me for running in order to keep Cody away from the surgery. He said that they'd be back for me, and as soon as I showed interest in an Omega, they took us both. I want my father out of that leadership position to protect any other Omegas or wolves brought into this company."

Matteo has tears in his eyes. "Father did that?"

"Yes. He would have done it to Everest if I hadn't contacted his mate to take him away."

Emil's eyes have been filled with shock since I began the story, and he's holding my brother tight against his side, as if he's worried Matteo will spontaneously disappear.

"I know you don't like me, Emil. I ask for your vote for the sake of others, not for myself."

Emil sighs and stares into my eyes before he looks over at my little brother, who looks almost inconsolable. He kisses Matteo's forehead and pulls his mate into his lap.

"You have my vote. You are not my favorite person, but you did not deserve to lose your mate in that way." Emil picks my brother up in his arms, cradling him like a baby. "And I am tired of seeing my mate cower whenever your father is mentioned. Now, if you'll excuse us."

I stand up as well. "Thank you, I really appreciate this."

Emil doesn't respond as he leaves with Matteo, and I have no choice but to accept that he is my brother's mate and there is nothing I can do to stop this fact.

"Well done, now we just have to wait for the meeting," Lorenzo says, patting my shoulder. "I'm very proud of you, Matias. I don't feel as though your parents have really said that to you."

"They haven't," I agree, heading to the front door. "I thought you said we would be gone for most of the day."

Lorenzo smiles. "This is not our last stop."