Dream With Me

Chapter 9

Dream with me

(Seraphine’s POV)

Sleep didn’t come easily, but eventually I nodded off with tears staining my cheeks. I had expected nightmares. Dark visions of Hellhounds mating me while Valefar held me down with that polite, fake smile plastered on his lips. 

What I actually dreamt was quite different. 

I found myself standing on a platform of prismatic clouds. A warmth greeted me, but not like the dry heat of Hell. This warmth was comforting, like an embrace from a forgotten friend. I felt so light and airy that I wanted to fall back into the mix of colours and leave my mind to swim in the magical weave. 

My clothes had changed. My usual pants and top were traded for a long, flowing dress. A shimmering, pearlescent sheen to the fabric made me feel like a princess. I twirled around, enjoying the freedom, right up until I saw a mountainous figure watching me, mouthing my name. 

I froze. “Renrik?” I’d only seen his wolf form. This was a humanoid man who stood before me and still I knew it was him. A pale aura outlined him, pulsing like a heartbeat, until it finally blended in with the other colours of the mystical world. 

There was no mistaking him; this was Renrik.

I studied him shamelessly. It was just a dream, after all. 

It was hard to pull my attention away from how defined his abs were, the lines of which were visible through his tight, white shirt. Eventually I managed to focus on his jawline. Then the dark stubble on his chin. Then up - up towards the raised skin of a tiny scar on his nose. 

Higher. I needed to keep my sights even higher, so I didn’t get curious about the large shape in his baggy pants. 

Tousled black hair. Olive skin. Ropes of muscle formed the arms he soon folded across his broad chest. He was everything I thought an Alpha would be; permanent scowl resting on his face included. 

“I’m dreaming,” I whispered to remind myself that this wasn’t the real Renrik. Of course my subconscious would craft such a handsome and rugged man to match my expectations. 

Dream-Renrik scrunched up his nose and stared at me. I realised he was trying to make out what I had said, so I spoke louder. “I said that I’m dreaming!” 

He shook his head and his lips began to move, but his words were voiceless. A bit of back and forth made it clear that neither of us could hear the other. I was okay with that. Renrik was my fated mate, we shouldn’t need words to connect with one another. 

I closed the distance between us and tentatively stretched out a hand to him. 

Dreaming or not, I wanted to finally touch him. 

My hand stopped short, fingers trembling, palm facing him but not connecting. 

Fear of being rejected and left to rot in Hell immobilized me. Perhaps I would stand a better chance of him rescuing me if I didn’t make contact. If I left myself as a mystery, he wouldn’t be disappointed until after I was rescued and alive on the Surface. He could throw me away then, but at least I’d be free to build my own future. 

But what if Vale-

A secure grasp of my hand snagged me away from overthinking. I looked at Renrik, eyes level with his impressive pectoral muscles. His thick, slightly rough fingers slipped between mine and he held my offered hand as though it was a precious gem. 

I tilted my head up at him.

He tilted his head down. 

Renrik’s other hand cupped my cheek and he lightly brushed his thumb over it. I leaned into the delicate touch. 

Then he smiled. That permanent scowl had forfeited and made way for a delightful, sexy, satisfied smirk. The way my breath caught in my throat at the sight made me laugh. He couldn’t hear how I giggled, but he could see the joy in my face. The twinkle in my eyes.

“Sorry,” I mouthed to him. I was amused by my own ridiculous reaction to his handsomeness. 

He shook his head, puzzled but entertained by my actions. Then he licked his lips, scanned the world around us, and refocused on me. He pointed to me, showed me a thumbs up before turning his hands to the sky, gesturing to an empty space. A space he expected me to fill… with an answer.

“Me… good… er, what?” I tried to piece together what his gestures could mean and it didn’t take long for it to click. “Oh! Am I okay?” I repeated his actions; pointed to myself, gave him two thumbs up and a nod of my head. “I’m okay.” Using this system, I asked him the same question.

The skin around his eyes ever-so gently wrinkled as his smile reached every part of his tough-guy face. He nodded his head then wrapped those strong, protective arms around me. 

By the Moon Goddess’ grace, his touch was perfection incarnate. I had never felt so safe and loved by an embrace before. There was no hidden intent behind the action. Renrik just wanted to hold me and I melted into him. 

I rested my head against his chest and enjoyed his company. I kept my eyes open, content to watch the swirls of colours flicker around us. Before long, I noticed a white wolf and a black wolf prancing nearby. I lifted my head off of Renrik to get a better look, but I quickly recognised who the wolves were. 

Our spirits, frolicking and enjoying their time together. Playing. Building a relationship like none other. This was a first for my wolf, and I wondered if it was a first for him, too. A naive thought, but I would let it linger. 

Honestly, we could have kissed. It was just a dream, right? I could have laid him down amongst the cushioned mist, tugged those loose pants off of him and admired the body of a raw, Alpha male. 

A longing in his eyes told me he was considering the same thing. Tear through my angelic dress and caress the Luna underneath. Our bodies could entwine. Our bond consummated. Even if the union would just be a dream…

Instead, we held each other. We found ways to communicate without words and spent the time learning about one another. His favourite colour was blue. I showed him mine was purple. I found out he was twenty-three. I told him I was eighteen.

Little snippets of his life meant an enormous amount to me. He wasn’t just interested in taking my virginity; Renrik wanted to get to know me and I wanted to get to know him. This was a man I could truly love, if fate would grant us a chance. 

Suddenly the world distorted. It twisted and jerked away from me. I fell through an endless void until my body hit something solid. With a jolt I woke up, panting, grasping my bedsheets. 

Valefar sat at the foot of my bed with scraps of glittery cloth in his lap. 

“Rise and shine, sleepy head. Today’s the day we look at who will fuck you first,” Valefar sang. 

All the colour in my face must have drained away. I stared at the outfit he held. “That’s not going to cover much of me,” I muttered. 

The lump in Valefar’s throat bobbed as he slowly swallowed. His gaze walked up and down my body, as though he was looking at me in a whole new way. “That’s the point, Sera. I want to show you off to my handsome Hellhounds. Now get dressed,” 

He tossed the skimpy material at me and walked out of the room.

I should have let dream-Renrik take my virginity…