Her gaze drifts to the window before closing again, her body swaying like she’s fighting sleep and losing.I recognize the signs—drug withdrawal, shock, and exhaustion.She needs rest.
“Aria,” I say gently.“You don’t have to keep your eyes open.I’m not going anywhere.And I won’t let anyone in here without your permission.”
She doesn’t respond.But the tension in her shoulders loosens a fraction, and she drifts off with a soft, uneven breath.A nightmare hits almost immediately.Her body jerks.A broken whimper slips out.Her hands clutch the blanket like she’s holding onto life itself.
Fuck.
My dire wolf snarls, wanting out.Wanting to climb into her nightmares and rip them apart with his teeth and save her from anything that could ever harm her.I move to the edge of the bed slowly, lowering myself to the floor beside it.I won’t touch her—she didn’t give permission—but maybe being near will help.
Her breath catches.She curls tighter.
“Aria,” I murmur, not loud enough to startle.“You’re safe.You’re in the Katu compound.Not with the Hunters.”
Her brow twitches.She exhales sharper, a tiny gasp.
“Breathe, sweetheart,” I whisper.
The endearment slips out before I can stop it.It surprises her, her fingers twitching toward me, then retreating.She wakes up with a tiny cry, bolting upright.
Her chest heaves and her pupils are blown wide.She scans the room wildly until her gaze locks on me sitting beside her bed.The terror in her eyes softens, but it doesn’t fade.
“Nightmare?”I ask carefully.
She nods once, an embarrassed flush creeping over her cheeks.
“You don’t have to tell me,” I say.“Just ...know I’m here.”
She swallows hard.“I didn’t want you to see that.”
“I’ll see much worse,” I tell her honestly.“You survived hell.Nightmares are a small price for that.”
She stares at me for a long moment.Then her shoulders sag under the weight of exhaustion she tries, and fails, to hide.
“Sleep,” I say again, gentler this time.“I’ll stay until you do.”
And she does, slowly, warily, but she lets sleep take her again.This time, she doesn’t fall apart as hard.This time, I’m close enough to catch the tremors before they turn into quakes.
I stay by her bed until the first hint of dawn breaks through the window.My legs are stiff, my back aching, but I don’t move.Leaving her alone feels wrong.Like I’d be breaking something fragile.Something sacred.
But pack duty doesn’t wait.I owe the Katu pack more than I will ever be able to repay, and I can’t shirk my responsibilities.
When sunrise hits full and bright, there’s a small knock on the door.
Marc’s voice filters through the wooden door.“Silas?Briefing in ten.”
I exhale.Of course.“I’ll be there,” I reply softly.
Aria shifts under the blankets at the sound of my voice.She doesn’t wake up, but she visibly relaxes.
I push myself up slowly.But my body refuses to walk away without seeing her face one more time.I turn back.She’s curled into a corner of the bed, knees drawn up, arms wrapped around herself.Her hair spills over the pillow like ink, hiding half her face.Her breathing is slow, but not peaceful.
The bond flickers again, sharp enough to steal my breath this time.I don’t understand it.Fate doesn’t make mistakes.But this bond feels half-formed, stretched thin, like it wasn’t meant to survive what they did to her.
But it’s there.Even if it’s broken, it’s there.
I step back toward the bed, unable to help myself.I don’t get close enough to touch, but...“I’ll be back,” I whisper.
Her brows twitch faintly, as if she hears me from inside sleep.My chest squeezes.And then I force myself to leave.
