As we stepped into the kitchen, Enrico finally loosened his hold on me. Chiara stood waiting, attempting-and failing-to stifle her enormous grin. From behind me came a quiet chuckle, and I whipped around to find Enrico struggling to hide his amusement, his expression softened by the humor glinting in his eyes.
“Come on, Ella. You know he had it coming,” he laughed, his grin lopsided.
“Honestly, he deserved much worse.”
“Then you should’ve asked for more than five minutes,” I quipped, arching an eyebrow.
“Somehow, I have a feeling this isn’t the last time you and Leonardo will face off.” His smirk deepened.
Chiara chimed in, giggling, “Did you see his face after you punched him? I swear the jerk practically fell in love right then and there. Oh, and for the record, we actually gave you seven minutes.”
I ignored her comment about Leonardo’s reaction, but the image of his face lingered. I’d never seen anyone look at me that way before-so intense, so sharply focused, that it felt like everything else had faded. His piercing grey eyes were vast, a well of mysteries, clear but hiding so much.
With a faint smile tugging at my lips, I headed upstairs to shower, feeling the dull ache in my knuckles from that satisfying punch. Leonardo had had it coming for a long time, and even though I knew his bruise would heal within the hour, that wasn’t the point. Challenging an Alpha meant crossing a line that could end in a brutal showdown. Even with his rejection, I knew-somehow-that he wouldn’t hurt me. The look in his eyes was far too fierce to simply cast me aside.
I spent the rest of the day with Enrico and Chiara, who kept me distracted, refusing to let me brood. Regret tugged at me; I should’ve rejected him as soon as he’d left me, and I promised myself that I’d do it next time we met. The thought of severing the bond knotted my stomach, but I knew it was just the mate-bond trying to pull me toward him. When he wasn’t around, it was easy enough to ignore, though his touch had stirred that temptation within me. Enrico and Chiara knew just how to keep me occupied, steering my thoughts away from him.
Later, Chiara and I hit the outlets, dragging Enrico along for the adventure. He kept up with our whirlwind shopping and didn’t complain when Chiara lingered in a shoe store for an hour. She handed him bag after bag, and with a grunt, he carried them without protest. Chiara practically assembled a new wardrobe for Sofia, who had pouted endlessly when Carlo decided only Enrico and Chiara would join me to Leonardo’s pack. She let us leave, her slim face etched with a disappointed pout. With Chiara’s guidance, I found a few things for myself. After months of shopping with Sofia and Chiara, I was finally developing a fashion sense of my own. I liked how thigh-length skirts made my legs look longer and were easy to move in, provided you wore the right undergarments. With my pleated skirts, I made sure to wear thick boy shorts underneath; the last thing I needed was a gust of wind turning me into a spectacle.
We wandered into a lingerie shop, and Chiara promptly shooed Enrico out the door. He had seemed far too eager to follow us in, his eyes gleaming slyly as he ogled the mannequins in skimpy lace.
Chiara rolled her eyes, giggling as he grumbled his way to a nearby sports store. She held up a sheer lace bodysuit and raised an eyebrow. “If you don’t buy this, I will.”
The lace was completely see-through, with swirling patterns that concealed almost nothing. A conspicuously wide opening sat at the bottom, leaving little to the imagination.
“What exactly would I need that for?” I scoffed, moving toward the more practical underwear. Rummaging through the boy shorts, I replied, “The only action I get is on the training field. You’d be better off with that one yourself. Go for the red-red’s always been your color.”
“Please, Leonardo would fall all over himself just to catch a glimpse of you in this. Or, you know, Enrico wouldn’t mind either.” Chiara laughed, grabbing a red lace bodysuit in her size and stepping toward a full-length mirror adorned with golden lights. She draped the thin fabric over herself, admiring the effect. “You’re right. Red is definitely my color. Not that I’ll get any action in this town-there’s no one worth looking at.”
After a day exploring town, Chiara hadn’t found a single guy who caught her eye. I could tell she still held a grudge over how people here had treated me. Only Leonardo and his friends had been openly cruel, but the others had stood by and let it happen.
“Oh, come on,” I chuckled, “Leonardo’s group are the only ones who ever gave me trouble. Everyone else is fair game!”
“Fine,” she challenged with a smirk. “But only if you confront Leonardo at the party tomorrow.” She grinned as I gaped at her offer, finally tossing the bodysuit over her arm.
“You’ve got yourself a deal.” I saw the glint of surprise in her eyes, though she didn’t press me about when I’d accept Leonardo’s rejection. Both she and Enrico had let me handle things on my terms, and I was grateful for that.
“So, you’re actually going to do it? Next time you see him?”
Once, Chiara had asked me what rejection felt like. She yearned to find her mate somewhere else, far from here, and I hated dousing her excitement. Chiara was the type to confront a problem head-on, then release it. She’d been my anchor after my mom died, pulling me from despair.
“Even after all this time, the bond is still playing with my head,” I admitted, frowning. “Better to end it now than let it mess with me longer.”
Chiara’s eyes softened, though she held her ground. “Look, I’m not saying to forgive him-he needs to earn that-but maybe think about not accepting his rejection. You two were bonded for a reason.”
I grimaced at her words but was distracted when someone caught my eye-Francesca Romano, laughing with a companion as they browsed the store. She looked the same as when I’d left, with her curvy frame and luxurious accent, though her red hair was now cut short. I’d never made a point of learning about Leonardo’s friends, but I vaguely remembered her having an older sister. I hadn’t seen her since I got back, and wondered where she’d been.
An ache surfaced in my chest as I looked at the girl Leonardo had chosen over me. They’d dated nearly a year before I came into the picture. Swallowing the pain, I tore my gaze away, barely noticing her baby bump until she turned. A rush of questions flooded my mind as I tried to shove the image aside, walking to the counter with Chiara beside me, sensing the tension in my shoulders. We checked out in silence and left the store.