Chapter 12

twelve

KITANIA

The harsh lights of the dressing room stabbed at my eyes, giving me a headache as I shimmied into a dress that didn’t fit quite right. Smoothing it over my modest curves, I wobbled on my heels, nearly stumbling into the wall as a fresh wave of dizziness washed over me.

We’d been here for hours already, and I was wearing down. In truth, I’d been done trying on clothes about ten outfits ago, but hadn’t wanted to stop lest I disappointed the guys.

You can make it . I gave myself a pep talk. Only a few more things left to try on.

I blinked rapidly to clear the dark spots that crept in at the edges of my vision. My legs felt like jello, threatening to give out beneath me. Striving to keep myself upright, I propped a palm against the dressing room wall and forced myself to suck down a steadying breath.

“Jesus, you look like death,” Jennica sneered, her voice grating on my already frayed nerves. “I bet you haven’t eaten in days, have you? Starving yourself to impress those Alphas?”

I bit my lip, averting my gaze to the hardwood floor. She was wrong, of course, but her words cut deep, anyway. The last thing I wanted was for her to realize the effect she had on me. I had to keep going. There were still outfits the guys had picked out that were just sitting there, ready to be tried on. I wouldn’t disrespect them by not considering all their choices.

What if they were waiting to see something in particular?

“I-It’s not what you think,” I tried to explain.

Jennica snorted. “Sure it’s not.” Her eyes rolled. “You’re practically begging for that rough sex.” She sneered, making the wrong assumption about my bruises.

I gaped at her. The dark, fading marks on my skin were extensive, and she’d seen most of them while I tried on clothes. That she thought these Alphas would ever harm me like that, especially for fun, made me physically sick.

“They would never hurt me.”

“Whatever.” She shook her head in obvious annoyance.

I gritted my teeth. It didn’t matter what she believed about me, but her opinion of my Alphas irked me to no end.

Let it go , I told myself, realizing that arguing with her would be pointless.

Jennica huffed, already switching topics. “Are you going to show them that one? We don’t have all day, Cinderella .”

I bit my lip, looking at my reflection.

Yeah, no.

I didn’t like the dress, so I shook my head. Thankfully, the guys agreed that if an outfit didn’t fit or if I genuinely didn’t like it, I could skip showing them. As long as I popped out every few minutes in something new, they seemed content that I wasn’t simply dismissing choices based on cost or the quantity of things they’d already placed in the ‘yes’ pile.

I peeled off the current outfit, quickly slipping on the pretty sundress that Gio had picked. I turned so that Jennica could zip it in the back.

Studying the mirror, I smiled at the way it hugged my waist and flared out at my hips, flowing to mid-shin. The sweetheart neckline made my bust look more pronounced than it was, and the straps were thin and delicate.

Just as I was starting to feel good about myself, Jennica’s voice pierced through my happiness like a needle through a balloon.

“You know, men prefer a woman with some meat on her bones. Hips, ass, tits—something to hold on to when they fuck. They want to be sure their woman can bear children. You? A stiff wind would snap you in half.”

I flinched, her words echoing my deepest insecurities. I studied myself again, and this time the mirror mocked me, reflecting back a gaunt face and protruding collarbones. Maybe Jennica was right. Maybe I did look too… boyish.

But then I remembered the way the guys had looked at me in each outfit. The way their eyes had followed me, filled with warmth and something else I couldn’t quite name.

I reminded myself that her words only held as much power as I gave them, and I shoved them down, trying my best to ignore her hurtful comments.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the dressing room. Jennica’s lip curled in disgust, but I moved past her and out to the waiting area where the guys were lounging, spread out among the chairs as if they owned the place. They sat up immediately, their gazes going from bored to heated in less than a second.

Tommas let out an exaggerated gasp. “Holy shit, Butterfly.” He gave me a thorough once over. “I swear, each outfit looks even better than the last.” His green eyes sparkled with genuine warmth. “You look stunning.”

I felt my cheeks flush at his enthusiastic praise. “You’re just saying that,” I mumbled, fidgeting with the skirt of the dress.

“No way,” Marco chimed in, standing up to circle me. “Tommy’s right. You’re a knockout.” He made a show of checking me out from different angles, his playful smirk making me smile despite my nervousness.

“Do a little spin for us,” he encouraged, twirling his finger.

I obliged, turning slowly, loving how the skirt flared out. As I completed the rotation, I caught Gio’s intense gaze. He wasn’t smiling, but the heat in his hazel eyes caused my breath to catch. He gave a small, approving nod that filled me with warmth.

“We’re buying that one,” he stated, leaving no room for argument.

Dimitri gave a low hum of approval. His attention raked over my body, from my toes to my face, lingering on certain areas in a way that made my skin tingle. The hunger in his gaze was unmistakable.

“Gorgeous,” he growled, his voice rough with desire.

I swallowed hard, overwhelmed by their affection. I wanted to retreat, to hide from the intensity of it all. Yet something new within me savored their admiration, blooming under their praise.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly seen; cherished and beautiful.

“Thank you,” I whispered shyly.

Their reactions made my heart skip a beat.

Jennica’s saccharine voice cut through our moment. “Just a few more to try on and then we’ll be finished.”

I hurried through the rest of the outfits, trying on everything else in the dressing room, a little sad when my favorite blue sweater hung too big off my shoulders. Not that the guys had noticed how ill-fitting it was. They’d admired the way the color brought out my eyes and hadn’t cared that it draped in ways it wasn’t supposed to.

Jennica huffed dramatically as she ushered me back to the dressing room, keeping her bitter voice low. “Now I know they’re full of shit. You look terrible in that sweater.”

I deflated immediately, pulling at the sleeves, which were about an inch too long, covering my palms. After putting up with Jennica all afternoon, I was ready to return to my guest room and hide under the covers for the rest of the day just to decompress. I’d dealt with shitty people my whole life, but the constant barrage of demeaning comments had taken the last of my energy. I slumped, truly worn out.

Having already decided to walk out of the store in the jeans and new undergarments I had on, I took off the sweater and searched for another top to wear so we could check out and leave.

But Jennica wouldn’t stop. Her cruelty was never-ending. “Don’t let all their bullshit praise go to your head. They may buy you all this shit, but they’re not serious about you.” Her lip curved in an angry sneer. “They just want a cunt to knot, but they’ll never mate someone as ugly and pathetic as you.”

Every insecurity I’d ever had about myself rose hard and fast. I swallowed past the tightness fisting my throat, trying to keep the tears from falling. I kept my gaze cast downward, twisting the material of the sweater so tightly my fingers ached.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes at me. “A spineless little coward. Gods, how they must pity you.”

Her words felt like physical blows, making me curl in on myself, which only proved her right.

DIMITRI

I stalked through the boutique, the soft blue sweater clutched in my fist. Kitania’s face when she’d tried on the oversized version flashed in my mind—that fleeting spark of joy quickly extinguished by disappointment. I’d be damned if I let anything dim her light again. Thankfully, I found the same one in a smaller size.

As I approached the dressing rooms, a venomous voice sliced through the air. My steps faltered, rage igniting in my chest as I recognized Jennica’s disdainful tone, mid-sentence.

“—they’re not serious about you,” she hissed. “They just want a cunt to knot, but they’ll never mate someone as ugly and pathetic as you.”

My vision blurred red. How dare that bitch speak to my Omega like that?

“A spineless little coward,” Jennica continued, her words dripping with disdain. “Gods, how they must pity you.”

My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might shatter. Every fiber of my being screamed to protect Kitania, to shield her from the lies this cunt was spewing. But I held back, my fingers digging into the soft fabric of the sweater while I tried to rein in my fury first so I didn’t straight up murder the bitch.

I could picture Kitania’s face, those ice-blue eyes wide with hurt, her delicate frame trembling. The urge to comfort her warred with my need for vengeance. Jennica’s insults were vile, and I wanted to burst in and silence her— permanently . The only thing keeping my temper in check was the fear of how my mate would react.

“You think they actually give a shit about you?” Jennica’s voice dropped to a mocking whisper. “Wake up, little girl. Men like that don’t waste their time on broken toys.”

That was it. I’d heard enough. My protective instincts roared to life, drowning out any semblance of rational thought. I stepped forward, ready to unleash hell on this vicious harpy, when a small whimper from inside the dressing room stopped me cold.

Kitten. My fierce little survivor, reduced to tears by this worthless piece of trash. In that moment, I knew no punishment would be too severe for that bitch. But first, I had to tend to my Omega.

I took a deep breath, forcing the rage back down. She needed gentle hands now, not my fury. The last thing I wanted to do was break down the door and frighten her.

I was nothing if not controlled.

With effort, I smoothed my expression and knocked softly.

“Kitania?” I called, low and steady. “I’ve got that sweater for you. May I come in?”

I heard a sharp intake of breath, then a quiet sniffle. “O-Okay.” Her voice wavered.

I pushed the door open, immediately drawn to my Omega’s huddled form. She was curled in on herself, those captivating ice-blue eyes rimmed with red. My chest tightened at the sight.

Before I could move to comfort her, Jennica sneered, and her words, overladen with saccharine sweetness, cut through the air. “Oh look, your knight in shining armor has arrived. How quaint.”

Something inside me snapped. In an instant, I had Jennica pinned against the wall with my hand wrapped around her throat. Her eyes widened in shock, fear finally registering on her face.

“Have you forgotten who I am?” I growled, my voice low and dangerous.

The bitch gasped, struggling for air. “N-No. You’re Dimitri C-Cristenello,” she choked out.

“So you’re not unaware, just ignorant.” I tilted my head. “Or suicidal.” I tightened my grip a little more.

But even then, her arrogance didn’t waver. “Or maybe I’m just confident. That girl is too weak, too timid to be your queen,” she said, treating this like it was some kind of test. Like if she passed, I’d ravish her instead. “You need someone stronger, more ruthless.”

I didn’t take violence against women lightly, but fuck , it would be so easy to end her. The audacity of this woman, to speak of Kitania that way, to imply she knew what I needed.

A cruel laugh split the air. “Someone like you ?” I scoffed, disgust clear.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Kitania watching us, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and... was that concern? For me? Or for this worthless creature in my grasp? The thought of Kitania’s compassion extending to the person who had hurt her so deeply both frustrated and amazed me.

I leaned in close to Jennica, my words barely above a whisper. “Let me make something very clear. Kitania is worth a thousand of you. Her strength, her kindness, her resilience—you couldn’t hope to match it in a lifetime.”

My Omega’s gasp felt loud in the confines of the dressing room.

“Dimitri…” she murmured softly, and it cut through the red haze of my fury as her hand landed gently on my forearm. Just hearing my name on her lips made the dead organ in my chest beat back to life. I turned to her, noting the unshed tears that sparkled in her eyes.

Done with the entire ordeal and more than ready to tend to my Omega, my grip on Jennica’s throat loosened, having conveyed my message.

“Don’t worry, Kitten. She might deserve it, but I won’t end her. Let’s get you out of here.”

With one last warning glare, I released Jennica, who collapsed to the floor, coughing and sputtering.

I crouched down, getting right in the bitch’s face. “Listen carefully,” I snarled. “I rarely take my wrath out against women, but I’ll forget the few morals I have left if you ever utter a bad word about my Omega again.”

Just then, the boutique owner burst in, pale with fear. “Mr. Cristenello,” he stammered, gaze darting between me and Jennica. My brothers rushed in behind him, scrutinizing the scene and assessing for the threats.

It didn’t take long to fill them all in on the situation.

“I-I’m so sorry for the disrespect,” Maison sputtered. “Please, how can we make this right?”

I stood slowly, fixing him with an icy glare. “An apology isn’t enough, Maison. I want her fired. Now. And as recompense, your ‘rent’ has just doubled for the next two months. Consider it a lesson in choosing your employees more carefully.”

The man nodded frantically, sweat beading on his forehead. “Of course, Mr. Cristenello. I’ll take care of it immediately.”

With a last disdainful glance at Jennica, who appeared thoroughly shaken as she climbed to her feet with a hand pressed against her throat, I spat a final warning, “I want you out of my city. You have three days to vacate.”

“W-What?!” she spluttered in shock before anger consumed her and her teeth gnashed together. “You can’t do that.”

“Oh, I can. And I have. Three days.”

I turned my back on her and focused on Kitania, my rage melting away as I took in her fragile form. Despite everything, she stood tall, her compassion shining through.

I stepped closer, my voice softening. “Are you alright, Kitten?”

She nodded, drawing in a tumultuous breath. “I’m okay. Thank you. For sticking up for me.”

“Always, little Omega,” I vowed. Ripping the tag off the forgotten sweater, I pulled it over head, helping her dress, satisfied when the smaller size fit her just right.

I turned back to Maison, who was still hovering anxiously. “All of Kitania’s new clothing will be delivered to our penthouse. You’ll handle it personally. Everything is to be treated with the utmost care, understood?”

“Yes, Mr. Cristenello. I’ll ensure the delivery is perfect,” he replied, nodding, eager to have this mess sorted.

Pointing to the sweater I’d just placed on my Omega, I added, “And I want one of these in every damn color you have added to our order.”

Without another word, I scooped Kitania into my arms. She let out a small gasp of surprise, her delicate hands instinctively clutching at my shirt. The familiar gesture sent a wave of protectiveness through me.

“Let’s get you out of here,” I murmured, cradling her close as I strode out of the shop.

I could sense my brothers following, their anger and concern palpable. As we reached the car, I carefully settled Kitania in the backseat before sliding in next to her, leaving Marco to slide in behind the wheel with Gio in the passenger’s seat. Tommas took the back row.

Once we were moving, my mate leaned into me, her small frame fitting perfectly against my side. I wrapped an arm around her, savoring her warmth. Her scent was infuriatingly absent, and I realized how quickly I’d come to hate those neutralizing lotions and sprays. They’d never bothered me before, but knowing I could have picked up on Kitania’s distress much sooner if I could’ve smelled her signature weighed on me.

As we drove through the city streets, I kept Kitania tucked securely against my side. Her small body trembled, and I tightened my hold, wishing I could shield her from all the unkindness in the world. The car was silent, tension thick in the air as my brothers seethed over what had transpired.

I gazed down at my Omega, taking in her delicate features. Even with her eyes rimmed red and her nose pink at the tip, she was breathtaking. How could anyone look at her and not see her inherent worth?

“Kitten,” I murmured, keeping my tone low enough for only her to hear. She tilted her face up to mine, that ice-blue gaze filled with a mixture of vulnerability and trust that fucking shook me. “I need you to listen to me very carefully.”

She nodded obediently, giving me her full attention.

Good girl.

I cupped her cheek gently, my thumb brushing away a stray tear.

Being sentimental had never been my forte, but I’d try anything to erase the look I’d seen on her face that told me, on some level, she’d believed what that bitch had said to her.

“What that woman said to you was cruel, and more importantly, it was wrong,” I began, my tone firm but gentle. “You are not weak, or pathetic, or any of those vile things she spewed,” I promised. “You’re strong, resilient, and worthy of love and respect.”

Kitania’s eyes widened, a flicker of hope dancing in their icy depths. I held her gaze, willing her to believe every word.

“You’ve survived hardships that would break most people, little one,” I continued, hoping the low, deep timbre of my voice was somehow soothing. “That strength is part of what draws me to you. But it’s not just your resilience that makes you special.”

I dared to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, happy when she didn’t flinch or pull away. I marveled at its soft, silky texture. Fingers skimming down her jaw, I captured her chin and lifted her face until she was staring into my eyes—my very fucking soul—so she knew the next words to come out of my mouth were nothing but genuine.

“It’s your kindness, your compassion. Even after everything you’ve been through, you still find it in your heart to show mercy to those who wrong you. That’s a rare and beautiful thing, Kitten.”

And something I lost a long time ago.

I could already tell she was my better half. The light to my darkness.

Her eyelids fluttered closed, and a single tear escaped to trail down her cheek. I swiped it with my thumb, never wanting to see her cry. When she opened those pretty blues, I saw a glimmer of something new there—a tiny spark of self-belief.

“From this moment on,” I vowed, my tone brooking no argument, “you will be treated with the respect and adoration you deserve. Not just by us, but by everyone who crosses your path. And if anyone dares to disrespect you again, they’ll answer to me . To all of us.”