Chapter 55

Chapter 55
Chapter 55 - Lilly’s pov.

Thin sunbeams filter in through the narrow slits in the curtain. For a brief moment, I simply lie there. In a state between sleepiness and waking up. I listen to the surrounding sounds. Dex's breathing sounds deep and steady beside me. Claire's breathing softer from her little bed next to ours.
A warm feeling of happiness fills my chest. For a few seconds, the looming danger does not exist. I am not thinking of Alex or Lucy, but only of the little piece of happiness that is here in the room with me. My hand moves instinctively to his back.
Barely touching him, I let my fingertips glide over his back. Tracing the muscles on his back. The movement is slow, absentminded, soothing more for me than for him.
His skin is warm under my touch. He feels strong. Safe. I have to restrain myself from wrapping myself around him. I don't want to wake him up. I watch the rise and fall of his shoulders, letting my hand glide up and down again. The mating bond hums faintly inside me, like a quiet echo. It feels... familiar? No, that's not the right word. As if it's... happy? Content? I don't know, I don't know the right word for it, but in any case, it feels good.
I’m still getting used to it—the subtle awareness of him even when I'm not looking.
My fingers pause at a change in his breathing. Slowly, my hand slides down his shoulder. A second later, Dex's hand covers mine.
"Good morning," he mumbles, his voice cracking with sleep. I smile.
"Good morning."
He slowly turns onto his side to get a better look at me. There is a crease in his face from his pillow.
The scene is so completely ordinary, it makes my chest ache. How many mornings have Brent and I lain in bed like this?
I push the memories into the background and force myself to focus on the present.
"How did you sleep?" he asks, his voice barely more than a whisper, still holding my hand. "Better than I thought; I think I fell asleep as soon as you left," I confess. He smiles, and his thumb brushes against my knuckles. "And you?"
He smiles mischievously. "I woke up to you touching me," he says, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Hard to complain about that."
Heat creeps up my neck. "I was just..."
His smile is slow and dangerous in a way that has nothing to do with being Alpha and everything to do with being my mate.
His hand slides from mine to my wrist, guiding it back to where it had been tracing his back."Don't stop on my account," he murmurs.
My heart flutters, but I oblige, letting my fingers drift across his skin again. His muscles tense slightly under my touch, the reaction immediate and impossible to miss.
The mattress sinks slightly as he slides closer. His hand comes up and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. He strokes my cheek and closes his eyes.
Visibly enjoying my touch.
I hear Claire sigh softly, but otherwise she makes no sound and doesn't seem to be waking up.
Dex's eyes are a shade darker when he opens them again.
“You realize,” he says softly, “that waking an Alpha like this is a dangerous game.”
“Oh?” I whisper.
His lips curve.
“Very.”
Before I can answer, he leans down and kisses me.
It’s not rushed. Not desperate. Just slow and warm and familiar in a way that makes the bond between us pulse softly.
My hands slide up his arms, up to the back of his neck and the back of his head. He deepens the kiss slightly, one hand bracing beside my head while the other settles at my waist. His thumb traces small circles against my side, and a quiet sound escapes me before I can stop it.
He chuckles under his breath. “Careful,” he murmurs against my lips. “You keep making sounds like that, and I might forget we have company.”
I peek over his shoulder. I cannot hide my disappointment when I see how she moves her little body restlessly and rubs her face with her little fist.
Dex drops his forehead onto my shoulder with exaggerated defeat when she starts to babble softly. "Mamamamama." It sounds from her bed. I chuckle softly and kiss his cheek.

"Good morning, sweet," I say to her when I reach her bed. Claire beams at us, completely unaware that she has just interrupted something. Dex watches us for a moment, the frustration in his expression melting into something softer.
“You know what,” he says after a moment, sitting up. “I’m finishing her room today.”
I glance at him. “Dex—”
“I know we have other things to do, but she’s sleeping in her own room tonight, no matter what.” As if she knows what has been said, Claire starts clapping happily.
“See, even Claire wants her own room.” I roll my eyes, but don’t comment. I know she needs her own room, or rather, that we need it.
The day settles into a strange kind of calm.
Not peaceful exactly. But quieter than yesterday. Everyone knows what they have to do.
Dex has made one of the Omegas responsible for finishing Claire's room while we go to the office. He suggested that I stay home with Claire, but I wouldn't hear of it. I'm the one who got us into this mess; I have to help fix it.
I drag Claire along with me, not trusting that she is one hundred percent safe at daycare. I have to keep my eyes on her. Dex thought it was a bit overprotective, since I used to leave her with a babysitter. But that is different; so much has happened in the meantime.

Maps of nearby territories are spread across the desk.
Reece comes and goes, bringing updates. Ronan checks in twice about patrol routes. Beth stops by with snacks for Claire and a reassuring smile for me.
The pack is working, preparing.
Dex moves through the office more than usual. Each time he passes, his hand brushes my shoulder or my back, small touches that seem casual but carry the steady reassurance of the bond.
And every single time he looks at me, there's that same quiet pride in his eyes.
“You did well yesterday,” he says at one point while leaning over my chair to examine the map. “I survived yesterday,” I correct.
No,” he says firmly. “You led.” I glanced up at him. “You spoke to them like you already belonged here.”
The words warm something deep inside me. “I hope they believed me.”
Dex's gaze sharpens slightly. “They did.”
I nod slowly, but something in the bond flickers.
A subtle tension. Dex moves away before I can place it. The feeling lingers.
For the next hour, I try to ignore it, focusing on the notes in front of me, but the sensation doesn't fade. It sits there quietly, like a splinter beneath the surface.
Finally, when Dex returns, I close the folder in front of me. “What's wrong?”
He pauses mid-step. “Nothing.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Dex.”
He shakes his head. "It's nothing." I stare at him. "The bond says otherwise." He stiffens. "Or had you forgotten for a moment that the bond works both ways?"
Claire is playing quietly on the other side of the desk with some toys Beth brought, unaware of the shift in the room.
"It's nothing you need to worry about." He sighs.
I raise an eyebrow again. "So I have to share my worries with you, but you don't have to? That's not how this works. Tell me what's bothering you." My tone is more demanding this time.
After a long silence, he finally gives in. “Last night..” He says slowly. "I overheard a conversation. Between two pack members." My stomach clenches; he is visibly struggling to tell me. I tell myself that this is good, that it means he trusts me. "And?" I try to encourage him to continue. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, a hint of guilt in his eyes. “They were questioning your loyalty.”
I try not to react; the words were to be expected. Last night, I convinced myself that I would be prepared when this moment came. Because deep down, I knew there would be pack members who wouldn't be convinced. And yet, the words feel like a slap in the face.
I clear my throat and compose myself. "Because I'm human?" I ask softly. Dex nods. "That, and because Alex is your brother." I nod in return.
"I figured this would happen," I confess after a brief silence. Dex's gaze becomes fierce. "They were wrong," he says with clenched fists.
I go to him and take his hands. "Maybe," I say softly. "But I understand why they think that way." His face softens, and he looks at me searchingly. "Well, I don't. I am their Alpha; they have to trust me." I smile. "You know as well as I do that it doesn't work like that."
"They are just trying to protect the pack. To watch out for potential danger." I try to make him see. "And you are part of this pack." The intensity and certainty in his voice are moving.
I place a hand on his cheek and gather all my courage to ask him the question again. "That is exactly why we need to take the next step." My voice sounds firm and sure, but inside, nerves are coursing through my body. Afraid of his rejection. He takes my hand and looks at me, confused. "What are you talking about?"
I take a deep breath. “Make me one of you.”
Dex drops my hand and falls completely silent.
"Lilly..." he finally says in a broken voice.
"Our bond is complete now," I interrupt him quickly, pointing to his mark on my neck. "You said yourself that it would strengthen us."
“That’s not the same.” He argues.
"I know. But it might help." I insist. “If the bond stabilizes the process..."
"It is still dangerous." He interrupts me. "I know, but..." His voice lowers. "You could die." My gaze wanders to Claire. I know he is right, but my gut feeling that I will survive this, that our bond will help me through it, is stronger.
"It can also make me stronger. Take away the pack's worries. It will make me strong enough to protect the pack together with you," I counter.
His face is full of worry. "You don't have to prove anything, you know that."
I sigh irritably. "It’s not to prove anything," I say.
“It’s about removing the one weakness Alex thinks he can use.” When he says nothing, I add, "That it will also remove doubts among pack members is a nice bonus."
For a long time, he says nothing. He just looks at me. The glimmer of hope I had that I could convince him fades with every second that he remains silent. Defeated, I let my shoulders droop. "Do you really think our union significantly increases your chances of survival?" he asks, a slight positive change in his voice. "Yes, I do." He frowns. "Why?" Now I am the one silent for a moment. "I don't know. It is a feeling inside that I cannot ignore," I answer honestly.
Claire breaks our silence with soft chatter, completely unaware of our tense discussion. Dex runs a hand through his hair. "Please, Dex, if there is ever a moment you need to trust me, it is now," I say, almost pleadingly.
"You do realise," he says slowly. "That agreeing to this might be the most terrifying decision I’ve ever made."
I smile and cannot help but wrap my arms around his neck. "Then it’s a good thing you are the bravest man I know."
He huffs a quiet laugh despite himself.
Then his expression turns serious again. “If we do this,” he says, “we do it carefully. With everyone ready.”
Hope flares inside me. I don't dare say anything and just look at him, hopefully.
He studies me one last time, then he exhales.
“…Alright.”
My breath catches.
“We’ll try.”
Relief floods through me so quickly it almost makes me dizzy.
Dex pulls me closer, holding me tightly.
“Together,” he murmurs against my hair.