Alle Kapitel von Alpha Orion: Kapitel 71 – Kapitel 77

When morning came, Rey stirred against the solid warmth beside her. Her lashes fluttered open, and she found Orion already awake, his gaze fixed on her.He looked at her as though she might vanish if he so much as blinked. There was something soft in his eyes, a kind of quiet awe that made her stomach flutter.For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The world outside the small clearing was still, the gentle rustle of trees in the wind the only sound between them. His thumb brushed the back of her hand absentmindedly, tracing slow, unthinking circles that sent warmth up her arm.Rey met his gaze, and the breath caught in her throat. There was longing there, raw and unguarded. And as she stared back at him, she realised she didn't regret the kiss, not even a little. Whether that was a good thing or bad, she couldn't yet tell.He said nothing, only held her with that steady, reverent gaze until the quiet between them began to hum.When they finally rose and resumed their journey, the a

General Sevan led them through a long corridor before stopping in front of a pair of wooden doors carved with the crest of the Eastern clan. Inside, two maids bowed and entered behind them, carrying folded garments and fresh linens.They placed them at the edge of the unnecessarily large bed and exited as quietly as they came."You may change and rest here. Alpha Aleksandr will send word once Alpha Caspian is here," Sevan said before leaving them alone.The silence that followed was thick, filled only by the faint crackle of the hearth. Orion turned toward Rey, who stood at the center of the room with her arms folded across her chest."You should rest. I'll ask for another room—" he tried to offer, but she shook her head almost instantly, exhaustion shadowing her eyes."Don't. I don't want to be alone." She muttered, and he hesitated, watching the tremor in her hands as she undid the buttons on the wrist of her shirt."Reylin—""I'm scared, Orion." Her voice broke quietly, cutting him

The castle was silent when Orion jerked awake.Rey was fast asleep in the cage of his arms, her breath soft against his chest, her body warm and limp with exhaustion. For a moment, he didn't move; he only watched her, the faint rise and fall of her chest, the peace on her face that she rarely ever knew.He had just begun to relax back into the pillows when a low, distant sound cut through the night. A stifled shout in light of a small commotion outside, followed by boots pounding the earth and metal clattering.His eyes snapped open fully, his muscles tensing in alarm. Something was wrong.Slowly—painfully slowly—he peeled his arm from under her. She stirred but didn't wake, only pressed her face deeper into the pillow.He pressed a soft kiss to her hairline and tucked the blanket around her one last time before slipping from the bed.He didn't dare risk the door banging so as not to wake her, so he held the handle and eased it shut behind him.The hallway was dimly lit by sconces on