Soren seems to have calmed down, though he groans theatrically every time he tries to eat without my help even though he could easily eat by himself. 

 I don't mind helping him.  It feels intimate, taking care of him like this. "You're such a drama queen," I tease gently, offering him another spoonful of soup.

Soren grins weakly, his eyes twinkling despite the pain. "I'm your drama Queen," he replies with a playful wink.

I chuckle softly, shaking my head. "Yeah, yeah..."

He takes another bite, but this time his smile falters slightly. "Sam," he begins hesitantly, setting down the spoon. "About what happened..."

I reach out, placing my hand on his forearm. "We don't have to talk about it right now," I reassure him, my voice soft.

He glances down at my hand on his arm, then meets my gaze. "No, I... I need to," he admits quietly. "I need you to know... I never wanted you to get hurt because of me."

"You got hurt, not me," I sigh. "But even if I did get hurt, it's not your fault."

He sighs, his expression conflicted. "But if I hadn't... if I hadn't marked you or forced you to submit to me, if I hadn't come into your life, none of this would have happened."

I squeeze his arm gently, trying to convey my sincerity. "I wouldn't change a thing," I say earnestly.

"Meeting you... falling in love with you, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

A small, wistful smile tugs at the corners of Soren's lips. "I love you," he whispers, his voice filled with emotion.

Tears well up in my eyes as I lean closer to him, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I love you too," I murmur softly.

I move down and linger for a second, as our lips dance across each other, Soren's hand comes up to hold my waist. I feel flushed so I pull back making him smile up at me.  "You're the cutest."

I lean against the chair and gaze at him thinking of something. I get up and move towards my bathroom. I leave the door. 

I don't break eye contact with the alpha as I slowly start to undress. 

I feel hot all over as his eyes burn through my body. Both desire and need fill the room as he watches me step into the shower and turn the water on. The water pours over me and I set the temperature right.Then feel him standing right behind me.

 I turn around and smile shyly. "You move pretty fast for someone who's hurt," I tease.

The warm water now pours over the two of us, washing away the dried blood that lingered on our skin as it turns brown and runs down the drain.

He doesn't say anything, just moves closer to me. The way he looks at me makes me feel like crying. No has looked at me with so much love. 

His hand comes to rest gently on my waist, his fingers moving lower and that's all it takes for our lips to meet in a hungry yet gentle kiss. 

He's always gentle, so gentle for a rogue who's known to be a fierce killer, but in my arms, he's soft, He's not a merciless enforcer, He is kind and gentle. 

I break the kiss, which makes Soren growl in disapproval. Instead, his lips trail down my neck and nip at the skin, leaving a mark.

"Soren...No, stop."

He stops for a second pouting at me, I massage a handful of shampoo into his hair making the alpha groan and lean into my shoulder.  While one of my hand massages shampoo into his hair, my other hand traces up and down his back, avoiding the bandage on the stab wound. 

I trace lines into his back, making Soren flinch softly. "Sorry," I tell him.

His exhaustion is obvious and I knew we can't do anything that will take too much of his energy. 

  He starts to relax and lean into my touch. I rinse out the shampoo and move back so I can lather Soren body in soap. I can see the scars on his skin, old ones that never healed for some reason and the new ones that were healing. 

I start with his chest and look up at him to see that he's biting his lips. Huh? I look at my hand placement—it's caressing his toned chest and abdomen. OH!

Soren's hands find my hips once again, and he starts to kiss my neck and down my shoulder. I find myself pulling him closer, letting out a small moan of arousal. 

I pause and look down—my eyes widen—before I turn the water temperature to cold. 

"Baby!" he groans.

"We need to hold off until you're better," I tell him and rinse the lather off him. 

I turn to do the same for myself and turn off the shower ignoring his touch  and lips on body. 

I grab a towel, and we dry off together, sharing one or two sweet kisses whenever we each feel like it.

 I walk to my closet and grab a random outfit, getting dressed. Fingers intertwined, we lay on the bed together, my head on Soren's chest.

A comfortable silence rests between us. I find myself not being able to look away from Soren, he smiles before closing his eyes. He falls asleep quickly,  shifting his body to a comfortable position as he falls into a deep  slumber, his hand slips under my shirt, touching my bare skin.

(*)

As Soren sleeps, he holds on tight, making it difficult for me to leave the bed without waking him up. His legs are entwined around my knee, keeping me locked, and his arms are securely around my torso, his head resting peacefully on my chest. 

I gently shift, trying not to disturb him, but his hold remains firm. After a few careful manoeuvres, I manage to disengage from his embrace, easing his limbs back onto the bed. 

I tuck him back in with care, making sure he is comfortable, before quietly slipping out of my room, his warmth lingering within me as I tiptoe away into the hallway. 

 Finally, I reach Timothy's office. The door is slightly ajar, and I can hear voices inside. Taking a deep breath to steel myself and push the door open stepping inside. 

Timothy is seated behind his desk, going through a stack of papers. He looks up as I enter, his expression worrisome. "We are no longer part of the major pack alliances," He begins, his voice grave.

"Alpha Jared from the Benson Pack was kind enough to warn me that the major packs are still going through with their plan to bring down Soren. They plan to attack in four days' time."

I nod, absorbing his words and steeling myself for what lies ahead. "Four days," I echo softly, the urgency sinking in. "We have to use every moment wisely."

He nods in agreement, his jaw set with determination. "Exactly. We'll gather our allies, whatever we have left, strengthen our defence, and prepare to defend ourselves" 

We stay quiet for a moment, the weight of the conversation hanging heavily between us. I take a deep breath, preparing to speak, but Timothy interrupts me. "You two really care about each other," he remarks, his tone carrying a mix of observation and understanding. 

"You haven't been gone for even a month, and you've changed."

His words resonate with the truth of my journey. Soren and I have faced challenges that have reshaped our perspectives on each other in ways we couldn't have anticipated.

"Yeah," I respond softly, reflecting on how much has transpired in such a short time.

Timothy nods thoughtfully, his expression showing empathy. "You've both been through a lot," he acknowledges gently.

" And you have always been strong."

I glance out the window, the moonlight casting a serene glow into the room. "I had to be," I murmur, more to myself than to Timothy.

"When we were younger, I never helped you—or sided with you. I was scared of Mom."

Timothy sighs, his eyes full of regret  "I just want you to be happy now, even if that means you're with my literal enemy."

His words hang in the air, heavy with unspoken regret,  Growing up was hard for me, but that doesn't mean it wasn't hard for him too. "Should we have dinner like old times?" Timothy asks, his voice laced with a hint of nostalgia.

I hesitate, feeling a pang of longing for us to spend time together again, but before I can respond, Grey's voice breaks through the quiet of the pack house drawing my attention instantly. 

"William is here!"

I rise from my seat, a mix of relief and happiness flooding me as I hurry out of Timothy's office. As I reach Grey, he turns towards me with a bright but tired smile. I'm so glad he's safe.

"Hi, buddy!" I exclaim, scooping him up in a tight hug. His small arms wrap around my neck, and I hold him close for a moment. 

"Where's William?" I ask, setting him back down gently. He points towards the entrance where William stands, holding a sleeping Luca, alongside by Caleb and Tyler. 

Relief washes over me at the sight of them. I turn to Grey. "You must be tired. Let's go take a nap, and you can see Soren later." 

I smile down at Grey, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Come," I say softly, glancing back at Timothy who was standing in the corner by himself.  

As we walk towards my room, I tell Grey to be careful not to disturb his brother, as he's 'Tired and needs rest'. There is no point in telling him the truth. 

The pup nods sleepily, his eyes half-closed from exhaustion. When we reach my room, I help him take off his shoes and settle him into bed next to Soren. I tuck him in and brush a gentle hand over his hair. 

"Can you sleep with me?" he whispers. 

"Sure."

I settle beside him in the quiet room and run my fingers through his curls, hoping it brings him comfort. I know William didn't tell him much, but he must know a little of what's going on. Only when I hear his steady breathing, a sign that he has drifted to sleep, do I begin to relax. 

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for voting and supporting me as always!