ADRIANO There was something about that sight that I couldn’t get enough of. Maybe it was the way Azzurra’s lips parted, her breath hitching as she struggled between disgust and desire. Or it was the way her legs pressed together, her entire body betraying the righteous defiance she tried so hard to hold onto. Or maybe it was the simple, undeniable truth. I owned her. She just didn’t know it yet. Elara whimpered beneath me, her hands clutching the edge of the dresser, but I wasn’t focused on her. My wolf prowled inside me, restless, furious. It had wanted no one but Azzurra from the second she stepped foot in my domain, and I had to battle against the unquenchable urge to claim her in the darkest ways imaginable. She was mine. Not just to punish. Not just to break. But to ruin. Completely. I kept my eyes locked on Azzurra, watching every flicker of emotion pass over her face. The shame. The fury. The hunger she didn’t want to acknowledge. Her chest rose and fell ra
AZZURRA I knew my weakness. Adriano. Adriano GiordanoNo matter how much I wanted to pretend Adriano’s games didn’t affect me, the truth was impossible to ignore. My body still felt the heat of his presence, the ghost of his touch lingering on my skin like a cruel reminder. It wasn’t fair. None of this was fair. I curled into myself, shutting my eyes, hoping sleep would give me a brief escape. But my mind refused to let go of him. Of the way he had looked at me. The way he had spoken to me, possessive and filled with lust. The way he pumped his seed into that woman made me wish I was the one. I had lain there behaving like a wanton whore starved of sex.Eventually, exhaustion won. And then the dream came. I was in his arms. Warm, safe, held against the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His scent wrapped around me, intoxicating, overwhelming. He wasn’t saying anything, but his grip on me tightened, as if I belonged there. As if I was meant to be there. I wanted to figh
Azzurra’s POVI already expected her to say something harsh, but when she finally spoke, her voice held something more than just disdain—it held certainty. "You’re the one who stole from Adriano. I have heard a lot about the clever red haired girl that had dared to steal from the Giordanos," she said, her lips curling into something that wasn’t quite a smile. I didn’t respond. There was nothing to say. Confirming it wouldn’t do me any good. Denying it? That would be a fucking joke. Her gaze narrowed, taking my silence as an answer. Before she could say more, the study door creaked open, and a deep voice cut through the thick tension. "Andrea." The woman turned and broke out into a big smile that seemed to transform her into a child.It has been Adriano’s voice. But he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were on the woman, and for the first time since I’d met him, I saw something in his expression that was different. Something softer. And then, she turned to face him. T
Azzurra's POV I followed the men through the halls of the massive estate, my heart beating fast in my chest. It had been three weeks since I arrived, yet somehow, I had never stepped foot in the west wing. The air was cooler here, the halls quieter, the atmosphere heavier. It felt like walking into enemy territory, and maybe that was exactly what it was.They led me into a large waiting room. It was nothing like the other rooms I had been in—this one was grand yet cold, the high ceilings making it feel like a throne room rather than a place to sit and wait. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, the floors were polished marble, and a massive chandelier hung overhead, casting a dim golden glow. The entire space was designed to intimidate.At the center of the room, seated on an elegant chair that looked like a throne, was a woman. She was in her late thirties, dressed in an expensive, perfectly tailored dress. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun, and on her wrist was a si
AdrianoThe dining table was set with the usual elegance my mother demanded—crystal glasses, fine silverware, and an array of dishes cooked by the best chefs money could buy. But none of that could mask the thick tension in the air. The aroma of roasted lamb filled the dining room, usually a comforting scent. I sat at the head of the table, her posture regal, her dark eyes sharp as she sipped from her wine glass. My sister, Andrea, lounged beside me, poking at her food with a fork, her expression a mixture of boredom and irritation. Then there was my mother, seated in front of her. I knew what was in their mind but of course I won't be the one to break the silence. “So, how long will this Azzurra be staying here, exactly?” my mother asked, her tone light but carrying an undeniable edge. “A week? Two?” I didn’t look up from my plate. “As long as necessary.” Andrea scoffed, stabbing a piece of grilled zucchini harder than necessary. “Necessary for what? For you to figure out h
AzzurraI had become a master at slipping through shadows. Avoiding Luna Vienna and Andrea felt like a game of survival, and I played it well. Every time there was a chore that would lead me to the west wing where Luna Vienna spent most of her time in, I always found a way out of it. I swapped tasks with other maids, bribing them with parts of my meal or the rare sweet treat I managed to sneak from the kitchen. I didn’t care about the cost. Staying out of their line of sight was worth any sacrifice. But, as my luck would have it, the universe seemed to have other plans for me that morning. Luck was a spiteful bitch. The kitchen was warm, filled with the rich scent of sizzling bacon and fresh bread as I worked on Luna Vienna’s breakfast. I had just cracked an egg into the pan when the door creaked open behind me. “Ugh, my head is killing me,” came a groan. I turned, and my stomach dropped. Andrea. Her sandy blonde hair was a tousled mess, and her eyes were shadowed with exh
AzzurraI cleaned in silence, my hands moving fast, my mind trying to stay blank. If I let myself think, if I let myself feel, I would snap. And snapping was not an option.Andrea’s room was a disaster, and I knew she had made it that way on purpose. A challenge. A punishment. A reminder that I was nothing in this house.I picked up a dress crumpled on the floor and folded it neatly, even though my fingers itched to rip it apart. The scent of her expensive perfume clung to the fabric, sharp and overwhelming. I tossed it onto the bed and moved to the vanity. The spilled makeup smeared under my fingertips as I wiped the surface clean. By the time I was done, I stood over the room proud of my work. It was nothing really because I have been doing things like this since my mother died. Sophia and Valerian aren't exactly the neat ones and my dad? My dad was a different story altogether. Anyways I was done with this hell....room and I have to.....The clock struck 12 and I cursed under my br
AzzurraThe dress. Fuck. It felt like liquid silk against my skin. I thought it was just simple but I was wrong. Blue, the color of a twilight sky just after the sun dips below the horizon. Beautiful. And expensive. The most expensive piece of fabric I’d ever touched. Hell, it probably cost more than my entire life up to this point. More than everything I owned combined, including the ratty old blanket my mother gave me before she… well, before she wasn’t around anymore. Before life went to shit.He had thrown the gown to me like it was worth nothing but it actually worth everything. And it fit. Perfectly. Like it was made for me. Which was insane, considering it probably cost more than a small car. A really nice small car. Which left me wondering how Adriano knew my size.There was even a tag still attached. A price tag. I almost ripped it off out of habit before my brain finally kicked in. Thank fucking god. I glanced at the price and my stomach dropped. Jesus Christ.
AZZURRA If there was one thing I had learned since stepping into Adriano’s world, it was that Luna Vienna was a force to be reckoned with. A woman like her didn’t need to raise her voice or throw tantrums to make her presence known, one sharp look, one carefully chosen word, and she could bring anyone to their knees. I didn’t want to be one of those people. Which meant I had to find a way to get on her good side. If Adriano, with all his power and control, couldn’t say no to his mother, then what chance did I have? Fighting her would be a losing battle. So, I made a decision, one that felt like swallowing glass. I would try to befriend Luna Vienna. The problem was, how did you make friends with a woman who seemed determined to make your life as difficult as possible? It was like trying to befriend a mother-in-law who had already decided you weren’t good enough for her son. And worse, she enjoyed making that clear. I spent the next few days trying to navigate her presenc
ADRIANO I ran a hand down my face, exhaling sharply as I watched Azzurra bolt out of my room like the damn house was on fire. My mother, meanwhile, stood in the doorway with the same infuriatingly calm expression she always wore; cool, composed, and completely fucking unreadable. I clenched my jaw. "Did you have to do that?" Luna Vienna lifted an elegant brow. "Do what?" I let out a humorless laugh. "Really? You barge into my room, unannounced, scare the shit out of Azzurra, and now you're playing dumb?" She stepped inside like she owned the place, which, technically, she did. She smoothed a hand over the sleeve of her dress, gaze flicking over my still-unbuttoned shirt with a look of mild disapproval. "You should be thanking me." "For what?" I snapped. "For stopping you from making a mistake," she said simply. "That girl isn’t worth the trouble, Adriano." My fists clenched. "You don’t get to decide that." Her lips twitched slightly, like she was amused by my defian
Azzurra Adriano didn’t say a word as the car pulled into the driveway of his estate. His grip on my waist remained firm, his dark eyes locked on mine as if daring me to break the silence. I didn’t. I didn’t trust my voice, didn’t trust myself not to say something I’d regret—something that would only push him further. The driver stepped out first, but Adriano didn’t let me move. Instead, his fingers traced the curve of my jaw, his touch light but possessive. “You’re coming with me.” Not a question. A command. I exhaled sharply. “Like I have a choice?” His lips curled at the edges, amused by my defiance. “You always have a choice, Azzurra. You just never make the right one.” Before I could respond, he opened the door and stepped out, pulling me with him. His grip on my wrist never loosened as he led me inside. The house was quiet, the dim lighting casting shadows against the sleek marble floors. It felt too intimate, too dangerous, like I was walking into something I
Azzurra I was grateful—grateful to God, to fate, to whatever force had given me the strength to push him away before I lost myself. Before I surrendered to the temptation of his lips, his touch, his presence that made it impossible to think straight. My heart pounded, my breath uneven as I pushed him away with all the strength I could muster. Adriano barely moved, his body solid like a damn wall, but he let me go, his dark eyes watching me with something between amusement and frustration. I took a shaky breath, gripping the edge of the nearby table to steady myself. My pulse was still racing, but not entirely from fear. That was the problem. I clenched my fists and glared at him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. Adriano tilted his head slightly, looking at me like the answer was obvious. “What does it look like?” I swallowed hard, my skin still tingling from where his hands had been. He made it sound so
Azzurra A chance? I clenched my jaw, hating that I even considered it. But what choice did I have? I exhaled sharply, forcing my shoulders to stay steady. “Fine. I’ll do it.” Adriano smirked like he had expected my answer all along. Like he knew I was predictable. It pissed me off. “Good girl.” I scowled, crossing my arms over my chest. “Fuck off.” His chuckle was low, full of amusement, like he found my irritation entertaining. “Such a mouth on you.” “Yeah? Well, you bring it out of me,” I shot back, not bothering to soften the edge in my voice. He tilted his head, studying me. “Is that so?” I lifted my chin. “You’re insufferable.” “And yet, here you are.” He stepped past me, reaching for the door. “Come with me.” I hesitated for a second, my instincts screaming at me to be careful. But in the end, I followed. The hallways were dimly lit, lined with aged wooden panels that made the space feel even more suffocating. Adriano walked ahead, his posture easy, confident. Contr
Azzurra The next morning, I woke up with Luna Vienna’s words still ringing in my head. "Be careful. In a world ruled by men, a woman must be twice as ruthless to survive." I didn’t know if she meant it as a warning, a lesson, or both. But one thing was clear, Luna Vienna wasn’t a woman to underestimate. And neither was Andrea. As I made my way through the servants' quarters, I caught sight of her down the hall, speaking in hushed tones with a few of the other high-ranking women. Her expression was poised, her laughter soft and deceptive. But when her gaze flicked to me, the amusement disappeared. For a moment, we just stared at each other. A silent challenge. I didn’t look away first. With a small smirk, Andrea turned back to her conversation, but I knew she hadn’t forgotten about yesterday. Neither had I. I kept my head down and continued walking, gripping my cleaning supplies a little tighter. I had just finished my morning tasks when a maid rushed in, breathle
Azzurra I swore to myself that I would never, ever cross paths with any of the Giordanos. They all hated me. The house was big enough to avoid them for about a month. But like all the other wishes I had ever had, this one never came true. Because that morning, I found myself in the worst possible situation. I was supposed to clean the Beta’s room, just like I did every morning. It was supposed to be an easy task, change the sheets, dust the furniture, mop the floor, and leave. No drama. No trouble. But of course, trouble found me anyway. As I walked into the Beta’s room, bucket and mop in hand, I froze. Andrea was there. Not just standing in the middle of the room but crouched near the bathroom door, her body pressed close to the wooden frame as she peeked inside. At first, I had no idea what she was doing. But then I heard the sound of running water, followed by the unmistakable hum of a man’s voice. Realization hit me like a slap to the face. Andrea was spying
Adriano I should have been furious. I should have shut her up the second she started screaming at me, the second she threw my own fucking actions back in my face. But instead, I just stood there, letting Azzurra’s rage crash over me. Because for the first time in my life, I felt something I had never expected to feel. Guilt. I had put her on that damn table, made her a fucking bet, as if she was nothing more than a pile of chips. And even though I knew I was going to win, even though there had never been a chance in hell that Marcello would walk away with her, I had still done it. I had made her feel like she was nothing and that was a mistake. Azzurra wasn’t nothing. She was fire. She was fury. She was the only person who had ever looked me in the eye and called me out on my shit. I let out a sharp breath, dragging a hand through my hair. I needed to put this out of my mind. Guilt was a fucking useless emotion. In my world, it had no place. Just as I turned toward
Azzurra The room smelled of cigars and whiskey, the air thick with tension and the weight of too many secrets. A velvet-topped card table stood between them, the final hands played with measured precision. Marcello leaned back in his chair, a smirk curving his lips as he dragged a cigar between his fingers, tapping the ash into the tray without a care in the world. “Last round,” Adriano said, voice low and cold, like he already knew how this was going to end. Marcello chuckled, the sound grating and full of cocky bravado. “Afraid to lose, capo?” His dark eyes flicked toward Adriano, sharp with amusement, almost daring him to react. Adriano didn’t take the bait. He just exhaled slowly, fingers drumming once on the table before settling back into that unreadable stillness of his. His control had always been a dangerous thing, a weapon as sharp as the gun tucked beneath his suit. Marcello’s fingers curled around his cards, lifting them just enough to see. I caught the flicker of