Giovanni

Chapter 14

Giovanni Ellis:

Had I really agreed to actually try with her? Yes. I had. I want to regret that decision but as I lay in the bed in sweats and a white tank top I can't bring myself. Mulling over this decision for thirty minutes after she walked through the door to go explain away my behavior has not been easy.

To my understanding the drunk me tried to kill her friend Rayan and myself by falling down the grand staircase. Thankfully she didn't ask me where I got the alcohol from and I didn't provide her with an answer. No need to get Liam in trouble as well as put her under scrutiny for my blacked out actions.

I want so badly to be with her. I want to live a happy and normal life with her without all the extra weight of my past holding me down. Not that my life would be anything close to normal with her family history. I have been hell bent on ending whatever this was going to turn into but now I don't know. I was never really sure about my decision as much as I lie to myself about it. If I keep telling myself enough that I don't want her maybe one day it'll be true.

I shift in the bed and stare out the open window. The woods calling my name as if coaxing me to rejoin the lonely life of a rogue. I sigh and turn away from the window. Would it really be so bad to stay? Would it be so bad to be with her? Could I be happy living here and becoming the King.

A shudder passes through my body. I don't even want to think about that title right now. I can't run myself and as of now I can't expect myself to run a kingdom. I don't want to be king and even if I did I wouldn't be good at it. Being King involves interpersonal skills that I don't possess. Maybe me in another life could potentially- No probably not.

Shaking my head of those thoughts I close my eyes. My stomach clenches violently and I wince. I need food and soon. Having meals in here with her could be a good thing. Of course, opening up to someone sounds like a terrible ass idea. I don't ever plan on telling her about what happened to me. She'll surely be running for the hills if she were to find out. No one wants a mate thats been broken in that way. Its a burden which I assume i've already proven to be.

Who knows if i'm even allowed to stay after a stunt like that. What was I thinking do that? I mean I didn't really see any consequences to my actions and especially while I was blacked out. I didn't expect to actually plan to stay by the end of the night. Even still it's probably good I didn't have dinner with her family tonight. I'm awkward in many situations and I use sarcasm or just plain rudeness to hide the fact that I am terrified of anyone in power. Alpha West was a man in charge and look what he was capable of.

A knock at the door brings me out of my thoughts and I look up with a groan. Why is someone always knocking on the door. I get up quickly and go to answer it. Putting my ear to the door I struggle to hear. Soft breaths but not like Thora's. This is a different person. I open the door and keep one hand on the doorframe and another on the door like I had earlier. I am surprised to see the man they call Santiago standing at the door. He's still dressed in his suit from earlier except now his suit jacket rest over his shoulder. He holds a plate with a simple sandwich on it and a glass of water. I stand straighter in an attempt to look bigger but him and I are practically the same height. I only have like two inches on his total.

"Can I help you?" I ask making my voice sound stronger than I am right now. He scoffs and rolls his eyes. He moves closer to me and I back away on instinct and watch as he lets himself into the room. He holds out the plate and the sandwich looking at me expectantly. I shake my head. "No thanks," I clear my throat willing my stomach not to growl.

"Relax," he mumbles closing the door with his foot. "Its not from me." He puts the plate and glass down on the bedside table and digs in his pocket. I stare between him and the door making plans for escape in my head. I won't get far but at least i'll have tried. Santiago clears his throat and I look back at him as he holds out a small piece of paper. I stare at it for a second and then reach for it and quickly snatch it from his grasp. I open it to see neat handwriting across the paper.

'Since dinner was a bit ruined. Thought you'd enjoy some type of food. I made it myself -Thora :)'

I smile down at the paper and then glance at the plate. Should I eat it? Thora made it herself but who's to say she's not also out to get me? My wolf growls threateningly in my head and I shake the thought away. Finally caving I sit on the bed forgetting entirely about the man in my room staring at me. I pick up the sandwich and inspect it. I sniff it and come to conclusion that it is a simple ham and cheese. Fine by me. I bring it to my lips and sigh before taking a big bite.

"So," Santiago says with his arms crossed. Great. Happiness was short lived. "How are you feeling?" I raise an eyebrow at him. I know he didn't walk all the way here to ask me how I am feeling after I nearly killed his friend.

"What are you here for?" I ask placing the sandwich down.

He looks up at me with a look I can't seem to place. "Whats your play?"

"Play?" I ask confused.

"Yeah. What it is?" When I give him another confused look he chuckles and leans against the doorframe "Money? Power? Both?" I stand up and cross my arms over my own chest and match his expression.

"I'm not looking for either," A look at the ground "I'm surprised you came to harass me alone. Was the king not available?" A growl rips through thick air and I flinch.

"Do not disrespect King Silas," he says and I almost comply. Almost. But my smart ass mouth does not comply with logic and reason. Santiago has the power here and I don't like that.

I smirk up at him not meeting his eyes. "They've got their guard dog trained up real nice," I give him a fake chuckle. He takes a step toward me and I try and take one back but fail as the bed is right behind me.

"Lot of balls for a guy who is terrified me," Santiago spits. My eyes widen as my only line of defense got me caught. My mouth is supposed to keep me from looking terrified. "Look. Despite what you think I didn't come here to argue or anything." I raise an eyebrow at him trying to catch his bullshit.

"Way to start off the conversation," I mutter "Do you always start with the accusations or am I a special case?"

"I came here to let you know something," He says totally ignoring my remarks "Thora is dead set on getting your trust. She thinks that with time and training you could become this great King. I might not like you but I agree with her."

"Why?" I question with surprise evident in my voice. Why do these people I don't even know believe in something I don't?

"Because your relentlessness only proves that directed on the right path you could be something great," He says almost like it hurts him physically to spit the words out. "Even Rayan believes it and despite you attacking him he is impressed by you." Santiago shakes his head.

I'm surprised Rayan doesn't want my head for what I did to him "Why are you telling me all this?"

"Look, I don't know what happened to you before and I don't expect to ever hear it. I'm a big believer in fate and it is not accident that you ended up here. Get to know Thora. Build that relationship." He gives me a hint of a smile "When you are ready you should join us for training. You throw a mean punch."

Before I have a chance to respond he is out of the door. The door shuts with finality behind him and I stare at it. Plopping down on the bed I pick the sandwich back up and take another big bite.

This could be a turning point in my life. I should do it and it wont be easy but I should still try. I turn to look out the window longingly. If it doesn't work out there is always my old life waiting and it won't be going anywhere.