"𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥"

XXV/Arrival in Italy

The jet glided through the night like a secret, its engines purring softly as the sky outside began to hint at dawn. Inside, the cabin was bathed in the warm, ambient glow of dimmed lights, creating a cocoon of quiet luxury that almost made you forget the miles of sky and land passing beneath.

I carefully unfastened my seatbelt, slipping out from between Taiga and Ares, who were both fast asleep beside me. Taiga had curled up against me like he always did, his  breath a soft whisper against my shoulder. Ares, meanwhile, sprawled in his seat with a sort of ease that came naturally to him, a small smile playing on his lips as if even in sleep he was in on some joke.

Apollo, was nestled in my lap, his purring a steady, comforting vibration. I smiled, lifting him gently and placing him back into his carrier. He gave me a lazy blink, clearly displeased with the interruption, but soon settled back into his usual contented state.

The cabin was mostly quiet, each of us wrapped up in our own thoughts or dreams. Vinnie had claimed three seats for himself, looking every bit the king of his own little world. Lyra and Scott had retreated to one of the private rooms, no doubt enjoying each other's company in the comfort of privacy.

Mia was knocked out cold, her phone still in hand, Chanel sleep mask perfectly in place, as if even in sleep she had to maintain her image. Raymond sat by the window, the soft light of his laptop casting shadows on his face as he worked, ever the responsible one. Mads had her headphones on, a matching sleep mask covering her eyes, probably lost in her playlist that only she knew about.

As I walked down the aisle, I found Theo leaning against the galley wall, arms crossed, looking like he'd been waiting for me. That signature smirk of his tugged at the corner of his mouth, and even in the dim light, there was a spark in his eyes that made my heart skip.

"Can't sleep?" His voice was low, a private murmur meant just for me.

I shook my head, moving closer. There was something about Theo that drew me in, something steady and sure, like a lighthouse in the middle of a storm. I joined him by the window, our shoulders brushing as we looked out at the world beyond.

"Look at that," he said softly, nodding toward the horizon where the first hints of dawn were painting the sky in shades of pink and gold.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, though my eyes weren't on the sky. There was a tension between us, something unspoken but undeniably present, and as I looked up at him, I knew he felt it too.

"You always overthink things," Theo said, his tone gentle but teasing, like he knew me better than I knew myself.

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words died on my lips as I realized how close we were. The warmth of his body, the faint scent of his cologne—everything about him was intoxicating. For a moment, I thought he might lean in, that our proximity would finally bridge the gap we'd both been dancing around.

"Theo..." My voice was barely a whisper, my heart racing in my chest.

"Yes, love?" His response was immediate, a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine.

But instead of giving in to the moment, Theo reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was gentle, lingering just long enough to send my thoughts spinning. Then, just as quickly, he pulled back, the tension between us easing into something more familiar, yet no less charged.

"Let's get back before someone notices we're missing," he said, the teasing note back in his voice, though there was something else in his eyes—something deeper that made me wish we didn't have to go back at all.

With a reluctant smile, I followed him back to our seats, the air between us still crackling with the possibilities of what might be. Whatever it was between us, it was real, and it was undeniable.

---

The jet touched down in Italy just as the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, turning the tarmac into a sea of gold. Mia was the first out, camera ready, snapping shots of the scenery like she was preparing for a Vogue spread.

"Welcome to Italy!" she declared with a grin, spinning around to catch the perfect angle. "This place is absolutely stunning!"

"Can you please shut the fuck up?" Ares grumbled, rubbing his temples as he followed her down the steps. "It's morning, and your constant chatter is giving me a headache. If you don't stop, I might actually kill you."

Mia didn't miss a beat, tilting her head with a smirk. "Oh, really? I'm so sorry,dickhead. Maybe if you spent less time brooding and more time enjoying life, you wouldn't be such a grumpy asshole."

"Yeah, well, maybe if you spent less time on your phone and more time thinking, you wouldn't be such a clueless little witch," Ares shot back, his eyes narrowing. "This is a vacation, not a photo shoot. Try living in the real world for once."

"Okay, you two," Mads cut in, sliding in between them with a grin. "Save the drama for the cameras, yeah? We just got here, and I'd like to enjoy at least five minutes of peace before you start ripping each other's heads off."

Taiga laughed, nudging Mads playfully. "Yeah, let's at least wait until we've had breakfast before the claws come out."

"Fine," Ares muttered, shooting Mia one last glare. "But only because I'm starving."

As we all piled into the waiting cars, the atmosphere lightened, the earlier tension between Mia and Ares fading into the background as the excitement of being in Italy took over. The drive to the Riviera Resort was like something out of a postcard—rolling hills, quaint villages, and the endless blue of the Mediterranean stretching out to meet the sky.

Lyra and Scott sat together, whispering softly, their hands intertwined as they took in the scenery. There was something peaceful about them, a quiet connection that spoke volumes without needing words.

"You two are too cute, you know that?" I teased, leaning over the seat to catch their attention.

Scott looked up with a grin, squeezing Lyra's hand. "Just trying to keep the romance alive. Italy seems like the perfect place for it, don't you think?"

Lyra smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "Absolutely. But I think it's more than just the place. It's the company."

"Okay, now you're just making the rest of us look bad," Taiga called out from the front seat, laughing. "Can you two stop being perfect for like, five minutes?"

Lyra laughed, the sound light and infectious. "No promises."

As we pulled up to the resort, the full beauty of the place hit us. Terracotta roofs, white stucco walls, and terraces that seemed to spill into the sea. It was a picture-perfect slice of paradise, the kind of place you didn't think existed outside of dreams.

Vinnie was the first to jump out, stretching his arms over his head as he took in the view. "Now, this is what I'm talking about. This place screams luxury."

Mads stepped out next, Taiga by her side as always. "We should totally hit the pool later," Mads suggested, already looking ahead to their plans. "This place looks like it has the best view in the world."

Taiga nodded. "I'm down. And maybe we can grab some cocktails while we're at it. I mean, we're in Italy, we've gotta do it right."

As we checked in and made our way to our rooms, the easy camaraderie between us was palpable. Whatever tensions there had been before seemed to have melted away in the face of the beauty and the promise of a perfect vacation.

Standing on the balcony of my room, I looked out at the shimmering sea, the sound of the waves soothing the last remnants of my earlier unease. This was Italy, a place of new beginnings, where the worries of the world felt a little lighter, and everything seemed possible.

For the first time since we'd taken off, I allowed myself to relax. We were here, together, and for now, that was enough.

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Sorry for the delayed update! Don't forget to vote and leave a comment. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and there's more to come.
Sending love <33

-M