Chapter 4: Grounded

GIANNA

“Father, I saw it with my own eyes. Alpha Kol was…was—well, let’s just say—Father, he had no right! This alpha needs to be reminded of his place!”

I heard Diego, the fury in his voice, before I even opened my eyes. I’d seen him angry before, but never like this. I wondered why, then I heard my mother speak. “Diego, how did Gianna look to you?”

“What?” he spat back.

My father’s booming voice issued a warning. “Diego, apologize and show respect to your mother.”

I didn’t need to see Diego to know he gulped. Dad had always been great with us, but he was the king, after all.

“Sorry, Mother. Honestly, I only saw her for a second, but she looked—she looked—” His voice trailed off. “Hazed,” he whispered. What happened next caused me to jump, and my eyes shot open.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE LOOKED HAZED? SHE CAN’T EXPERIENCE THE HAZE! FRIEDA, EXPLAIN THIS IMMEDIATELY!” my father boomed. His face was red with rage, inches from Diego’s.

Diego gulped and looked at him. “I’m sorry, Father; that’s just what I saw,” he mumbled, looking down at the ground.

No one dared look Father in the eye when he was like this—that meant you were challenging him. “Dad, I’m sorry,” I whispered, sitting up slowly. Everyone froze, not having realized I was awake.

“Gianna, darling! How are you feeling?” my mother gushed, stroking my hair. I instantly felt calm. She’d always had a healing touch.

I looked up at my father, afraid to see his reaction. I’d never seen my father this angry.

“GIANNA, EXPLAIN YOURSELF! DO YOU REALISE THE DAMAGE CONTROL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW?! DID YOU HAZE?! ANSWER ME!” he roared, spit flying out of his mouth with rage.

I jumped and looked down at my feet.

My mother rushed to my father, stroking his arm gently. “Now, Raphy, darling, why don’t we discuss this calmly as a family? I’m sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this.”

My father took a deep calming breath. “Of course, darling; you’re right.” Next thing I knew, all eyes were on me, and I gulped.

~How do I tell them? How do I explain that I was hazed when I don’t even know if I was? I felt a connection with him like no other; he is my mate; we both know it, but how—how do I tell them that?~

I looked up at my family. My mother—my beautiful mother with her golden locks and glistening green eyes always understood me.

I looked at my father. His dark hair was a mess; he’d obviously been pulling it in rage. His dark eyes bored into mine. “Well, Gianna, I’m waiting,” he growled through clenched teeth.

I gulped. “I think he’s—I think—”

“You think he’s what, darling?” My mother was at my side now, stroking my arm gently, encouraging me to speak.

I looked up at Diego, who stood shoulder to shoulder with my father. His fists were clenched, fury filled his eyes, and his rugged jaw was locked in temper.

“You think he’s what, Gianna?” he spat. I looked down at my hands clasped in my lap, inhaled a sharp breath, and braced myself for the chaos my admission would bring.

I looked up at my father and brother with bravery that I didn’t think my eyes could back up. “I think he’s my mate,” I said semi-confidently.

Mother squealed in delight, my father’s jaw clenched, and Diego’s mouth fell. “Gianna,” my father breathed through his teeth, “you are grounded.”

~Shit.~

~Here we go…~

KOL

~Shit.~

I grimaced as I removed my shirt. I looked at my bruised ribs in the mirror.

~Shit.~

Diego had really gotten a few good ones at me. I laughed to myself, remembering the shiner I’d given him. That eye wouldn’t go back to normal for days. My chest swelled. Not gonna lie, I was proud.

Proud I’d held my own against Diego fucking Gray and landed one on him. No one else had managed that. No one!

“I mean seriously, Kol, what were you thinking? She is the king’s daughter, for crying out loud! Have you lost your damn mind?!” Jordan spat the words at me as he was pacing my office.

I didn’t take offense at his tone. I knew he was just trying to be a friend. “I don’t know, Jordan, okay?! I just couldn’t help it. I was drawn to her…” My voice trailed off, and I looked down at the floor.

Jordan had stopped his pacing and slowly turned to face me as the implications of my words hung over us both.

“You mean?! She’s—she’s—she’s your—?!” I looked up at my beta and nodded. His eyes widened in realization

“Yes, Jordan, she’s my mate.” He sank into the chair across from mine, his mouth hanging open. He managed to compose himself and swallow.

“I don’t know who’s going to kill you more,” he started, staring at me. “The alpha king or Diego.”

“I’m not worried about that right now, Jordan. I need you to do me a favor,” I said, staring at him.

“What?” he whispered, gulping. He was afraid; he had every right to be. The king terrified us all.

“I need you to get me her number. You didn’t see Diego. I need to know she’s okay. Jordan, can you help me?”

He gulped, thinking, then slowly he nodded. “Yes, my alpha.”

I let a breath escape my lips and leaned back. I needed to recover fast before Diego came looking for round two.

GIANNA

I sat alone in my room, staring out my window, I had never been grounded in my life. Ever! Why was father so angry? I’d thought he’d be happy I’d found my mate.

Mother had always made it sound so exciting, but then she was a witch, not a wolf. She didn’t understand their ways, I guessed.

What would I know, though? My wolf was suppressed. I didn’t even feel like a wolf; I felt more like a fraud than anything.

There was a soft knock at my door. I looked up, and Diego’s head popped in. “Hey, Gia, can I come in?”

~Gia~, I laughed to myself. He always called me that when he knew he had gotten me in trouble. I waved around my room with an air of sarcasm and I’ll admit, a bit dramatically.

“Sure, Diego, come on in. It’s not like I can go anywhere, after all. I’m fucking grounded.”

He flinched at those words. “Gia, I’m so sorry,” he whispered, stepping into my room. I folded my arms and stared at him. We had always been close, but this time he’d gone too far.