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Chapter 6: Deceit

Join the shareholder meeting today, they said. It'll be fun, they said. No, she was definitely not having any fun right now.

First, she woke up late and had to rush out the door without her morning coffee. Then, upon her arrival, she saw Mavros Sokolov sitting in the boardroom. This was a fantastic way to start her day. Now, they were under attack and Viola was pretty sure that Mavros was behind it all, because who else showed up in town and wishes the Centauri's dead. This can't just be a coincidence.

"Why are you so quiet?" Ryder asked as he walked with her.

Viola had her glaring eyes on Mavros who was walking alongside Gabriel. "I'm planning how to kill Mavros," she said.

Ryder chuckled. "If he says he didn't do this, then he's probably telling the truth," he told her.

Viola gaped at him. "Am I the only one that remembers he put three bullets in Gabriel?"

"No, I remember that too," Ryder said. "But many have tried to kill Gabriel and now they come to our house for Christmas."

Viola sighed. "That's different," she mumbled.

Ryder raised a brow. "How?"

"Well-" she didn't really have answer to that. "Stop interrogating me. Aren't you supposed to kill the idiots that infiltrated us?"

Ryder laughed as he walked off ahead and stopped Gabriel and Mavros. He was the one who went off down the hallway alone, since River guided them here through the intercom. This level was empty from assailants, so it was safe. However, Ryder was still moving ahead to secure the area. Viola leaned against the wall as she saw Gabriel on the phone with River.

"Are you alright?" Mavros asked her.

Viola glanced at him standing there perfectly in his tailored suit. She didn't usually study the way a suit looked on a man. But the dark black fabric clung to his broad shoulders perfectly, he didn't bother with a tie and the buttons were left open revealing the tattoos all over his chest and neck. She spotted the three scars dusted on his clavicle and throat, which made her feel like she was painfully aware of everything about him. She couldn't help it, especially when his pitch-black eyes stared at her with concern in them.

"I'm fine," she answered as she looked away from him and towards her brother.

"Nothing's going to happen to Gabriel," he assured.

Viola straightened in front of him as she caught the smoky, dark fragrance of his cologne. "I know," she affirmed. "I won't let anything happen to my brother." She passed him and went to stand by Gabriel, so she wouldn't have to face piercing eyes.

Ryder returned on time. "The path is clear," he said.

All of them followed and Viola stayed by her brother's side as they climbed down the second emergency staircase. However, that was when she sensed the air thicken with hostility. It was clear to her that this floor wasn't empty from invaders. Someone was coming up these stairs and they were approaching quickly. Ryder took them out of the staircase out onto the thirteenth floor where there were a bunch of cubicles. Suddenly, the lights to the building shut off.

"River cut the power," Ryder told them.

"Why would he do that?" Mavros asked from the back.

"Because we know this building better than the invaders," Gabriel told him. "Where's River, Ryder?"

"He's meeting us here," Ryder told him as he glanced at his phone before held his gun straight ahead of him.

Something wasn't right, Viola thought as she hurried down the tight hallway. These assailants should have attacked them already. What were they waiting for? She glanced at Mavros wondering if he needed to give them a signal or something.

Suddenly, a loud bang stopped them in their tracks and guns went off. Viola ducked her head down and she felt arms protecting her. She clattered down onto the ground to avoid being shot as she hid behind the cubicle. However, the last thing she expected was Mavros guarding her like a shield. He wasn't even hidden properly but he kneeled right in front of her like he was ready to take on any bullet or attack.

"What are you doing?" she whispered harshly trying to get him to move and hide.

"Ensuring nothing touches you," he growled. "Now, shut those pretty lips." Mavros leaned back glancing around the wall of the cubicle.

Viola held her lips in a stern frown as she saw the gun in Mavros's hand and the glint of his watch flashed. She glanced around the area wondering where Gabriel and Ryder went. Why did she have to end up being protected by the enemy? If she had a gun then none of this would be necessary.

Mavros pushed the chair out into the hallway like it acted as decoy and right away, it was shot like twenty, thirty times. Viola covered her ears and Mavros covered her again. The sound of the bullets ripping through the air made her sick to her stomach. She could never get used to that sound in her life.

How did the assailants get inside the building? she wondered as Mavros moved back to find an opening for them.

"Alright, princess," Mavros whispered. "I'm going to clear the way and I want you to run to the exit door."

"Alone," she said.

"Yes, sweetheart, alone," Mavros answered. "Unless, you want me with you?"

Viola stared at his smirk and almost punched him. "This is not the time to be joking around," she said as more bullets went off and she covered her ears.

Mavros put his hand over hers. "You can do this," he told her.

Viola nodded as she got to her feet and he held her hand. She pulled it away as he turned towards the hallway. There were two men in front of them but Mavros had his gun in his hand and it was the only thing he needed to eliminate those men. He shot them in the face and the men dropped on the ground. Viola wasn't going to say it, but it was pretty cool. But then she saw Gabriel and Ryder and rushed past Mavros to get to them.

Suddenly the exit door opened, Gabriel grabbed Viola pulling her to him as a man held his gun to her. She was ready to get shot, but when she hears the loud bullets shred through the air, they didn't hit her. Instead, they pierced the man and he dropped down at her heeled feet. She thought it was Mavros who did it, but then River appeared through the door in a rush. He stepped on the dead body.

"Let's go," he ushered.

"You almost shot Viola," Gabriel snapped.

River raked his eyes over Viola. "She's fine," he said calmly.

"Because I pulled her out of the way," Gabriel chided.

River sighed. "Is this the best time to be dramatic with me?" he remarked. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm not hurt," Gabriel said.

"Then we're good," River said. "Now, let's go."

Viola really wondered if these two ever grew up. Whenever River and Gabriel were together, they turned into the teenager boys that got into fights at school and got suspended together.

Ryder guided everyone out of the hall into the staircase. They made it down to the first floor in a few minutes. But as they approached the last door, they all stopped behind it.

"Alright," River said. "There are probably six or seven men out there."

"What's the plan?" Ryder asked.

"You and I go," River ordered.

"That's a stupid idea," Gabriel intervened.

"I'll go," Mavros offered.

"No, we'll all go," Gabriel said. "Viola stays here."

"If someone gives me a gun then I can help," Viola offered.

"No-" River, Ryder and Gabriel said together.

"You can use a gun?" Mavros asked her.

She nodded. "Yes, and really well," she told him.

"Remind me not to piss you off," Mavros smirked.

"Someone has to guard Viola," Ryder said.

"I'll do it," Mavros offered.

"What?" she astonished.

"We don't' have another choice," Mavros told her. "Unless, you want to risk your brother's safety by staying here longer."

Viola stiffened as she looked up at her brother's amber eyes. "Fine," she agreed.

"Gabriel, it would be great if you stayed here too," River said. "But why do I get the feeling you're not going to listen to me."

"You're absolutely right," Gabriel smiled at him before he turned towards Viola. "Here-" he gave her a gun. "Use it if he bothers you."

Viola smiled at him as she held onto the handle. "You know I will," she told him.

"We need to move," Ryder hurried as he peeked out the door.

Gabriel and River stepped out the door with Ryder and it closed behind them leaving Viola standing alone with Mavros. He was facing the stairs behind them as her eyes stayed on the door. She prayed that nothing happened to those three. Viola knew that they were stronger together, so she was a bit calm. God, she wondered if the pack found out about the attack. If they did, then they should be under lockdown as well. Everyone must be concerned.

Viola pushed her hair back and felt the heels of her shoes dig into her feet, which were aching by now. In the distance, she heard bullets in the air, it echoed into this small chamber. Who was behind the attack? Her eyes landed on Mavros who was stood with his hands in his pockets.

"Will you tell me the truth," she said.

Mavros turned his head and his black eyes were dark in this room. "I wouldn't lie to you," he promised.

Viola felt the truth in his words because his eyes didn't falter from her. "Are you behind the attack?" she asked.

"No, I wasn't," Mavros answered.

Viola straightened as she stepped closer, invading his space. "Why did you shoot my brother all those years ago?" she questioned then.

Mavros's eyes fell to her lips. "I was under orders," he told her. "By the time, I reached my target and found out that it was Gabriel, it was too late."

Viola took a shaky breath as his cologne wrapped around her. "Why are you back?" her voice was soft and only for his ears.

Mavros turned his body towards her and his immense height towered over her. He stepped forward and her response was to move back. She didn't stop until her back was against the wall and her fist gripped the handle of the gun. He planted his hands on the wall behind her as his lips were inches away from hers. Both of them seemed to stop breathing as she felt the strength of his wolf through his eyes.

"You and I are mates, Viola," Mavros said her name with a wicked allure. "And I intend to make every part of you mine, even the ones that hate me."

Viola shuddered as his words slithered down her body making her melt with heat. But something sharp pierced her heart as she realized that there was truly a bond between them. He called them mates, but it wasn't possible. She wasn't supposed to find one because of everything that happened.

"I can't," she said as her hand trembled on the gun.

Mavros tilted his head as his eyes read the way her lips parted and her breath exhilarated. "Because I'm not good enough for you?" he inquired.

Viola frowned. "What? No," she answered. "I just never wanted to mate with anyone."

Mavros ran his fingers along her cheek. "Why not?"

Viola didn't think this was the best time to break down her fucked-up family to him. "It doesn't matter," she tried to move away.

Mavros put his hand on her waist before he slowly pushed her back against the wall and his hand remained on her body. "It does to me," he told her. "Who broke your heart, princess?"

Viola stiffened. "Why would you say that?"

"Because I can read everything about you," Mavros confessed. "And right now, your eyes are telling me that there's a list of people I need to kill because they hurt you."

Viola sucked in a breath as she felt his fury seeping into her body and making her yield into him. This never happened before and she didn't understand how her wolf could become submissive. She looked away from his eyes because he could see too much and it unnerving.

"The ones that hurt me are already dead," she confessed softly.

"Viola-"

"Why don't we get out of this alive first?" she offered.

Mavros smirked and she felt it in her heart. "That's not a problem," he leaned in and she felt his lips near her ear. The hot sensation shuddered down her body and made her legs weaken. "I've waited so long to see you again," he whispered as his hand circled around to the small of her back. "Don't run from me, Viola."

She locked eyes with him. "Mavros," his name fell from her lips in a whisper.

Suddenly, the door opened and she pushed him back but it was only Ryder that came.

"The coast is clear," he informed and he definitely sensed the tense mood because Mavros had his eyes on Viola.

Viola hurried out of the room and joined Ryder. Mavros followed after them as they all ran up to the front door. She saw the dead bodies on the floor around the foyer, one of them was flung across the room and his head was through the glass window, he just hung there bleeding out all over the floor. Viola's gut tightened as she felt sick. She turned her head away from all the death around her. The cool air of the night swept through her as they stepped out in the front of the company.

Gabriel was discussing this attack with the twins and Viola tried not to focus on the man behind her. She followed after her brother as they rushed to their cars. However, something didn't seem right about all this, it was too easy. Only twelve people came to attack them in the building like it was some sort of trap. Perhaps, she was being too cautious.

However, all suspicions were proven correct when a large truck drove through the other side of the road and rushed right to them. Mavros grabbed Viola and moved her in time as the truck slammed into the cars, toppling them all the way to the other side of the parking-lot. She looked around her but her brother wasn't near her.

"Gabriel!" Viola screamed as she rushed to her feet and tried to find her brother.

"Viola, we need to move," Mavros growled.

"No!" Viola ran towards the truck trying to find Gabriel and the others.

A few men jumped out of the truck and ran towards her, but Ryder appeared and blocked her with his body. He shot the two men and they dropped to the floor. Viola turned and was relieved when she saw that Gabriel wasn't killed by the truck. He was with River and the two of them were killing someone together. However, Viola was the only one that saw the group of men running straight towards Gabriel. One of them lifted a gun to shoot her brother and Viola was too slow to reach him.

"Gabriel!" Viola cried out.

A bullet ripped through the air and she covered her ears as tears blurred her eyes. More bullets went off and she jolted from the disgusting sound. Arms wrapped around her and pulled her somewhere. She opened her eyes and the tears streamed down her face as she faced Ryder.

"Ga-Gabriel," she cried. "He- He's-"

"Look at me, Viola," Ryder said sternly garnering her attention. "Gabriel's fine."

Viola looked back and saw that her brother wasn't shot and killing the one who released the bullet. River was busy guarding his back, but where was Mavros? She spotted him holding his arm that was oozing blood down his bicep onto the floor. How did he get shot? She was so confused. That bullet was meant for Gabriel.

Suddenly, a large jeep came rushing towards Gabriel and the group of thugs in front of him. No one saw it coming when that jeep ran straight over the grass patch and slammed the car's grill against the thugs sending them flying across the pavement.

"About time!" Ryder yelled.

Azura jumped out of the jeep with a massive rifle in her hands. She shot the people in front of her as she walked across the pavement killing whoever stood in her path. This woman didn't care about anything other than the Centauri's survival. Leo and Dante also got out of the truck and they helped Gabriel who sent them to aid Mavros. Viola rushed over to their side and helped Mavros into the jeep.

"He's bleeding a lot," Leo remarked.

"No shit," Mavros growled.

Leo laughed. "Oh, we got another one of those smart-mouths," he retorted as he opened the jeep's door.

Viola looked down at the bullet wound that tore through the arm of his suit, it was imbedded in his body and that needed treatment right away.

"We need to get him to a hospital," Viola suggested.

Gabriel came up to them. "Let's get him to one," he ordered.

"I'm fine," Mavros protested.

"Get in the jeep, Mavros or I swear I'll kill you," Viola gritted out.

"I think he's already dying," Leo remarked.

"He definitely is," Dante added.

Viola glared at them. These two used to be her students and now they were holding guns being pack enforcers.

Gabriel turned facing the other three maniac wolves who were turning rogue on the thugs that attacked them. Viola saw that Azura was brutally punching someone in the face with the handle of the rifle and the man was splattering blood everywhere. Ryder, on the other hand, was decapitating a person and River was cutting a man's stomach open.

"Enough!" Gabriel commanded.

The three wolves stopped as they glared at the dead bodies and dropped them on the ground. Viola knew that River, Ryder and Azura weren't calm and it wasn't going to change any time soon.

"Let's go!" Gabriel ordered those three as he got in the jeep with the others.

River and Ryder jumped in the back with Leo and Dante while Gabriel sat in the front with Azura. Viola held onto Mavros as they drove him to the hospital. He had grown pale but his stern expression told her that he was clearly in pain despite his occasional joke to assure that he was perfectly fine.

Once, they arrived at the hospital, Dr. Stone was already on stand-by. She was the doctor that Gabriel personally hired for times like this. She was fast, efficient and didn't ask too many questions. She stood sternly in her blue scrubs, lab-coat and her black hair tied up revealing her alert blue eyes. They parked the jeep at the front of the emergency doors and Dr. Stone took the lead. Mavros lost a lot of blood and she laid him down on the stretcher to get him into surgery.

Viola rushed into the hospital with her brother and the others. They caused quite the chaos covered in blood and the fact that they were the Centauri's. Leaving the main floor, they climbed up to the VIP ward as Mavros was taken into surgery.

Viola felt the strength in her legs give up and she fell down onto a chair.

"The pack," Gabriel growled.

"In lockdown," River informed. "Hunter managed it."

Gabriel faced Azura then who was fuming with rage and blood all over her face. "Why did you bring the recruits here?" he snapped at her. "What if they died?"

Azura's silver eyes flashed. "They didn't," she assured.

Gabriel raked his black hair. "If they had died, then it would have been me who would have to face their parents and tell them that I let their kids die," he told her.

"So, was I just supposed to leave you?" Azura countered.

"I gave you orders to return to the pack and secure the lockdown," Gabriel retorted.

Azura faced him with the blood making her pale skin glow. "My only order is to ensure that nothing happens to you," she answered coldly. "I don't give a fuck about anything else." She stormed away from the room and left the hospital wing.

The air in the room grew thick with the tension emitting from Gabriel as he pinched the bridge of his brows.

"Er- does it help that we wanted to come with her?" Leo whispered to Viola.

"If you like your head on your neck, stay quiet," Viola advised because Gabriel barely lost his temper, but if he had then it was better to just nod along with him and stay out of the way.

"Ryder, update the pack and make sure they are safe," Gabriel grumbled.

"Already on it," Ryder said and walked off with the phone to his ear.

"River, lock the company down and I want everything single piece of intel on this attack," Gabriel said then.

River left as well to get the job done.

Viola rose to her feet then and went to her brother. "Did you really have to yell at Azura?" she said. "You know how she is."

Gabriel faced her with his burning amber eyes. "She risked the lives of two recruits," he said.

"The two who are training to be pack enforcers and volunteered to come with her," Viola pointed out.

Gabriel wasn't pleased by her reasoning and he glowered at her, which made her feel like she was two years old again.

"We did volunteer," Leo pitched in hoping it'd help.

Gabriel's frown didn't go away and he was about to say something when his phone rang. He quickly walked away to answer; Viola guessed that it was his mate.

Leo paced the hall as Dante stood with him. Viola was on her own wondering what the hell was going on? This attack came out of nowhere and it was planned. Someone wanted Gabriel dead, but who? she questioned even though there were enemies everywhere for her family. What did she expect? There was always a politician, gangster, businessman that desired to kill Gabriel or destroy the Centauri pack. However, what she didn't expect was that Mavros would take a bullet for her brother.

For as long as she's known Mavros Sokolov, he's been an enemy of the pack. He's always wanted to destroy Gabriel and rivalled him in everything. So, why did he take a bullet for him?

The mating bond, her wolf answered.

Viola stiffened as she felt cold. No, she told her wolf. We aren't supposed to mate anyone.

I know, her wolf said. But I can't resist him.

Viola sighed leaning her head against the wall behind her. He's definitely got a charm about him, she confessed.

And his wolf was gentle with me, her wolf told her.

Viola remembered what he told her when they were alone. "I've waited so long to see you again," he whispered as his hand circled around to the small of her back. "Don't run from me, Viola." She didn't know what to tell him but a part of her ached to ask what he waited for all this time.

After a while, Gabriel returned and he came up to her taking a seat.

"Are you hurt?" he asked sternly.

She shook her head. "I'm fine," she told him.

He raked a hand in his tousled hair and she noticed the blood coating his white suit. "Everyone at the pack insisted on coming here, I could barely stop them," he said. Viola smiled warmly knowing her pack stopped at nothing to see Gabriel safe.

The doors to the VIP ward opened and King arrived in his suit as he walked down the hall towards them.

"What the hell happened?" His tone was rigid as his glowering eyes fell on the two boys.

"We were attacked," Gabriel told him.

River and Ryder returned at that time too.

"What's this shit about Mavros?" King asked.

"He was at the board meeting," Ryder told King.

"He took a bullet for Gabriel too," River added.

King gaped at them before he cursed under his breath. "Where's Azura?" he questioned.

Gabriel got to his feet and sighed something about how crazy his wolves were all the fucking time. He walked out of the VIP ward to go find the one that wasn't going to come back unless Gabriel went to her.

"You two!" King glared at Leo and Dante now. "Who said you were allowed to come here?"

Leo and Dante searched a way to get themselves out of this. "Well- we-" they scrambled for words.

"I don't want to hear it," King snapped. "You pull this shit again, I'm kicking you off the enforcers team forever."

Leo and Dante gaped as they protested against that rule. King wasn't budging and Viola knew that King worried more about these two boys than his own life. So, it made sense that he was concerned that they showed up to a real fight with only one year of training.

"King, don't be mad at us," Leo pacified.

"Your puppy eyes won't work on me, kid," King growled.

Leo pouted. "But they always work," he said trying to get King to smile.

Gabriel returned with Azura by his side and she was still pissed as hell. But it was probably because she couldn't kill more people.

Dr. Stone stepped out of the surgery room then. She walked up to them as she took off the mask from her face.

"How is he?" Gabriel asked what they were all thinking.

"He's good," Dr. Stone answered. "The bullet's been extracted, but he's lost quite a lot of blood. Other than that, he should make a full recovery."

"Can we see him?" King asked and Viola wondered the same thing.

"Since he refused anaesthetic, you can see him," Dr. Stone told them.

"How'd you get the bullet out then?" Leo asked.

"He just laid there," Dr. Stone said. "It was weird."

"Damn," Dante mumbled.

Gabriel and King both went into the hospital room and Viola didn't move right away, so no one saw that she was just was eager. But she pushed past River and Ryder as peered around Gabriel and saw Mavros sitting on the bed, shirtless with a bandaged on his arm.

"You should be resting," Gabriel said.

Mavros rolled his eyes. "I'm fine," he assured.

"How'd you get shot?" King astounded. "Are you getting slow with old age?"

Mavros glared at him. "I was protecting your brother-in-law," he grumbled as he got off the bed.

King sighed as he crossed his arms. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"Home," Mavros remarked as he got up and grabbed his shirt. Viola could see that his arm was hurting him and that he shouldn't be moving right now with those stitches.

"No, you're not," Gabriel intervened.

Mavros stiffened as he glanced at Gabriel. "You can't keep me here," he said.

"I'm not," Gabriel crossed his arms. "You're coming to my pack."

"What?" Viola and everyone else spoke together.

"You risked your life to save mine, I owe you," Gabriel said. "You will stay at my house as you heal from your injury."

"It'd be better that way," River added. "You could be in danger."

"No, thanks. I'll take my chances," Mavros retorted.

"Brother, do you really want to bring someone who almost killed you?" Viola asked.

"He saved me too," Gabriel said to her.

"You know, I'll take you up on your offer," Mavros said then. "My arm is in a lot of pain and I have no one back home to help me."

"Great," Gabriel said. "Let's head back. King help your friend get dressed."

King grumbled a curse as he picked up the shirt and helped Mavros. "They all said that friends make life better. Yeah, what a stupid lie. All I get are a bunch of suicidal gangsters," he remarked.

"Are you included in that bunch," Leo remarked making them laugh.

"Lupin's here with the car," Ryder informed. "We should head home now."

Everyone departed the hospital and thanked Dr. Stone again. Mavros was with King as Viola stayed by her brother's side wondering how she was going to manage this whole mess now that the man she was going to avoid was coming to her house.

Viola rested her head on the seat as she sat by herself in the back of the Escalade. The city passed before her eyes as she felt exhaustion fill her body. She didn't realize before how much her body ached from everywhere. She had a few cuts and bruises, but nothing a hot bath couldn't fix up. She glanced at Mavros who was sitting next to King. He had a bit of blood on his jaw, she almost reached forward to wipe it off. But she knew she couldn't do that.

Closing her eyes, the rest of the ride home. She didn't realize when she fell asleep, but she woke up to Gabriel's voice. He helped her out of the car and she had to stand on her own. The entire pack already surrounded the field as they were greeted by everyone. Viola was too exhausted to notice whose arms she was in, but everyone hugged her. She understood how they felt because she had the same fear as them. This pack was a family and if anyone got hurt then everyone got up to fight or grieve. Sabrina and her daughter, Rose were in Gabriel's arms as he reassured everyone that he was fine. Nothing happened that should cause any alarm to the pack. Viola knew that he was just easing their worries, but this attack couldn't happen again. Gabriel was definitely going to have to take action now. And whoever touched this pack better watch out.

Viola glanced at Azura who was calmer now, she wasn't worried about what happened earlier. Leo and Dante were also stood in front of Hunter who was reprimanding them for being reckless and not following orders. They got a week of suspension from training, but King stepped in to defend them. Klaus was also by their side trying to calm everyone down. River was with Zoya and their pup who was also named River, which was a long story sitting at their feet, and then Ryder was with Vincent.

Viola was the only one that saw when Azura crossed the field over to the small woman dressed in pink standing with her cherry-red hair. That was the new pack member she met briefly. Azura stripped off her leather coat and draped it over Cherry Brighton, covering her body. What was that about? Viola questioned before she glanced at Mavros who stood on his own.

She faced him. "Welcome to the Centauri pack," she said.

Mavros held a darkness in his eyes, like he was lost in a cave of agony. She didn't know what he was thinking about but she felt as if she could see the spear of torment in his heart and wished she could remove it for him.

Mate, that word flashed in her body over and over again. 

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