Chapter 72 Little Wolf
Roman
She sniffs once, and I realize she must have been crying. I set the tray of food on the nightstand before I climb into her bed. I carefully pull back the blanket until I can see her face. Her eyes are red and tear-stained.
Jesus. Sometimes it hurts to look at her. A protective urge rises in my chest. I want to catch all her demons and destroy them. But her demons are mine too, and until I can fix the situation we're in, all I can do is be here for her.
Elena sits up and narrows her eyes at me.
"When did you hear the word 'come in'?" she asks, exasperated. "I obviously want to be alone."
"I left you alone for a few days. Stop moping," I state.
"You came into my room without permission, Roman. What if I were naked?" She asked.
I pointedly move my gaze from her face to the thin shirt she wears. Her nipples are poking out from under the material, and my throat tightens as I force myself to look at her again.
“Unless you’re actually naked under that blanket,” I say hoarsely, since I can’t see her lower half. “I think we’re okay.”
Her eyes meet mine, and there’s heat in their depths. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this maddening pull between us. Honestly, it makes this easier. Elena clears her throat before throwing off the blanket and standing up. She looks at me, hands on her hips. “What are you even doing here?”
I lean against the headboard, closing my eyes. “Isn’t it obvious? I came to see you, little wolf.”
“What about Cassie? Where is she?” She asked.
“With my mom. I thought she should spend the night there, give you some time to yourself. Don’t worry, Mom will take care of her.”
She considers my words for a moment before nodding.
“I guess I have nothing to complain about. I kept her away from her precious granddaughter. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom.”
She leaves, and I decide to answer a few important emails while I wait. When Elena reappears a few minutes later, her face has brightened, and her expression has become much clearer.
“It’s very strange to see you on my bed,” she says, walking over to the nightstand where I placed her food.
Instead of reaching for the plate, she grabs a glass of water and drinks it in one gulp. I stare at her as she starts to walk away.
“Food on a plate is meant to be eaten,” I declare.
“I’m not hungry.” She said.
My eyes narrow. “Elena…”
She stares at me for a moment. And when she realizes she’s not going to win, she grabs her plate in irritation. “Fine. I’ll eat. Has anyone ever told you you’re bossy?”
“Maybe I’ve heard it once or twice,” I say, smiling.
She starts eating, and I continue to scroll through my email. It’s strangely domesticated. Neither of us says a word, and yet I feel more at ease than I have in days. Being with Elena gives me the same feeling I had when I held Cassie in my arms: peaceful.
She puts her plate down when she’s finished eating. And when she comes back, she sits down in front of me, crossing her legs. I raise an eyebrow at her intense gaze. “What?”
“I’m looking for the button,” she mumbles.
“What button?” I asked.
“You’re being weirdly nice to me. I thought you must be a robot or something.” She said.
“Right,” I say blankly. “Because that makes sense.”
She laughs, flopping down on the bed and looking at the ceiling.
“Any word from my brother?” she asks.
“Michael said he was okay,” I replied.
“What about my dad?” She asked.
“He hasn't left the house for several days, but I think he's okay, too. I spoke to one of the maids, and she said he's already eaten. He doesn't talk much, though.” I replied.
She sighs. “Fine. I destroyed my family.”
“You didn't destroy my family,” I correct. “They're hurt. It's normal.”
She turns and looks at me with warm eyes. “But I did. My father called me a disappointment, and my brother said I was dead to him.”
I understand that she had a breakdown. That's not what anyone wants to hear from their loved ones. Her father and brother mean a lot to her, even if she doesn't always show it.
“Roman, your nickname is literally a disaster for me. You call me that because that’s what I do. I ruin everything.” She laughs bitterly.
“You know, I thought I’d changed. I spent the last year trying to be a better person. Because I was going to be a mom, and I promised myself I’d be better in every way than the one I had. I know my flaws. I know who I was before Cassie, and I wanted to be better, but what if I’m just doomed to be this selfish, corny bitch who pushes away the people she loves?”
“Hey, look at me,” I say, forcing her to look up and meet my eyes. “I don’t call you trouble because I think you’re a pain in the ass. It’s just a silly nickname, and in case you haven’t noticed, I also call you wolf.”
She smiles. “I noticed. And you call me that because you saw a picture of me dressed as a wolf for Halloween.”
“No, I don’t.” She looks at me incredulously. “Okay, maybe part of it. But… you like Greek mythology, right?”
She nods.
“Well, in Greek mythology, wolves are a symbol of ferocity and strength. I call you little wolf because, in case you didn’t realize it, you’ve always been a force to be reckoned with. And you always will be. You’re strong, stronger than anyone really gives you credit for.
You never back down from any challenge, and believe me, I know, considering I’m the one who challenges you the most. Honestly, you surprise me sometimes. If you ask me, I don’t think you’ve ever needed to change. You’ve always been exactly the way you are.”
As I finish, Elena looks at me with awe on her face.