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Eleven Ways to Love
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2025-02-11 03:08:06Once at home, Delphine is a whirlwind getting upstairs as she becomes giddy about the thought of dressing up. It’s definitely one of the joys of opera, she finds, is getting to dress up fancy. Not the fancy her parents paraded her around in, but the fancy that’s more subtle. Demure. Mindful. Delphine will never dress the ways her parents used to dress her- like some doll to be shown off when really she wants her voice and personality to be what draws people in.
Tiberius watches in amusement as his mate all but tears up their room in the search for perfect outfits. He finds it cute, really, how excited she gets to dress herself up. Delphine always looks radiant, but even more so when she’s smiling, happy, and in her element. He suspects she could’ve been a fashion designer if opera didn’t work out for her. Or a model. He’d love to see that. “Ti,” Delphine approaches him shyly and he nearly gets a hard on at the mere sight of her little smile. “Do you… can I pick your outfit too?” He has to resist the urge to kiss her and pin her to the bed, forgoing dinner altogether, to answer her, “Of course my little songbird.” Delphine beams at him and then she’s a hurricane once more, throwing clothes at him that she wants him to try on. Different combinations of shirts, pants, ties, and shoes. Tiberius gets the distinct feeling he should have a whole room dedicated to their clothes and ‘fashion shows.’ Delphine would look cute surrounded in a space she can mess up and pose in as much as she wants. “You know, if you keep making cute faces and taking too long, I might just have to keep you here all night,” Tiberius grabs her by the waist and pulls her in close in spite of his imposed rule not to touch her as much. Delphine blinks at him in confusion before her face breaks out in a brilliant blush and she’s smacking at his chest, “You can’t do that! You already promised me a fancy dinner.” He chuckles, “I suppose I did, but you’re just too adorable to resist when you’re like this.” Her knees rest on either side of his thighs, straddling him, and she pouts. The pout drives Tiberius insane as he grinds up into her core and the following gasp has him rolling them over on the bed. Delphine stares at him with wide eyes and parted lips that look so damn kissable. He doesn’t hold back anymore and kisses her with all the adoration he can manage. Delphine’s arms wrap hesitantly around his shoulders before kissing him back. It quickly gets heated and when they pull back for air, she’s quick to squirm out from under Tiberius. “We’ll have time for that later,” Delphine turns her nose up at him. “After dinner!” Tiberius groans a little even as he laughs, “Alright, alright, whatever my Delphie wants.” Delphine is all smiles and giggles as she finishes dressing the two of them- understated outfits that scream sophistication. Tiberius isn’t even sure how she manages to look so effortlessly put together even if the closet is a mess. His hands encircle her waist and a little gasp escapes her, he loves it. He loves the feel of her beneath his fingers, the shy smile she gives him in tentative pushes of intimacy, and how her eyes are always filled with wonder. Tiberius is happy to say he’s in love with her and not just because they’re soulmates, but because he genuinely enjoys her as a person. He’s watched her put in the work for the Austerus, her care for the cast and crew, and how easily she gets along with anyone. Sure, Delphine had been a little upset at Julian and his mate, Marcus, having betrayed her, but confessed she couldn’t stay mad. Julian is her best friend and Marcus has only ever been kind to her. Tiberius’ heart thuds at the thought of her being so caring and loving, what it would be like for their child. Delphine smiles up at him, “What are you thinking about? You look… intense.” He kisses her without preamble, slow and passionate, pulling away and leaving her breathless, “I am simply so in love with you. I will do anything for you, no ask is too much or too little. You are my entire world and I don’t want to lose you.” Delphine’s eyes become misty at the confession. She’s never had someone so sincerely say they love her without demanding all she has from her. Her own parent’s love had been conditional and contingent upon how obedient she was. How well behaved she was to the point she was merely a doll for them to play with. Tiberius’ confession has brought far too many emotions to the surface for Delphine to form words. She pulls him to kiss him this time, the first time she’s initiated any thing of the kind. They melt against one another. Delphine can feel the mate bond pressing on her soul and she accepts it. She won’t fight this point of fate anymore because why would she? It all started out rocky, to say the least, but Delphine has never felt more respected than in his presence. “Let’s go to dinner,” she whispers against his lips.
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Delphine feels as if she might start hyperventilating soon as Julian steps out of the house and cannot meet her eyes. She doesn’t think he sold her out, not intentionally anyway, but that doesn’t make her feel any better. Does he hate her now? Everything is changing because of her and no doubt he’ll get in trouble alongside Marcus for helping her. Then she thinks of Marie, who willingly betrayed her trust, and she feels her heart pick up speed in anger. What did she do to deserve this? Why does everyone want to control her? She zones out as Tiberius talks with Julian who, as far as Delphine can tell, is acting as head of the boarding house in Marie’s absence. She doesn’t hear their words, it feels as if her ears are stuffed with cotton and all she can focus on is the pounding of her heart. Delphine feels itchy as if she has to move, scream, or just do anything to expel all the nervous energy building in her. She has never felt this nervous before not even on her first performance n
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Delphine decides she hates Tiberius, he’s controlling and entirely too handsy. He dictates what she dresses in, what she smells like- which is stuff she normally uses and smells like, but she doesn’t understand how he knows that- and where she goes. Delphine left home because this is exactly what her parents would do and more, taking all her choices and all her freedom from her. Her eyes tear up as they near the opera house and a calloused hand squeezes her knee. “Don’t be too down, Delphie, I promise this is for you,” Tiberius drives with ease, like someone of his status would. Delphine shakes her head and pulls closer to the car door, “You don’t get it. You’re just some alpha who gets what he wants!” Tiberius doesn’t say anything as he parks and they get out of the car. Delphine is tempted to turn and make a run for it, but she has a feeling he would catch her before she even makes it out of the parking lot. He slides an arm around her waist, pulls her close, and kis
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Tiberius is momentarily disjointed when he nexts wake up especially because he remembers a little bird falling asleep in his arms and now said bird is not there. He wants to growl at the prospect of her having slipped out and escaped from him, but Tiberius tempers his rage to think clearly. If Delphine had run then one of his pack members would’ve awoken him the moment they couldn’t find her. Tiberius takes a deep breath to scent the air and calm himself before getting up and going downstairs. He finds Delphine there, sitting at the kitchen island with a mug of tea in her hands. The maid, Pollonia, must already be out and about with the cleaning, cooking, and other things Tiberius doesn’t have the energy for. Grey eyes cut over to him and he beams at the fact Delphine hasn’t tried to run again. He slides an arm around her shoulders pulling her closer to his chest before placing a chaste kiss on the top of her head. “You didn’t try to run and you’ve met Pollonia,” Tiberius sits in
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Tiberius takes Delphine to the home he purchased in Reisling, the town she ran away to, and refuses to let her leave his side. If she runs again, he won’t be able to control what he does after. He’s found her, he’s tasted her, and he’s of the mind to do anything to keep her. Tiberius leans against the door to his- their- bedroom as she trembles in front of him. She’s cold, he can tell from the goosebumps on her arms and legs along with how her fingers curl to preserve warmth in them. “Are you cold my darling,” Tiberius’ voice is soft and low, he doesn’t want to spook her more. Delphine shakes her head, “N-no! No don’t come near me.” He approaches her anyway, “Now don’t be like that, you need your health. Soon Austerus Luscinia will be full of people every night. Almost every night, at least, there are still some where I wish to selfishly keep you to myself.” She doesn’t make to move away as he continues approaching and Tiberius knows she must feel the mate bond that pulls
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Delphine is kept close to Tiberius after he gathers her from the attempted escape. It wounds him, ever so slightly, at the thought of his songbird fleeing from him. He’s been searching for her for years and he isn’t about to let her go now. Tiberius knows her family, the Polluxs, who are powerful old money that place a lot of stock on heritage. On stock. Tiberius didn’t have a chance at competing for their only daughter’s hand when he first presented. They had picked some geezer with a lecherous gaze, but apparently good genes for breeding. Tiberius wanted to run with her right then and there, but she did it herself. Fled just like she had tried to, tonight, but this time Tiberius had been prepared. Julian, her closest friend, has zero volume control and isn’t very aware of his surroundings. Marie the overworked manager all too eager to help in exchange for the money to retire and live comfortable for the rest of her days. And Marcus? The secondary Alpha put up no fight the moment
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Delphine is distraught as the night ends and she returns to the boarding house by the opera. It’s where most of the cast and crew stay, and some, like her, live here full time. She gave up everything else in her life to pursue this career and what does she have to show for it? A small room in a house that’s falling apart and the attention of a mysterious dangerous Alpha who bought her life. Julian doesn’t understand why she’s so upset as she cries later in his arms, “Del, please, tell me what’s so disastrous as having a wealthy and attractive Alpha as our new boss? This is what you wanted, isn’t it? For someone to save Austerus Luscinia.” She wants to choke on her words, “I ran from a forced marriage to be my own person! Not to be someone else’s caged bird.” “Del… you never mentioned anything like that,” Julian has a deep frown on his face. “I thought your family just didn’t approve of your choice in career.” “They don’t approve of my career choice, but they also wanted to
