Chapter 12

Daniel's POV I'm pacing the office like a caged animal after Gianna left in a fit of rage. Maybe I had overreacted a bit? But I really don't like another man touching what is mine. Anyone with a mate would understand that. I would have thought that Gianna would have understood that too, considering how angry she had been after seeing Zoe kissing me. Admittedly, I could have broached the topic in a better way. I let my jealousy become way too apparent when telling her how I felt. I didn't try to explain my feelings or come up with a compromise. No. Instead I threw my weight around and we got into another fight. I'm such an idiot. "Yes, you are," my wolf huffs and I roll my eyes at him. Suddenly, it isn't my wolf's voice in my head, but my brother Mason. "E, Gianna is pissed! She's down in the media room and I'm pretty sure she's imagining your face as she throws darts." "Did you talk to her?" "Yeah, she's pretty mad, but I think she might be coming around." "Okay. Good. Are you still with her?" "No. I've got a hot date tonight at Lunar Club." I chuckle and shake my head. Mason hasn't found his mate yet, but it certainly isn't for lack of trying. He goes on a date every week and it seems like it is always someone new. He has yet to find someone that he genuinely enjoys enough to go out with long-term. "Yeah. Okay. You have fun then. But not too much fun." "I make no promises." I laugh and cut off the link with my brother before deciding that I should go find Gianna. If she is calming down maybe I can try to have this conversation with her again. Maybe this time I will not lose my head and it will go better. Suddenly, another voice enters my mind sounding urgent. "Alpha, you need to get to the pack house NOW. We're in the media room." "Shit. Is Gianna okay? What's happened?" "Uh... I'll let her tell you. Just hurry!" Immediately, I rush to the elevator and down to the pack house before hurrying through the entrance to the media room. As the doors swing open, I freeze as my eyes try to take in everything happening in front of me. Absolutely everyone in the room has stopped what they are doing and watching the scene as it unfolds before them. A small crowd has formed on one side, their faces all set in scowls, some with arms crossed over their chests, others with fists clenched at their sides. They all look like they are ready to attack. And in the center of them is Gianna, it's like they have made a protective barrier around her. I have trouble reading her expression. Her head is held high in confidence and defiance and her jaw is set, but there is a slight tremble to her lips like she is either scared or upset. Her and the rest of the wolves that surround her are facing a livid Zoe who is being held back by Gianna's guards. She keeps trying to lunge and escape their grips, but they are not relenting. "Let me go damn it! She's the one that started it! The fucking bitch!" Zoe screeches and a collective growl rises around her. Everything begins clicking into place as it becomes clear to me who Zoe is referring to. My wolf lets out a growl of his own as I allow my Alpha aura to shine through and yell, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" Everyone goes completely still, their eyes opening wide in fear, wondering what will happen next. I stride over and take position between Gianna's group and Zoe, my gaze going back and forth between the two, waiting for someone to explain. "Baby!" Zoe wails, still fighting against the hold of Gianna's guards. My face twists in disgust and I choose to ignore the pet name for the moment. "She hit me! She needs to be punished! I didn't do anything to her! I was just trying to talk to her!" Gianna instantly scoffs before setting her lips into a tight thin line again. She is furious. Her eyes are glowing gold as her wolf is hovering near the surface, trying to break free. "And what the hell did you say to her Zoe?" I demand. She gapes at me for a moment. Her lips opening and closing like a fish. She seems surprised that I didn't automatically take her side in this. How delusional is this girl? She looks at me innocently as she responds, "Nothing that wasn't true baby." Gianna sneers before making her way through the crowd that has formed around her. She shoots Zoe a withering look and then one at me before she walks towards the exit without a word. Shit. What the fuck did she say to get Gianna so upset? I turn and glare at Zoe before nodding at the guards to follow Gianna. They release her and follow my mate out the door as my stare stays on Zoe. "You are a guest in my house. You will call me Alpha or sir. Do you understand me?" I bark. Her eyes widen and she quickly nods her head before looking down at her feet. I turn to a couple of my men who had been standing next to Gianna. "Mitch, Drew, take Zoe back to her room and guard the door. She is not to leave without my permission." They quickly do as they are told, walking up to Zoe as she gapes at me again. "What?! You can't lock me in my room! I am NOT a child! I am the daughter of the most powerful Alpha in the country!" "That fact is the only reason that you are going to the comfort of your room instead of the dungeons," I state starkly before turning to Mitch and Drew. "Take her away." They nod and firmly grab her arms before leading her out of the room. My gaze roams across the room to see that everyone is still gawking. "Show's over!" I yell causing everyone to rush in opposite directions as they hurry to find something else to do. Turning on my heel, I swiftly exit. "Where is she?" I ask Owen and Logan who are currently Gianna's guards. "She's in your room at the penthouse," Logan's voice answers in my head. ***** I storm down the hallway until I reach the two guards that are standing outside of my bedroom. "What was all that? What happened down there?" I demand as my gaze sweeps between the two of them. Their eyes widen and they gulp, instantly looking uncomfortable. "Umm... we aren't totally sure sir..." Logan begins hesitantly. "What do you mean you're not sure?!" I growl. Owen clears his throat and says, "Well, we had stayed by the entrance because we thought it best if we give Luna Gianna some space." "No one was bothering her until Alpha Mason went over to talk to her for a bit," Logan chimes in. "But they were just talking and she didn't seem to mind." "Anyways, Mason left and after walking out, he had turned back to us. He had wanted to know what you did to piss her off so bad," Owen continues before being interrupted by Logan again. "Which we didn't tell him," he insists. I let out a snarl of impatience as I ask, "Would you two get to the damn point?!" They both frantically nod their heads. It's obvious that they know they messed up. "The point sir, is that by the time Mason left and we looked back at Luna Gianna she was talking to Nicole and whatever they were discussing seemed to be getting heated. We immediately went over there, but only reached them just in time to restrain Nicole after Luna slapped her," Logan finally told me. My head tilts back and I pinch the bridge of my nose in annoyance before turning my attention back to the guards. "Nothing like this should ever happen again. If it does you'll both be demoted. Lucky for you, this time you are only getting trash duty for the next two weeks. You're dismissed," I reply before opening the door. I walk into the bedroom and find Gianna sitting on the bed, facing the large windows that overlook the city. Her head is bowed and I hear a sniffle before she swipes at her cheek. My heart clenches. I hate that she's upset. Kneeling in front of her, I place myself in her line of sight and take her hands in mine. "Gianna... what did she say to you?" She deeply inhales a shaky breath and my thumbs stroke her hands as I try to comfort her. "It's nothing. It's stupid. I'm fine," she mutters unconvincingly. Reaching up I stroke her cheek, making her meet my eyes. "It hurt you. It's not stupid. Tell me. Please." She sighs sadly, her glance dropping to her lap before returning to me. Her lips purse together and she tilts her head like she's trying to read my face. "Why do you always get home so late?" My eyebrows furrow, displaying my confusion. I don't know why she is asking me this. "I've been working. There are a lot of things I've been dealing with lately." "Like what?" "Like making all of the preparations for the Dark Moon Pack, running multiple companies, meeting with lawyers to work on the alliance..." I begin cautiously. It feels like this is some sort of trap. "And has Zoe been there to help you with any of that?" "No, why?" She stares at me long and hard, like she's trying to figure out if I'm lying or not. "Because one of the things she said was that you've been going to see her every night. She knew that you have been out late. How would she know that if she hadn't been with you?" I let out a sigh and shake my head. "I don't know Gianna, but I swear I haven't been going to see her. You're the only one I want." She continues to look at me skeptically as if the truth must be written somewhere on my face. "So... why haven't you marked me yet?" My eyes shoot up to her and my mouth goes dry. "Listen Gianna... I haven't been completely honest with you..." I begin before explaining the situation with the Dark Moon Pack, Zoe, and the alliance treaty. She listens silently without interrupting. I keep anticipating her getting mad, yelling or crying, but instead she sits there calmly until I've finished talking. She stays quiet for a second, waiting to make sure I'm done. She then sighs and shakes her head before meeting my gaze. "I know." I pause as my eyes widen in confusion. "You know? All of it? How?" "Yes, all of it. And... I have my sources," she responds, seeming to enjoy the shock displayed on my face. Finally, I manage to gather my thoughts. "You mean Layla and her big mouth blabbed," I grumble as I reposition myself next to her. "I didn't say that," she remarks though I'm sure I'm right. Layla 's never been good at keeping secrets. "I just wanted to see if you'd tell me the truth," she adds with a shrug. "So, that was just a test?!" I question, dumbfounded. She quirks her lips into a devilish grin and shrugs again innocently. I can't help but to laugh and shake my head. "How very devious of you Miss Denton," I exclaim with a chuckle. "I have my moments," she teases. Being with her like this somehow makes me feel lighter. Seeing her joke around, smile, laugh... it's the best thing in the world. I let out a chuckle before heaving a sigh. Shaking my head, I look up again to meet her mesmerizing violet eyes. "I seem to be making one mistake after another with you Gianna and every time you manage to show me how amazing you are. I just... I am so sorry that I keep hurting you." My eyes drop to my hands in my lap as a wave of shame washes over me, thinking of everything I've done, agreeing to take Nicole as my Luna, not being unable to announce to my pack that I found my true mate, lying to her about it... her stay in the dungeons.... I gulp as my eyes suddenly sting. I've never been a cryer, but just remembering the state of my mate when I had finally gone down to retrieve her seems to be enough to break me. Gianna's hand reaches out and takes one of mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze causing me to look back up at her. "I... I never really apologized before.... I think I was just too ashamed and didn't want a reminder." She tilts her head questioningly at me. "What are you talking about? I inhale deeply before letting it out in one big puff as I steady my nerve. I don't know if I've ever apologized to anyone before in my life. Suddenly, it seems as though I should be apologizing for everything. "I'm sorry about your treatment when we first brought you here. You're my mate and I should have trusted you from the moment I met you. I shouldn't have thrown in the dungeons to be questioned the way that I did." I stop and take a shaky breath as I shake my head. "I don't deserve you Gianna, but I'm going to spend the rest of my life trying to make up for it." She stares out the windows in front of us, silent. I can feel my heart begin to thump erratically as I await her response. After what seems like an eternity, she exhales slowly and turns back to me. "I forgive you," she begins and a smile instantly spreads across my face. She quickly holds her hand up for me to not interrupt her. "But, I'm not a doormat and I can only take so much bull. You need to do better Daniel. You need to BE better." My heart swells with the love I feel for her right now. My mate has such a big heart and a beautiful soul. She'll be such a perfect Luna and mate, so sincere and understanding. "I will. I will do anything for you," I remark softly as I hesitantly dip my head down to meet hers, pressing feather-light kisses to her soft pink lips. When she kisses back, I wrap my arms around her waist as I pull her onto my lap so that she is straddling me. Her hands hold my neck as she kisses me back, deepening the kiss. Her body moves against me and I feel myself hardening underneath her. My tongue slips into her mouth and begins dancing with hers, tasting every inch of the warm orifice. She tastes sublime. My hands slip under her top, feeling her smooth skin underneath my fingertips. She moans against my mouth and I take it as a sign that I can continue the exploration of her perfect body. My lips begin kissing down her neck as I embrace her and lay her down on the bed, never allowing my mouth to leave her soft, sensitive flesh. I don't think I'll ever get enough of her. My kisses make their way down to her chest as they move along the swells of her breasts. Her fingers dig into my hair and she arches her back, enjoying every second of my lips on her skin. My lips work their way back up as my fingers move down to the hem of her shirt. I begin pushing it upward until her breasts are exposed except for the lace bra that holds them. I push one of the cups aside and tweak one of her pretty pink nipples causing her to gasp. While my hand continues to massage and tease the one breast my mouth finds the other, sucking the nipple into my mouth. She moans and mewls as she writhes underneath me. I love seeing her like this, so sexy, so out of control and all because of me. After a while, my mouth begins to move down her abdominals and my fingers work the button of her jeans. "Daniel..." she murmurs and I look up at her. She is propped up on her elbows as she gazes at me. "I—I don't think we should be doing this..." I raise myself up a little as I cock an eyebrow at her. "What do you mean?" "I mean, we still have a lot of things we need to talk about and sort out before we throw sex into the mix." "Like what?" "Well, for starters, the reason we had been fighting in the first place," she answers seriously as she pulls the hem of her shirt back down so that her breasts and torso are no longer exposed. I heave out a disappointed sigh and sit up. I know she's right, but I certainly don't like it. My whole body is aching to feel her in every way imaginable. "So... what did you decide?" I ask hesitantly. "That you need to stop trying to control me."