Giovanni's Perspective
Time passed in silence. I don't know how long it had been when there was a soft knock on the door. Tobias's voice followed, gently asking if I needed anything.
I didn't answer.
There was no point.
No amount of comfort or strength could ever fill the void in my heart. Without her, my life had lost all meaning. There was a time I thought I could survive without relying on anyone. Now, I realize that losing her meant losing everything.
Slowly, I stood and picked up the fallen diary, placing it carefully back on the table. Her secrets, her pain, had become a scar etched into my soul. I would never open that diary again, because it reminded me that I once had her—and now, all that was left were endless regrets.
"I'm sorry..."
Those were the only words I could offer her. But it was too late.
I turned to the window, gazing up at the moon. Its silvery light bathed the earth, reminiscent of her eyes—gentle, yet determined.
She was gone. And I would live forever in this cold night, never to be redeemed.
"... I know. He barely eats and hardly sleeps anymore," Tobias said.
The door was ajar, and I could hear Tobias' voice along with Vivian's from the other side.
"If Giovanni knew about this, no matter how upset he is, maybe he could start to heal," Vivian said.
Know about what? What were they talking about?
"I don't know, Vivian," Tobias replied. "I can't imagine how I'd feel if it were me. You know that."
She sighed. "I just... I just want to help him."
What the hell were they talking about?
The only thing—the one thing they shouldn't mention in front of me is...
"All we can do is be there for him and try to make the rest of his life a little easier."
"I miss her so much," Vivian said through sobs.
"I know you do," Tobias said softly. I could almost picture him patting her back, trying to comfort her. "Me too."
"I just wish... I wish..." Vivian huffed.
"I know," he sighed. I thought she was about to say she wished she could see Fern one last time.
Because I wish I could see her again.
More than anything in the world.
I was about to make my presence known when Vivian said something that froze my blood.
"If I had told him earlier that Fern was pregnant, could this tragedy have been avoided?" she asked.
My eyes widened.
Vivian knew it?
"Vivian, we've been over this," Tobias said. "It's too late now. You have to let it go."
"But don't you feel responsible?" she pressed. "If we tell Giovanni—"
I braced myself against the wall, my head spinning, unwilling to follow my thoughts to their inevitable conclusion.
I refocused just in time to hear Tobias say, "No, we all know how Giovanni treated Fern before. I thought we had more time to change his mind, but..."
I'd heard enough. I stepped into the room, unable to keep pretending I didn't know what was going on. My teeth clenched, my eyes burning red with emotion.
Vivian gasped, and both of their faces paled.
"Alpha," Tobias said, "we don't know—can we give you anything?"
"So, you already knew Fern was pregnant?" I spat out each word like a curse, slamming my hands down hard on the table across from them, my nails digging into the wood like nails from a gun.
Tobias raised his hands defensively, while Vivian immediately burst into tears—something that didn't surprise me in the slightest.
"Alpha, please let us explain."
"Why don't you tell me?" I demanded, shaking the table.
Vivian sobbed harder, and Tobias stood up—an indication that he was actually challenging me, to some degree.
"Because Fern didn't want you to know," Tobias said, his voice calm, though there was no submission in it.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, straightening to my full height and glaring down at him.
Tobias took a deep breath. "Fern didn't want you to know about her pregnancy because the way you treated her before made her want to protect the baby—"
"No." I shook my head as he nodded. "That's not going to happen. That's my baby too. How could I hurt him?"
"It's possible," Tobias said sadly. "Admit it, Fern's fears aren't unfounded, Giovanni. Think about what you've done to her." His voice softened. "She knew what would happen to her—and the baby—if you found out after the fact."
"No," I said again, pressing my lips together to keep my emotions in check, my whole body trembling. "You're mistaken, Tobias."
"I'm so sorry you had to find out this way, Giovanni. Vivian wanted to tell you. We were just waiting for the right moment." Tobias looked genuinely contrite.
I had no choice but to accept that what he was saying was true.
"Enough!" I interrupted, my voice seething with anger.
I knew he was right, but I didn't want to hear it.
"Get out," I said.
Tobias sighed, wrapped his arm around Vivian, and led her out without another word.
I sat down at my desk, staring at her journal, refusing to acknowledge the tears that threatened to fall. I couldn't breathe.
What had I done to my Fern? She was so afraid of me—she probably hated me—that she would rather die by her own hand than let me touch her. She would rather end her life than be near me.
She would rather die than be with a monster like me. And I deserved it.
I covered my face with my hand. What had I done?
Images of her beautiful face flashed through my mind. I saw her smile, heard her laugh, felt the memory of her touch on my skin.
How could I accept that she would never come back?
But this was what I deserved. For what I'd done to her, I deserved to be alone, punished with pain forever.
My hand reached for the sideboard, where a bottle of whiskey waited. I needed something to help me tonight. Just for this one night, I told myself. I needed something to get me through the night...