LOGINLorenzoâs POV âWhy are you in Mammaâs bed?â The small voice cut straight through my sleep, dragging me out of it without mercy. My eyes snapped open, and the first thing I saw were two tiny figures standing beside the bed. Luca had his arms folded tightly across his chest, his expression full of suspicion and accusation, while Sofia stood close to him, her head tilted as she studied me with open curiosity. I blinked, trying to gather myself, trying to ignore the sharp glare Luca was throwing my way. The kid had warned me just hours ago, and somehow, I had still ended up exactly where he said I should not be. In his motherâs bed. âWhat are you two doing here?â I whispered, pushing myself up carefully so I would not wake Chiara. We had barely slept before dawn when we finally collapsed back into bed. She was still fast asleep beside me, her dark hair spread across the pillow, her face peaceful in a way that made something tighten in my chest. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagi
Chiaraâs POV âWhy were you kissing him?â Lucaâs question cut straight through the silence, sharp and innocent at the same time. His face was scrunched in confusion, like he could not quite piece together what he had just seen. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. What could I possibly say to a child who had just walked in on his mother kissing a man he barely knew? Lorenzo recovered first. He crouched down to Lucaâs level, steady and calm, like he was handling something fragile. âWell, piccolo⌠thatâs a very good question. Do you think I shouldnât kiss your mamma?â he asked, glancing briefly at me. Luca crossed his arms over his chest, his small lips pushing into a stubborn pout. âYes. Only me and Sofia can kiss Mamma,â he declared. Lorenzoâs lips twitched, amusement slipping through despite himself. I stayed where I was, frozen between stepping in or letting this strange moment play out. âHm,â Lorenzo hummed, rubbing his jaw like he was considering a serious deal. âThat d
Lorenzoâs POV I stepped closer to her, my fingers brushing lightly against her arm, slow and careful, like I was trying to soothe something fragile, something already cracking beneath the surface. I needed her to understand, to feel it, that it had always been her, that it was still her. âGinevra means nothing to me, Chiara,â I said, my voice low, steady, but she let out a bitter laugh that cut straight through me as she pulled away from my touch like it burned. She did not believe me. Not even a little. âNothing?â she shot back, her eyes flashing. âSheâs in your pack, always around you, always close enough to touch. That is what nothing looks like to you?â I exhaled sharply, dragging my hand through my hair as frustration clawed its way up my chest, threatening to spill over. âChiara, I know how it looks,â I said, trying to keep my voice under control, trying not to lose her again right here. âBut it is not what you think.â âThen explain it to me,â she demanded, stepp
Chiara's POV "You're imagining things," I replied, crossing my arms over my chest as if it could shield me from my own lies. "It's not possible. I am past the age of awakening. If I did not have a wolf all this time, I am not going to suddenly get one now," I denied. Lorenzoâs eyes narrowed as he focused on me, and we both stepped out of the twinsâ bedroom. "I know what I felt, Chiara. Youâ" "You are wrong," I interrupted immediately, my voice rising slightly, more defensive than I intended. My wolf stirred inside me. Stop this, she growled, impatient and firm. Tell him. Heâs our mate. No. I shoved her presence away. As I noticed Lorenzo still trailing behind me, I spoke again. "You're reading too much into it. I am still the same wolfless Chiara you looked down on, remember? Nothingâs changed." Lorenzoâs steps faltered. I did not want to start a fight this morning, but his questions were dragging me back to the past, to the way he used to insult me, belittling me for not hav
Chiaraâs POV I woke to the sound of soft, steady breathing beside me, and my heart instantly seized with panic. The memories of last night rushed back all at once, hitting me like a wave, and I bolted upright, clutching the blanket tightly to my chest as if it could shield me from everything I was feeling. Lorenzo stirred next to me, his arm draped lazily over his face, completely at ease, as though the world had not shifted on its axis. The early morning light slipped through the curtains and settled over him, tracing the sharp line of his jaw, catching in the tousled strands of his dark hair, and highlighting the faint, almost satisfied smile at the corner of his lips. He looked calm. Content. I, on the other hand, felt like I was falling apart. My thoughts refused to settle, guilt and longing twisting together inside me in a way that made it hard to breathe. What had I done? âYouâre staring,â Lorenzo murmured, his voice rough with sleep, a lazy smirk forming as he cracked o
Chiaraâs POV âYouâre trembling,â Lorenzo uttered. I inhaled deeply and balled my hands, trying to steady the slight shake in them, because I hadnât even realized I was until he pointed it out. Lorenzo stepped closer, his eyes locked onto mine, heavy with something intense, something that burned through me like wildfire against the soft rhythm of rain pouring outside. âDonâtâŚâ The word slipped out before I could stop it, weak, unsteady, like both a warning and a plea tangled into one. My mind was already in chaos, already overwhelmed by everything happening between us, and his presence only made it worse. I was already torn about what decision to make, already struggling to stay grounded, and yet my heart refused to cooperate, pounding harder with every second he stood there. âDonât what?â he asked, taking another step closer, until the space between us felt nonexistent. I parted my lips to answer, but nothing came out. Donât look at me like that. Donât say my name the way
Raffaeleâs POV I kept my hand resting lightly on Sofiaâs shoulder as we walked through the corridor, ensuring she stayed close. She was a handfulâthere was no denying thatâbut there was also something captivating about her boldness and quick wit. Beside her, Luca trailed silently, his sharp gaze
Chiaraâs POV I immediately connected my charger as I settled onto a chair in my hotel room after being transferred here. Annaâs name lit up the screen. A long string of messages followedâones I hadnât been able to read earlier because my phone had died the moment I arrived. The first one
Lucaâs POV The car was weird. It smelled like old leather and something spicy, like pepperoncino oil, that made my nose twitch. Sofia sat beside me, her legs too short to reach the floor. They swung back and forth while she stared out the window. I could tell she didnât trust these guys any mo
Lorenzoâs POV Chiara had always been a mystery to me. But now? She was something else entirely. Six years ago, she vanished from Florence like smoke. And when she returned, she wasnât the same timid girl who used to lower her eyes whenever I looked at her. She came back sharper. Stronger. Fier







