Page 15 of Broken Wolf Heart (Mafia Pack #3)

LEXI

A lone in my room, I pull the clothes out of the garment bag, relieved to find a one-piece with pants that Mia picked out. There are heels to match, but they aren’t uncomfortably high. And the fabric is gentle against my skin.

My wolf approves, at least.

At the bottom of the bag, I also find a brush and some makeup, which a quick mirror check reveals are urgently necessary. After bathing in a river without soap or shampoo and then gallivanting around town in nothing but a blanket, I’m ready to feel some semblance of human again.

When I’m done, I’ve almost achieved the feeling.

Then I remember what I’m about to do.

Nerves grip me so hard that my breath turns shallow, and I have to practically drag myself out the bedroom door and down the hall. If I wait even one second more, I might run the other direction. And I refuse to run away ever again.

Not that my wolf would let me if I tried. She’s bonded to Grey in a way I don’t think anything can break. Knowing that both settles and scares me. For the first time ever, it’s no longer just me .

From now on, it’ll always be me and Grey.

Like a family.

I haven’t quite gotten used to that yet.

And now, I’m about to add dozens more to the list of people I’m promising never to leave behind. As long as they pledge the same to me.

Before I even reach the landing, the murmur of voices hits me, followed immediately by unfamiliar scents.

My wolf stirs restlessly inside me, sniffing out the unease.

The potential enemies in our midst. I do my best to shove her back.

She’s done enough to establish our dominance over these people.

Losing control a second time in one day wouldn’t help matters.

But I haven’t been able to regain my sense of self since that first shift. Not fully. Not even claiming Grey steadied me like before. And I can’t bring myself to tell him that.

When I get to the top of the stairs, I force myself to look out over the crowd gathered below.

One by one, they look up at me until everyone is staring.

The press of their eyes on me feels like a weight on my chest. I pause, drawing in a breath and gripping the banister.

The railing is cool beneath my fingers, a small anchor to hold me steady.

I descend the stairs slowly, and the hush that falls over the crowd is deafening.

Dozens of unfamiliar wolves gather in the foyer, the grand space now stifled with heat, tension, and too many bodies.

Most are men—broad, lethal-looking, in leather jackets or tailored suits—but I clock a handful of women too.

All of them radiate strength. All of them look up at me with the same expression: uncertainty laced with calculation.

They’re sizing me up. Judging. Wondering if I’ll break. Or maybe wondering if I’ll be the same kind of cruel monster their previous alpha was.

My wolf urges me forward. Inside me, she’s alert: ears up, ready to snarl, to assert. To take me over. But I force her back, grit my teeth, and walk into the crowd with slow, deliberate control. I don’t rush. Instead, I let them feel the weight of my presence with each deliberate footfall.

They part to let me pass.

No one speaks.

No one challenges.

No one approaches.

Except Andy.

She steps forward just as I reach the center of the room. Her presence is cool and composed, her blue eyes meeting mine with something unreadable. Not doubt—but not blind faith, either.

“Alpha.”

She bows her head.

A few other heads bow along with hers. No one breaks the silence.

It isn’t loyalty. Not yet. But it’s submission.

My wolf purrs , proud and pleased, pressing hard beneath my skin. She wants to throw her head back and howl . To stake her claim on this place, these people.

I inhale slowly, trying not to tremble at my attempt to control her.

They don’t know me. Not really. But they’re offering me a moment—an opening. And if I don’t seize it, I’ll lose them before I’ve even begun.

Near the front door, Grey stands, watching and supportive. But if I lean on him, they’ll see it. This has to be all me.

I turn to Andy. “Step forward.”

She lifts her head and meets my eyes, stepping toward me without hesitation.

“I need a second in command,” I say, my voice steadier now. “Someone I trust. Someone who doesn’t just know this pack, but can help me lead it. Will you accept the position?”

Andy raises an eyebrow, just slightly. “Me?” She glances around at the faces of those I suspect she thinks should have the role instead. “You’re sure?”

“I’m not my grandfather,” I say. “I won’t rule through fear and blood alone. I don’t want to be worshipped or feared—I want to be effective. And I need someone who knows how this machine runs but is willing to embrace the change that is necessary.”

She swallows. The slightest flicker of emotion crosses her face—respect? Surprise? “Then I serve at your side. Whatever you need.”

I step closer and place my hand on her shoulder. The moment my fingers touch her, something clicks . A low hum of magic spreads between us—vibrating in the air, threading into my bones. A spark of energy sizzles through my palm and races up my arm like electricity, wrapping around my spine.

The bond is forming.

Not fated. Not like Grey and I share. But chosen . Intentional. A different kind of connection. The kind shared by a pack.

I turn in place, scanning the faces. “I know you didn’t choose me,” I say to them.

“Some of you were loyal to my grandfather. Others were afraid of him and are worried about having another Giovanni as your alpha. Maybe you liked the way he ruled. Maybe you didn’t.

” My voice carries, firm but not hard. “But I’m not him. And I never will be.”

They’re watching closely now, the mood impossible to read.

“I won’t promise perfection. Hell, I can’t even promise I won’t fuck up—a lot. But I can promise this: I will work to earn your respect. And until then…” I pause, breathe. “I will require your obedience.”

A single heartbeat of silence follows. Then two.

“Or what?” someone calls. “You’ll rip out our throats like you did to the generals? To Dom?”

I scan for whoever spoke, but they’re lost in the crowd. Not that it matters. I have no doubt the sentiment is shared by many. But I don’t back down or apologize. Grey told me I have to own this part, so I force myself to do just that.

“My wolf is new to me. She was threatened, and she acted accordingly,” I say. “If you threaten me, it’s only reasonable that I defend myself. But I won’t attack without provocation if that’s what you’re asking.”

No one argues it, and I only hope it’s a promise I can keep.

My wolf sniffs as if she’s not sure she can keep it either. But I can tell she wants this pack to belong to us just as much as I do, so I press on.

“My wolf chose this pack when she fought against those who threatened my right to lead it. And now I’m choosing it too,” I add.

“There are some who will challenge me. Challenge us. That’s your right.

But I won’t give up or abandon you. I swear it.

I’m going to rebuild this pack. From the inside out.

Starting with truth. Starting with no more backroom deals, no more forced matings, no more experimentation. ”

There’s a stir among the crowd—unease, or maybe guilt. So they knew what Franco did to me. To my mother. To who knows how many others. Knew and did nothing. Maybe not all of them, but some.

“It’s true that my wolf was suppressed after Franco experimented on me and my mother. I received the antidote a couple of days ago, which is why my wolf finally emerged today. But I also know he did the same to others—people who may have been hurt even worse than I was.

“I will find out who was complicit in forcing the women of this pack to participate. And when I do, I’ll decide whether you have a future here or not.”

Still silence. No one protests.

“Andy is my second now, which means she speaks for me. Starting tomorrow, she’ll begin one-on-one interviews with each of you. No titles are permanent. If you’ve earned your role, you’ll keep it. If you haven’t, we’ll find someone who has.”

I glance at Andy.

She dips her head. “Understood.”

I look over the crowd. “We are not who we were under Franco. And anyone who can’t accept that should leave now.”

No one moves.

But every breath in the room seems to grow heavier.

“What about him?” someone asks. A man I’ve never seen before with a short beard and hard, glittering eyes. He nods at Grey. “What’s his place here?”

“What’s your name?” I ask, heart thundering.

“Clifton Jones. Friends call me Cliff.”

“Okay, Cliff—” I start.

His eyes flash. “As I said, my friends call me Cliff. You can call me Clifton. Or Mr. Jones.”

My wolf seethes at that, but I hold my composure. A growl sounds from the back of the room, and I don’t need to look over to know it’s Grey. But I don’t tear my gaze from the male in front of me.

My voice sharpens. “And you can address me as Alpha—or not at all,” I tell him coolly. “As for Grey, he is my husband and will continue to be at my side, which is all you need to know about his loyalty?—”

“If I may.” Grey steps forward. “I’d like to answer his question.”

I nod, still glaring at the asshole in front of me, despite my heart slamming against my ribs.

Grey pushes through the crowd, not sparing a single glance for Cliff as he drops to one knee in front of me.

The crowd murmurs, but I don’t hear the words.

Grey looks up at me, the mate bond singing with the intensity of his feelings for me. The world narrows to just us.

“I pledge my loyalty and protection to you,” he says. “Lexi Giovanni. My fated mate. My wife. My heart. Wherever you lead, I follow.”

He doesn’t say alpha, but every syllable he utters is steeped in devotion.

My chest twists. My throat tightens. For a moment, I can’t breathe. The other faces around us blur at the edges of my vision. All I see is him —my anchor, my fire, my impossible choice that I keep choosing anyway.