Chapter 79 Vulnerable Moments

Chapter 79 Vulnerable Moments
Vanessa

Home.

I never thought that word would feel this good.

The moment we step through the front doors of the mansion, something inside me loosens. Not completely, not yet. But enough that my lungs finally fill with a proper breath.

The familiar woodsy scent of my mate replaces the smell of damp, wet earth and repulsive magic, wrapping around me like a soft blanket, safe and secure.

My body sinks further into Xander’s arms as he carries me across the threshold. The warmth of him and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek keeps the world from spinning too fast.

The exhaustion still clings to me like a second skin. Every muscle is sore and aches so much I'm glad I'm not walking on my own two feet right now. My magic, though returned, feels fragile and shaky, like a limb that has fallen asleep and is only just waking up again.

The hallway lights cast soft golden pools across the wooden floor as we enter.

Max walks ahead of us, glancing over his shoulder. “You two good?” His voice is lighter than earlier, almost the usual casual tone, but I can hear the concern beneath it.

I manage a small nod. “Yeah.”
My reply comes out weaker than I intended, but I still manage to give him a small smile after.

Max’s eyes linger on my face for a moment longer. His sharp gaze scans me the same way a soldier checks for injuries after a battle, then he grins at me. "You did good today, kiddo." He reaches out to ruffle my hair and I narrow my eyes at him, releasing a little magic which zaps him in the fingers and he yelps.
I chuckle, and Xander grunts behind me, his eyes probably shooting daggers at Max for interrupting my rest time.

"Good to know you still got it." When he's satisfied that I’m at least still conscious, Max jerks his head toward the staircase.
“Go get some sleep, Nessa. I'll see you two in the morning," he says, glancing at Xander also.

Xander doesn’t answer, but gives him a subtle nod. Max pats his shoulders twice and leaves.

Xander' hand tightens slightly around mine as we stroll into my room. The pack feels quieter than usual tonight - not that it's ever really been rowdy. Judging from the way the moon hangs over the sky, I'm pretty sure it's way past appropriate walking hours and most would be asleep by now.

It's a good thing. Right now, I’m not sure I have the strength to face curious stares or a dozen worried questions. And Trish? Oh no, I definitely can't deal with her mother hen nature tonight.

When we reach my door, Xander pushes it open with one hand. The room looks exactly the way I left it before training with Elda – the bed is neatly made, the window slightly open with moonlight spilling across the floor.
Xander must've restricted any access to my room when I was gone.

For a moment, I just stare at it, a strange feeling washing over me.
After the darkness of the dungeon, after cold stone walls and chains and stale air, my room looks almost unreal.
Xander steps inside and gently sets me on my feet.

The moment the door closes behind us, the silence settles around the room like falling snow.

I move slowly to the bed and sit on the edge, the mattress dipping beneath me like a soft, warm cloud of bliss and I sink into it instead, a loud sigh escaping my lips.

Everything hurts like a bitch.
The bruises from the shadow tendrils throb faintly around my wrists. My muscles feel tight and sore from days of tension and lack of proper sleep.

Xander remains standing a few feet away, silently watching me.
The intensity of those dark eyes makes my chest tighten with an ache of longing so great I have to rub my chest to relieve it.
Even when he's standing so close, I still miss him so badly.

I wait for what feels like centuries, hoping he'll come closer so I can have him in my arms again but he only continues stare, like he’s studying a ghost- like he still isn’t convinced I’m actually here.

The frustration overrides my pride and I open my mouth to tell him to get his ass over to me when he finally speaks.

“You scared me,” he says quietly, body a tenseness to his body. The words landing harder than I expect. I look up him. For an Alpha, it must've taken a lot for him to admit that.
His voice isn’t angry or sad, It’s raw, honest, and suddenly, guilt floods through me.

“I’m sorry," I whisper.

Xander immediately shakes his head. “None of this is your fault, Vanessa."

I look down at my hands. Faint red marks still circle my wrists where I had been bound.

“They locked my magic.” Saying the words out loud makes the memory crawl back into my skin. The helplessness, the suffocating silence where my power should have been, all of those feelings press down my chest and I almost find it hard to breathe.

Xander’s jaw tightens visibly. “I know.” There’s a dangerous edge to the way he says it, and it's the kind of anger that's still yet to burn out.

For a few seconds, neither of us speaks. The quiet stretching between us.

My fingers twist together nervously. Finally, I glance up again. “Can you stay?” The vulnerability in my voice surprises even me. I’ve never been the one to ask him for something like that before. Old me would never allow that.

But tonight feels different. Tonight, we've both grown and changed so much from who we were all those months ago. We're mates for God's sake! And that's never going to change now...and I honestly don't want it to.

Xander doesn’t hesitate. “Of course.” He crosses the room and sits beside me on the bed.The mattress dips again under his weight. He gently cups my face, his dark eyes tracing my face slowly until they stop, staring into my blue pools.
"I'll always be here for as long as you need me, Vanessa." Somehow, I know he's not just talking about tonight.
I lean forward and press my lips to his. Our mouths moving together in a slow, steady dance. There's no rush whatsoever as we just move in rhythm and just...feel, connecting our hearts as one in this moment.

“You should sleep,” Xander says softly when we pull back.

“I will.”
But I don’t lie down yet. "How'd you guys find me?" I ask a moment later.

"Elda had her ways," he replies.
Of course she did. I'm grateful nonetheless.

His gaze flickers down to my wrists and a low growl rumbles in his chest. “They hurt you.”

I shrug weakly, not really wanting to think about it. Ever again.

“They won’t touch you again." It's not a threat, but an absolute promise.

“I know baby," I reply, pecking his lips lightly.

Something shifts in his expression at the endearment. Something softer and the bond between us hums faintly, warm and steady.
Finally, I lie down against the pillows, my body sinking into the mattress like it’s been waiting for this moment for days.

Xander follows, wrapping his arms and legs around me like he's afraid I'll get stolen from him again.

Well, I'm not going anywhere ever again.

The steady presence of him calms something restless inside me...even if a different kind of guilt starts to gnaw at me and twist sharply in my stomach.

No, all in due time. I'll have to let him know before anyone else finds out.

Shaking the thought out of my head, I sink deeper into his warmth, letting myself find comfort in his embrace.

The last thing I see before I drift off is a certain mop of dark hair, crescent moon sigil on his chest with eyes so blue they rival the ocean's...