37. Matteo

Chapter 37

Matteo

I melt into the shadows at the end of the hallway, a technique I’ve honed over years of training. Frankie hasn’t noticed me yet, too focused on her confrontation with Valerie. My enhanced senses pick up every word and every subtle shift in their body language. This isn’t how I planned to spend my afternoon, but when it comes to Frankie’s safety, plans tend to go out the window.

The flickering fluorescent lights cast a sickly glow, turning the worn linoleum into a grotesque chessboard of light and shadow. The air feels thick, charged with unspoken threats and ancient magic.

My heart pounds a war drum rhythm against my ribs as I watch Frankie confront Valerie, every muscle in my body coiled tight like a spring about to snap. I shouldn’t be eavesdropping like some common thief, but the protective instinct that’s been growing inside me since I first laid eyes on Frankie won’t let me leave her alone with this monster wearing human skin.

Why is she here? This is a secure campus.

The idea that she could just waltz in here makes my skin crawl.

Valerie’s voice slithers down the hall, smooth as arsenic laced honey and twice as lethal. “Francesca, please. I know I made mistakes, terrible mistakes, but I’m trying to make it right. Blackwood is the real enemy here.”

I see Frankie flinch at Valerie’s words, her shoulders hunching as if to ward off a physical blow. The shadows around her writhe and pulse, a living manifestation of her inner pain.

My fists clench at my sides, my nails elongating into claws that dig into my palms, drawing pinpricks of blood. The pain is a welcome distraction from the rage threatening to consume me.

How dare Valerie speak to her like that, as if she has any right to Frankie’s trust after the horrors she’s inflicted?

“And what makes you any better?” Frankie spits back, her voice trembling with a fury that makes my own anger pale in comparison. “You used me, Valerie. You broke me down and rebuilt me into what you wanted. How is that any different from what Blackwood’s doing?”

Pride swells in my chest, fierce and hot, at Frankie’s strength, but it’s quickly doused by a wave of guilt that threatens to drown me. Where the hell was I when all this crap was happening to Frankie? Why didn’t I do something sooner? The beast inside me snarls, demanding retribution for every moment of pain Frankie endured.

Valerie takes a step closer to Frankie, and I tense, ready to intervene, but Frankie stands her ground, the shadows around her coiling like serpents ready to strike.

“Because I’ve seen what Blackwood is truly capable of,” Valerie says, her voice cracking with genuine fear. “He isn’t just manipulating the shadow realm, Francesca. He’s trying to become a god, and he’ll destroy everything in his path to achieve it. I... I can’t let that happen, no matter what it costs me.”

I watch, my enhanced vision picking up every micro-expression, as doubt flickers across Frankie’s face.

No , I think desperately, willing her to see through the lies. Can’t you see she’s manipulating you again? The urge to rush in and tear Valerie apart with my bare hands is almost overwhelming.

Frankie hesitates, and I see Valerie press her advantage like a shark scenting blood in the water. She reaches out, her perfectly manicured fingers brushing Frankie’s arm. “Help me stop Blackwood. Together, we might have a chance. I have inside knowledge of his plans. Combined with your power, we could end this before it’s too late.”

Frankie freezes at the touch, her eyes going wide and unfocused. I recognize that look—she’s trapped in a memory, reliving some horror from her past. The shadows around her flicker erratically, responding to her distress, and just like that, my decision is made. Screw staying hidden. Frankie needs help, and I’m not letting her deal with this alone anymore.

I step out of the shadows, letting the change ripple through me. My bones crack and shift, my muscles coiling with predatory power. The beast within me roars, demanding release, and for once, I’m tempted to let it loose. Everything suddenly gets super clear. I can hear Frankie’s heart racing, and I can smell Valerie’s fear, sharp and sour.

“Get your hands off her.” I can barely keep the growl out of my voice. The beast inside me is ready to tear Valerie apart.

Both women startle at my sudden appearance, prey animals sensing a predator in their midst. Valerie recovers first, her face smoothing into a mask of polite confusion that does nothing to hide the fear I smell rolling off her in waves. “I’m sorry, who are you? This is a private conversation.”

I ignore her, focusing on Frankie. Her eyes are still wide, but awareness is slowly returning, like a drowning person breaking the surface. “Frankie? Are you okay?”

She blinks, shaking her head as if to clear it. “Matteo? What are you doing here?”

“Protecting you,” I say simply, moving to stand between her and Valerie. I turn to face the older woman, letting the full force of my panther form show in my eyes. I know what she sees—slitted black pupils, a predator’s gaze promising violence. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Valerie’s mask slips for a moment, revealing a flash of anger before she composes herself. The air around us grows thick with tension, charged with the promise of impending violence. “This doesn’t concern you. Francesca and I have important matters to discuss.”

“Like hell you do,” I snarl, feeling my control slip like sand through an hourglass. My inner beast thrashes against its cage, howling for vengeance. Before I can think better of it, I lunge forward, grab Valerie’s wrists, and pin them behind her back. She struggles, but I’m stronger, fueled by rage and protective instinct. Her bones feel fragile in my grip, like bird wings I could snap with the slightest pressure.

Just one quick move…

“Matteo!” Frankie gasps, shock and something else coloring her voice.

I meet her eyes over Valerie’s shoulder, silently pleading for her to understand. “You don’t have to listen to her lies anymore, Frankie. You don’t owe her anything.” I tighten my grip on Valerie, who has gone very still, like a rabbit caught in a snare. “If you want revenge for what she did to you, now’s your chance. I’ve got her.”

Frankie’s eyes widen, and I see the conflict raging within her as clear as if it were written on her skin. The shadows around us pulse and swirl, responding to her turbulent emotions. For a long moment, the hallway is silent except for our ragged breathing and the thunderous beating of our hearts.

Then, slowly, Frankie shakes her head. “No,” she whispers, her voice carrying the weight of an avalanche. “No, I won’t sink to her level. I won’t let her turn me into someone I’m not. There are smarter ways to deal with this. We need information, not revenge.”

My chest tightens, my heart pounding against my ribs as if trying to break free. Warmth spreads through me from my core to my fingertips, and I have to fight the urge to sweep Frankie into my arms and never let go. This is why I love her. She’s so strong and kind, even to people who have hurt her. She makes everything a little brighter and gives me hope when things seem hopeless.

Valerie laughs, a harsh, bitter sound that grates against my enhanced hearing. “How noble, but don’t think this changes anything, Francesca. Blackwood is still coming, and when he does?—”

I give her a rough shake, cutting off her words. The beast inside me roars for retribution. “Enough. You’ve said your piece. Now leave, before I decide to let my panther out to play.”

Unlike the others, I don’t need the power of the shadow realm to shift. It’s a rare gift, one that’s been both a blessing and a curse. The beast is always there, just beneath my skin, ready to emerge at a moment’s notice. It makes me dangerous and unpredictable, but right now, with Frankie in potential danger, I’m grateful for it. I can protect her in ways the others can’t.

I release Valerie, shoving her away from us with more force than necessary. She stumbles then straightens, smoothing her clothes down with trembling hands. Her eyes dart between Frankie and me, calculation clear in their depths. I can almost see the gears turning in her mind, recalibrating her plans in light of this new development.

Valerie reeks of desperation. It’s a gross mix of sweat and too much perfume. It makes me want to gag. It mingles with the acrid tang of Frankie’s fear and anger, sharp as lightning before a storm. The fluorescent lights buzz overhead, an irritating drone that sets my teeth on edge. Beneath it all, I taste the metallic tang of my own blood where my claws have pierced my palms.

“This isn’t over,” Valerie says, her eyes darting between us, calculating. “You’ll see, Francesca. Everything I’ve done, everything I’m doing, is to save us—all of us.”

We watch in silence as Valerie disappears around the corner, the click of her heels on tile fading into nothingness.

As Valerie’s footsteps fade, my mind races. If what she said about Blackwood is true, we’re in more danger than we realized. The pack needs to know about this. We need a plan, but first, I need to make sure Frankie’s okay. One crisis at a time. It’s the only way to stay sane in this chaos.

Once the last echoes die away, I turn back to Frankie, forcing the beast back into its cage with monumental effort.

“Are you okay?” I ask softly, reaching out but stopping short of touching her. I want to hold her so badly and somehow make all the crap Valerie did to her disappear. “I’m sorry if I overstepped. I just couldn’t stand by and watch her manipulate you again.”

Frankie looks up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. The sight makes my heart clench, a fierce protectiveness surging through me. “Why did you do that?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why did you give me the chance to... to hurt her?”

I take a deep breath, inhaling her scent—a mix of shadows and something uniquely Frankie. It centers me. “Because I thought you might need it,” I say softly, choosing my words with the care of a bomb disposal expert. “I thought you might need to get even, you know? I wanted you to know you were in control this time.”

She nods slowly, processing my words. Then, to my surprise and infinite relief, she steps forward and wraps her arms around me, burying her face in my chest. I freeze for a moment, overwhelmed by her closeness. My fingers itch to reach for the protection charm I crafted for her and trace the intricate patterns that promise safety. Instead, I return her embrace, my body becoming a living shield against the world that has hurt her so deeply.

“Thank you,” she murmurs against my shirt, her words muffled but no less heartfelt. “For being here, for understanding, and for giving me the choice.”

I press a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in her scent like a drowning man gasping for air. “Always, Frankie. I’ll always be here for you.”

“Matteo,” Frankie whispers, her breath warm against my chest. “I should have hurt her. I should have killed her, and yet…”

She couldn’t.

I tighten my hold on her, fear and desire warring within me. “Hey, sometimes our fears put the safety back on the gun.”

When she is ready to face her fears and Valerie again, I’ll be there to hand her the proverbial weapon.

As we stand in the empty hallway, I know things have changed between us. The dynamics of our pack, our relationships, will never be quite the same, but feeling Frankie in my arms, strong and whole despite everything she’s been through, I can’t bring myself to regret it.

May the Gods help anyone who tries to hurt her again. The beast inside me rumbles in agreement, a promise of violence to come. I’d do anything for Frankie, even if it meant taking on the whole world.