“You’re right. Dante took my side, actually. The moment you left, he realized his mistake in bullying you. He gave me hell for rejecting you, over and over, and I’ve never really had a reason for why I did it. Even now, I can’t explain it, and I hate that I don’t know. I think Livia wanted to be on our side, too, but Francesca had a way of pulling people in. Livia and Francesca drifted apart, and when Francesca finally accepted that she’d lost me, she found herself new friends.
Now, she doesn’t want anything to do with Fabio. Your friend’s going to be furious with her mate-if she doesn’t reject him the moment she finds out.”
“Sofia wouldn’t do that.” I shook my head, certain. “I talked to her before we left. She’s more understanding than you think, but she doesn’t play games. If Fabio tries to reject her, she’ll make his life hell.”
“Honestly, that might be exactly what he needs,” Leonardo chuckled, his laugh dry.
Half an hour later, it was time to leave. The steam curling off the lake had vanished, and snow had started falling heavily. The magic holding the flames in the air was fading, the fire beginning to sputter. Exhaustion started to set in, along with the creeping chill.
I turned just as Leonardo strolled over to his now-frozen clothes, slipping them on. Unlike me, who’d taken a full dive into the lake fully dressed, he hadn’t soaked through. My long-sleeved shirt clung cold and damp to my skin, only amplifying the icy bite of the air.
“I’d try using magic to warm us up,” I said with a chattering smile, “but knowing me, I’d set us both on fire.”
“Here, put this on.” He grinned, holding out his thick coat.
Under normal circumstances, I would have refused, but Leonardo looked unfazed by the cold. His lips were still pink, and he wasn’t shivering like I was. Alphas always had an unusual resistance, but Leonardo seemed untouched by the freezing temperatures.
“Thanks.” I shivered, grateful, as he helped slip my arms through the coat’s warm sleeves.
Then, before I could react, my legs were swept out from under me, and I let out a small yelp. He lifted me easily, wrapping the coat snugly around my shoulders. Even with my damp clothes clinging to my chilled skin, a deep warmth spread from within. I’d never felt this safe-this secure, as though nothing in the world could harm me. Wrapped in Leonardo’s arms, the world and its dangers felt far away. He glanced down at me, catching my gaze before I could say anything.
“Before you protest, you’re freezing, and we’ll get back a lot faster if I do the walking,” he smirked.
I looked up at him through my lashes, satisfaction welling up as his eyes widened in surprise. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
And it was true. The warmth radiating from him, combined with his scent, filled me with a sense of ease. I felt myself sinking into his hold, exhaustion creeping into my bones. Resting my head in the crook of his neck, I smiled when I felt him tense slightly. As he carried me back to the house, I focused on the soft crunch of snow underfoot and the steady beat of his heart.
If not for the lingering chill and the snowflakes brushing my skin, I might have fallen asleep in his arms. The moment we reached Emiliano’s house, I headed straight for a hot shower.
With dry clothes and the warm crackle of a fire in the room, I felt more at ease than I had in months. The hot bowl of soup Leonardo brought me made it all the better, and I savored every spoonful, letting the heat spread through me.
That night, I finally decided to reach out to Carlo. I’d been avoiding it since we arrived. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about my transformation, and Carlo was the last person I wanted to talk about it with.
‘Just wanted to let you know I’m okay,’ I spoke through the mind-link, making sure to connect only with him. ‘Emiliano’s work is taking longer than we planned, but we should be back in a week or so.’
‘Goddess, Ella, it’s good to hear from you,’* Carlo replied immediately, relief and happiness clear in his voice. ‘You could have reached out sooner!’
‘Sorry, Emiliano’s kept us busy,’ I laughed weakly, guilt twinging in my stomach for not telling him everything. I would eventually, but it wasn’t the kind of news I could drop through a mind-link.
‘Oh, has he now?’ Carlo grunted, his tone shifting. ‘How are things with your old Alpha?’
I could hear the protective edge in Carlo’s voice and couldn’t help but smile. He’d been there through everything, picking up the broken pieces of my heart. Even though he couldn’t mend it, he was there for me. His concern was just his way of caring.
‘We’re making progress. I can’t forget the past, but I can’t hold it against him forever,’ I admitted.
‘Just be careful, Ella. I don’t want to see you hurt again,’ he said, his voice tight.
‘I don’t think he’ll hurt me, Carlo. He left his pack to come with me and has been nothing but supportive since we got here. I’ll be okay.’ I reassured him. ‘How’s everyone else?’
‘Sofia’s been on edge-sassier than ever,’ Carlo sighed, and I stifled a laugh. No doubt Sofia was making Fabio pay, but I hoped it would work out in the end. ‘Enrico’s been complaining about her, and Chiara’s back to training. Apparently, she has some kind of grudge against a girl named Bianca. Don’t even ask me what’s going on with that.’