The Quiet Giant's Mate Chapter 22 - Regina

The video meeting with my family went…I don’t know how to describe it. At least no one spoke against Ivan and I being together. That’s what mattered the most to me. I wanted him to feel welcomed by my family. I knew how hard it was for him to sit there and witness how my family interacted. I know how much he missed his parents at that moment. I missed them too. For me, it was different because I was missing people I didn’t know but wished I had a chance to.

The call quickly went off the rails when we brought up the missing document. While I’m glad that my brother truly had no malicious intentions and thought he’d fulfilled his Beta duties. And I mean, he did. It wasn’t his place to break the Alpha seal to confirm what was inside the envelope. I was equally relieved and pissed when Darren revealed it was Lia behind it all.

I know it’s weird to be relieved by it being that stupid bitch’s fault. But hear me out. I was relieved because it meant it wasn’t my brother’s fault. And it also meant none of the staff at the pack house did this. I didn’t want to think ill of the staff, especially Nicolao, but I knew some might have held a grudge against Ivan’s involvement in the war. So I’m relieved that good people are still good people.

But I am fucking LIVID with Lia. I’m with my Mama. I want to stone that bitch and then knock her over and smash the shards till she’s dust. I know I can’t do that. She’s not a member of my pack, and even if she was from Incubi, I’m not the Alpha, so I don’t get to hand out punishments. Though I’d like to think my Zio would let me at least stone her, even if only for a few minutes.

The amount of plotting that bitch went through to try and force my brother to be her mate is sickening. She’s unhinged, that’s for sure. Or was she truly that perfect of a mate for Gastone? They would be a pairing that proves it’s not always about opposites attracting or making a balance in personalities. I would never outright question the Goddess, but I can only assume she’d pair those scumbags to save others from such a fate.

After the call with my family, it was time to get on task. Papa said we could move into the Petridis villa, which means we must go through Ivan’s place and decide what should come with us and what can stay behind. I dug around his desk until I found a notepad and a pen and jumped up from his lap.

“What are you doing?” He asked, watching me curiously.

“Making a list, of course. I know there isn’t much furniture left at the villa as it was all moved to my parents’ place. So let us get organized and decide from your place what we want to bring to our new home.” I explained.

“For starters, I know we need to bring your bed. There is a study, so that we can bring your desk and office chair.” I outlined as I started making notes.

“That’s all I’d want to bring.” He shrugged.

“Seriously? No other furniture?” I arched my eyebrow.

“Nothing else was mine. Everything else belonged to the Pavesi family.” He explained.

“That makes sense. No problem, we can buy our furniture. Probably better that way. It will ensure everything is a mix of our tastes and tailored to accommodate your height.” I nodded.

“And about the books in here?” I asked, pointing to the shelves of books. “I know we’ll bring your clothes, any photographs you have of your family, and anything affiliated with your business.”

“Not mine.” He shook his head.

“The dishes and cookware?” I arched my eyebrow, and he shook his head.

“The washer and dryer?” I asked, and again he shook his head.

“Okay. On the pulse side, that means less expense in moving costs. We’ll need a moving truck and movers for your bedroom set, office furniture, and personal belongings.” I shrugged and closed the notebook.

“You like to plan everything, don’t you?” Ivan asked as he stood.

“Well, yes. I like to be organized. Call it Beta instinct or that I’m a film major. I like having a storyboard where I can outline what happens and in what order.” I shrugged.

“Is that a problem?” I folded my arms, trying to look intimidating and knowing I was failing.

It’s not easy to look intimidating when your mate is three times your size. If anything, I probably look laughable. Thankfully Ivan was smart enough not to laugh, even if he wanted to. I could tell through the bond that he wanted to laugh. So, kudos to him for not.

“Nope.” He shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Good.” I smiled and put the notebook on his desk.

“Given it’s already afternoon, I don’t think we’ll be able to get movers out here today. It looks like we will be staying here tonight,” I said as I took his hand. “Which means you can show me around the vineyard and Toria.”

“I can show you the vineyard. But the town….” He frowned.

“You are a free man, Ivan. And after tonight, you’ll live in Incubi, where you’ll be the next Beta to serve Crista.” I reminded him.

“I want to walk the streets of Toria with our heads held high. I don’t know what ingredients you have, and I need to go shopping for a meal I want to make.” I gently tugged his hand.

He sighed but stepped forward and let me lead him out of the office. I grabbed my purse, and soon enough, we were back in his truck, driving into the small coastal village of Toria. It was a rather quaint town. I doubt more than a couple hundred people live here. I held his hand the whole drive, hoping to ease his tension about walking around town.

As we parked at the grocery store, I could feel people staring. As Ivan got out to come around to my side, I saw how some people walking by looked at him and even avoided him, tugging their children along as if he was some monster. This behavior is un-fucking-acceptable. As I climbed out of the truck, I was already seething and heard a woman gasp.

My head quickly turned in her direction and narrowed my eyes. The wheels on the woman’s cart turned to stone making her stumble into it and fall back. I could feel Ivan’s apprehension and the urge to go home bubbling inside. I’m not having it. These people are not going to make my mate feel like a pariah.

“Let’s go inside. Tonight, I’m making you one of my Mama’s specialties, ribollita. It will make for a perfect first meal as a mated couple.” I smiled up at him and squeezed his hand.

Another gasp escaped the woman and the handful of people around us that heard me. Yes, I made sure I was clear in my words. I want them to know we mated. Not that our scents wouldn’t tell them that. I tried to make it clear for these thick-skulled people. Ivan sighed and, without a word, led me inside and got me a cart.

‘You did that on purpose.’ He commented in our link.

‘Of course, I did. I’ve told you before that anyone with a problem with you has one with me. And till I can schedule a photoshoot for us to have signed pictures to hand out to people that stare, calling them out indirectly will have to do.’ I shrugged as I pushed the cart.

People inside stared at us as I filled our cart with the fresh ingredients needed for the soup. Whenever I felt Ivan growing tense, I’d find a way to touch him. Sometimes it was simply holding his hand. I slapped his ass and teased him several times, asking him to get me something off the top shelf. Each time he would relax, and when I would ask him to get something for me, I always gestured for him to come closer and kissed him in gratitude.

That PDA caused more than one accident. These people seriously needed to get a life. If they’d run their carts into end caps and displays because a mated couple kissed, that’s a sign of deeper issues. By the time we were checking out, everyone in that store and probably the whole town knew Ivan Furlan was in town and mated.

I did a tally in my head that I had all my ingredients and enough of each to make enough soup for us. I slapped my hand to my forehead.

“Ivan, I forgot the fresh ciabatta. Can you go to the bakery department and get a loaf?” I asked as I put the last item on the belt.

“Okay.” Ivan nodded as he went around the checkout to get the bread.

“Signoria…” The cashier whispered as she leaned closer.

“Yes?” I arched my brow at her.

“Are you okay? Should we notify someone from the patrol?” She asked, keeping her voice low.

“What the fuck is wrong with you people?” I questioned loudly.

“Shhh….” She quickly gestured for me to lower my voice, her eyes darting in the direction Ivan had gone.

“Enough of this bullshit. You’re worried my MATE will get angry and do something because you are being an offensive shithead?” I scoffed.

She paled as I loudly proclaimed Ivan to be my mate.

“Here’s an insider tip for you and every other dumbass in this town and pack.” I smiled sweetly and gestured her closer.

“I’m the one you should be afraid of,” I growled and glanced at her hand, turning it to stone.

“Spread the word. Anyone who talks shit or mistreats my mate will be on the wrong side of a Petridis.” I snorted, letting her hand return to normal as Ivan returned to my side.

“Last loaf.” Ivan declared as he set it on the belt.

“Perfect timing, cuore mio.” I smiled at him. “She was just finishing ringing us up.”

The cashier quickly started scanning our times, avoiding eye contact at all costs.

‘What did you do?’ Ivan asked as he pulled out his wallet to pay for the groceries.

‘Put people in their place. Don’t worry. No one was harmed.’ I assured him.

As I went to grab one of the three paper bags, Ivan beat me to it, getting all three in one arm. I smiled and shook my head as I stepped around him.

“Well, didn’t I just get the sweetest mate?” I teased.

I smiled, knowing that when we were in the truck, word would have spread like wildfire through the pack link that Ivan Furlan was mated to a Petridis and not to cross her. We won’t live in Madonie, but I’ll be damned if I let them think less of my mate. I want him to feel confident when we come to visit family. It’s been five years. It is time for people to grow up and move on.

“You didn’t have to do that.” Ivan sighed as he drove us back to the villa.

“I know that. I did it because we are mates and I love you. I don’t let people mistreat those I love.” I smiled at him.

I know saying I love him is a huge step, but we are fully mated, and I can’t help that feelings develop fast between mates. Plus, I won’t apologize or take it back. I won’t take it back because he smiled. He genuinely smiled when I said it, and I felt how his heart melted through the bond. Being together, we’ll face other closed-minded and judgmental people, but we’ll face them together. We will face everything together and be stronger because we are together.

There isn’t a challenge the Goddess could put before us that we can’t work together to get through, from moving in together and finding compromises on our tastes in style to a month after our mating facing the reality that we would go from a family of two to three before our first anniversary. I can’t wait to welcome our pup and shower them with all our love.