Fern's Perspective
"What are you doing?" Giovanni's voice was low and cold, his eyes glinting with danger.
Giovanni's gaze was icy and murderous, his fists clenched, and his whole demeanor resembled a beast poised to pounce on its prey. Aurora stood nearby, a triumphant smile on her face and mockery in her eyes.
"Told you so," Aurora said contemptuously. "She's the mole. The recent attack on the pack was orchestrated by her and that man."
Instinctively, I stood up, forcing myself to remain calm. I met Giovanni's gaze, trying to mask the fear and unease bubbling inside me. "As you can see, Oliver is my brother. We were just talking, nothing more."
Meanwhile, I signaled Oliver to leave through the window with a discreet gesture behind my back. But Giovanni noticed my movement and ordered the guards to quickly surround Oliver.
A sneer curled at the corner of Giovanni's mouth, his eyes dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, really? Do you expect me to take your word for it?"
He advanced slowly, each step seeming to compel me to back away. However, I remained rooted to the spot, knowing that retreating now would only increase his contempt for me.
"I have no reason to lie to you," I said, my voice steady despite my rapidly beating heart. I could feel my lie weakening, almost transparent under his scrutinizing gaze.
At that moment, Aurora stepped closer and stood beside Giovanni.
"Your brother? I don't recall inviting him to my pack," Giovanni said coldly, a glint of malice in his eyes. "I despise being lied to."
My breath hitched, and my heart skipped a beat. I quickly realized that Giovanni must have sensed something—or perhaps had information I wasn't aware of.
"There was no deception between us," I tried to defend myself, but before my words could fully leave my mouth, Giovanni reached out and grabbed my wrist with such force that I winced in pain.
"Let go of her! You can't do this to her!" Oliver yelled at Giovanni.
"Shut up!" Giovanni's voice rumbled like thunder, his eyes blazing with anger. He then turned to me. "How much longer do you think you can keep this from me?"
I clenched my teeth, forcing back the pain and fear inside me, and looked him straight in the eye. "I'm not cheating on you. Believe it or not, I'm not."
Giovanni stared at me coldly, as if dissecting every word and every expression.
"Take him away," Giovanni finally ordered the guards behind him. "Since your brother is here, let him stay a few more days."
Giovanni, that bastard! He actually wanted to imprison Oliver.
"No!" Realizing this, I stormed toward Giovanni and grabbed his arm with both hands, desperately trying to prevent him from taking Oliver away.
Giovanni's strength was overwhelming, almost throwing me off, but I clung to him with all the force I could muster, my eyes pleading. I knew Giovanni was consumed by rage, but I had to stop him.
"Let go!" Giovanni snarled, the golden light in his eyes flickering as he almost shifted into his wolf form.
He struggled to free himself from my grip, but my persistence held him at bay for a moment.
"Please, let him go," I choked out. "He... he's innocent."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Giovanni's gaze, but it was quickly replaced by fury. He swung his hand violently at me, trying to push me away. I stumbled back from the blow, but immediately steadied myself, shifted into wolf form, and positioned myself between Giovanni and the guards.
It was the first time I had shown my wolf form in this way in front of Giovanni. In the werewolf world, displaying a wolf form in an attack stance in front of an Alpha is a sign of betrayal.
I clearly saw a flash of shock in Giovanni's eyes, which was soon overtaken by monstrous rage.
Roar!
With a roar, Giovanni shifted into his wolf form and lunged toward Oliver with fierce aggression.
In his enraged state, Giovanni attacked with agility and ferocity, forcing Oliver to retreat quickly.
Suddenly, Giovanni's claws slashed hard at Oliver's back.
Seeing this, my body reacted before my mind could catch up, and I quickly intervened, placing myself between Giovanni and Oliver.
Facing Giovanni's attack, I closed my eyes and braced for the pain.
However, the pain never came.
I opened my eyes to see Giovanni's massive wolf form halted in front of me, sadness in its eyes.
Sadness? Why would he be sad?
Too late to think about it all, I turned my head and yelled at Oliver, "Go!"
At the same time, I lunged towards Giovanni again, blocking him firmly. Oliver's silhouette was already becoming a blur in the distance, and I knew he had gotten away. Relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by fear and grief. I knew I was about to face Giovanni's wrath.
"Why?" Giovanni's voice was low and cold, as if emerging from the depths of an abyss. "Why did you do it?"
By now, we had both reverted to our human forms. I remained silent, knowing that no matter how I explained, Giovanni would never believe me again.
"Giovanni, we should lock her up!" Aurora stepped forward, but as soon as she got close enough to Giovanni, he roared angrily, "Get out of the way! Everyone!"
Aurora shot me a resentful look before leaving. When everyone had retreated, Giovanni fixed his gaze on me, his eyes burning with rage.
"Tell me! Are you still planning to leave me? Your brother, Oliver, came here to take you, didn't he?" His voice was heavy with disappointment and pain.
My heart sank so deeply that I almost retorted, but reason told me that arguing now would be futile.
"Why should I stay? You even tried to kill my brother! What makes you think I'd want to be with someone as heartless as you?"