“You smell good, kitten,” Leonardo murmured close to my ear. “Maybe you should shower here more often.”
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “Please, I’m perfectly happy with my own shampoo and conditioner.”
Leonardo chuckled, his breath warm against my ear. “I don’t know. There’s something…appealing about having you smell like me.”
I turned to face him, only to feel his rough fingers graze the hem of my skirt, their touch lingering against my thigh. The heat simmering in his eyes told me he noticed, too. “Nice skirt,” he said huskily, giving the hem a gentle tug. “Looks like my money was well spent.”
My heart pounded, and I felt the flush creep up my face. As Carlo and Enrico threw narrowed glances at Leonardo, I managed to step away, shooting him an exasperated glare that didn’t quite mask my embarrassment.
“Don’t check your card statement until I’m far from this pack,” Sofia snickered, a sly grin playing on her lips.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” Leonardo asked, his head tilting, those curious eyes fixed on me.
I cleared my throat, hoping my cheeks weren’t still burning. “I did.”
“Then it was worth every penny.” His low chuckle made the corners of his lips twitch.
Carlo, less amused, grunted toward Sofia, “Since when are you short on money?”
Sofia shrugged. “I’m not, but only a fool passes up a free shopping trip. I’m no fool.”
“Debatable,” Enrico muttered, glancing anywhere but at Sofia.
She retaliated by tossing a throw pillow his way, which he dodged with a snicker. Leonardo watched, his eyes alive with a quiet appreciation for the lively banter. From what I knew, he had only one sibling, Sebastine, who’d gone to live with their maternal grandparents. This close-knit group was the closest thing he had to sibling banter. My thoughts, however, wandered briefly to Francesca, and when Leonardo noticed my sour expression, his brow furrowed curiously.
“Dinner’s in the dining room,” he nodded toward it, running a hand through his dark hair.
We all made our way to the table and took our seats-some less eagerly than others. Carlo and Leonardo seemed barely able to tolerate each other’s presence, but they needed to set aside their differences for now. Leonardo waited only a couple of minutes before bringing up my apparent issue, that same inquisitive persistence in his voice.
“As fun as this is, I’d still like that explanation,” he said dryly. “You’ve put it off long enough.”
I sighed, trying to make sense of the jumbled memories. “Well, I’ve started…remembering things. These flashes come out of nowhere, and they’re intense. It’s something to do with my mom and the Fae, but I’m still missing pieces.”
The room fell silent as six pairs of eyes settled on me. Leonardo’s jaw tightened in surprise, but his gaze held mine with a steady intensity.
“The Fae?” Carlo frowned, his voice tinged with worry. “You’re sure, Ella?”
“You didn’t see her when it happened,” Leonardo interjected, his hands flexing in frustration. “She’s telling the truth.”
“Could it be related to whatever they’re looking for?” Chiara asked, her worry mirroring the rest of ours.
Leonardo shrugged. “It could be. The Fae usually keep to themselves.”
Carlo’s face hardened. “Interesting how you’re not surprised they’re searching for something.”
Since Carlo’s mate mentioned the Fae’s quest, he and his father had been digging into whatever they could find. They wanted to ask other Alphas if they’d experienced anything similar, but secrecy was paramount. The fact that Leonardo already knew seemed to agitate Carlo even more.
“I’ve got eyes and ears everywhere,” Leonardo replied, his tone smug as he drawled out “Alpha.” “Rumors travel. I just happened to be the first to catch wind of this one.”
“When did these flashes start, Ella?” Enrico asked, concern etched in his expression.
I frowned. “Maybe a few days ago?”
“After the Fae realm?” Dante’s quiet voice cut through, and a silence fell as his words settled in. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but Dante was right. The memories seemed to resurface after my return. Maybe the visit had triggered something, knocking loose what had once been blocked.
“It can’t be related,” Carlo shook his head, frustration mounting. “This has to be something else.”
I wasn’t sure if I agreed. My parents had lived quiet lives, never drawing attention. But the way Leonardo’s eyes narrowed, I could tell he thought differently.
“Isabella’s mom clearly knew more than she let on,” he said. “If the Fae can’t get answers from her, they’ll come looking for her daughter.”
Leonardo and Carlo locked eyes in a tense standoff, each glaring as their arguments cut deeper. The words flung back and forth only made my headache worse, every insult intensifying the ache.
“You’re so quick to drag her into this,” Carlo snapped. “We know so little about the Fae and their magic. Shouldn’t you, as her mate, want to protect her?”
“I’m not dragging her into anything,” Leonardo countered, his voice thick with anger. “She’s already involved. Besides, didn’t Isabella train in your pack for a year? She’s a warrior. She doesn’t need protection.”
“I don’t think Ella needs protection,” Chiara added gently. “Support, maybe. Help-but not to be caged.”
“With these portals appearing at random, who’s to say they won’t come for her?” Enrico argued. “We should protect her.”
“Or suffocate her,” Sofia shot back, shaking her head. “We don’t have enough information to jump to conclusions.”
“No, we don’t,” Carlo muttered, “but we have to.”
Leonardo shook his head, a hand rubbing at his temple. “I disagree. She clearly has gaps in her memory that could be helpful. What she doesn’t need is to be suffocated.”
“So now you’re an expert on what she needs?” Carlo sneered. “Would’ve been nice if you’d had that insight months ago when she was crying out your name while you were off with other she-wolves.”
Leonardo’s voice dropped to a growl. “The only opinion I care about is Isabella’s.”
Their words blurred, a cacophony that thundered in my mind, drowning out everything else. I gripped the table, splinters biting into my skin as my vision darkened. My head pounded, and nausea twisted my stomach. Only one person seemed to notice-Dante. Sitting quietly, he watched me with a knowing look.
“Leonardo-” Dante’s voice broke through as he rose from his chair.
Leonardo’s eyes locked on me, all his anger melting into alarm. He rushed toward me, his face the last thing I saw as the room pitched and darkened. The noise in my head swelled, the pain spreading across my temples until the world was swallowed by black.