Adjusting to life back home with Caleb after six weeks at the treatment centre has been challenging yet blissful at the same time. I’m still keeping up with my therapy sessions with Nathan at Caleb’s pack house, and sometimes, we even sit in on each other's sessions for extra support.
I close the book in my lap and hop down from the ledge. My neck tingles, and I brush my fingers over the mark Caleb left on me. It’s been a week since we officially mated, and for the first time, everything feels a lot lighter, brighter, and doable.
I walk towards Caleb’s office without a second thought. I raise my knuckles and knock to hear, “Come in,” shortly after.
The second I step inside, Caleb glances up at me and offers a smile.
“Hey,” he says as he places down his pen. “You don’t need to knock.”
I shrug with a smile. “I need to respect my Alpha.”
His eyes flare at my statement. “Come here.” He beckons with his head.
My feet carry me towards him with a little hurry, and the second he opens his arms, I fall into his lap. I press my face upagainst his neck and leave a kiss on the mark I left him. Caleb shudders as his arms tighten around my back.
“Once upon a time, you told me I’d never be your Alpha,” he murmurs.
I chuckle softly. “Yeah, when I didn’t know your intentions.”
He pulls away and stares up at me before brushing my curls from my face.
“But now, you’ll always be my Alpha.”
My head raises an inch, and I glance at the wall behind him to find a portrait of myself. It takes a few seconds to realise it’s one of the paintings Caleb did a while back, and now he’s hung it in his office.
“Holy shit,” I blurt as he turns to look at what I’m gaping at.
Caleb smiles before nudging his head into mine. “What do you think?”
“I’m in shock, that’s what I think.”
“You don’t like it?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been hung up on anybody’s wall,” I confess as my cheeks heat.
He slides his hands into the back of my hair. “I spend a lot of time in here alone, but when I turn around and look at your handsome face, it reminds me that I’m not alone. I’m far from alone. It makes me happy, even on the glummest of days.”
My chest quivers at his declaration. “You are so fucking cute.”
Caleb releases a soft grunt before pressing his lips to mine. “I want to tell our pack.”
My breath lodges in my throat at his words.Our pack.
“They already know.” I laugh hesitantly.
“I know, but officially. I’ve been waiting to do it since I met you.”
I stare back into his eyes as they glitter at me. “Yeah?”
He bites down on his bottom lip and nods. “Yeah.”
“Then let's do it.”
My eyes dip as I loosen my arms around Caleb’s neck. I push up the sleeves of my jumper, and I stare back at the marks on my skin. It’s been over four months now since I last self-harmed.
“What’s wrong?” Caleb frowns as he kisses my wrists.
“I think I’d like to cover them up.”
