Chapter 84 I won't give up without a fight
Valen couldn’t shake off the tension weighing heavily on his chest as he approached Ella’s room. Her scent lingered in the air, a comforting reminder that she was still here. But he knew this peace wouldn’t last. The news Lucian had brought earlier replayed in his mind like a haunting melody—Alpha Derek was here, searching for her. The mere thought of losing Ella to another man, even if that man was her mate, churned his insides with an emotion he rarely allowed himself to feel: fear.
As he reached her door, he paused, his hand hovering over the handle. For a moment, he debated leaving her to rest, but the pull was too strong. The door creaked softly as he pushed it open, his gaze immediately landing on her sleeping form. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, but even in sleep, her brow furrowed as if caught in a troubling dream. Valen’s heart clenched at the sight. He couldn’t bear the thought of her suffering, even in her sleep.Valen stepped closer, his footsteps silent, his predatory instincts ensuring he didn’t wake her.
He sat carefully on the edge of her bed, his weight barely making an impression. His eyes roamed over her face, memorizing every delicate feature. Her beauty was effortless, a kind of radiance that left him breathless. She looked so vulnerable, yet there was an undeniable strength in her even now. A strand of her hair fell across her cheek, and without thinking, he reached out to brush it away. His fingertips barely grazed her skin, but the contact sent a spark coursing through him. She deserved to be by his side, to be his queen.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his voice barely audible, almost as if he were afraid of disturbing the moment.
Valen let his hand linger for a moment longer, his fingers trembling slightly. How had she managed to get under his skin so effortlessly? He had vowed to protect her, to cherish her, yet the thought of another man having a claim on her, of her leaving him, threatened to unravel him completely.
His chest tightened as the possibilities played out in his mind. Would she choose Derek? The bond they shared as mates might be too strong to ignore, even if there was something between him and Ella that felt just as powerful. He didn’t know if he could bear to watch her walk away, but he knew he wouldn’t force her to stay. Not when she deserved the freedom to make her own choice.
“I can’t lose you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
His hand moved again, almost of its own accord, brushing against her cheek this time. Her skin was soft, warm, and it made his heart ache with longing. She stirred slightly, her lips parting in a soft sigh that made his throat tighten even more.
“Please don’t leave me too,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I’ll tell you everything. I promise. Just… stay.”
Her eyelids fluttered slightly, and for a moment, he thought she might wake. He pulled his hand back, gripping it into a fist as if to keep himself from touching her again. He had no right to hold her like this, not when he hadn’t been completely honest with her. But how could he tell her the truth now, when everything between them was so fragile? She might actually leave with Derek once she finds out his initial plan was to kill her.
Valen leaned back slightly, his gaze never leaving her face. He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. She deserved to know about Derek's presence. But a selfish part of him wanted to keep her in this moment, to pretend that they could stay like this forever.
For a moment, he allowed himself to linger in her presence. The room was filled with a quiet intimacy, the kind that spoke volumes without words. He wanted to protect her, to shield her from anything that could cause her harm. But he also wanted her to choose him freely, to want to stay by his side not out of obligation, but because she felt the same pull he did.
“Why do you have to be so perfect?” he asked softly, knowing she couldn’t hear him. “Why do you make it so hard to let you go?”
Valen exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm within him. He leaned forward again, his lips hovering just above her forehead. For a moment, he hesitated, torn between the desire to feel her close and the fear of crossing a line. But the need to comfort her, to reassure himself that she was still his, even if only for now, won out.
He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead, his lips barely brushing her skin. It was a gesture of reverence, of devotion, and he hoped it conveyed everything he couldn’t put into words.
Ella stirred again, her brow smoothing out slightly as if his presence eased whatever troubled her dreams. Valen smiled faintly, a flicker of hope igniting in his chest.
But the moment was fleeting, and reality crept back in, reminding him of the inevitable. Derek was here, and Valen couldn’t avoid the confrontation that awaited him. He would fight for her, not with violence but with the truth of his feelings. He just hoped it would be enough.
As the first light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, Valen felt a sense of urgency.
He leaned closer and whispered softly, "Please remember that I'll always be here for you." The silence that followed felt heavy, yet somehow comforting.
As he stood to leave, his gaze lingered on her one last time. “I won't give up on you Ella, not without a fight,” he promised quietly. With one last glance, he turned and left the room.
His heart ached with hope and worry intertwined, but he knew that their story was far from over. The battle for her heart was just beginning, and he was determined to fight for her, no matter the odds. No matter the threat of the Alpha or the uncertainties of the future, Valen knew one thing for sure: he couldn't imagine a life without Ella.