Giovanni POV

He took my shoulders gently, his touch firm but reassuring. “Nothing happened,” he said, his voice low, rough with exhaustion. “I’m not injured. Some enemies tried to break into our territory… we had to clear them out. It was a messy night.” His gaze locked with mine, and for a moment, the cold, controlled Gray I knew flickered with something raw beneath the surface.

My heart dropped at his words, a mix of relief and lingering fear washing over me. “I thought you ...