Chapter Ten

Xeros Romanov

The sensual scent of Lavender was thick in the air as I forced my eyes open, immediately landing on the small figure that lay huddled into the wall.

She had curled so far away from me, almost morphing into the wall like it was a second skin. I inched closer slowly,  the sheets moving under my weight as I moved closer until her sleeping face was opposite mine.

Despite the bruises and the blood that marred her face, she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, her beauty was so pure that even the cruelty of people could not diminish it.

With a longing sigh, I inched my finger closer to her face, aching to feel the softness of her skin again, like I did a few hours ago. If only she knew that I would let her stab me a thousand times over so I could revel in the serenity and peace her touch set into my soul. I wanted her to open her eyes and let me see the warmth she held for me in them, I wanted them to mirror into her heart, expressing her love for me, each time we gazed into each other's eyes but I knew, that if she were to open her eyes now, there would be only fear-glaring and guttural.

Still, my insatiable desire betrayed me. My fingers moved closer, skimming the length of my knuckles across her cheek, down to her chin, savoring the tingling sensation that rippled through my skin. The connection was undeniable, like electricity humming between us, but I withdrew the moment she sighed in her sleep, turning away from me.

The collar of her dress slid past her neck in the process, sending me a clear view of the veins that pulsed around her throat she took in air.

My entire form stilled.

The sight of her bare neck sent a flood of heat through my body, primal, ancient instincts roaring to the surface. Nox stirred awake, pacing in my mind, urging me forward. The urge to mark her—claim her as mine—was almost unbearable. The sight of her fragile neck, unmarred and unclaimed, was the ultimate temptation.

She was my mate. My other half. My soul was crying out to mark her, to secure the bond that pulsed between us like a living thing. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay still. But the Lycan inside me growled, unsatisfied with restraint.

Now.

She's ours.

Mark her. Protect her.

"No, Nox " I whispered under my breath. "She's not ready."

He fought against me, baring his fangs in my mind. He didn’t care for patience, didn’t care for her fear. All he wanted was the certainty of the bond, the permanence of the mark. But I wouldn’t do that. Not like this.

“She needs time,” I muttered, my hands shaking from the effort to hold back. I clenched my jaw, bargaining with the beast that stirred so violently inside me. I wouldn’t push her. I wouldn’t take from her something so sacred when she wasn’t ready. No matter how much my soul ached to claim her.

A soft whimper escaped her lips, and I froze again. Her body tensed slightly, as if sensing the turmoil inside me, but then she relaxed, falling deeper into sleep. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

I inched back, giving her space, my gaze lingering on her peaceful form. The temptation would always be there—my nature, my instincts would always demand to claim her—but I had to be stronger than that. For her.

Because I couldn’t afford to lose her. Not when she had barely begun to trust me. Not when I had only just started to understand how fragile her soul had become after all the torment she had endured.

So I watched her sleep, resisting the pull, my hand hovering over her, feeling the warmth of her body so close yet untouchable. I would wait, no matter how long it took.

With a sigh, I rose from the bed,my eyes never leaving her.For her, I would wait forever if I had to.

I needed a run.

With one last forlorn glance, I walked through the door, pausing to close the door softly behind me. It looked like she never had a night of peaceful sleep. I couldn't disturb her peace just because I couldn't control myself.

Once the door was fully closed and I had taken a few steps away from my bedroom. I zoomed through the hallways with inhumane speed, pushing through the balcony of the first floor.

I shifted mid-air, my clothes tearing off my back into pieces as my bones morphed with a sickening crack that could be heard from miles ago.

My paws landed securely in the grass, pushing through the wet soil with ease. Within seconds, Nox had taken his form, his fangs hanging low and I had receeded to the back of my mind, watching the world through his bloodied gaze.

We dashed through the forest, the wind shifting through our mane and blurring the trees beside us. The air bustled with life and I could hear the chirping of crickets, the subtle heartbeat of a deer that took cover behind an oak tree and the small ants that marched across a tiny leaf.

Nox tore through the forest with raw power, his paws digging into the earth as he leaped over rocks and roots, wild and unrestrained. The beast reveled in this freedom, in the strength of our shared body as we bolted through the thick underbrush, dodging trees without breaking our stride. The world around us was a blur of greens and browns, but Nox’s senses were sharp. He could hear every whisper in the wind, every rustle of leaves, every breath of life in the forest.

But I wasn’t looking for life.

I was running to escape.

"Coward," Nox growled.

I pushed back at him, gritting my teeth as I regained some control. "She needs time, Nox," I reminded him again. "And so do we."

He huffed but didn’t argue. Nox understood, as much as he hated it. The bond between us, between Cassie and me, was strong—stronger than anything I had ever felt. But her fear, her broken trust in the world, stood in the way. We couldn’t force her into this bond, no matter how much our instincts demanded it.

And yet... it didn’t stop the ache.

"She’s ours" Nox rumbled again, but it was softer this time, more reflective. I could feel the conflict inside him, mirroring my own. He wanted to claim her, to protect her, to be the mate she needed. But even he knew we had to wait.

We tore through the forest for what felt like hours, the tension in my body easing with every powerful stride. The wind whipped against my fur, cooling the heated thoughts in my mind, and for a brief moment, it felt like everything else disappeared. There was no pain, no waiting, no tormenting thoughts of the past. Just the rhythmic pounding of paws on the earth, the thrill of the hunt—though we chased nothing.

Finally, we came to a stop by a river. The moonlight reflected off the surface, the water babbling quietly as it twisted around the rocks. Nox padded closer, his massive form casting a long shadow over the riverbank. He lowered his head to drink, and for a moment, everything was still.

"She’s afraid of us", Nox whispered, surprising me with the softness in his tone. "But one day, she won’t be".

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of those words settle deep in my chest.

"One day"