Together forever.

The chaotic storm of passion eventually subsided into a quiet, heavy stillness. The room was bathed in the pale, ethereal glow of the fading moon, casting long shadows across the rumpled silk sheets.

Cole lay propped on one elbow, his dark gaze tracing the soft, flushed contours of Britney’s face as she rested limply against the mattress. Every line of her body spoke of profound exhaustion, yet she radiated an ethereal, delicate beauty that tugged relentlessly at his alpha instincts. A familiar, heavy warmth pooled in his chest, and for a fleeting second, the fierce, possessive urge to claim her all over again flared through his veins.

He wanted to pull her back into his arms, to lose himself entirely in her heat once more. But looking closer, he saw the faint shiver running through her frame and the dark circles of fatigue shadowing her closed eyes. She was utterly spent, completely drained by the lingering effects of the drug Alex had forced upon her and the overwhelming intensity of the night.

Cole softened, gently brushing a stray lock of dark hair away from her damp forehead. Not tonight, he decided, his jaw tightening with quiet resolve. Let her rest. Tomorrow, I will ask her everything—who did this to her, why she was running, and what life she left behind. And then, I will decide what must be done.

With immense care, Cole slid his arms beneath her sleeping form, lifting her effortlessly against his chest. Britney stirred only slightly, her unconscious mind seeking immediate comfort as her arms automatically wrapped themselves tightly around his thick neck, burying her face into the crook of his shoulder with a soft, contented sigh.

Inhaling deeply, Cole carried her toward the sprawling, marble-tiled bathroom.

He filled the large bathtub with warm, soothing water, testing the temperature with his hand before stepping inside. Gently lowering Britney into the tub, he let the warm water lap against her skin, washing away the sweat, tears, and lingering traces of the chaotic night.

Britney let out a soft, hazy moan, her head tilting back against the edge of the tub. The drug still clouded her senses, trapping her in a dreamy, disoriented fog where she had no real awareness of her surroundings or what was happening to her. To her, the touch of the warm water and the gentle hands tending to her were merely extensions of a comforting, feverish dream.

Cole knelt beside the tub, his expression a mixture of fierce protectiveness and tender devotion. With slow, deliberate movements, he took a soft sponge, soaking it in warm water and scented soap, beginning the intimate task of cleaning her body.

He started at her shoulders, tracing the smooth expanse of her skin down her arms, gently lifting her wrists to wash away the night. His large, calloused hands moved like an expert across her underarms, cleansing her delicately before tracing a path down her chest. As his soapy palm glided over her breasts, sweeping in slow, circular motions, a sharp shudder ran through Britney’s frame. Her head rolled backward, her lips parting as a low, breathy moan escaped her throat, her body instinctively arching toward his touch.

Cole’s breath hitched. The sight of her helpless, entirely surrendered to him, sent a surge of raw electricity straight to his core. He could feel himself hardening instantly, his body reacting to her mere presence with blinding speed. Closing his eyes, he fought back a low growl, clamping down hard on his surging alpha restraint. Control yourself, Cole. She is vulnerable.

Shifting his focus, he forced his hands lower, sliding them over her flat stomach and gently washing between her thighs, cleansing her private parts with infinite, soothing care to wash away the remnants of their union. Britney’s eyes remained tightly shut, her hands gripping the edges of the porcelain tub as she let out another soft, trembling sigh, completely lost to the soothing warmth and the intoxicating haze of the drugs.

Once she was thoroughly cleaned, Cole drained the tub and wrapped her limp, relaxed body in a massive, fluffy white bath towel, gently patting her dry.

Carrying her back into the bedroom, he laid her down on the fresh, unblemished sheets. Rummaging through his closet, he pulled out one of his oversized, soft cotton dress shirts, slipping it carefully over her shoulders and arms. The crisp white fabric draped loosely down her thighs, contrasting sharply against her flushed skin.

Cole climbed into bed beside her, pulling her small, fragile frame flush against his hard chest. He wrapped his arms around her with an absolute, unyielding possessiveness, locking her safely within his embrace as if daring the entire world to try and take her away.

Burying his face in her hair, he inhaled her sweet scent one last time before closing his eyes. He couldn't wait for tomorrow—the moment the sun would rise, when she would finally wake up, and he would claim her completely, and seal their fates together forever.