Giovanni

Chapter 36

Thora Hawthorn:

Rayan's Howl woke me up. I hadn't meant to fall asleep because I was waiting for Gio to get back. Only an hour left on his stupid shift and then he would've been but no. The howl was loud and long. One continuous howl signaling to everyone that we were under attack.

At first I didn't know who howled or which boarder it came from but one push to Gio's mind and then the feeling of his panic had me all but running from my room in my day dress and barefoot. Santiago also came running from his room closing the door softly behind him where Laura, who he had snuck in, was asleep. I looked at him with a panicked expression and we both had made a run for it.

The fight was brief and we had barely made it to the tree line before the second howl came. The one signaling the end of the fight. But once that howl came I dropped to the ground. Gio was hurt and badly. I could feel it and it hurt just as bad as if it had happened to me. Every place he was beaten and bruised ached on my body and worst of all my neck. I tried running into the woods but Santiago held me steady while I screamed into the dark abyss and then he dragged me back towards the castle.

He hadn't felt what I felt but he knew the protocol was that if the victory howl ensued everyone was to meet back in the waiting area of the castle and thats what we did. Wolf after wolf who was in the area when it happened trickled in. Lots of them taking in my tear streaked face and shaking body in Santiagos tight grip.

We waited for an hour and a half before Rayan came through those doors. He looked beaten down as ever but when he dragged a half naked Gio behind him tiredly I knew Gio had got the brunt of the fight. He had topped Rayan in hand to hand which means if Rayan is still conscious they were not after him.

I'd screamed when I saw him and ripped away from Santiago before the doctors could get to him. I'd moved toward him so quick and demanded that the area be swept for the pups that had done it.

Now I stand over Gio's body in the hospital. Dried tears coat my cheeks as I watch his wounds slowly heal up and his breathing get back to normal. Rayan had refused to see a doctor and stayed with me the whole time pacing the room waiting for him to wake.

My dad, Santiagos dad, and Santiago all went to sweep the area that it had happened and my mom went to the press room for a live speech spitting lies about how we were all fine.

"I'm sorry, Thora," Rayan says for the millionth time. I cut him off with a stiff glare.

"I know Rayan." I groan. "Was it rogues?"

"I couldn't tell," He says "They smelled of pack wolves but their mentality was of a rogue."

"How?"

"I have no clue," He stands up "One minute it was quiet and the next it was like they were waiting there for a while but we never sensed them. Giovanni noticed first and then I did too."

"How?" I ask again. None of tis makes sense.

Santiago burst through the door looking slightly giddy from the hunt. "We found something."

I all but run towards him and so does Rayan. Santiago holds out a piece of paper to me and I take it.

'Didn't you just love that Giovanni? Come back to me and i'll stop this. Next time it's your sweet little mate. xoxo-Weston'

"What the hell!" Rayan screams "I swear to the goddess he s fucking dead!"

"Is this all they left?" I ask "Tracks?"

"We couldn't track them. The tracks were so mixed up. Some were ours and some were theres but we couldn't get a scent. It was weird," Santiago claims looking dejected. I sigh and take the note with me over to Gio again.

"What are we going to do? That was an attempt on his life," I mutter.

"I don't think Alpha West is going to kill him," Rayan says back. I raise an eyebrow and he gives me a look like he knows something about Gio but he says nothing out loud. "Alpha West likes, Giovanni."

It clicks that Rayan knows about Gio. I don't know how but he knows. I look over at Santiago and see him looking confused. "Why would he like him? He just sent his weird army of killer wolves after him," Santiago snorts.

"Yes but to capture him maybe. Hurt him bad enough so he couldn't fight back and then deliver him to his abuser."

"What's going on?" Gio asks from the bed. His heart rate goes up until his eyes land on me. I grin and go to him immediately.

"We can finish this later. Go to bed guys," I say quickly sitting on the bed. They both nod and leave the room. Rayan gives Gio's arm a squeeze before he goes. "Hey."

"Thora i'm sorry," He says sitting up and wincing slightly.

"What for?"

"I don't want you in on the fight. They were ruthless and I was trying to protect you-"

"I'm glad you want to protect me but it goes the same for you. I can fight, Gio you've seen me do it."

"I know," He smiles "I just get worried."

"I do too. You scared the shit out of me," I mutter leaning in the hug him. If I hurt him he doesn't comment on it.

"Well that's not good," He laughs "Maybe you should try a toilet-"

"Gio!" I screech glaring at him "I'm serious."

"I am too!"

We lay there smiling for a while before he starts again.

"They smelled funny," He comments

I sigh "I know Rayan said they did." I hold out my hand with the crumbled piece of paper in it and he takes it from me.

He's quiet for to long as he assess the information on the paper and I left my head to look at him. He growls lowly in his chest and his eyes start to swirl black. "It's one thing to threaten me. But you?" he growls out angry.

"Relax-"

"Relax? No I won't relax, Thora. He just threatened you. Why can't he leave you out of this?"

I sigh and kiss his jaw, I plant a kiss on his neck and another at the base of his neck making him groan. "Relax," I whisper against his skin.

"You aren't going to distract me from this," He grumbles out grabbing the back of my dress and yanking me away from him. I squeal in surprise at his aggressive behavior but try not to let onto the fact that I like it.

"Gio," I whisper looking at him through my lashes.

"No," He says rising from the bed. I pout but don't press the matter anymore. He crosses his arms over his bare chest. "He has taken this too far."

"I know," I say also standing "We are going to talk to my parents first thing in the morning about a course of action."

He nods. "Good."