LOGINLuciano De Lucaâs POV While I refused to accept Silvia Romanoâs demand that Chiara be erased completely from my life, I could no longer deny a quieter, harsher truth within myself. What I was doing⌠clinging to what had already slipped through my fingers⌠was not healing me. It was slowly hollowing me out. So I did the only thing that felt remotely like control. After placing a lock on Chiaraâs old bedroom door, I made a decision I was not certain I could keep. I would not go in there again. Each time I had stepped into that room, I had forced myself to relive everything I had done wrong. Every careless word. Every moment I had chosen pride, distraction, or indifference over her. I had convinced myself it was necessary, that it was punishment I deserved. Yet no matter how many times I stood in that space, surrounded by the ghost of her presence, it brought me no closer to forgiveness. Because the truth was simple and merciless. Chiara was gone. No amount of regret, no amount o
Luciano De Lucaâs POV I watched the shift happen in real time, the way Silvia Romanoâs expression changed as her eyes landed on the door behind me. What had been soft curiosity sharpened into something tense, something unsettled. âThatâs Chiaraâs room,â she said slowly, as if saying it aloud made it more real. âYes,â I replied without hesitation. There was no reason to deny it, not when the truth stood right there between us. Her gaze snapped back to me. âWhy were you in Chiaraâs room?â The question wasnât hers to ask, but I knew better than to say that. Silvia had a way of stretching conflict until it consumed everything, and I had no patience for another exhausting scene. So I said nothing. I held her stare without answering, hoping silence would be enough, hoping she would let it go. She didnât. If anything, my silence made it worse. Her eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line as irritation began to simmer just beneath the surface. It was still better than tears
Chiaraâs POV At work that morning, Caterina, Piera, and I gathered in the small office, the scent of strong espresso curling through the air as we leaned against desks and chairs, trying to pretend it was just another normal day. At my insistence, Caterina had not brought the newspaper with my face splashed across it. I had thought that would spare me the embarrassment. Unfortunately, Piera had already beaten her to it. She held the paper like it was something precious, her fingers smoothing the edges as though she truly intended to frame it and hang it behind her desk like a prized possession. âYou know my identity is supposed to remain a secret,â I reminded her quietly once we were alone. My gaze lingered on the bold headline before I forced myself to look away. âIf you hang that up, people will start asking questions.â Piera lifted her chin, completely unapologetic. âIâm allowed to admire the former Luna of the pack,â she said, as if that alone justified everything. Caterina
Chiaraâs POV âAdoption?!â The word came out sharper than I intended, laced with pure disbelief. My fingers tightened around my bag as I stared at the reporter, my thoughts scrambling to catch up with the absurdity of his question. âUh⌠no. No, thatâs not why Iâm here,â I said, my voice stumbling over itself despite my effort to stay composed. This was never meant to turn into anything public. I had only come to give back to the orphanage that had once taken me in, that had fed me, clothed me, and kept me alive when grief had hollowed me out after my parents died. âWhat other reason could you have for being here?â he asked, his tone lacking even the smallest trace of respect. âI donât know,â I replied just as bluntly, my patience snapping without warning. If he could not offer basic decency, then I had no reason to offer it in return. I raised my hand and flagged down a taxi, eager to escape the conversation before it twisted further. âIf youâll excuse me.â I should have known
Luciano De Lucaâs POV Most of the elders stood frozen at my outburst, clearly taken aback by the sharpness in my tone. The first to recover was the eldest among them, his expression hardening as his gaze locked onto mine. âYou will not speak to us in that manner, Alpha King or not,â he said, his voice cold and measured. I barely heard the warning beneath his words. My anger was still too fresh, too raw, burning through whatever patience I had left. âYou will stop speaking about my mate that way,â I snapped, the words leaving me before I could restrain them. âYour ex-mate,â the elder corrected firmly. The word struck harder than I expected. A flicker of embarrassment surfaced, but it did nothing to dampen the fury coiling inside me. If anything, it made it worse. Even now, even after everything, Chiara deserved better than the way they spoke about her. She had always deserved better. If only I had realized that sooner. If only I had protected her from their judgment,
Chiaraâs POV With my plans finally set, I moved through each day with a quiet, steady sense of purpose. There was something grounding about having a future to walk toward, something that kept me from drifting back into the shadows of everything I had lost. I was no longer trapped in the past, no longer waking each morning feeling like I had nothing but memories to cling to. At least, that was true most of the time. There were moments, unwelcome and persistent, when Luciano De Luca slipped back into my thoughts. When he did, it wasnât gentle or fleeting. It was overwhelming, consuming every part of me until I could barely focus on anything else. His voice, his presence, the way loving him had once felt so natural, all of it came rushing back like a tide I couldnât hold back. The regret had begun to fade, replaced by a quiet acceptance. I had done the best I could with what I knew then. I could stand by my choices, even if they had led me here. But the pain was different. It linger
Chiaraâs POV âShe has to be drunk.â âThereâs no way any of that is true.â âLuciano would actually marry Silvia Romano? After everything sheâs done? Impossible. It has to be a lie.â The whispers spread like wildfire through the room, low at first, then rising, overlapping, colliding into someth
Luciano De Lucaâs POV I had no idea what to think about Doctor B. My first impression was that she was a cold womanâcommitted more to her craft than to the people she healed. Or at least, that was how it seemed to me, since she clearly disliked me. Even so, she was remarkable. As Alpha King, I
Chiara's POV Caterina and I returned to the offices that had been assigned for Doctor Bâs personal use. Iâd used these same offices in the past. As theyâd mostly been abandoned since then, all of my things remained as if theyâd been locked in a time capsule, simply waiting for my return. I guess
Chiara's POV Silvia laughed. "What are you talking about, Luciano De Luca? Chiara is just a simple housewife. She could never be compared to such a revered and wonderful Healer as Doctor B." Lucianoâs jaw clenched. I stood frozen, unsure how to react. That Luciano had even thought to connect Doc







