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I could hardly breathe as I sat on the edge of the bed, my gaze darting between Stefano and Antonio. I watched my mate hurriedly pull on his leather pants and shirt, my fists gripping the sheets, every fiber of my being urging me to beg him not to leave.

“It had to be either Ornella or Emiliano,” Antonio murmured, pacing anxiously across the room. “Emiliano could have done it to curry favor with Alpha Matteo, but—”

“It was Ornella,” I cut him off, my voice steady with certainty. “Emiliano told me he would gladly stand with Stefano against Alpha Matteo. It has to be her.”

“Doesn’t matter who it was,” Stefano said, his voice edged with tension. “The real issue is what they might’ve told him. If they disclosed the mountain hideout, we’re done. If it’s just about something I overlooked, then I’ll deal with it.”

“No!” I jumped to my feet, my voice breaking. “You can’t just go there and get yourself killed!”

His expression softened as he stepped toward me, gently brushing a hand along my cheek. “I’m not going there to die, little one. If we’re fortunate, I’ll return unharmed, and Alpha Matteo will remain in the dark about our plans. If not, I’ll challenge him.”

My stomach twisted, and I struggled to convince myself he was strong enough. But Alpha Matteo’s viciousness was notorious—his claws, his fangs. I drew a shaky breath, feeling a tear gather on my lashes. “I don’t want you to go.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “You make me stronger, my little mate. Our bond fuels my strength, and I know I can defeat him,” he whispered.

I swallowed hard and nodded. “I know you’re strong. I just… I wish I could be there with you.”

“You can’t,” he murmured, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. “You have to stay here. Alpha Matteo can’t get his hands on you. If you’re safe in Netsville, I’ll have a better chance.”

A chill ran down my spine as a new fear took root. “But… your sister, your mother. Can he use them against you?”

Stefano inhaled sharply, his smile tightening. “Yes, he can.” His gaze shifted briefly to Antonio before returning to me. “But we’ve been preparing for something like this for a long time.”

Antonio stepped forward. “Two years ago, we created a tunnel under the castle. It leads to where Stefano’s mother and sister are kept, and we’ve supplied them with protective spells, sleeping powders, and minor poisons, just in case they ever needed to defend themselves.”

I frowned. “Then why not just use the tunnel to get them out?”

Stefano shook his head, his jaw clenched. “I couldn’t. Not while I was too weak to challenge him. If he’d sensed I was capable of rescuing them, he would’ve massacred innocent people in Daeville to punish me, just like he nearly blinded my mother. I had to wait for the right moment… or the last resort.”

I bit my lip so hard it stung. Stefano’s mother and sister had been imprisoned for years. I couldn’t begin to imagine what that had been like for them—or for him, plotting against Alpha Matteo while fearing for the people he loved.

Driven by impulse, I walked to him, took his hand, and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “Come back to me. I want to be yours, truly.”

He let out a ragged breath. “I don’t want to leave you, but this is the only way.”

My eyes filled with tears, but I refused to let them fall. I forced a smile, my heart aching, as he traced my face with his fingers, memorizing every line.

“I’ll send Davide to guard you. He’ll be here soon,” he said softly. “Stay in my chamber, and don’t open the door for anyone else.”

“I won’t,” I whispered.

Stefano’s thumb traced my lips before he kissed me—a tender, lingering farewell. As he pulled back, an ache of longing bloomed inside me. I didn’t want to say goodbye.

I watched him and Antonio as they turned toward the door, and a thought struck me. “You’re leaving too?” I asked his Beta.

“I have to organize the rescue,” he said with a determined smile. “Stefano can’t face Alpha Matteo with the risk of his family’s lives hanging over him.”

I nodded. “Get them out, and once they’re safe, come back to Netsville.”

A small smile broke across Antonio’s face. “I will, Luna Gianna.”

The title made me blush, my heart swelling even as a chill settled over me when the door closed. The warmth from Stefano’s touch faded, leaving a cold restlessness in its place.



The blanket Stefano had wrapped around me was replaced by a long nightgown. I poured myself a glass of wine from his cabinet, the rich red liquid doing little to calm my nerves. Where was Davide? Stefano had promised he’d arrive soon, yet the silence stretched on, making me uneasy.

I glanced toward the window, noticing the courtyard was unusually empty. There were always guards patrolling, even in the dead of night. Surely someone would’ve taken over Stefano’s duties. The stillness felt wrong. I downed another sip of wine, trying to ease the growing anxiety gnawing at me.

I strained to listen but heard nothing. Frustrated, I went to the door and peered into the hallway. It was eerily quiet, save for the faint echo of footsteps approaching. Relief washed over me until I realized the sound wasn’t Davide’s.

Maria rounded the corner, her face pale and her steps hurried. “Lady Gianna,” she whispered, moving quickly toward me. “Please, put on something warm and come with me.”

I stepped back, frowning. “Why?”

Her hands trembled as she stopped in front of me. “It’s Davide. Something’s happened…”

My heart skipped. “Davide?” I echoed, my voice barely a whisper.

She nodded. “Yes. Please, we must hurry.”

A fresh wave of dread washed over me. The whole situation felt wrong, but Davide hadn’t shown up as promised…

“All right,” I muttered, eyeing her cautiously. I grabbed one of Stefano’s black cloaks, the fur-trimmed collar carrying his scent. Wrapping it around me, I inhaled deeply, willing his scent to soothe my nerves.

Maria stood waiting, glancing nervously down the hallway. “Please, we must go.”

I followed her, but stopped at the door. “What happened to Davide?” I demanded.

She swallowed, her voice shaky. “He’s… hurt. Badly. We need to help him… there’s… so much blood…”

My stomach clenched. This wasn’t a minor injury—Davide’s life was in danger. With a quick breath, I stepped out. “Lead the way.”

Maria gestured down the corridor, and we started running. We hurried down the stairs and through the narrow passage leading to the kitchen, my mind racing with possibilities. Who could’ve attacked Davide?

We passed the kitchen and exited through the back door, but as we reached the courtyard, I heard the harsh slam of the door behind me. I turned, and my blood ran cold. Six men in dark cloaks blocked the exit, with four more joining them from the side. I was surrounded.

“Good work, Maria,” one of the men said, patting her shoulder with a sinister grin.

I felt like ice. “Maria?” I stammered. No. This couldn’t be happening. She wouldn’t betray me. I was Stefano’s mate—betraying me was as good as betraying him.

She winced, glancing at me with a look almost resembling regret before turning to the man beside her. “You swore not to harm her.”

“Oh, we won’t,” the man sneered as the group closed in. “But Alpha Matteo will.”