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I sat on the floor with my back pressed against the door, arms wrapped around my knees, eyes locked on the bed like the blood could come back if I blinked wrong. My chest kept rising too fast. I kept rubbing my palms against my legs, trying to ground myself.
Every creak in the house made me flinch.
I didn’t call Damien. I didn’t want to sound crazy, and not after everything he already had on his plate. So I sat there and stayed awake and then hours later, I heard footsteps.
The door handle turned and I shot up so fast my head spun.
The second he stepped inside, I ran into him, grabbing his hoodie with both hands.
He caught me by instinct, hands steady on my waist.
His brow furrowed as he looked down at me. His voice was cold, but there was worry buried under it, “ehat happened? Why ads you awake?”
“Nothing,” I said too fast.
He stared, “I can smell your fear.”
My throat tightened. I looked away and raked my fingers through my hair. “I’m fine, I’m just tired.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he said. His hand cupped the side of my jaw, turning my face back to him, “tell me.”
I swallowed hard, “I saw blood.”
His brows pulled together, “where?”
“Everywhere,” I whispered. “The floor, the bed, the wall, it was everywhere. I stepped in it. I touched it and it felt real.”
He looked around the room and then back at me. “There’s nothing here.”
“I know,” I said, hugging myself. “It disappeared and I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
He stepped closer, his hands sliding to my arms. “It’s stress.”
“That didn’t feel like stress,” I said. My voice shook. “Stress doesn’t paint the room red.”
He pulled me against his chest. I pressed my forehead into his hoodie, fingers clutching the fabric.
“You haven’t rested since the mountain,” he said. His hand moved up and down my back slowly. “Your mind is pushing back.”
“So I’m losing it,” I muttered.
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“No,” he said, “you’re overwhelmed.”
I stayed there, breathing him in, feeling his chest rise and fall.
“I’m here tonight,” he said. “You won’t wake up alone.”
I nodded against him. “Okay.”
He pulled back enough to look at me. His thumb brushed my cheek, wiping a tear I didn’t realise slipped.
“Tomorrow I’m taking you to the human world. Fresh air, space and quiet, you need distance from the pack.”
My eyes widened, “tomorrow.”
“Yes, you said nothing is wrong but your body says otherwise.”
I bit my lip. “I actually have something tomorrow.”
His brows raised slightly. “What.”
“My old college is having a reunion event,” I said, rubbing my thumb across my palm.” At my old uni campus. I wasn’t going to go but… I kind of want to.”
He watched me, unreadable. “Why didn’t you mention it earlier.”
“Because you had war meetings and elders and rogue attacks and you’re planning a whole damn army,” I said, shaking my head. “And I’m here talking about some childish reunion.”
“It matters to you.”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I guess it does.”
He nodded once. “Then we go.”
I blinked up at him. “Seriously.”
“Yes.”
“You’re just going to show up on a human campus.”
“I’ll blend.” His tone didn’t change. “Humans notice less than they think.”
I laughed a little. “You’re like six foot massive.”
He shrugged. “I’ll wear a hat.”
I covered my face with my hands. “Oh my God.”
He gently pulled my hands away. “If going makes your mind settle, we go.”
My chest loosened a bit.
“I haven’t seen them in years,” I said. “They probably think I’m dead or something.”
“They will think whatever you tell them to,” he said. “You’re not the same girl you were
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then.”
I looked down. “No. I’m not.”
He tilted my chin up with his fingers. “Sleep. I’m not leaving this room.”
I let out a shaky breath. “Can you just stay close.”
His hand slid behind my back again, guiding me toward the bed. “I said I’m here.”
I lay stiff on the edge of the bed, facing the wall.
There was so much space between us it felt stupid.
The mattress dipped behind me when Damien shifted, but I didn’t move closer.
His arm rested on top of the blanket, not touching me.
“Are you going to stay that far all night?” he asked.
“I’m comfortable.”
“You’re practically falling off.”
I stared at the wall for a full minute before I spoke again, “How did the meeting go?”
He shifted slightly. “Which one.”
“The war announcement.”
He was quiet for a second. I turned just enough to see him from the corner of my eye. He was lying on his back, one arm behind his head.
“They expected it,” he said. “After the elders’ decision.”
“That’s it?” I rolled onto my back. “No panic. No chaos.” “Why would there be.”
“Because you just told them people are going to die.” “They already know that.”
I frowned at the ceiling. “And they’re just… okay with it.”
“They’re wolves.”
I turned my head to look at him fully now. “And you’re weirdly chill about this.”
His jaw tightened slightly. “I’m not chill.”
“You look it.”
He looked at me then. Direct. Steady. “If I panic, they panic.”
That made me go quiet.
He looked back at the ceiling. “We’ve been defending for months. This was coming.”
I swallowed. “You said it’ll claim lives.”
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“It will.”
“And you’re just… fine.”
He turned his head again. “I didn’t say I was fine.”
I watched his fingers tap once against the mattress before going still again.
“You don’t look worried,” I said softly.
“I don’t have the luxury.”
Something about that hit me in the chest.
I looked away quickly, suddenly feeling stupid for pushing.
He shifted closer without making a big deal about it. His thigh brushed mine.
I froze.
“You’re cold,” he muttered.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Before I could argue, his arm slid over my waist and pulled me an inch closer.
I stiffened.
“You can breathe,” he said.
“I am breathing.”
“Barely.”
I hesitated. Then slowly, awkwardly, I turned toward him.
His hand stayed on my waist.
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I rested my forehead against his chest, unsure where to put my arms. After a second, I placed one hand on his hoodie.
He didn’t comment.
His fingers brushed lightly up and down my side once.
I felt the smallest smile pull at my mouth.
His breathing stayed steady. My body started to relax without permission.
His thumb moved once against my waist.
“You should sleep,” he said quietly.
“I’m trying.”
“You’re thinking too loud.”
And then I realized something, i wasn’t tense anymore.
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My fingers curled slightly into his hoodie.
Why am I feeling this much right now. Why does this feel… good. Why do I suddenly care so much.
I closed my eyes, heart beating slower against his chest.
Why do I think I’m starting to fall for him?
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