Giovanni

Chapter 44

Giovanni Ellis:

"I didn't know he was gay," I state with an eye roll. Thora lays on top of me. We are laying in the bed, having skipped training after her and Santiagos' unfortunate fight. She cracks a smile just barely as she lays her head on my chest.

"We all told you he wasn't the traitor," She sighs.

"He was acting sketchy and I'm the only person who noticed."

She laughs "Because he was a secret gay," She states "see how that comes full circle? He was acting sketchy, you investigate, closeted gay caught in a closet."

"Fine," I mutter still embarrassed about it. "Are you okay?"

She shakes her head quickly with a low growl. "I'll never forgive him," She states angrily. "How are you not mad about this?"

I am. I am more angry that he insulted her than what he said about me. We all knew that he has always had some secret grudge against me, whether it be because he was trying to push me into my potential or not. It's weird that he would do it towards Thora. He had no right even if I accidentally insulted his mate. I am angry because he has sworn allegiance to Thora and then just ruin it because of my actions.

Thora is the most confident person I know. She has her struggles and sure we are in a slump right now with everything that's going on, but she always tries her best to figure it out. Needing her fathers' help has nothing to do with it.

"Yes, I am angry at him for insulting your ability to rule."

"Forget about me," She snaps "Do you think I forced you into this?" She lifts her head from my chest and looks me in the eyes.

What am I supposed to say to that? There is no straight answer to that question. "You're taking too long to reply," she says getting off me. I try to grab for her but she swiftly moves out of my hold and to the end of the bed.

"No," I say also sitting up "I mean yes but not because-"

"Yes?" She asks and I can see the tears in her eyes welling up.

"Yes and no."

"No," She says "It's one or the other. You can't have it both ways."

I sigh "Yes I can, Thora. Just listen to me."

"I don't think I want to."

"Don't do this," I say and she looks towards me with a glare.

"Do what?"

"That thing where you don't let me correct myself and then you get mad at me for something that came out wrong."

"Then don't do that thing where you say what you really mean first and then correct it when I get mad."

I scoff and look at her with an 'are you serious' look. "I don't do that."

"Yes you do," She stands up "If you have something to say then just fucking say it."

I also stand up and easily tower over her. She looks up to me with a heated glower. I look down at her with pleading eyes. "Thora," I sigh. I go to touch her and instead she shakes her head and moves back. "Please let me explain myself."

"Then explain," She snaps

"Yes because at first I wanted to leave and you wouldn't let me. That was before I actually thought about it and decided to try with you. Once I started thinking about it though I knew I could never leave you. You saved me so no, in the end, you didn't force me to do anything. All you did was force me to see what we could be."

With her arms still crossed she looks down at the floor. It is silent between us and I can't help but think about how she's feeling. I can see the hurt on her face but she's blocked the bond from me. I can see the tear slide down her face. I reach out to brush it aways and surprisingly she leans into me. Stress replaces her hurt as she lets out a sob.

I have seen Thora in a lot of moods. I have seen her anger and even her sadness but never have I seen her stress. I have never seen the internal turmoil she faces about any of this until now. She lets her wall down and wraps her arms around me. All of her emotions force their way into my body and suddenly I can feel them too. Stress and fear but none of it for herself. All of it for me and solely focused on me. I quickly put my own wall up as not to overwhelm her with my own stress as I wrap my arms around her to pick her up.

We sit on the bed, the only sounds coming from her sobbing into my chest as I try and soothe her pain by rubbing her back and whispering that everything is okay over and over. I have no clue if everything is going to turn out okay or not. I don't know if I'll make it out of this. We don't know anything or have any information. All we know is that Alpha West wants me and as soon as his numbers are right he will attack. Preparation is the only thing we can count on.

"Gio," she says with a sniffle. Her sobs start to die down until they are nothing. She looks up at me with puffy red eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," I say back softly.

"I'm sorry for getting mad at you. Santiago might have a point-"

"No, he does not"

She nods "Yes he does. I can't protect you and I barely know whats going on. The Kingdom has not needed this many training sessions or even war preparations since my dad and mom first met. Even then the only threat to her was the few that didn't want her to be queen. It died down once she got pregnant with me. This though- this is something that hasn't happened in hundreds of years."

She's right. Because who is stupid enough to threaten a royal and live to see the next day? No one is even stupid enough to cross onto the territory without permission so this? This is something that was unprepared for. They have protocols for it and they know how to handle it but it has never been put into action. Wolves are loyal creatures and wherever their loyalties lie that is where they will stay. With the whole Kingdom in mutual agreement and love for the royals, no one would attack.

"I know." We look at each other "We have been training for weeks now? We have been waiting for this attack and we know it's coming so all we have to do it wait. We will be ready when it happens. We have amped up security in the castle and at the borders."

She rubs her puffy eyes "But why is he waiting for so long? I don't understand why he won't just attack now? We know he has the numbers."

"Maybe we just think he does," I say "Maybe he actually doesn't have the numbers to attack us like we think he does."

"He wants you, Gio." She whispers "What are you going to do if he gets you?"  

Die "I'll figure it out," I say instead. "He won't get me."

"Promise me you won't go with him willingly." She says back and I look at her crazy.

"Why would I go with him willingly?"

"Promise me," She demands and I nod.

"Yes, I promise I won't go with him willingly."

She snuggles up closer to me with a sigh. I look down at her in content never wanting to leave this moment. How in the hell I got here from where I was will always be a mystery to me but I regret none of it. We both let sleep pull us into the darkness not wanting to be awake any longer.