Chapter 29
twenty-nine
KITANIA
I slipped away while my mates were preoccupied with security protocols and contingency plans, their deep voices a low murmur from the office down the hall. They hadn’t noticed me leave—or if they had, they’d respected my need for space. Either way, the pull was too strong to resist.
The nest called to me like a beacon, promising comfort in every plush pillow and fluffy blanket, each one steeped in my Alphas’ scents. The echo of everything we’d shared here over the past week wrapped around me, steadying me when the world outside felt too loud, too heavy.
I crawled into the center of it all and inhaled deeply, letting their signatures soothe me. They were all mingled together, along with the unmistakable scent of sex and surrender and joy. It was intoxicating, grounding, safe. The perfect antidote to the knot of dread that had tightened in my chest since the phone call.
I burrowed deeper, wrapping myself in a soft cashmere throw that smelled particularly like Marco. The silk pillow beneath my cheek carried Dimitri’s scent most strongly. My fingers drifted over the fabric, tracing idle patterns, trying to quiet the noise in my mind.
But it wouldn’t stop. Not when danger was circling again. Not when I had so much to lose now.
Almost unconsciously, my hand found the bond mark on the right side of my throat. Dimitri’s.
I brushed the raised edge of the silvery scar, and a warm ripple of sensation passed through me at the contact. His presence rushed back along the thread, steady and iron-strong. A reminder that I wasn’t alone anymore. That I belonged. That I was protected.
One by one, the other bonds answered.
I closed my eyes, visualizing those threads. Deep crimson for Dimitri. Golden for Giovanni. Vibrant green for Tommy. Electric blue for Marco. All of them extended from the center of my chest, stretching through the penthouse, tethering me to my mates.
Mine . Truly, deeply mine. The reality of it still stole my breath on more than one occasion.
The door opened quietly, and I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. I’d felt him coming, felt the golden thread between us growing taut with proximity. Felt the way it was tinged with concern.
“Found you,” he said, filling the doorway before stepping inside.
He didn’t ask why I’d disappeared. He didn’t need to. He felt it.
I shifted slightly, making room for him beside me. The mattress dipped under his weight as he settled in, his back against the mattress, one long leg stretched out alongside my body. This close, his scent was rich and addictive, making my insides all fluttery.
“I wish we could just stay here,” I whispered. “Let the world sort itself out without us.”
His large hand covered mine, thumb brushing my knuckles. “We could,” he said, surprising me. “For a little while.”
I rolled on my side, propped my head on my hand, and looked down at him, searching those hazel eyes for signs of teasing. But he was completely serious. His expression softened in a way few ever got to see.
“Just pull the covers over our heads and pretend nothing exists beyond this room?”
His mouth twitched in something close to a smile. “Wouldn’t be the worst plan we’ve ever had.”
I let myself imagine it for a moment—days spent like this. Quiet. Close. Safe. No Rocco. No knives at our backs. Just this nest, these bonds, these men.
“Maybe we could use some of these blankets and build a fort,” I added lightly. “We could make Marco wear a chef’s hat, cook for us, and deliver the food.”
Gio chuckled like the good sport he was, playing into my wistful dreams. “You’d love that.”
“I really would.”
But the moment couldn’t hold. Reality tugged at the edges, refusing to be ignored.
One way or another, we were going to have to deal with the danger. End it so we could move on. So we could have the peaceful future we were building toward.
“He’s never going to stop,” I whispered, the words small and brittle.
Giovanni’s jaw flexed, his voice a low promise. “He will when he’s dead.”
It should’ve scared me, but it didn’t. Not coming from him.
My hand found the mark he’d left at the crux of my neck and shoulder. His eyes tracked the movement, going darker. Without a word, he mirrored it, fingers brushing the place I’d bitten him in return.
The bond flared between us—hot, and tingly, and alive.
“We’re bound now,” he said. “Woven together. And if the world wants a fight… it’s getting all of us.”
I laced my fingers through his.
“One heart,” I said quietly. “One pack.”
He squeezed. “Exactly, Dolcezza.”
The fear didn’t vanish. The danger didn’t disappear. But it didn’t feel so sharp anymore—not here, not with him. Not with all of them, just a breath away.
And for now, that was enough.
GIOVANNI
I kept my stride relaxed as we walked along the sidewalk, takeout bags from Vino’s swinging lightly from my left hand. My right stayed free—old habits. Kit matched my pace beside me, her shoulder occasionally brushing against my arm in a way that sent little sparks across my skin. Two of our guys trailed ten feet back, another positioned ahead at the corner—close enough to intervene, far enough not to crowd us. Finding that balance had been tricky, but the smile on Kit’s face as she took in the storefronts made it worth the effort.
The spring air carried hints of coffee from a nearby café, mingling with the scent of Kit’s signature whenever a breeze ruffled her hair. I breathed it in, committing it to memory the way I cataloged everything about her. The way her eyes widened slightly at a colorful display of scarves. The unconscious tilt of her head when something truly captured her attention. The delicate movement of her throat when she swallowed.
“What?” she asked, catching me staring.
“Nothing.” I shrugged, offering a half-smile. “Just like seeing you enjoy yourself.”
A blush crept across her cheeks, making my chest tighten in that unfamiliar way I was still getting used to. It never used to do that until her . She looked away, but leaned closer to my side—always gravitating toward one of her mates. Today it was my turn.
A group of college kids approached, laughing and taking up the entire sidewalk. I subtly shifted us closer to the storefronts, angling my body between Kit and the strangers. My eyes flicked to Nico at the corner, who straightened slightly, hand drifting beneath his jacket. The kids passed without incident, but my muscles only unwound when they were well behind us.
“You know you do that, right?” Kit asked, voice soft.
“Do what?”
“Position yourself between me and everyone else. Like you’re waiting for a bomb to go off.”
I hadn’t realized she’d noticed. “Force of habit.” Especially after our date at the movies. I’d have taken that bullet for her in a goddamn second.
“I don’t mind,” she said, surprising me. “It makes me feel safe.”
Something primal and satisfied rumbled in my chest. I slid my arm around her waist, drawing her closer to my side. She fit there perfectly, like the space had been carved out just for her.
We continued past boutiques and restaurants, Kit occasionally stopping to peer into windows. I monitored our surroundings in overlapping zones—nearest threats, exit routes, sightlines to our security. But I also watched Kit, splitting my attention in a way I never had before.
Before her, vigilance had been singular, focused. Now, I found myself tracking both danger and delight with equal intensity.
When she stopped abruptly in front of a jewelry store display, I tensed before following her gaze. Her eyes had locked onto a delicate silver bracelet with tiny charms—a book, a whisk, a heart. The longing on her face was unmistakable, but she was already turning away, preparing to move on without mentioning it.
“Come on,” I said, guiding her toward the door with my hand at the small of her back.
“Gio,” she protested, “we don’t need to—”
“I want to.” I cut her off gently but firmly. “Besides, you deserve something nice.”
The shop was small but nice, with glass cases lining every wall. I nodded to Sal, who took up position outside the door, and Luca, who followed us in and stayed near the entrance. The saleswoman approached, her smile widening when she noticed the tattoos visible at my collar. Recognition flickered in her eyes—not of me specifically, but of what I represented. The Cristenello line that owned this city.
“The silver bracelet in the window,” I said, keeping an eye on Kit’s reflection in the glass cases. “The one with the charms.”
The woman fetched it quickly, laying it on a velvet cloth. Up close, the craftsmanship was evident—delicate links that caught the light, charms that moved with a satisfying weight.
Kit’s fingers hovered over it without touching. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“Try it on,” I urged, watching as she hesitantly extended her wrist. The saleswoman fastened it, and Kit rotated her arm slowly, the silver bright against her skin. Through our bond, I felt her pleasure, her surprise at being given something purely ornamental.
“We’ll take it,” I remarked, not bothering to ask the price. Kit opened her mouth to protest, but I silenced her with a look that she met with a small, accepting smile. I paid quickly, and moments later, we were back on the sidewalk, a small gift bag added to our collection.
“You didn’t have to,” Kit said, but her fingers clutched the bag tightly.
“I wanted to,” I replied, my voice dropping to a register I used only with her. “Think of it as a bonding gift.”
Her cheeks flushed, and her lips curved in a pleased smile that satisfied the Alpha in me.
We continued down the block, Kit relaxed, bubbly, and light. It was universal knowledge that Omegas loved presents, and my mates happiness at the bracelet just confirmed it. I loved giving her things. Loved spoiling her. Through our bond, I could feel her contentment, like sunshine filtering through clouds.
We were approaching an intersection when Kit stopped so abruptly that I nearly reached for my weapon before registering her expression. She stood frozen, eyes wide and fixed on an empty storefront. A “For Lease” sign hung in the window, visible through the dust on the glass. The space beyond was bare—just wooden floors, white walls, and high ceilings with exposed beams.
But Kit wasn’t seeing the emptiness. Through our connection, I felt a surge of... possibility . Her mind was already filling the space, and I knew she was picturing display cases along the wall filled with goodies of her creation. A counter with stools, some tables and chairs, maybe even a couch. Her fingers twitched at her sides, as if already kneading dough or piping frosting.
“A bakery would be perfect here,” I murmured.
Her head snapped toward me, surprise widening her eyes. “How did you—”
I felt the corner of my mouth quirk up. I gently tapped the space between her eyebrows where a small crease had formed. “You get this look,” I explained, my voice softer than I typically allowed in public. “Right here. I’ve seen it before when you talk about baking.”
My fingers drifted to the bond mark on my throat, a gesture that had become second nature since her heat. The skin there was slightly raised, still sensitive. “Besides, I’ve got an extra super power now. The way you were looking at the space... you were measuring it out in your head, weren’t you?”
Kit nodded, a wistful smile crossing her face before she forced herself to look away from the storefront. I didn’t miss the slight droop of her shoulders as she prepared to move on, to put the dream aside like so many times before. Something in my chest tightened at her resignation.
“We should keep it in mind,” I said casually, already making a mental note to inquire about the lease. My arm slipped around her waist, pulling her close against my side as we continued toward The Raven, where my brother was waiting. “After we drop off Marco’s lunch, maybe we can swing back this way.”
Kit sighed, leaning into my embrace. “Omegas can’t own businesses, Gio. It’s not allowed.”
The resignation in her voice sparked something protective and defiant in me. Fuck their rules. Fuck their limitations. If my Omega wanted a bakery, she’d have the best goddamn bakery in the city. I was already thinking of workarounds, of shell companies and legal loopholes—anything to give her this small piece of independence she clearly craved.
We could take shifts running it with her, keeping her safe while she did what she loved.
But I kept those thoughts to myself for now, simply enjoying the way she melted against me, her scent mixing with mine in the late autumn air. It was different now, with an added note that would tell other Alphas she was claimed. Taken. Mine .
Fuck, I was a lucky bastard.
I watched her, drinking in the sight of her, wondering how the hell I’d gotten so lucky. Her dark hair caught the sunlight, bringing out the blue and purple hues. I wanted to run my fingers through it, to pull her close and breathe her in until her scent filled my lungs.
Possessive? Maybe. But the way Kit nestled into my side told me she didn’t mind at all.
She wanted me to forget. Thought if she walked away fast enough from that storefront, I’d let the dream fade, just like she was trying so desperately to do.
But there was a flaw in her logic.
I was her Alpha. And I remembered everything about her.
The way she chewed the inside of her cheek when she was nervous. The way her fingers fluttered at her sides when she was imagining something. The way she looked at beautiful things like they belonged to someone else.
And there wasn’t a single chance in hell I’d forget something that made my Omega’s eyes light up like stars burning in a midnight sky.