Chapter 98 - Violet

Simon pulled me inside to look at the decorations that hung and all the little details that he missed in the original plans. Everything was set. Nothing really left for me to do but continue to train and relax.

“I almost forgot!” I looked at Greta who turned to me. “My dress came in. Tomorrow, I need to try it on to make sure it fits. Did you want to join me and try on yours?”

“Fashion show?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Sure, fashion show.”

“Ok, I forgive you.”

“When are you off guard duty?”

“I should be done around three.”

“Are the men invited to this fashion show?” Simon chimed in.

“Nope! You both will just have to wait until the day of the Yule Ball. A true reveal!” Greta yelled waving her hands in the air.

I tried to stifle a yawn, holding my hand over my open mouth.

“I think it’s time for us to go to bed.” Simon pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. “I’ll get dinner for us.”

At the mention of food, my stomach lurched. “Something not intense. I’ve been so stressed out it’s making me sick.”

Simon pulled away and looked at me. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah.” I shook my head, pushing his concern aside. “Even when I was a kid, if I got overly stressed, I would get sick. With all that’s happening, it was inevitable.”

“Hmm, okay. But you shouldn’t be pushing yourself like that.”

I pulled away from him and waved my hand. “I’m fine. Just a couple more days and my stress levels will drop drastically.”

Simon still had concern in his eyes. He looked at Greta and she just shrugged back at him. “Let’s get you upstairs and in bed.”

“That sounds amazing.” I said through another yawn. “With all this prepping and planning I may need to get a nap in these next few days.”

Simon grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the hall that led to the stairway. “Maybe you should stop with the training until after the Yule Ball.”

I stopped halfway up the stairs. “Simon, I’m fine. Really.” He turned and stared at me. “A lot is happening, and this is my body’s reaction to it. Once it’s over, I’ll be back to normal.”

He stared at me for a moment. “Don’t push yourself these next couple days. Just do an hour or two of training and then relax.” He paused. “I’m serious.”

“Jesus, Simon. You don’t have to baby me. I’m fine. This is normal for me.” I climbed past him; he was following at my heels.

“I can show concern for my mate. You’ve been pushing yourself and I don’t want you…” He stopped mid-sentence.

“Don’t want me to what?” I stopped in front of our door. I turned and looked at him.

“I don’t want you to push yourself like you did when you brought back Toby.” He stood in front of me, arms crossed over his chest. Concern laced his eyes.

This is what he had been quietly worried about. That I would push myself too far again. I would make a sacrifice that I wouldn’t come back from. I stepped closer to him, my chest barely touching his. I raised a hand to his cheek and stared into his eyes.

“I promise, if I have a choice, I will not make a sacrifice like that again.”

He hung his head low, closing his eyes. He dropped his arms to his side.

“Is this what you have been worried about since then?”

He gave a slight nod.

I looped my arm around him and pulled him in. I let him relax into the hug. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in tightly, almost to the point of pain.

“I almost lost you, and I cannot do that again.” He whispered into my hair. “I just got you; I can’t lose you.”

My stomach turned with guilt. I listened to his heartbeat pumping at a higher rate than normal. “Sorry you had to go through that.” I said against his chest.

We stood there in silence for a few minutes. I let him hold onto me, cling onto me. As if I were his lifeline. He pulled away first, bringing a hand to his cheek, brushing a stray tear away.

He cleared his throat. “Let’s get you to bed.”

“I would love nothing more.”

We both changed and I laid in bed propped up on pillows, flicking through the movies to see what was interesting. Simon asked Stella to bring us some food. I insisted that I go and make us something quick, but Simon refused. He wouldn’t let me get up. I argued that Stella had a lot to do these next couple days and I didn’t want to add to it. Simon said Stella was fine and happy to make us something quick and bring it. She was winding down for the day anyway.

Simon finished in the bathroom and came to lay next to me. He laid his head against my chest, and I held him.

I woke with a start; the television played a movie that wasn’t what I chose. The window was dark, the clock said three forty-five in the morning. Simon was still lying against my chest, snoring softly. I played with a strand of hair that escaped his bun.

How much was he keeping from me, so I wouldn’t stress? If he was this worried about me leaving him or dying, it must have been on his mind. If not in the forefront, in the back of his mind. He was always checking up on me. Always making sure people reported back. Even though he wouldn’t say it, I knew.

I found out once after training, Bruce mind linked someone, and I asked him about it. He said he was just updating the Alpha. I asked him about what. That’s when he froze, he wasn’t very good at keeping secrets. I would choose him any day to protect me and this pack, but I wouldn’t tell him a secret. I told him it was alright. But it bothered me.

For the last ten years, I didn’t have anyone so concerned about me that they wanted to check up on me. It was weird having someone care so much. I felt the same way about Simon, when he wasn’t around, I questioned how he was doing and what was happening. But he was legitimately concerned that at any moment, I might die.

I didn’t know how to make this better. Maybe once this whole situation with Eli was resolved, he may relax a bit. I looked down at his face, his eyebrows furrowed. Even in sleep he was concerned. I let out a breath of laughter.

Simon opened his eyes slowly.

“Sorry.” I whispered.

“What’s wrong?” He sat up, looking at me.

“Nothing, I just woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep.” I looked at him kneeling before me in bed, in his boxer briefs. His strong pectorals melting into his chiseled abs. Everything about him screamed strong. I bit my lip.

He let out a guttural growl. I could see the bulge growing in his boxer briefs. At the sight and sound, I became wet.

He flung himself over me, holding himself up onto his arms and slowly lowered his body to hover over me. Barely enough space for a breath to go between us. With him so close, I arched my hips to rub against him, causing him to moan.

I stared into his eyes as I rubbed against him. I was ready and wanted him now. I leaned closer to his lips and whispered his name against them. He lowered himself against my body fully, rubbing his dick against me. Dry humping me. The friction pushing me to orgasm even before he entered me.

I grabbed his shoulder and dragged my nails across his back, causing him to grind against me harder. The increased friction pushed me over the edge, I arched against him as he continued to grind.

Once my orgasm settled to a dull roar, I said, “Simon, get inside of me now.”