78

78
Stefano’s POV

A Few Hours Earlier

The raging currents of the Debris River tossed my body mercilessly, each violent surge of water stealing what felt like an eternity of breath. The force threatened to tear me apart, and only by sheer will did I hang on, feeling the pull of the river’s chaos dragging me under. My mortal form would have been no match for its fury, but my wolf’s strength kept me alive, battling against the torrent with every ounce of its power.

When the water finally spat me toward the shore, my claws dug into the half-rotted trunk of a fallen tree, and I hauled myself out, every muscle in agony from the brutal assault. I collapsed onto the rocks, my body begging for rest, for time to heal, but I knew I had none. Matteo’s warriors would be searching for me. Maybe even Alvise’s men were already on their way.

With a groan of pain, I pushed myself to my paws, dragging my wounded side along the jagged rocks. The wound was still fresh, the bleeding slow but steady. I had no time to fashion a proper bandage—my shredded clothes couldn’t offer much more than a slight cover.

Even as my body ached, my mind was fixed on one thing: Gianna. My heart twisted at the thought of her, imagining her lifeless form lying somewhere in the waters, or worse, in the hands of those who had brought her to the edge of death. I couldn’t leave her there, couldn’t abandon her like this.

But it felt like I was still drowning, even as I walked along the shore. The crushing weight inside me, the ache in my chest, grew with every breath. The images of her—the light fading from her eyes—suffocated me. The bloodlust that followed was uncontrollable. My wolf wanted vengeance, wanted to tear apart everyone responsible for her suffering, and it burned hot with every passing second.

That thirst for vengeance was only tempered by the lingering, bitter truth: I had never told her I loved her. I had never said the words she had told me with such raw honesty. And now, she was gone, maybe forever.

Then, as if the world had decided to offer me a shred of hope, a scent filled the air—a familiar, intoxicating scent of strawberries and jasmine. My heart stuttered. I inhaled deeply, and the scent hit me again, vivid and unmistakable.

She was alive.

My breath caught in my chest, disbelief mixed with relief. I had felt her heart stop, had seen her slip into darkness. But this… this was real. She was alive. The thread between us, though torn, had pulled me toward her, and my wolf howled with a hunger I had never known before.

I could feel her presence now, somewhere just ahead, and I moved, pushing forward with a strength that was more than my own. If she had survived the fall, if her wolf had kept her from death’s grip, then she would need time to heal, time to recover. But if she was out there, if she was alone, I couldn’t afford to let anyone else find her first.

I ran into the woods, the scent of her guiding me like a beacon. But as I pressed on, another scent cut through—blood.

My heart raced as I followed the trail, each step taking me closer to the source. The bodies of Matteo’s warriors lay scattered in the forest, their blood mingling with the earth. A rustling sound reached my ears, and two warriors emerged from the trees. The urge to tear them apart immediately was fierce, but the need for information won out. I crouched behind a tree, listening.

"I’m telling you, that white she-wolf was an Alpha," one of the warriors said, his voice full of awe and fear. "I wounded her, but she was fucking strong."

Gianna. My heart swelled with pride and fury. The white wolf. An Alpha. The words barely left his lips before my claws were tearing into him.

I stepped forward and snapped the other warrior’s neck with a single, practiced movement. The one who had spoken gasped, eyes wide with fear, and I pressed my foot into his chest, leaning over him with a growl that was pure menace.

"Where is the she-wolf now?"

He swallowed hard, his breath ragged. "S-she ran... uphill."

"Is anyone following her?"

"T-ten of ours," he choked.

I leaned closer, my voice turning to ice. "How badly did you hurt her?"

His eyes filled with terror as he stammered, "T-the cut wasn’t d-deep…"

"Was it black steel?"

His throat tightened, and he nodded.

That was all I needed. I shifted back into my wolf form in an instant, tearing away from him and running up the mountain with everything I had.

My muscles burned with fury as I barreled through the forest, each growl from the warriors behind me fueling the fire in my veins. I could still smell her, faint but undeniable. The scent of her was everywhere. And then, I heard the snarls and growls of the wolves chasing her, and my rage exploded.

I charged into the clearing, my eyes locking onto the seven wolves making their way toward a rocky path. They didn’t know me, didn’t realize they were running toward their deaths. I roared, loud enough to shake the trees, drawing their attention to me. They hesitated, confused, but their target wasn’t me—it was her. They didn’t realize their mistake until it was too late.

The battle was quick and brutal. My claws tore through their flesh, my teeth cutting deep. No one survived. Not one.

Now, all that mattered was finding her.

The shredded bond between us guided me upward, my instincts pulling me through the narrow, rocky path. Each breath was harder than the last, my body aching with the mix of fear and hope. And then, her scent hit me again, sharper now.

I knew she was close.

My heart thundered as I turned toward a small hollow in the rocks. There she was, curled up against the stone wall, wounded but alive. The sight of her, battered but breathing, nearly broke me. A long, ugly cut marred her ribs, and bite marks marked her skin.

I growled low in my throat, rage building at the thought of the bastards who had hurt her. But for now, all I could do was lift her into my arms. She stirred in my embrace, and after a few moments, she leaned into me.

In that moment, my world felt right again.

I sat on the ground, pulling her into my lap. Her cheek rested against my chest, and a soft smile curved her lips. The rhythmic rise and fall of her breath was the sweetest sound I had ever heard.

With trembling hands, I placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I love you, my little one."

A flood of relief washed over me, and I opened a mind link to Antonio, my voice thick with emotion. "I found her."

"What do you mean you found her?!" Antonio’s voice cracked, disbelief and joy lacing his words.

"Gianna is alive."

There was a long silence before he responded, his voice quiet. "Where are you?"

"On the southern side of the mountain, right above the clearing."

"Wait for us. We’ll get there in an hour."

"Bring some clothes," I said, my voice softer. "My Luna can’t meet her army naked."

A chuckle came through the link. "Consider it done, Alpha."

I lowered myself to the ground, cradling her gently in my arms as I sat. She settled against me, her cheek pressed to my chest, and a soft smile tugged at her lips. My eyes never left her, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, each beat of her heart a precious melody I never wanted to forget. She was alive. She was mine. I leaned down, my lips brushing against hers in a tender kiss.

"I love you, my little one."