I rinse off the final plate and hand it to him, not waiting for a reply. My chest feels tight. I walk away, back to the bedroom with heavy steps and heavier thoughts. The towel I’d left folded earlier was still on the bed. I grab it, intending to take a shower, to wash away the swirling storm inside
The silence that followed breakfast wasn’t awkward—it was peaceful, like the quiet that came after a long, devastating storm. The kind of silence that didn’t demand to be filled. Alec sat across from me, chewing slowly, eyes occasionally flicking in my direction. I caught him once, and he looked awa
“It’s what a mate does,” he says simply, his voice steady. “And it’s what I wanted to do.”I meet his gaze, and the sincerity there steals my breath. For a moment, neither of us speaks. The air feels heavy, weighted with words neither of us seems ready to say.I can't even begin to express how I am
The first thing I notice when I open my eyes is the quiet. The silence is almost startling, like the world is holding its breath.For the first time in three days, I can take a breath without feeling like my skin is too tight, without the ache deep in my bones and without the relentless, burning hea
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my temple.We move through the trees, the moon casting long shadows over the ground. Alec keeps his hand on my lower back, a steadying presence, so much so that I find myself leaning into it more and more. Nothing registers as we walk except for th
The evening air was cool against my skin as I sat on the porch, wrapped in one of Alec’s oversized hoodies. The material draped over my knees, its warmth comforting, carrying his scent. The forest is alive with the sounds of night — crickets chirping, leaves rustling, and the distant howl of a lone
AlecThe cold-water rushes over me, icy rivulets cascading down my skin as I brace my hands against the shower wall. My breaths come in sharp, ragged bursts, each one echoing against the tile. My muscles tense beneath the freezing spray, and yet it does little to quell the fire raging inside me.I s
His chin rests atop my head as he rocks me gently, his fingers stroking slow, comforting lines down my spine.“You’re okay,” he says, his voice a low rumble against my ear. I rest my head against his shoulder with my eyes closed. We don’t stay outside for long because within minutes I’m drained and
A soft, warm pressure envelops me, cocooning me in a familiar scent that seeps through my skin and calms the raging fire burning beneath. Alec.His chest is pressed to my back, his arm wrapped around my waist, holding me close. The slow, soothing stroke of his thumb against my skin sends a shiver do