The word lingered between us.
“I can help you,” I continued. “Not by taking anything from you. Not by forcing anything. Just by anchoring you. Letting your body learn that this isn’t a threat.”
“And if I lose control?” she asked, and this time the fear beneath it was unmistakable.
“You didn’t lose control before. You were overwhelmed. That’s not the same thing.”
Silence again.
Then, she whispered, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
The vulnerability in that confession cut deeper than any anger she’d thrown at us.
“You won’t,” I said.
“You can’t promise that.”
“I can because this isn’t destruction. It’s biology. It’s instinct. It’s your system finally being allowed to function.”
The heat in the air shifted again—not diminishing, but steadying.
“What do I have to do?” she asked at last.
“Let me in.”
She sucked in a breath.
“I won’t touch you unless you ask,” I added quickly. “We’ll go slowly. If you tell me to stop, I stop.”
The latch turned.
The door opened a fraction, then wider.
She stood there, framed by the dim light of her chamber. Silver hair loose around her shoulders. Cheeks flushed high. Eyes too bright.
The scent hit me fully now—rich and intoxicating, threaded with uncertainty. It would have driven most alphas to impatience. I felt an urge and instinct to get closer and take possession, so I deliberately advanced as slowly as possible.
Her nest was warm. Softer than the rest of the tower. Layers of fabric and fur muffled sound, turned the room into something intimate and insulated.
She took a step back as I entered, not retreating so much as making space for me.
Her hands trembled slightly at her sides. “Don’t let me hurt you,” she said again.
I stopped an arm’s length away. “You’re not a weapon,” I said quietly. “Your body is waking up, that’s all.”
Her breath hitched.
“Tell me what to do,” she whispered.
I sank down slowly onto the edge of the nest so I wouldn’t tower over her. “First,” I said gently, “you breathe.”
Her chest rose and fell unevenly.
“Match me,” I continued, keeping my voice steady, unhurried. “Slow. In. Hold. Out.”
She tried. Failed. Tried again.
The heat rolled between us in slow waves, no longer frantic but heavy and building. The air was heavy with it.
