79

79


Gianna's POV

"I love you, my little one."

The words lingered in my mind, uncertain, as though they might have been a dream. Yet, the thought alone made my heart seize in my chest. The warmth of his body, the strength of his arms wrapped around me, and the softness of his kiss—everything felt too real to be a figment of my imagination.

Suddenly, a chorus of voices reached my ears, their sounds distant and jumbled, but they quickly faded away. My wolf reassured me that I was safe, and with that thought, I nestled deeper into the familiar embrace, breathing in the scent of citrus that was uniquely his. Slowly, I succumbed to the pull of sleep, feeling at peace.

When I finally awoke, I realized I was lying on a soft mattress, a layer of delicate fur covering my body. The room around me was bathed in the soft glow of morning light streaming through a large window beside my bed. A chair stood nearby, and someone was sitting in it... waiting.

I blinked, adjusting my blurry vision. My heart skipped. "Stefano," I whispered, the words rasping in my throat.

He was there. Alive. This was no dream. The rush of emotions flooded through me, leaving me breathless. A knot formed in my throat as hot tears welled in my eyes.

Without a word, he rose from his chair and came to sit beside me on the bed. His presence was a comfort, though his face was lined with exhaustion. Dark circles under his eyes, hair more disheveled than usual, and the half-unbuttoned shirt that clung to his broad frame—all told the story of a night spent in vigil. His strong arms had been holding me through it all. My gaze traced over his body, searching for any signs of injury, relieved to see none... though I couldn't help but wonder what might be hidden beneath the surface.

"Are you okay, little one?" His voice was soft but laced with concern as he took my hand gently in his and kissed my knuckles.

I bit my lip, holding back the tremble in my body, and nodded. He leaned forward, wiping my tears away with his thumbs, before cupping my face in his hands and locking eyes with me.

"Don’t ever do that again," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I forbid you from leaving me."

A shiver ran through me as I smiled softly, still wrapped in the warmth of his embrace. "I promise, I will never leave you," I whispered, my voice faltering with the emotion of the moment.

Before I could even draw a breath, his arms were around me, pulling me close, pressing me to his chest. "I still can’t believe you’re alive. I spent the whole night just watching you, afraid to blink... thinking I might lose you if I did."

Slowly, I tilted my head back to meet his gaze, a quiet confession slipping from my lips. "I think I was dead," I said softly, "And... I might have spoken to the Goddess... She brought me back."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Then I might have to start praying to her," he teased.

A laugh bubbled up from my chest, despite the heaviness in the air. "Perhaps you should," I said.

"But I’d rather worship my own goddess," he murmured, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of my ear.

My breath hitched, my heart pounding in my chest. "I won't protest if you do," I replied, my voice trembling as his lips trailed a path of soft kisses down my neck. The sensation made me shiver, drawing a sharp intake of breath when he reached the place where his mark would eventually claim me. "The Goddess said you could restore our bond."

He paused, his gaze intense. "I can still feel it... the bond, what’s left of it. It guided me to you, led me through the mountains to find you."

A surge of disbelief shot through me. "The bond... it led you to me?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He smirked, his voice low and teasing. "That, and the trail of bodies you left behind."

I smiled sheepishly, my wolf now fully awake. "My wolf is... more awake than I am."

He chuckled, brushing a soft kiss across my forehead. "I figured as much. One of the warriors I encountered mentioned seeing a white wolf—a true Alpha."

A tinge of unease settled in my chest. "I don’t know how to fight in my wolf form yet."

His fingers brushed my cheek gently. "I can teach you... but first, you need to heal."

"I think I’m healed," I murmured, realizing the ache had disappeared, leaving only a lingering sense of peace.

But then I turned my gaze to him, concern creeping in. "What about you? You escaped Alpha Matteo... Are you hurt?"

He shook his head. "I’m stronger now. I’ve healed. You’ve made me stronger." He cupped my chin, bringing my lips to his in a soft kiss.

The intensity of his touch sent shivers through my body, but my mind was still filled with questions, pushing away the temptation to lose myself in him. "So... what happens now?" I asked, studying him closely.

A sly grin spread across his face. "We could stay here, in bed, as long as you want. Days, even."

A blush crept up my neck, but I glanced around the room, realizing with a sudden jolt that I didn’t even know where we were. "Where are we?" I asked, voice tinged with curiosity.

He chuckled. "This is Kaeville. It’s a town just past the Eclipse Mountain. A place where we can be... safe."

I gasped, the realization hitting me. "Is this where you keep your army?"

He chuckled, kissing the tip of my nose. "Our army," he corrected. "And they already know you’ll become my Luna."

A mix of excitement and apprehension stirred inside me. "Are we going to live here? In hiding?"