Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Gianna

My heart hammered in my chest as I ran through Bourbon Street, my feet pounding on the pavement with each desperate stride. The once-lively street was now eerily deserted, the dimly lit streetlights casting long, ominous shadows on the closed bars and shops. The wolf shifter was chasing me, his feet heavy on the pavement.

I summoned my vampire speed, but to my horror, it did not come.

Shitshitshit

It had to be the wolfsbane elixir, which was still in my system.

I glanced over my shoulder. He was getting closer. Wearing that same evil smile.

The shadows behind me seemed to come alive, their inky tendrils reaching out like clawed hands to ensnare me. I ran faster, my lungs burning with each breath. Sweat beaded on my forehead, stinging my eyes as I blinked it away.

Suddenly, my foot caught on an uneven cobblestone and I stumbled, my palms scraping against the rough pavement as I pitched forward. Pain shot through my hands, but I couldn't afford to dwell on it.

AAAoooo

The man had changed into a huge gray wolf. I scrambled to my feet; my heart lodged in my throat as I heard his nails scratching behind me on the cement, growing closer, echoing in the emptiness.

Desperate, I turned down a side street, frantically trying the doors of various hotels and restaurants, hoping to find sanctuary. But every door was locked, every window dark. The city had become a vast, deserted labyrinth, trapping me with my unseen pursuer.

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm me, I spotted a brightly lit warehouse at the end of the street. A spark of hope ignited in my chest, and I sprinted toward the warehouse, my legs burning with the effort.

The wolf gnashed his teeth behind me. I whipped open the warehouse door and stumbled inside, my chest heaving as I fought to catch my breath. With trembling hands I locked the door, the click of the mechanism as loud as a gunshot in the silence.

The wolf slammed into the door and I jumped back.

Then I heard more growls and snarls right behind me. I had walked right into a trap …

I woke up screaming, my body drenched in sweat, tears streaming down my face. I thrashed my body back and forth on my bed, getting myself tangled up in the sheets as my heart threatened to explode from my chest even as my lungs refused to take in air. The moonlight filtering through the curtains cast eerie shadows on the walls, adding to my disorientation and distress.

The door jerked open, and Petar rushed inside, his weapon drawn, the sudden light from the hallway blinding me momentarily.

Heavy footsteps pounded down the hall. "Gianna," Angelo roared. He burst into the room with his gun drawn, his eyes wide with alarm.

Elena rushed in behind them, her voice soothing as she murmured, "Ma chère. Ma chère." She rushed over to me and sat on the edge of my bed.

As the familiar surroundings of my room slowly came into focus, I felt a tremendous rush of relief wash over me. I was safe. It had only been a bad dream. Heat scorched my cheeks as I scooted up to my headboard and buried my face in my hands. I never had nightmares, so this was new for me. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I had a bad dream," I mumbled, my voice trembling.

The attack had been a couple of nights ago, but my injuries still felt as fresh as they had when it happened. It might as well have been yesterday. The deep bite marks on my neck and arms still throbbed with a searing pain, and the gashes from their sharp claws burned like fire across my skin. The punch to my face had left a nasty bruise that showed no signs of fading. The wolfsbane elixir coursing through my veins kept my vampire powers at bay, preventing me from healing as I normally would.

Instead, I was left to suffer through the agony, my wounds a constant reminder of the vicious assault I had barely survived and a testament to the savagery of the wolf shifters and the hatred they felt for Angelo. I could only hope that the effects of the elixir would wear off soon, allowing my body to heal and erase the physical evidence of the brutal attack.

Angelo turned on the light, the sudden brightness making me flinch. I narrowed my eyes against the glare, my heart still racing and my skin clammy with sweat. I half expected him to lecture me, to tell me I was being a fool. But when I met his gaze, I saw the same look in his eyes I had seen when I was sick with the plague centuries ago. It was a look of fierce protectiveness, a look that promised he would do anything to save me now, just as he had done back then.

A lump formed in the back of my throat, and I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. The last thing I wanted to be was a burden on my brother. I didn't want to be the reason behind the lines etched into his face. He had enough to worry about without wondering if his crazy sister was losing her mind.

Then, as quickly as the look of concern had appeared, it was gone, replaced by the stern, unyielding expression of the head of the Santi family. It was as if a switch had been flipped. Gooseflesh erupted across my cold, clammy skin at the startling change.

He turned to Elena, his voice firm. "Please take care of my sister, Elena. Enzo, Petar—come with me."

As the men left the room, I felt a wave of shame wash over me, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. I was nothing more than a foolish little girl, a helpless damsel in distress who needed to be rescued from her own dreams.

Elena shut the door softly, the click of the latch sounding like an accusation. I flinched at the sound, my nerves still raw and exposed.

"I'm sorry, Elena. I'm so, so sorry," I choked out, my voice breaking as I fought back the sobs that threatened to overwhelm me. Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked them away furiously, my throat constricting with emotion. "Ever since the attack that night…"

My hands trembled as I clutched the sweat-soaked sheets. I felt like I was unraveling, like the very fabric of my being was coming apart at the seams. The nightmare had shaken me to the core, and I couldn't seem to find my way back to solid ground.

Elena sat next to me, her weight settling on the bed as she reached out and patted my thigh, her touch gentle and soothing. "There, there, ma chère. You have nothing to apologize for. You endured a terrible experience." Her voice was soft, filled with a warmth that enveloped me like a comforting blanket.

I sighed miserably as I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand. The salty tracks left my skin feeling tight and raw, a physical reminder of my vulnerability. "Will you please stay with me for the rest of the night?" I mumbled, my gaze fixed on the tangled sheets, unable to meet Elena's eyes.

I knew I was acting like a frightened little girl, but I needed her.

She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace that made me feel small and fragile yet infinitely protected. The scent of her perfume, a delicate blend of lilac and jasmine, filled my nostrils, and I inhaled deeply, letting it calm my frayed nerves. " Oui , oui , Elena will keep the bad dreams away," she murmured, her breath tickling my ear.

As I lay back down on my bed, her presence comforting beside me, I closed my eyes and tried to forget the lingering tendrils of my nightmare. But in the quiet stillness of the room, I could almost hear the ghostly howl of a wolf threatening to rip out my throat