Chapter 40 Where Light Finds Him
Evie:
As I came down from my high, Grayson moved over me, his body covering mine. I could feel his hardness pressing against me, could feel the desire radiating off him.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice low and husky. I nodded, my arms wrapping around him.
"Yes. I want you, Grayson. I want all of you."
He slid inside me, a slow, gentle movement that made me gasp. We both moaned, our bodies moving together in a slow, sensual rhythm.
"Evie," he murmured, his lips brushing against mine. "You feel so good."
I moaned, my hands clutching at his back.
We moved together, our bodies in sync, our breaths mingling. It was intense, overwhelming, and it made my body ache with need.
He increased his pace, his body slamming into mine. I cried out, my body arching into his, my eyes locked with his.
"Grayson," I moaned, my body tensing. "I'm close. So close."
"Come with me, Evie," he growled, his body tensing. "Come with me now."
And we did. We came together. And as we came down from our high, Grayson rolled off me, his body arms around me tugging me closer. I rested my head on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat, frantic as mine.
I let him hold me, not because I was naive.
Not because I forgot.
But because, in that moment,
I felt safe.
And I wanted to believe we could be more than our broken pieces.
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Grayson:
Morning found me before I was ready for it.
Not with noise.
Not with duty.
Not with the gnawing ache I had carried for months.
But with warmth.
Soft.
Quiet.
Breathing warmth.
Evie lay curled against my chest, her cheek pressed over my heartbeat, her hair tangled across my arm. One of her hands rested lightly against my ribs, fingers relaxed in sleep.
My wolf lay around us like a guardian, purring, actually purring, something I didn’t know wolves could even do.
But apparently mine could.
For her.
Dawn filtered through the curtains, painting her face in gold. And gods, she looked… peaceful. Softer than I remembered. Softer than I deserved to see her.
Her lashes fluttered for a moment before she drifted back into sleep, nestling a little closer without even realizing it.
And something inside me, something cold and old and wounded, finally cracked.
I felt… complete.
Whole.
Like every missing piece of me had been quietly placed back where it belonged while I slept.
I didn’t move.
Didn’t dare breathe too deeply.
I just held her, listening to her slow breaths, feeling the warmth of her skin seep into mine.
For the first time in years, since long before Chloe, since long before grief swallowed me, I smiled.
A real smile.
Small.
Disbelieving.
Dangerous.
Her cheeks were still pink from last night. My heart clenched at the memory.
And when she stirred awake a few minutes later, blinking up at me, sleep-soft, flushed, her cheeks turned scarlet.
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Instead, I just looked at her.
And gods help me… she was beautiful.
“Good morning,” I said quietly.
Her breath caught, like the words meant something to her. Which made my chest tighten all over again.
“Good morning,” she whispered back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear in that nervous little way she used to do as a girl.
Her blush deepened. I didn’t look away. I couldn’t.
The moment stretched between us, fragile, warm, fragile again. Finally, she cleared her throat, flustered.
“We should... um... get up. People will start asking...”
“No,” I said gently, catching her hand before she could pull away. “Just a little longer.”
She froze. Then softened. Her fingers curled into mine. I exhaled shakily.
“Evie…” My voice was rough. “About last night...”
She stiffened, fear flickering across her features so fast it nearly killed me. I was the reason behind that fear, that doubt.
I cupped her cheek gently, brushing my thumb along her jaw.
“No,” I said softly. “Not that. I don’t... regret it.”
Her eyes widened.
“I need you to understand,” I continued, “that what happened last night…wasn’t something I took lightly. It wasn’t the end of my apology. It wasn’t forgiveness.”
Evie blinked up at me, confusion knitting into her brow.
“My atonement,” I said quietly, “is far from over.”
She swallowed.
“I broke things in you,” I continued, voice tightening. “Trust. Safety. Your belief that you mattered..."
I closed my eyes for half a moment, ashamed. “I hurt you in ways I can’t explain away or undo.”
Her breath trembled.
“And I won’t pretend,” I added, “that one night fixes that.” Evie looked down. I lifted her chin gently with my fingers.
“But last night…” I said, barely above a whisper, “was the first time I felt like maybe I still had the right to try.”
Her cheeks flushed again.
Bright, soft, painfully honest. Her wolf brushed against mine, hesitant, hopeful.
I brushed my thumb over her lower lip, unable to stop myself. She inhaled sharply.
“Evie,” I murmured, “I won’t give you empty words. Not anymore. I won’t tell you things you want to hear just because I’m afraid of losing you.”
She looked up at me with wide eyes.
“I’m going to show you,” I said, heart in my throat.
“With actions. With time. With patience. With every part of me,” I added softly, “that hurt you before.”
She whispered, “Grayson…why are you saying this?”
Because I meant every word.
Because the bond didn't hurt anymore.
Because my wolf was finally calm.
Because I felt like a man again, not a broken heir carved out of guilt and old lies.
But I didn’t tell her any of that.
Instead, I said:
“Because you deserve more than apologies.”
My voice softened.
“You deserve a mate who earns you.”
Evie’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at me like she had never seen me before. Like she wasn’t sure whether to trust me…or run from how badly she wanted to.
Her fingers touched my jaw, tentative and soft.
“I don’t…know how to do this,” she whispered.
I leaned into her touch, just barely.
“We’ll learn,” I said. “Together.”
Her blush deepened again.
I smiled.
Not a forced smile.
Not a polite one.
A real one.
Her eyes widened slightly, as if she wasn’t ready to see that expression on my face. I lifted her hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
Her wolf purred. Mine answered.
“I’ll make it right,” I promised her hand. "I’ll make us right.”
Evie looked like she might cry, overwhelmed tears that she wouldn’t let fall. So I didn’t push her.
I just held her close when she crawled into my chest again, burying her face against me like she didn’t know where else to go.
Her arms wrapped around me tentatively. Mine wrapped around her with certainty.
The bond settled around us like a second heartbeat. And for the first time in years…
I woke up whole.
But I also knew the truth:
Redemption wasn’t a sunrise.
It was a long road.
And I would walk every inch of it for her.