When Vincenzo left, the silence that followed was deafening. Vanessa sat alone in the grand room, her emotions spilling over in waves. The overwhelming burden of her pregnancy, the pressure of everything weighing on her, it all crashed down. She didn't know where to begin, how to explain the tangle of feelings inside her.
Her heart ached with a sense of abandonment, even though she knew Vincenzo had gone for a reason, to handle matters that needed his attention. Still, the emptiness in his absence made her feel small, helpless.
She tried to hold it in, but the tears came anyway. She buried her face in her hands, her chest heaving with the sobs she could no longer suppress. Everything felt so out of control. Her body, her emotions, the situation—it was all just too much.
As if on cue, Vincenzo's wolves padded into the room, their soft paws barely making a sound against the floor. They circled him with their characteristic warmth, their heads nudging his legs as if to reassure him. He glanced at them in mild confusion before they darted past him, their attention already on something else.
Without hesitation, they raced toward Vanessa's room, nearly knocking Luca off his feet as they surged through the door. Their excitement was evident, their paws tapping lightly against the wooden floors, but it was their need to be close to her that tugged at his heart.
Vincenzo followed them quickly, his steps purposeful, and as he opened the door, the sound of her sobs pierced the air, a sharp reminder of the pain she was going through.
"Vanessa," he called softly, stepping inside. His voice was the calm that broke through the storm. "Love, what is it?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she just stared at him, her eyes filled with so many emotions—sadness, frustration, exhaustion—until finally, she moved toward him. Her arms found their way around him, clinging to him as though he were her anchor in a sea of uncertainty.
"I don't know how I feel anymore," she confessed, her voice trembling. "I'm so tired. Of everything."
Vincenzo's heart clenched at the rawness in her words. Without saying another word, he gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. She buried her face against his chest, her sobs quieting as she found solace in his presence.
"I'm sorry," Vincenzo whispered, his voice thick with regret. "I know I'm not here as much as I should be. I hate seeing you like this. I'll do better. You have my word."
He held her like that for a long time, feeling the weight of her emotions settle into his own chest. Her body grew heavier against him, and soon, her sobs quieted into soft breaths as she drifted off to sleep in his arms.
Gently, he laid her down on the bed, his fingers brushing the hair from her face. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his heart full of tenderness and love for the woman lying there so vulnerable, yet so strong.
"Sleep tight, darling," he whispered, the words a promise. "We'll get through this together."
With a final glance at her peaceful form, Vincenzo reluctantly stepped back. But as the door clicked softly behind him, he made a silent vow to himself—whatever came next, he would be there, unwavering. No more silence. No more distance. She was his, and he would fight for her—always.