Giovanni

Chapter 40

Thora Hawthorn:

"Where are you going?" I groan annoyedly at Gio for leaving the comfort of the bed.

"Training," He says back groggily, his voice deep from the morning haze. I sit up in the bed and pout crossing my arms over my chest. "What?"

"We don't have training today it's Sunday."

"I still have meetings and classes to attend, Thora."

"No," I whine "Stay."

He sighs and sits back on the bed making no effort to get comfortable. "We can't stay in bed all day, Thora. There is too much to do with Alpha West and the people."

I sigh "imminent danger isn't going anywhere, Gio."

"I realize that but I am also trying to stop it," he grumbles.

Shaking my head I scoff. "Yesterday was a stressful day. We should take the day off and just be in each other company. Besides stress makes both of our heat symptoms a hell of a lot worse than just discomfort."

He thinks for a second and hen shakes his head. "I have to go."

"Please, Gio?" I ask looking up at him through my lashes. His eyes darkened at my tone and then he shakes his head.

"But Alph-"

"The bounty hunters we sent after he came up empty-handed. His entire land has been evacuated so we sent out search parties last night. It can't be hard to find an entire pack. Alpha West could be among them and then we will execute him and anyone who follows him. Then we will deal with the people and their everlasting dislike for you and then we will have the coronation."

He smiles at me. I beautiful smile he rarely ever brings out showing off his pearly white teeth.  "Why do you make it sound so easy?"

"You needn't stress over this, Gio." I smile and pat the space next to me "we will figure this out."

He complies and sits on the bed next to me. His arms encircle me and I snuggle up to his broad chest. "I don't want to lose anyone. This is my fi-"

"Our," I insist not wanting him to feel alone.

"-Our fight and I want everyone to make it out alive. If anyone needs to get hurt it has to be me."

"Gio, this is war. That is what Alpha West claimed when he attacked you."

"I don't want anyone getting hurt on my behalf. I can fight my own battles."

With a groan, I get out of his hold and turn to face him. "You are their prince and they will lay down their lives for you."

"But do they want to?" He asks

I sigh "It doesn't matter-"

"It does matter. No one should be in the crossfires of any battle I have with the man who torments me. He wants me and this whole thing would be a lot easier if any of you would trust me enough to let me handle it."

"We trust you," I defend and he laughs.

"No. None of you trust me. Not you or Rayan or the King and especially not Santiago."

"Santiago is just a dick."

He sighs "Not the point. The point is that I want all of you to make it from this battle alive. Alpha West is a sadistic man. He made me trust him after my parents died just so he could throw that same trust back in my face. He laughs at my pain, my suffering, and he cares little for what happens to others so long as he gets what he wants. He wants me and I know that he won't stop until he gets just that."