The Council was an unpredictable variable that she could neither fully trust nor ignore.Every step she took had to be calculated for the long game,survival for herself and protection for the child, and perhaps, eventually, a reckoning.Her mornings began with observation her afternoons with strategy and her nights with quiet reflection. Giovanni cataloged every detail she could remember about the estate, Russell’s habits and even the staff who had been complicit in enforcing his will. Her mind was a living map and every piece of intelligence became a tool in her arsenal.Yet even in freedom, there was a gnawing ache a combination of fear, guilt, and longing. The child inside her was a reminder of both vulnerability and power. She traced the curve of her abdomen with careful fingers, whispering promises she hoped would protect both their lives. “We’re safe now,” she said softly, though the wolf inside her remained alert, coiled, and watchful. “We’ll be stronger. We’ll survive.”Meanwhi
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