Chapter 7

seven

KITANIA

The dark shadows of my nightmare clung to me as I jolted awake, gasping for breath. My hands flew to my throat, expecting the rough grip that haunted my dreams. But there was only smooth skin beaded with cold sweat.

It was just a bad dream. You’re safe now.

I panted in ragged breaths, my pounding heart slowing as the familiar surroundings swam into focus.

It all came rushing back to me, just like it did every morning. The rescue. The Alphas. The luxurious penthouse I’d been hiding out in for the last three days. Soft, silken sheets were tangled around my legs, the blanket more constricting than comforting as the dredges of my bad dream faded away. I kicked them free, curling into a ball as I hugged my knees to my chest.

Everything’s okay now , I promised myself, unsure if I believed the bravado I tried to infuse into my thoughts.

Calming my racing heart, I focused on what I could see. Warm sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains. The sun hanging mid horizon as it shone between the tall buildings, glinting off the glass and metal towers. All the furnishings in the room—a dresser, chest of drawers, and two nightstands in a deep wooden color that complimented the giant bed I was curled up on. The deep, rich green wall behind me that was decorated with a large art déco print spanning nearly the entire headboard.

When I felt a little better, I sat up slowly, noting it was after ten in the morning already. My stomach growled, but I ignored its plea as I rolled my shoulders, trying to relieve the painful knots that refused to ease. With trembling hands, I wiped the damp hair from my face and willed my lungs to expand with a deep, steadying breath.

Even though I was exhausted, I forced myself out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. The familiar routine of starting the day helped anchor me in reality, further distancing the lingering shadows of my nightmares.

Soaking under the spray of the shower eased the tension I carried in my neck and back. The hot water was heavenly, and I didn’t take it for granted. After months without the luxury, I savored every minute, taking my time to lather and rinse, letting the stream cascade over me until I felt a little more human.

Only when it cooled did I step out and reach for a towel. But the movement caught my attention and my gaze flicked to my reflection in the mirror. The face that stared back at me was almost unrecognizable, not because it wasn’t familiar, but because the eyes were strained with all they’d seen, the lips were dry and chapped, and the cheeks that had once been round and healthy were now too sharp.

I traced the outline of my jaw, the curve of my brow, as if searching for the remnants of the girl I used to be, but I wasn’t sure she existed anymore.

I turned away, unwilling to stare at her any longer, and quickly dried off. Dressing in yet another pair of borrowed sweats, I buried my nose in the shirt and breathed in the notes of lime, coconut, and mint, drawing comfort from the scent.

A sharp rap at the door made me jump. Pressing a hand to my chest, I blew out a breath, reminding myself that whichever Alpha was on the other side was my savior, not my enemy.

My enemies never knocked…

“Kitania? It’s Gio… Open up, Dolcezza .” The deep, smooth timbre rumbled through the wood.

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. Why was he here? Did he sense my distress? I glanced toward the sweat-dampened sheets wadded up on the bed. Combined with the bitter edge of my scent that filled the room from yet another rough night of sleep, and there was no disguising how broken I was. The thought of facing him, of having him witness the aftermath of my night terrors, made my cheeks burn with shame.

But hiding forever wasn’t an option. Steeling myself, I crossed to the door on shaky legs and cracked it open. Giovanni stood on the other side, his hazel eyes sweeping over me with concern.

“You can’t stay cooped up in here,” he murmured, his intense gaze holding me in place. “You’re wasting away.”

My lips parted, but no words came. Part of me knew he was right—I couldn’t simply exist within these four walls. But the prospect of rejoining the world, of leaving this sanctuary, filled me with anxiety.

Giovanni seemed to read the turmoil in my expression. His features softened, the hard lines around his eyes relaxing ever so slightly. “Come on,” he said gently, offering me his hand. “Let’s get you breakfast.” He cast a scathing look at the tray of untouched food that lay in the hallway. “You need to eat and we can do better than cold eggs.”

I wavered, chewing my lip. Then, almost of its own volition, my hand slipped into his large, calloused palm. The simple contact sent a jolt through me, warm and electric. As his fingers curled around mine, anchoring me, I found the strength to step across the threshold and into the hall.

His thumb traced slow circles over my knuckles as we walked, the roughness of his skin raising goosebumps along my arm. And God, did he smell amazing—the scent of earth, iron, and something uniquely him. It was somehow familiar and incredibly soothing.

I was utterly distracted as I breathed him in.

Perhaps that’s why I didn’t notice the dog until a vicious growl sliced through the air. I teetered at the top of the staircase, heart pounding like a runaway stallion as my gaze locked onto the enormous Doberman, who looked at me as if I were breakfast and he hadn’t eaten in days.

Instinctively, I slid behind Giovanni, using him as a human shield. Pressed against his back, clinging to him for safety, I dared a peek around his impressive bicep. The animal bared his teeth, and I couldn’t stop myself from squeaking in fright.

Giovanni’s rich chuckle reverberated through me.

“Easy, Dolcezza ,” he murmured, the endearment in that rumbling baritone sending warmth blooming across my cheeks. “It’s just Beretta.”

At the foot of the stairs, Beretta continued his menacing snarl. My body locked up, fear spiking hard and fast.

“H-He doesn’t like me.”

“He’s protective of us, but trust me, he won’t hurt you.” Covering my hand with his, he gave it a reassuring squeeze. “He just needs to get to know you.”

My knuckles were white from how hard I held onto him.

Before I could overthink it, Giovanni swept me off my feet as if I weighed nothing. A startled gasp escaped, and I looped my arms around his neck on instinct. This close, his heady scent was all-consuming. My signature swelled in response, perfume billowing into the air as if it were the most natural thing in the world to respond to an Alpha so effortlessly.

Beretta tilted his head, dark eyes assessing me. Then, to my astonishment, he lifted his nose and sniffed before whining softly. Instantly, he laid down, propping his boxy head on his paws in a posture of submission.

“Good boy,” Giovanni praised as he started down the stairs with me in his arms. The dog popped back into a sitting position, his nub wagging happily as we passed by.

Gio grinned, and the dimples that flashed at the corners of his mouth nearly stole my breath. The scary looking Alpha had smiled. And the result was dazzling . “Let’s get you fed, Dolcezza .”

In the sleek, modern kitchen, Dimitri and Marco looked up sharply at our entrance. Heat crept up my neck as I studied the elegant tiled floors, unable to meet their intent stares.

“She’s out,” Marco said, sounding almost awed.

I risked a glance to find him grinning widely, blue eyes twinkling with mischief despite the notes of stress I caught in his scent. Dimitri’s expression remained carefully neutral, though his shoulders seemed to relax infinitesimally.

Giovanni set me gently on a barstool before turning to his brothers. “The lady requires sustenance,” he declared imperiously.

His comment spurred Marco into action. He moved with an effortless grace, pulling out pots and pans, cracking eggs into a bowl. Within moments, the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling butter filled the air.

I watched, mesmerized, as his hands flew over the countertops. Seeing him in the kitchen was like witnessing a master at work—cool, confident, controlled movements belying an innate understanding of his craft.

So Marco is the caretaker. Most Alphas had a role within their pack, tasks that played to their strength. Dimitri was clearly the leader, the Alpha the other men deferred to. He was the head of the household, something I’d recognized instantly about him.

My stomach rumbled again, louder this time.

Dimitri’s lips twitched in an almost-smile as he crossed the room toward me. Up close, his chiseled features and warm blue eyes were even more striking. He reached out, calloused fingertips grazing my chin to tilt my face up.

“There she is,” he murmured, holding my gaze, and the proud notes in his voice made my Omega absolutely preen with delight. “I was starting to think you might decide to leave.”

His words were light, but I detected an undercurrent of vulnerability there, buried beneath the Alpha bravado. As if he truly feared I would reject this… whatever it was unfolding between us.

I swallowed hard, caught in the intensity of his stare. “N-no,” I managed, surprising myself with the throaty rasp of my own voice. “I want… I mean, if you’ll still have me…”

Dimitri’s thumb brushed my lower lip, the rough pad sending shivers along my nerve-endings. “Kitten,” he rumbled, the endearment carrying depths of meaning I didn’t fully grasp. “There is no universe where we don’t want you.”

The breath stalled in my lungs. “Then my answer is yes. I-I’d like to court you, I-I mean be courted by you, if you still want…”

“Oh, I want . I want very much, Kitten.” Leaning forward, he startled me by placing a sweet, gentle kiss against my forehead before stepping back. The simple gesture didn’t scare me the way it should’ve. It made my pulse flutter wildly instead. Dimitri smirked as if he could hear the thunder of my heartbeat. “Let’s call and get this nonsense with the OMA settled, so it’s no longer a concern. The director may want to speak with you, to confirm your consent to our offer of courtship.”

I nodded like an idiot, grateful he was taking charge of this matter and I didn’t have to worry about it. Maybe that made me an inconvenience to them, but leaving my room was hard enough, and I only had the bandwidth to stay seated on this barstool, surrounded by unknown yet familiar Alphas. It took all my courage not to run back to the safety of the bedroom they’d leant me, especially with all their scents floating through the air. Even though they smelled amazing, together they were overwhelming.

Everything was so strange now. So different. I wanted to trust it, but I could admit that I was scared.

Giovanni slid onto the stool next to me, his thigh pressing hotly against mine. Carefully, slowly, an arm snaked around my waist, a large hand splaying possessively across my hip. Instantly, my Omega eased.

Which was another strange occurrence since touch had always repelled me before.

But it had never been these Alphas touching you, had it?

“I could smell your fear,” he murmured, lips brushing my ear. “But you don’t need to be afraid anymore, not with us.”

That low timbre of his voice sparked tingles down my spine.

I bit my lip, torn between wariness at his proximity… and the shocking sensation of some long-starved, long-dormant part of me stirring. Comforted by his nearness. His touch. Almost desperate for it.

I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of the heat rolling off Giovanni’s body. His arm around my waist felt like a brand searing through the thin material of my shirt. A piece of me wanted to shy away, the familiar urge to flee ingrained in my muscle memory. But another piece, one I didn’t quite recognize, leaned into his embrace.

“You’re safe, Dolcezza ,” he purred, the lightest Italian lilt caressing the endearment. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

A shudder rippled through me at his words. Truthfully, they couldn’t say it enough. The more I heard it, the more it sank into my soul, the more real it became. It was hard to believe, and yet, when he pulled me closer, tucking me against his solid frame, I felt an odd sense of security wash over me. Like his arms could form an impenetrable barrier against the outside world.

My hands fisted in the fabric of his shirt, clinging to him the way a child might clutch a beloved stuffed animal. Giovanni didn’t seem to mind. If anything, a low rumbling purr reverberated from his chest, the sound utterly primal. It turned my muscles to jello, and I positively melted .

“That’s it,” he murmured, nuzzling the top of my head. “Just breathe.”

I did as instructed, inhaling his heady scent. It surrounded me, weaving itself into the very fabric of my DNA.

When my stomach growled again, shattering the peaceful quiet, a deep chuckle tumbled from Giovanni’s lips. “Hungry, are we? Marco, what’s the ETA on breakfast?” the big man asked.

“Almost done,” he promised, flinging a kitchen towel over his shoulder after drying his hands. He grabbed a plate, and whatever he was making smelled almost as incredible as they did.

Marco spun with a flourish and set a dish before me. It was piled high with sausage, bacon, pancakes, and scrambled eggs smothered in melted cheese. Tentatively, I allowed a small smile to curve my lips as I peered up at him through my lashes.

“I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in… well, I can’t remember how long.”

The words hung heavily between us, a hint of how shitty my past had been. But the guys were gracious not to comment on it right now, as though they realized there was only so much I could handle in one morning.

Gio merely tightened his embrace while Marco’s blue eyes blazed with a protective fire.

“Get used to it, Angel,” Marco told me. “You’re home now. And we’re gonna spoil you rotten.”