Chapter 176 176
Aurélie POV
I had washed the blood away hours ago, yet the urge for another shower lingered. Maybe it was only in my head but I still felt unclean, like the night hadn’t fully released its grip on me.
The children had been asleep for over an hour now. Dominique had insisted Delphine sleep in his room tonight. I wasn’t sure whether that was for her comfort or his own. Either way, I knew by morning they’d be bickering like nothing had changed siblings through and through.
I’d spoken to Élodie earlier. She was horrified when she heard about the rogue attack and immediately offered to send warriors and medical staff. I’d reassured her that the worst was over, that the journey would be unnecessary. Truthfully, we were fortunate it could have been far worse.
Now, for the first time, I was simply… resting.
Last night had been chaos, a whirlwind that still left me dizzy. I longed for my bed, yet the thought of being in it alone made my chest ache.
Laughter drifted through the courtyard as the four of them returned to the alpha house. They’d been out securing the borders something I had fully intended to do myself. But they’d insisted I needed a break after everything that had happened.
They were right.
Still, I couldn’t truly relax. Not until Damien was back inside these walls.
His return had stirred something deep within my wolf something stronger, louder. His final words before leaving echoed in my mind: Prepare to be marked. To her, everything was simple. Black and white. He had come back to claim us. That was all that mattered.
She was ready.
I wasn’t sure I was.
There were two alliances now. Two forces pulling in opposite directions. I had given my word to both to protect them when the time came. Yet I had built the Darkvale alliance on a lie. Revenge fuelled by misinformation.
Should I dismantle it now?
Was it wrong to let it stand?
Its purpose had been to weaken Bloodnight, to give the other packs a choice. But if I accepted Damien as my mate… didn’t that make me a hypocrite?
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice them enter the house.
Only Damien did.
He must have caught my scent, because moments later he appeared behind the sofa, the room still dark, the television silent.
“The kids okay?” he asked softly.
His hands settled on my shoulders, massaging gently. Delphine had quickly gone back to playing earlier, and Dominique seemed… steadier. The two of them had spoken outside. I didn’t know what was said, but whatever it was, it had helped. Both of them had come back lighter.
“Yes… they’re fine,” I murmured, leaning into his touch. “Mm that feels good.”
“You’re carrying a lot of tension,” he observed. “Have you been in the office since I left to check the borders?”
“No. I wanted to spend tonight with the kids.” I hesitated. “I was thinking of having a shower, though. I know the blood’s gone, but…”
My gaze drifted to my arm. The wound had healed cleanly no marks, no reminder of that horrible, loose skin beneath my fingers. I was lucky.
It had been my first battle injury.
I doubted it would be my last.
“Come with me,” he said quietly. “I want to show you something.”
He held his hand out.
“Should I be worried?” I chuckled as I stood, slipping my fingers into his. A spark flared instantly between our palms as I laced them together.
“Never,” he said, drawing me closer and pressing a gentle kiss to my temple.
He led me into my office. On the round meeting table lay a folded map and a thick folder.
“What’s this?” I asked, curiosity stirring as I opened the map.
Several areas were circled land positioned between our two packs.
“Possible territory,” he said. “Land we could own together.”
My breath caught.
“I meant what I said, Aurélie. I want to be with you. I want this to work.” His voice was steady, certain. “This is the children’s home I’d never ask them to leave it. I can come here. Or we meet somewhere in between. Either way, I’ll make it work.”
I stared at the map, at the future spread out before me.
A future I never thought was possible.
One I hadn’t even realised I wanted.
A future he wanted with us.
“You did all this?” I whispered.
I turned to face him, lifting my hands to cup his face, overwhelmed.
“I don’t even know what to say…”
“You don’t have to,” he murmured. “You just have to choose.”
He leaned in, his lips brushing mine. I responded instinctively, my hands sliding to the back of his neck as the kiss deepened slow, searching, full of everything left unsaid.
Before I realised it, I was pressed gently against the table, his body close, warm. The world narrowed to breath and touch, to the way our mouths moved together, neither willing to yield. A quiet moan slipped from me as warmth sparked through my chest, my shoulders, my arms.
I never wanted the moment to end.
His hands traced slowly down my sides, unhurried, stopping at my thighs. I barely noticed when he lifted me, setting me atop the table. His scent familiar, intoxicating wrapped around me, making my thoughts blur.
Breathe.
My wolf’s voice cut through the haze.
I pulled back slightly, lips swollen, lungs aching as I dragged in a deep breath of air.
And for a moment, suspended between desire and doubt, I just breathed.