Chapter 33

thirty-three

KITANIA

This was a bad idea.

My heart beat unevenly as I followed Dimitri and Marco into the rundown warehouse that contained ‘The Pit.’

The stench of sweat, blood, and mildew instantly assaulted me, but I tried to keep my expression neutral, already feeling eyes on us. The low din of the crowd grew louder and more sinister the deeper into the building we went, but it was the wave of attention that followed in our wake that had my stomach twisting.

Dimitri seemed to sense my unease and slid his hand under my hair to cuff the back of my neck. Somehow, the commanding, possessive grip instantly calmed my Omega. Warmth spread slowly as his presence steadied me until I could finally draw a full breath.

The haze creeping at the corners of my vision lifted, and reality settled into focus once more.

That’s it, Kit. You can do this. In and out. In and out.

“You okay, Kitten?” Dimitri rumbled quietly.

I forced a nod, not trusting my voice yet. Instead, I wrapped my arm around his waist, staking my claim on him. A purr rose in his chest, and I had to rub a hand over my own.

Dimitri had just claimed another little piece of my heart. I couldn’t explain how much it meant to me that my Alphas were so in tune with what I needed. Before I could recognize it for myself, they’d already provided it.

These enigmatic, dangerous men gave me a side of themselves no one else got to see, a side that was giving, kind, and protective. A side that was just for their Omega… for me .

Getting to know them had become my favorite pastime, and it was in those small moments that I found myself falling for them.

It was the comfort of reading with Tommas every night, and how he always made me feel as though I belonged.

How Giovanni believed in me whole-heartedly, whether it was blind faith in my poker face or encouraging me in the gym.

It was the way Marco recognized and understood my boundaries, being so gentle, and yet pushing me at the same time.

And then there was Dimitri, with his tightly leashed control, letting me in little by little. He’d saved me, trusted me, cared for me.

Piece by piece, they’d put the broken parts of me back together, and while I’d never be the same, I didn’t feel quite as shattered as I had before. These men had become my whole world, and it was only because of how deep my feelings ran that I was here now, doing something that absolutely terrified me.

Because they were worth it.

Worth the whispers.

Worth the leering looks.

Worth the jealous remarks about my body or my designation as we passed through the throng of people.

And most importantly, they were worth facing my greatest nightmare.

I wanted, more than anything, to fight for our future, and despite the fact that my palms were sweaty and I’d already noted my exits, that’s exactly what I was going to do.

Marco, who stood on my other side, reached up and stole my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. I held on so tightly, I worried I might crush his bones.

Leaning close so I could hear him, he murmured a reassuring, “You’ve got this, Angel.”

And I hoped with every fiber of my being that he was right, because at the moment, I felt as though I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, completely out of my depth.

Breathe. Just breathe.

They led me deeper into the warehouse until it opened around us—each floor a balcony looking down on the cage below. There were people everywhere . Dim lights cast long shadows across the numerous faces, turning the crowd into one snarling, hungry beast.

The entire vibe of this place was overwhelming, and the mixture of Alpha scents hit me like a physical force. A headache throbbed to life instantly. My breath caught in my throat, and I pressed closer to Dimitri’s side, hoping to borrow some of his strength so I didn’t do something embarrassing, like pass out.

What have you gotten yourself into?

Thankfully, my scent was concealed—a compromise Emilio had reluctantly agreed to. My Alphas had insisted it was non-negotiable, and I was relieved not to attract even more attention while walking in on Dimitri’s arm.

We took our seats in the front row, close enough to feel each hit. The metallic tang of blood smelled stronger here, and I squirmed in my seat, hating the idea of watching Gio fight. Of his blood painting the mat, adding to the mix. It only made me more nervous.

Posture stiff, I tugged at the hem of my little black dress. The material barely covered the tops of my thighs, and while it had spaghetti straps, the swell of my breasts were exposed. It was a far cry from what I typically wore, and if it weren’t for the leather jacket I’d paired with it, emblazoned with Giovanni’s fighter name ‘The Soldier’ across the back, I would’ve felt half-naked. Luckily, Julia, who’d helped me put together my outfit, had lent me a pair of don’t-fuck-with-me heeled ebony boots that rose to my knees, adding some extra coverage while making me feel like a badass on the outside.

But inside, I was a jittery mess.

My gaze darted around nervously, searching for Rocco, Vincent, or any of their men. That they could be anywhere lingered in the back of my mind, keeping a constant thrum of adrenaline pumping through my veins. Thankfully, I didn’t spot anyone familiar except for Enzo and Lonnie, who flanked our section of seats, working security with a handful of others I assumed were loyal to the Cristenellos.

Enzo gave me a nod and a friendly, lopsided smile when our gazes collided. It was nice to know I had a friend here, and I sent him a small wave in return.

It wasn’t long before the announcer’s voice boomed through the warehouse, announcing the fighters. Tommy was in Gio’s ear as he escorted him to the front of the ring, his lips moving rapidly as he gave last-minute advice.

“He’s got this,” Marco promised, but I couldn’t shake the tension.

Gio searched the crowd until he found me. I put everything I was feeling into the way I gazed back at him, wishing him luck and telling him to be safe without words. He nodded, and I knew it was for me.

Shucking his robe, he climbed into the ring, a powerful, lithe predator. All his golden skin was on display, his tattoos spanning from his waistband to his neck. I wanted to spend hours tracing each one—with my fingertips, my hands, my tongue. The man was beautiful, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him as the bell rang and the fight began.

Gio moved with the grace of a panther, ducking and weaving around his opponent’s strikes. Each blocked punch, each vicious counter-attack, made my heart leap into my throat.

“Come on,” I whispered, my nails digging into my palms.

A hit landed square to his jaw, and blood sprayed from his mouth. I gasped, the sound lost in the crowd’s roar. My stomach churned as he took two more hits in quick succession.

“He’ll be okay,” Dimitri murmured. “Gio is undefeated, remember?”

I nodded, but the reminder didn’t help. My anxiety was a beast threatening to consume me whole, because there was always a first for everything. No one could win one-hundred percent of the time, could they?

God, I hated this. My mate was bleeding, and every instinct in me screamed to protect him. The Omega in me felt nearly feral, wanting to leap into the cage and tear apart anyone who dared to hurt him.

The fight dragged on forever, each second an eternity. I held my breath, my fists clenched as the men traded blows. Finally, Gio’s opponent made a mistake. In his impatience for the win, he left himself open. With a vicious jab to the face, Gio sent the other fighter’s head snapping back. Time seemed to slow as the man fell, his body hitting the mat with a dull thud.

The crowd erupted, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heartbeat in my ears.

“Knockout!” the announcer shouted, climbing over the unconscious loser to raise Gio’s arm in victory.

A shaky breath blew past my lips, and I sagged with relief. But as I watched my Alpha, his body bruised and bloodied, my lungs refused to expand properly on the next drag of oxygen.

I was on my feet before I realized I’d moved, pushing through the crowd to reach his corner. He hopped down from the cage, pulling on his robe and popping up the hood. I was in his arms in an instant.

“You’re bleeding!” I cried, my hands fluttering over his face.

Gio grinned, that cocky smile that made my heart skip. “Most of it’s not mine, sweetness.”

“Is that supposed to be reassuring?” I demanded, but I couldn’t keep the relief from my voice. “That was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

He pulled me flush against him, his hand warm on my lower back. “You worried about me?”

“Of course I am,” I breathed, losing myself in the heat of his gaze.

“I was always going to win,” he murmured, tilting my chin up.

A retort was on my lips when a voice cut through the air, cold and as sharp as a serrated blade—sawing, grating, and painful.

“Sounds like you’re getting cocky, Cristenello.”

My blood turned to ice.

I knew that voice.

It haunted my nightmares.

Rocco Valentino.

Four distinct growls tore through the warehouse, and suddenly my Alphas were surrounding me, their bodies forming a protective wall between me and our enemy. But I’d already seen enough—that masterful glint in Rocco’s eyes, the vicious tilt of his mouth that had always made me feel like a mouse trying to escape his maze.

My stomach churned violently, and I instinctively pressed myself against Gio’s broad back. My hands trembled as I gripped the fabric of his robe, desperate for an anchor. The edges of my vision blurred slightly, and I had to force myself to take deep breaths, fighting against the panic clawing its way up my throat.

Vincent was there too, just behind his brother, that cruel glare of his as unsettling as always. But it was the woman plastered to Rocco’s side that shocked me the most.

Jennica.

Her self-satisfied smirk sent a bolt of unease through me, and the sheer maliciousness in her gaze made my skin crawl. She looked at me like I was a toy she couldn’t wait to break.

Rocco’s dark eyes zeroed in on me. “Not going to say hello, pet ? I taught you better than that. You remember what happens when you refuse to greet me properly, don’t you?”

Gio snarled, long, low, and menacing. He stalked forward, and I lost my grip on his robe as he got in Rocco’s face. “Do not fuckin’ talk to her.”

Dimitri’s hand clamped down on my shoulder, pulling me farther behind the wall of muscle my Alphas formed as they closed ranks around me. I could feel the tension radiating off them in waves, their bodies coiled tight, ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation.

“She doesn’t belong to you,” Marco spat, his usual dry wit replaced by cold fury. “And she never will.”

Rocco’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sliding over each of my Alphas before landing on where I peeked out from behind them. I shrank back, trying to make myself as small as possible. His lips curved into a predatory smile.

A surge of nausea crashed over me, and I could feel the walls of my mind beginning to close in. The memory of Rocco’s hands on me, the weight of his presence suffocating me—it felt like a chain tightening around my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately trying to block him out.

“That’s where you’re wrong. The bitch will always belong to me. I own her, body and soul. Isn’t that right, pet ?”

Jennica released a sound of annoyance, and her gaze went to slits as she glared at Rocco. “Baby, you don’t need that used up cunt. You’ve got me. I already told you I’m willing to knot train for you.”

Vincent snorted. “As if you could ever replace an Omega.”

Swiftly, Rocco had the back of her neck cuffed, his hand squeezing painfully hard. I could see the whites of his fingertips and the widening of Jennica’s eyes as she gasped beneath his brutal hold.

Quietly, he threatened, “If you want to continue living off of my generosity , you only talk when I tell you to.” Clearing his throat and composing himself, he returned his attention to me. “Just remember, my toys don’t get to walk away. The only way out is under .”

I swallowed, my heart skipping a few beats in sheer terror. Because I knew exactly what he meant.

Under.

As in, six feet under.

As in dead.

“Enough!” Dimitri barked, stepping closer, his posture as rigid as steel, his tone dripping with Alpha authority that Valentinos could never hope to match. “You will not threaten her.”

Rocco laughed, an empty sound echoing through the tension-festooned air. “Oh, I’m not threatening her. I’m merely concerned about her well-being. Surely, Kitania knows I only have her best interests at heart.” He leaned in slightly, his wicked smile never wavering. “It would be a shame if anything tragic happened to such a pretty Omega.”

Dimitri’s growl deepened, the sound reverberating through my chest. “Watch your mouth, Valentino. You’re on dangerous ground.”

“Am I?” Rocco’s eyebrow arched. “Last I checked, this was neutral territory. You just reminded me of those rules moments ago, did you not? Or have you conveniently forgotten?”

Marco stepped forward, his body coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. “Rules didn’t seem to matter much when you took what wasn’t yours.”

“Ah, but she is mine. Aren’t you, pet?” He practically cooed.

My stomach twisted, threatening to upchuck the small amount of food I’d been able to force down before the fight.

“That’s where you’re mistaken,” Dimitri rumbled in warning. “Kitania is no one’s pet . She’s not an object to be owned.” He took a measured step forward. “She’s an Omega, and beyond that, she’s our scent match.”

“And we protect what’s ours.” Gio drew himself up to his full height, appearing larger than life.

“Scent match?” Vincent gaped, glancing from Dimitri to me in disbelief.

But I didn’t give him the time of day. My attention stayed locked on the greater evil. I saw the calculating gleam in Rocco’s eyes and the tick of his head as it cocked slightly to the side.

“What an interesting development.”

The way he said it, the way he looked at me, had me on the brink of hyperventilating. I knew him well enough to know the game had just changed somehow. This new information had ignited something in him. I could see it churning behind those dark, evil eyes.

Breaths rasped in and out of my lungs rapidly, my lips trembling as my legs went weak. I wasn’t confident I could stay standing. The desire to bury myself in an enormous pile of blankets and hide from the world bowled me over so strongly I had to swallow down a whimper.

“It most certainly is. So, I suggest you assholes move on and find some new shit to occupy your time.” Tommas waved his hand, shooing them off, effectively dismissing them as though they were nothing more than irritating bugs.

Rocco’s laugh sent my panic spiraling deeper.

“Enough of this shit.” Gio growled. “You got this, D?”

He nodded. “Go.”

With one last withering glare, Gio spun, slipping through the wall his brothers had formed around me. His hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with my own. Tugging gently, he led me away.