Chapter 163: Like You're Mine

I woke with my face pressed against something warm and solid. It took me a moment to remember where I was. Darian's chest rose and fell under my cheek. His arm was wrapped around me. Heavy. Secure.

I froze.

This was real. He was here. In my bed. Alive.

I didn't remember falling asleep like this. Remembered lying beside him. Remembered the exhaustion pulling me under. But not this. Not being tangled together like we'd done it a thousand times before.

My wolf stirred. Content. Satisfied. Like this was exactly where we belonged.

I should move. Put distance between us. But I didn't want to wake him. And if I was honest, I didn't want to let go.

So I stayed. Let myself have this moment before reality crashed back in.

His heartbeat was steady under my ear. Slow and strong. His skin was warmer than it should be. The magical silver poisoning was still working through his system. But he was healing. I could feel it through the bond.

The bond hummed between us. Warm and bright. Content like my wolf.

I lifted my head slightly. Looked at his face.

Asleep, he looked different. Younger somehow. The sharp edges softened. No mockery. No challenge. Just peace.

His dark hair fell across his forehead. I wanted to brush it back. Wanted to trace the line of his jaw. The curve of his mouth.

I didn't. Just watched him breathe.

The burns on his wrists were still angry and red against the white bandages I'd wrapped last night. They'd scar. Permanent reminders of the chains. Of how close I'd come to losing him.

My chest tightened. The panic started creeping in.

This was real. He was here. And I had no idea what I was doing.

I'd never been someone's mate before. Never lived with another person in my space. Never had to consider someone else's needs before my own.

What if I was terrible at this? What if I hurt him? What if I pushed him away again and this time he didn't come back?

The panic built. Made it hard to breathe.

His eyes opened. Gray and clear. Focused on me immediately like he'd known I was awake.

"Morning," he said. His voice was rough. Raw from sleep.

"Morning."

We looked at each other. Neither of us moved.

I expected him to say something. Make a joke. Do something to break the tension.

He didn't. Just watched me with those calm gray eyes.

"How do you feel?" I asked finally.

"Like I got poisoned and chained to a wall."

"That's accurate."

"How do you feel?"

"Like I killed fifteen bandits and didn't sleep enough."

His mouth curved slightly. "Also accurate."

Silence. But not uncomfortable. Just present.

His hand found mine under the blanket. Threaded his fingers through mine.

The bond flared. Warm.

I wanted to say something. Wanted to tell him I loved him. That I was glad he was alive. That I was terrified and grateful and completely lost.

The words stuck in my throat.

He didn't push. Just held my hand and watched me with patience I didn't deserve.

"Darian," I started.

Someone knocked on the door. Hard and insistent.

I growled. Actually growled.

Darian's mouth twitched. "I think that means come in."

The door opened before I could protest. The pack healer walked in carrying a bag of supplies. Elizabeth followed behind her.

"Good. You're both awake," the healer said. She was older. Stern. Didn't waste time on pleasantries. "I need to check those burns."

"Now?" I asked.

"Yes. Now."

I wanted to argue. Wanted to kick them both out and go back to the quiet moment Darian and I had been sharing.

But the healer was already moving toward the bed. Elizabeth stood near the door with her arms crossed.

Her eyes met mine. She smiled slightly. Not mocking. Just warm. Knowing.

Like she was saying congratulations without embarrassing me by actually saying it.

My face heated.

The healer pulled back the blanket. Started unwrapping the bandages on Darian's wrists.

He didn't let go of my hand.

I felt Elizabeth watching. Felt the healer notice. Felt everyone in the room understand what it meant.

Public. This was public now.

My shoulders tensed. But I didn't pull away.

Let them see. Let them know.

He was mine. I was his.

The healer worked in silence. Cleaned the burns. Applied fresh salve. Rewrapped them with clean bandages.

"The poisoning is mostly out of your system," she said to Darian. "But you need rest. No training. No fighting. Nothing strenuous for at least a week."

"Understood."

She looked at me. "Your shoulder?"

"It's fine."

"Let me see."

I pulled back the blanket. The crossbow graze had scabbed over. Looked worse than it was.

She cleaned it quickly. Applied salve. "You're lucky. Could have been much worse."

"I know."

She packed up her supplies. "I'll be back tomorrow to check on you both."

Then she left. Elizabeth lingered.

"Connor wants to talk to you," she said. "Both of you."

"Now?" I asked.

"He's waiting outside."

Of course he was.

Elizabeth's eyes moved to our joined hands. Back to my face. She smiled again. "I'm glad you found him."

"Me too."

She left. The door stayed open.

Connor appeared in the doorway. His expression was carefully neutral. But I saw the assessment in his amber eyes.

He looked at Darian. At me. At our hands.

"You look better than I expected," he said to Darian.

"I've had good care."

Connor's eyes moved to me. "I need to know your plans."

"Plans?" I asked.

"How long you're staying. Where. Under what conditions."

He was asking Darian. But I answered before he could.

"He's staying here," I said. "With me. For as long as he needs to heal."

Connor raised an eyebrow. "That could be weeks."

"I don't care."

The words came out harsher than I intended. Possessive. Territorial.

Connor didn't argue. Just nodded slowly. "Understood."

He looked at Darian. "The vampire delegation will want a report. About the attack. About the survivors."

"I'll provide one when I'm able."

"Good." Connor's expression softened slightly. "I'm glad you're alive."

"Thank you. For sending her."

"I didn't send her. She went on her own."

Something passed between them. Understanding. Respect.

Connor recognized Darian as my mate. Accepted him in the pack's territory. Gave his silent approval.

Darian recognized Connor as Alpha. Understood the hierarchy. Didn't challenge it.

It was done. Official.

Connor left. Closed the door behind him.

We were alone again.

"That went well," Darian said.

"Did it?"

"You claimed me in front of your Alpha. I'd say that's significant."

My face heated again. "I just answered his question."

"You marked your territory."

"Don't say it like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you're mine."

He smiled. Tired but genuine. "Aren't I?"

I didn't answer. Couldn't.

"Go," he said. "Clean up. Rest. I'm not going anywhere."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

I stood slowly. My body ached. Reminded me I'd run for hours. Fought. Carried him home.

I was still covered in dried blood. Dirt. My clothes were ruined.

"I'll be quick," I said.

"Take your time."

I grabbed clean clothes. Walked to the bathing room attached to my house. Small but private.

I stripped off the destroyed clothing. Dropped it in a pile. Filled the basin with cold water.

Started washing.

The blood came off slowly. Stained the water dark. I scrubbed my skin until it hurt. Until I was clean.

The burns on my palms from the silver chains were raw. Painful. I cleaned them carefully. Wrapped them in fresh bandages.

The crossbow graze on my shoulder was minor. Would heal fast. I ignored it.

My reflection stared back at me from the polished metal. I looked exhausted. Haunted. Different somehow.

Like something fundamental had changed.

I pulled on clean clothes. Braided my damp hair.

When I returned to the main room, Darian was asleep again. His breathing deep and even.

I sat on the edge of the bed. Just watched him.

He was alive. Here. Mine.

The panic was still there. The fear. The uncertainty.

But underneath it all was something else. Something warm and solid and real.

Hope.

Maybe I didn't know how to do this. Maybe I'd make mistakes. Maybe I'd hurt him and he'd hurt me and we'd fight and struggle.

But we'd do it together.

And that was enough.

For now, it was enough.