Gianna’s POV I stayed in the tub long after the water turned cold, my fingers wrinkling and my skin chilled. It didn’t matter. The icy water somehow matched the storm swirling inside me. I wanted it to cool the angry fire within me. My thoughts ran wild jumping between the problems of the last few weeks and the strange home I’d somehow stumbled into. Though this looks too much like a a staged something than coincidence. A knock sounded at the door. Just one soft but firm and it sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t demanding yet it carried a silent command that made me sit up. I climbed out of the tub water dripping off me as I glanced around for a towel. My eyes landed on a small one, barely large enough for drying hair sitting on a hook nearby. I frowned. This wouldn’t work. Wrapping my arms around myself I cracked the door open to ask for something else. But before I could say a word, he was already there holding out a proper towel. His timing startled me as if he’d kn
King’s POVShe sat across from me, her hands trembling as she held the spoon. I watched her closely, every twitch of her fingers every flicker of emotion that crossed her face. She wasn’t eating anymore. Her appetite had disappeared the moment I sat down, and I could practically feel the storm raging inside her. She’s such a firecracker hiding it behind a docile little girl. She was nervous. She was scared. And she was trying to hide it. She wasn’t doing much job at doing so. The scent of her unease filled the room but it wasn’t just that. There was something else, something deeper more fragile. It wasn’t just her. It was the cub. I’d cooked the stew because I knew she needed it not because I was hungry. The second I’d seen her I’d understood. She was lost, broken, and carrying something far more precious than her pain. She was working more to make her child healthy than for herself. It’s written all over her and that makes me feel emotion I haven’t felt in a while. Pride. I l
Gianna’s POVI followed the man my feet dragging slightly with exhaustion. Every step felt heavier than the last but I kept moving. I didn’t even know his name. It felt too personal to ask like crossing a line I didn’t dare approach. It already feels like I’m in his personal space and I should run but I have no choice. Everything in my body screamed at me to keep my distance from him. He radiated danger in a way I’d never felt before not the cruel one from Eliot or calculated kind I’d experienced with the triplets but a force that warned me I was treading into unknown territory. One that would either end me or worse. I don’t even know what danger feels anymore. Not after living for seventeen whole days in the woods all on my own and defenseless. But for now I didn’t have a choice. He was the only person willing to help me no matter how much his presence set my nerves on edge. He led me to a guest room one that looks different from the rest of the house. The green and brown them
Gianna’s POVI woke up to find him sitting in the same spot he had been last night, as if he hadn’t moved an inch. His piercing eyes locked onto mine the moment I stirred, taking in every detail of my disheveled appearance. My hair was a tangled mess, sticking out in every direction like a bird’s nest. The oversized green shirt he’d given me to wear was wrinkled and hung awkwardly on my frame. I tugged it down suddenly conscious of how unkempt I looked. But his face gave nothing away. His expression was unreadable, not a hint of judgment or amusement just those intense, calculating eyes that seemed to strip me bare. And the fact that I get goosebumps!I swallowed hard forcing myself to meet his gaze. His silence made me uneasy, and when he finally gestured toward the food on the table in front of him, I nearly jumped. It was simple… eggs, fried to golden perfection, and a few slices of bread. My stomach growled embarrassingly loud, and I hesitated for only a second before sitt
Gianna’s POVThe next few weeks passed in a blur of sweat, aching muscles, and more strength than I thought I had in me. Training with the Alpha –King, as Liam and Tom called him had become my new reality. To my surprise, I thrived. He didn’t go easy on me and I didn’t want him to. I learned soon enough that training isn’t as bad as I had thought and understand why women train so hard everywhere but servants and whores. It gives them power. No matter how little. He got me proper training gear last week. A pair of sleek black leggings and a fitted tank top that hugged my growing belly. The first time I wore it I caught him staring at me, his eyes locked on the slight swell of my stomach. There was something in his gaze, a flicker of emotion that made my insides twist in a way I couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t unpleasant though. If anything, it made me feel… seen. I don’t know the other word to use. My English isn’t broad anyway but it makes my toes curl in my cute boots. The c
King’s POVWatching her move across the training field each punch sharper and each dodge quicker. I felt a tightness in my chest I couldn’t shake. Gianna was improving. Fast. It was impressive, even by my standards. But that wasn’t what was making my stomach churn. I hate it is making my stomach churn but there they are. It was Liam and Tom. They stood on either side of her, their expressions annoyingly soft. Liam had just adjusted her footing, his hand lingering on her arm longer than necessary, while Tom cracked a joke that made her laugh. She never laughs when she is around me alone. I knew they weren’t stupid enough to cross any lines. They’d been with me since childhood my most trusted men. They know what she means to us and the doors we could open with her. They won’t risk it. But seeing them close to her? That was something else entirely. I don’t want to be close to her and I don’t want them close to her either. “Keep your guard up” I barked, my voice harsher than I int
Gianna’s POVSweat dripped down my temple as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Even the blind could see I have changed in the past few weeks and it is a good sort of change. My arms, once soft and unused to anything more than lifting a book, were now lean and strong my shoulders defined. My skin had darkened under the relentless sun of the training fields and my body felt powerful, capable. Like I could conquer the world all on my own. Except for the swell of my belly pushing against the waistband of my sweatpants, a reminder that I wasn’t just building strength for myself. I was training to be strong for my baby and I. I threw another punch watching the way my muscles moved feeling the strength ripple through my body. I liked what I saw. I liked what I was becoming. I want to be more. But as quickly as the pride came, it vanished, replaced by the memories I couldn’t outrun. The triplets. Their betrayal. Their faces haunted me, each one etched with betrayal and heartbr
Gianna’s POVThe tension was suffocating as I stepped into the female section of the training field. The girls were already paired off stretching and preparing for their matches, but the moment I walked in, all eyes turned to me. Their gazes weren’t curious or friendly… they were predatory. None of them looked ready to have a small talk with me like they already decided to hate me before they met me. I felt the weight of their disdain settle over me like a curtain. They didn’t even know me but their hostility was so palpable. My throat tightened and I looked down at my hands, feeling like the outsider I had always been. Why did they send me in here knowing I wasn’t going to be welcomed? Was it intentional?No one had ever truly liked me. Not my mother, not my pack, not my mates. What was I even doing here, thinking I could fit into a place like this? I am so delusional. I tried to shake the thoughts but they clung to me like a second skin. My self-esteem plummeted, the voices in
Gianna’s POVThe aftermath of our time together left my body humming, my toes still curling from the way King had thoroughly claimed me. I had never been touched, taken or loved like that before. My entire being felt sated yet a hollow ache crept into the corners of my mind. I wished for a fleeting moment that we could rewind time, fall back into each other’s arms and relive that euphoric high. But I knew better. I always knew better. Sleep found me quickly, pulling me under like a heavy wave, but even in my dreams, his touch lingered.I woke to the gentle press of his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm. My eyes fluttered open to find him gazing at me with a softness that unraveled me further. His lips found mine, the kiss tender yet charged with an unspoken intensity. This time, when he moved over me, it wasn’t fast or frenzied. He made love to me as if he knew. As if he could sense that this was goodbye. Each thrust was deliberate every touch reverent and when he whispered
Gianna’s POVI woke up feeling hollow, my heart a quiet, fragile thing, trembling with every beat. The weight of everything pressed down on my chest like a hand squeezing the life out of me. My heart was too soft, too eager to love and it had betrayed me again. Why the hell did I think falling for King was a good idea? Why the hell is it that I don’t have control over my heart whatsoever? I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my decision as solid as the cold floor beneath my feet. I’d made up my mind. I was going to sleep with King get it out of the way. Just once. Just to know how it felt. And then I’d leave this godforsaken place for good. I couldn’t stay. Not when everything inside me screamed to run. The thought of being here, bound to him watching my heart break little by little, it wasn’t a life. It was a slow death. By nightfall, I was standing outside his door, my hand trembling as I reached for the knob. My mind was chaos, my emotions a war zone. But my body… My
King’s POVThe door clicked shut behind me, a sound so soft it shouldn’t have been able to stir anything. But it did. My jaw clenched, my fists tightening at my sides as I leaned against the wall trying to collect myself. My body still ached, still burned with need but my frustration? That boiled hotter. Alice. She had the nerve to come back now, after I warned her not to? After everything she’d done, after all the chaos she’d caused, she thought she could walk back into my life like nothing happened? I shoved off the wall, raking a hand through my hair. My mind felt like a damn battlefield every thought crashing into the next nothing making sense. My need for Gianna hell, my need to claim her, to have her still roared inside me but it clashed against the anger Alice stirred. Dragging my phone out of my pocket, I dialed Liam. It rang twice before he answered, his voice calm and collected, the exact opposite of mine. “She’s back.” I said, my words clipped, my voice low. “I f
Gianna’s POVI pushed the door open slowly, feeling the ache in my legs the pulse of the orgasm he’d pulled from me still thrumming through my body. The room was dim with only moonlight streaming in through the curtains and there he was sprawled on the couch like he’d been waiting for me the whole time. He sat up the moment I walked in, his dark eyes locking onto mine. There was something anxious about the way he looked, like he had something to say and couldn’t wait a second longer. I could feel the tension coming off him but I wasn’t ready to deal with him yet. I sank onto the chair farthest from him keeping my distance. I needed it, just a little space though my traitorous body screamed at me to move closer. He ran a hand through his hair, the frustration obvious. He leaned forward his elbows on his knees. “Gianna, I need to tell you.” He started his voice rough and low.I didn’t answer didn’t even blink because I knew whatever he was about to say would piss me off in ways I
Gianna’s POVThe walk back to the cabin was quieter than I expected. The air was heavy and the woods unusually still and every step felt like a battle between my emotions. I didn’t want to think about what I’d seen the rogue’s words or the lingering ache in my chest. But it was impossible not to. By the time I reached the cabin the soft glow of the kitchen lights spilling out onto the porch made me pause. For a moment, I just stood there taking it in. The faint sound of laughter floated out, and when I opened the door, I found King with the kids in the kitchen. They were all smiles their faces lit up with joy as they helped him set the table. The woman was gone. There was no trace of her scent in the house and I felt a pang of relief so sharp it almost hurt. Goddess. “Mom!” the kids called out, rushing to hug me. Their little arms around me were grounding, reminding me of what mattered most. “King made our favorite!” Kate exclaimed her voice filled with excitement. I looke
Gianna’s POVI laid there in bed with my babies curled up on either side of me, their tiny hands clutching onto me like I was their whole world, and yet I felt like mine was crumbling. My throat burned as I swallowed again and again trying to keep the pain locked down where it couldn’t break free. I didn’t want to cry, not in front of them. I had to be strong for them at least. But how? How was I supposed to hold it together when everything felt like it was falling apart? I knew I was stupid to let myself be involved in this mess emotionally. How did she even walk into the cabin like that? Like she owned the place. Like she belonged. And why wouldn’t she? She was his mate, for Goddess’ sake. His fucking mate. The one person I could never compete with. The one person who was made for him in ways I never could be. Not that I want to be right? I don’t care what they do, right? Fuck but why does it hurt. And she was stunning. I hated how beautiful she was. I hated how perfect she loo
King’s POVI was sitting in my room still reeling from what happened earlier. Gianna had me so wound up I couldn’t even think straight. That woman was playing with fire and didn’t even care she might get burned. The sweatshirt she wore? Mine. Her scent all over it? Also mine. And the way she looked at me before walking out like I was the one who should be begging? She was driving me insane. I ran my hands through my hair and leaned back against the bed, trying to calm myself down, but it was no use. I didn’t even hear the knock at first. It came again, sharp and loud pulling me out of my thoughts. I thought maybe it was her, maybe Gianna was coming back to finish what she started. My cock jumped in my pants at the thought because I’ll make her scream her lungs for making me wait. My chest tightened at the thought, my pulse racing as I got up to open the door. But it wasn’t her. Standing there was a woman I never thought I’d see again. a woman from the past I thought I won’t ha
King’s POVGianna’s been on a mission to kill me this week. There’s no other explanation. Every single day she’s been prancing around the house in next to nothing, acting like she doesn’t notice the effect she has on me. But she knows. Oh, she fucking knows. I’m barely hanging on by a thread here taking cold showers like my life depends on it and she’s just waltzing around like a goddess sent to ruin me. Today, though? Today was the last straw. I walked into the kitchen ready to start dinner for the kids and there she was making cereal. Cereal. Like she couldn’t have picked any other damn time or room to be in. And of course she was wearing the tiniest little shorts and a tank top that barely covered her ample boobs. Her back was to me and my eyes instantly trailed down to the curve of her hips. She turned around her big, innocent eyes meeting mine and I swear I almost lost it right there. The little smirk she gave me like she knew exactly what she was doing almost broke me.
Gianna’s POVThe woods were quiet, the kind of quiet that made you feel like the trees were holding their breath. Like I am currently doing. I trailed behind Blair my steps crunching against the forest floor the leaves damp from last night’s dew. She hadn’t said a word since she told me to follow her but I could see it in her stiff shoulders and the way she kept twisting her fingers, something was eating her up inside. “Blair” I called softly trying to catch her attention. She didn’t stop, just kept walking until we were deep enough that the cabin was a distant. Finally, she halted turning to face me. Her face was flushed her lips parted slightly as if she was struggling to find the right words. I crossed my arms, waiting. “Well?” I prompted when the silence stretched too long. Blair ran a hand through her hair, letting out a shaky breath. I hate when Nlair is nervous since she is usually not like to is. LI’ve been...seeing someone” she said quickly like ripping off a banda