“So, how did you find out I became fae?” I asked Chiara, curious about her lack of surprise.
Sofia returned to the room with a blanket in hand, passing it to me before collapsing beside Chiara. Carefully, I unfolded the blanket and draped it over Noemi, who was asleep on the couch beside me. She stirred slightly, letting out soft noises, but none of the eerie murmurs that signaled visions of future events.
I turned back to Chiara as she began to speak.
“Your fae friend Emiliano showed up about two and a half months ago,” she explained, taking a long sip from her coffee. Guilt twisted in my chest as I noted how exhausted they all looked. “He filled Sofia and me in on what happened-how you were likely chased into the fae realm-and let us decide whether or not to tell the guys.”
“Which, obviously, we didn’t,” Sofia interjected, rolling her eyes. “Enrico’s been losing his mind searching for you these past three months-it’s painfully obvious he has a thing for you. Carlo? Well, I can’t figure him out anymore. Either way, I wasn’t about to deal with their melodramatic meltdowns.”
“You could’ve given me a heads-up,” Dante growled under his breath, his irritation simmering. “There would’ve been no meltdown on my part.”
The sound of the front door opening sent a jolt through me. I nearly shot up from the couch, but Leonardo’s steady hand on my lower back grounded me. Even so, my leg bounced nervously, unable to stay still.
I hadn’t realized just how much I missed them-my friends, my family. They had become everything I’d lost.
A part of me had found solace in the fae realm, embracing its wild freedom and magic. It felt like home in a way the human realm never could. Yet, I couldn’t deny the pull of this place, of these people. They were the other half of me.
How do we choose between two worlds when both define us? Blue’s voice was pensive, a question that had haunted me for months. If we lose one, we lose a part of ourselves. And Leonardo does too. Worse, an entire realm-an entire existence-would be doomed.
If only we could have both, I replied wistfully. But the thought was fleeting, overtaken by the shock of seeing someone unexpected walk into the room.
Francesca.
She was as stunning as ever, her curly hair cascading down her back and her curves accentuated even in pajamas. A bag hung over her shoulder, and her hand rested on her rounded belly.
“Francesca, what are you doing here?” Dante asked, his tone neutral but his gaze sharp.
“Don’t start with me, Dante,” she snapped, a fiery edge to her voice. “I’m pregnant and exhausted, which means I’ve got it worse than you. The guys are still talking to Alpha Attilio. They sent me ahead to let you know they’ll be another ten minutes.”
As she moved to sit on the couch, her gaze landed on me-and froze.
A single beat, then another. The moment she registered who and what I was, her eyes flickered to Leonardo.
I tried not to overanalyze the emotion in her expression, but it was impossible to ignore. Pain. Guilt. Long-buried anguish etched into every line of her face. Surprisingly, I felt no jealousy, no desire to compete with her.
The bond had changed everything between Leonardo and me. I could feel his emotions as if they were my own-his reaction to Francesca, the tangled web of feelings he didn’t bother to hide. There was anger in him, sharp and bitter, directed at her and Fabio.
Dante broke the tension with a dry snort. “As you can see, I wasn’t just being a prick. Leonardo and Isabella have plenty to discuss-including your role in all this, Francesca. I’ve played Alpha long enough, and it was never my job to begin with.”
“Does it even belong to you anymore?” Francesca’s voice wavered as she met Leonardo’s icy gaze. “You’re fae now, aren’t you? That means this pack isn’t yours anymore.”
“Still stirring the pot, Francesca?” Dante’s disapproval was palpable.
Leonardo’s magic rippled through the room, a cold, unyielding force. His claws extended as he leaned forward, ice pooling in his eyes like stormy waters.
“I am fae,” he said, his voice a low growl laced with frost. “More than you know. But I am also a werewolf and Alpha of this pack until the end of my immortal life.”
Francesca paled but gave a small nod, retreating slightly as his claws retracted.
Was that necessary? I asked dryly through the bond.
She would’ve kept pushing until I did, he replied without remorse. Better to shut it down now before she starts spreading rumors.
The door opened again, bringing with it the earthy scent of wet grass and cool air-a stark contrast to the vibrant, untamed wildness of the fae realm.
Enrico and Carlo walked in, their appearances changed. Enrico’s hair was longer, messier. Carlo looked darker, his skin tanned and his demeanor more severe. Laura trailed behind them, much the same as when I’d left, though all three bore the telltale exhaustion of sleepless nights.
It was Laura who noticed us first, her gaze lingering on the subtle arches of our ears.
Enrico’s conversation halted mid-sentence as his eyes darted from face to face, landing on me at last.