6: Meant to be

Gianna’s POV

I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling the last remnants of anxiety melting away in their presence. After everything Eliot had put me through, the mere thought of staying here under his roof for another night was unbearable.

These Alphas… they offered something I thought I’d lost forever. A chance at a new life. A chance at peace.

Kane looked at me with a steady gaze. His eyes held a warmth that seemed to soothe my guarded heart, a look that told me he’d stand beside me no matter what. He reached out, his large hand taking mine.

“Gianna,” he began, his voice low and gentle, “we want to take you back with us. To the palace. Away from here.”

My chest tightened at his words, but it was Klaus who leaned forward, his expression grim. “We know this is a lot to ask, especially with what you’ve been through. But we’re your mates, Gianna. You shouldn’t be in a place where you feel unsafe.”

I nodded. I couldn’t wait to leave Eliot’s territory and the painful memories that clung to every corner of this place. I hate them all.

And my mother?

Keith, always the quietest of the three it seems, broke his silence. “You’re not alone anymore. We want you to come with us, to our home. You deserve a place where you feel safe.”

His words were laced with that calm protectiveness that made me feel oddly… cherished.

“Will you come with us?” Kane asked softly.

I didn’t even hesitate. “Yes. I want to go.”

Their eyes lit up, a shared sense of relief passing between them. They exchanged a look that I didn’t fully understand, but I knew it meant something important. Like this was a new beginning for all of us.

Kane rose, taking my hand as he helped me up, his touch reassuring.

The trip to their palace felt like strange with excitement and nerves. I kept glancing out the window, watching as we left Eliot’s territory behind, the landscape slowly changing as we approached a vast palace. It was beautiful, imposing, but warm in a way that seemed to promise a new kind of peace.

The moment we arrived, I was greeted with kindness I’d never experienced. The staff moved with ease around the Alphas, each one respectful yet at ease, like this was a place where loyalty was earned and given freely.

We entered a spacious room, and the atmosphere shifted immediately as two women turned to greet us. They had the same dark hair and piercing gray eyes as the brothers, but their gazes sparkled with a mischievous glint

“Kane! Keith! Klaus!” one of them exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face. “Took you long enough. We were starting to think you’d gotten lost.”

“Don’t tease,” Klaus grumbled, though there was a softness to his voice I hadn’t heard before. He turned to me, his eyes warm. “Gianna, meet our sisters. That’s Helena, and this one here is Ingrid.”

Helena approached first, her eyes studying me carefully, but not unkindly. “Welcome to the family, Gianna. And don’t let these three fool you,” she said, nodding toward her brothers with a smirk. “They might look all stoic and serious, but I’m the one who makes the rules around here.”

Ingrid chuckled, stepping forward and giving me a friendly, knowing smile. “We’re glad to have you. It takes a lot to put up with these guys.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, the words barely a whisper as I realized how much their acceptance meant.

Helena tilted her head, her gaze softening. “You look like you need a bit of relaxation. Come on, let’s get you settled in. You’ve got the suite right next to ours.”

Keith, who had been watching me intently, spoke up. “And if you need anything, we’re all here. You’re not just a guest, Gianna. This is your home now, too.”

Those words touched something deep within me. I followed Helena and Ingrid through the halls, their banter light and easy, helping to melt away the tension I’d been carrying.

“You’ll love it here,” Ingrid said, sitting on the bed and motioning for me to join her. “We’ll make sure of that.”

The rest of the day passed with an ease I hadn’t known in years. Helena and Ingrid took me on a tour, showing me the gardens, the library, even a training room where they sparred with each other, laughing and taunting their brothers as they practiced.

It was refreshing, their closeness and the way they protected one another, fierce but loving. They had a bond that made me yearn for a family of my own.

Kane looked over at me, his expression warm and sincere. “Are you happy here, Gianna?”

I took a deep breath, letting the warmth of their presence settle over me. “More than I ever thought I could be. This place… it already feels like home.”

Klaus took my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a gentle, comforting gesture. “Then you’re exactly where you belong.”

Helena laughed, breaking the tender moment. “Alright, don’t get too sentimental on us. There’ll be time for that later. For now, we have a welcome dinner planned, and trust me, you’ll need your energy for it. We don’t do small things here.”

They weren’t lying. The dinner was extravagant, filled with laughter, stories, and the kind of warmth I’d only dreamed of. I sat between the sisters, listening to them tease the brothers, who occasionally shot back with smirks and well-timed jabs of their own.

When the night finally ended and I lay in the comfort of my new room, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time, a sense of peace, a sense of belonging. It was a new beginning, a fresh chapter in a life I’d thought would be bound forever to darkness.

But now, with the Alpha Kings and their family, I was beginning to see the light. And as sleep finally claimed me, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.