SAVIO'S POV."It's okay, don't fret. You're here with me and nobody is going to hurt you." I whispered into Elaine's ears, the metallic smell of blood wafting into my nose at instances.As I led Elaine back to her room, she was a weeping mess. Her body trembled with every step, and I could feel her pain as if it was my own. I wanted to take away all of her pain, but I knew I couldn't. I could only be there for her and try to ease her suffering as much as possible.She was quiet for a brief moment when I picked her up, careful to not touch any of her welts, and carried her back to my room. I could feel her body relax in my arms, and I hoped that she felt safe with me.When we reached my room, I gently laid her down on the bed. She curled up into a ball, clutching at the sheets as tears continued to stream down her face. I couldn't bear to see her like this, and I knew that I had to do something to help her."Elaine, can I help you?" I asked softly, kneeling down beside her. She nodded

ELAINE'S POV.As I slowly opened my eyes, I was hit with a sharp pain in my back. I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake myself up fully. For a moment, I felt disoriented, and I couldn't remember where I was. As I looked around the room, everything seemed unfamiliar, and I couldn't recognize any of the details around me. The room was unfamiliar, and I was lying in a bed that wasn't mine.The pain in my back quieted down almost immediately, and I tried to sit up, but I was suddenly hit with another wave of dizziness. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself before trying again. As I sat up, I noticed that I was wearing a man's t-shirt. It was soft and comfortable, and it smelled like him.That smell... I narrowed my eyes, everything starting to come back to me in blurry bits and pieces. The room had a different smell and feel to it than my own, and I couldn't recall how I ended up in this foreign place. The walls were painted a neutral color, and there was very little decoration, save for

Chapter 45:ELAINE'S POV. I repeated the word "mate" in confusion, my mind racing to make sense of what Savio had just said. "Mate? What did you mean, mate?"Savio sighed and closed the small jar of healing salve before placing it back in his bedside drawer. He sat me back down on the bed and gestured for me to continue eating the soup."Elaine, I need you to eat first, and then I'd explain," he said, his voice gentle but firm.I nodded, feeling a bit apprehensive but curious at the same time. I took a few more spoonfuls of the soup, and then I put the bowl aside, waiting for Savio to speak.Savio cleared his throat, his expression serious yet tinged with a hint of vulnerability. He took a deep breath before beginning, his gaze fixed on a point in the distance as if gathering his thoughts."Elaine, you've probably noticed by now that there's something different about me... About everyone else in this pack... Or house," he started cautiously. "Something... supernatural."I nodded slow

ELAINE'S POV. I took a deep breath and wiped away my tears, still shaken by the memories of the whipping. "Savio," I said, my voice quivering. "How could you work for someone like Atlas? He's so heartless and cruel, how could you possibly defend him?"Savio's expression grew serious, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out at me. But instead, he just shook his head and sighed. "Elaine, you don't understand. Atlas is my alpha. I have sworn my loyalty to him, and I will always serve him, no matter what."I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "But he ordered his men to whip me," I said, my voice rising with each word. "How can you defend someone like that?"Savio's eyes hardened, and I could see the alpha in him come to the surface. "Watch your tongue, Elaine," he warned. "You may be in my room, but you're still in his territory. You never know who might be listening."I felt myself start to shrink back, closing up again. I had almost forgotten where I was and who I was with. Sav

ATLAS'S POV.I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to find peace in my thoughts. Sleep eluded me as my mind kept drifting back to her, Nyx. Her image played like a movie in my head, and I could feel her scent everywhere, even in my own room. The memory of the passionate night we shared, the way her body moved under my touch, the way she moaned my name, all of it was etched in my mind like a tattoo.But I couldn't deny the truth anymore. I had developed strong feelings for her, feelings that went beyond just physical attraction. I tried to deny it, tried to convince myself that it was just my body reacting to her, but that was a lie. I cared for her, more than I should have. And yet, I had punished her for my own dirty desires.The guilt was eating me up inside. I had used my power to hurt her, to break her, and now I couldn't even face her. I had been so convinced that she was just a criminal, someone who deserved to be punished. But now, as I lay here, alone in my thoughts, I