You feel like home.

Amara's POV

It was already past midnight, but sleep wouldn’t come. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts tangled in a whirlwind of Ryder, Alex, and everything I was too afraid to confront. My wolf was restless, pacing in the back of my mind, her emotions oscillating between frustration and longing.

And then, a knock.

The sound jolted me, making me flinch. My heart skipped a beat as dread pooled in my stomach. Who could it be at this hour? I pulled the blanket tighter around me, hoping whoever it was would go away.

The knock came again, more insistent this time. My body tensed, a shiver running down my spine. Ryder? Caden? Jaxon? No. I didn’t want to face either of them. Not now. Not when I felt so raw.

I held my breath, waiting for the sound of retreating footsteps. But instead, the door creaked open.

The scent hit me before I saw him—cedarwood and the faintest hint of rain. Jaxon. My wolf stirred instantly, her desperation surging to the surface. She begged me to let him in, to talk to him, to accept him.

But I couldn’t. Not tonight.

I turned my face toward the wall, closing my eyes and forcing my breathing to steady. I pretended to be asleep, hoping he’d leave.

The soft rustle of his footsteps grew closer, and the mattress dipped slightly as he sat at the edge of the bed. His presence was overwhelming, his warmth seeping through the blanket that separated us.

“Amara,” he whispered, his voice low and husky, filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place.

I stayed still, keeping my breathing slow and even, though my heart was racing wildly.

“I know you’re awake,” he said gently, his fingers brushing against the edge of the blanket. “You’ve never been good at pretending, you know.”

I stiffened, my body betraying me.

He sighed, a soft, almost broken sound. “I don’t know what to say to make this better, to fix what’s broken between us. But I needed to see you. To be near you.”

His words sent a pang through my chest. My wolf whimpered, her resolve to stay silent crumbling with every passing second.

Jaxon’s hand rested lightly on the blanket over my leg, his touch hesitant, almost shy. “I’ve messed up, Amara,” he admitted, his voice thick with regret. “I didn’t fight for you when I should have. I didn’t stand by you when you needed me most. And I hate myself for it.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

“I see you,” he continued, his voice breaking. “Even when you try to hide, even when you pretend you don’t need anyone. I see your strength, your pain… and all I want is to take it away. To be the one who makes you feel safe again.”

I bit my lip, my resolve faltering.

He shifted closer, his hand moving to rest lightly on my shoulder. “Amara,” he whispered, his voice raw, “please. Look at me.”

I couldn’t ignore him anymore. Slowly, I turned to face him, my eyes meeting his in the dim light. The intensity in his gaze stole my breath away—there was so much emotion there, so much vulnerability.

“Why are you here, Jaxon?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Because I can’t stay away,” he admitted, his hand moving to cup my cheek. His thumb brushed against my skin, and my wolf practically purred under his touch. “Because you’re all I think about. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”

My heart clenched, the sincerity in his voice threatening to undo me. “You hurt me,” I said, my voice trembling. “You weren’t there when I needed you. How can I trust you now?”

“I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you,” he said without hesitation, leaning closer, his forehead resting against mine. “I’ll prove to you every single day that I’m worthy of you. Just… don’t shut me out, Amara. Please.”

The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over, and he caught them with his thumb, his touch gentle.

“I’m scared,” I confessed, my voice breaking.

“So am I,” he said, his lips brushing against my forehead. “But we don’t have to do this alone. Let me stand by you, Amara. Let me love you.”

His words shattered the last of my defenses, and before I could stop myself, I leaned into him, burying my face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly as I cried, his hand stroking my hair, his touch soothing.

In his embrace, I felt a flicker of something I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.

Jaxon held me close, his arms wrapped around me like a shield against the storm raging inside me. His warmth seeped into my skin, softening the ache in my chest with every gentle stroke of his hand through my hair.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, his lips brushing the crown of my head. “Let it all out, Amara. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

His voice, low and soothing, was like a balm to my frayed nerves. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this—to let go, to fall apart in someone’s arms who wouldn’t let me shatter.

When my sobs quieted, and the room settled into a fragile silence, he pulled back just enough to look at me. His fingers tilted my chin upward, his touch feather-light, and his eyes searched mine with an intensity that made my heart stutter.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said softly, his voice filled with wonder, as if he couldn’t believe I was real. “Even like this… especially like this.”

I let out a weak laugh, brushing at the tears streaking my face. “Beautiful? I probably look like a mess.”

His lips curved into the faintest smile, but his gaze never wavered. “You look like you,” he murmured. “And that’s enough to take my breath away.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I glanced down, unable to hold his gaze. “Jaxon… I don’t know if I can trust this. Trust us.”

He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Then let me show you,” he said, his voice steady and sure. “Day by day, moment by moment. I’ll prove it to you, Amara. I’ll prove that I’ll never let you down again.”

The sincerity in his tone, the depth of emotion in his eyes—it was overwhelming.

“You make it sound so easy,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“It’s not,” he admitted, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “But you’re worth everything, Amara. Every effort, every fight, every second of my life. You’re it for me.”

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with a mixture of fear and hope. “I’m scared,” I admitted again, my voice trembling. “Of losing myself in this. Of losing you.”

“You won’t,” he said gently, his hands sliding down to hold mine. His touch was steady, grounding. “I’ll catch you every time you fall. I’ll fight for you, Amara—for us. Even if it takes the rest of my life.”

Tears welled up again, but this time, they weren’t from pain. They were from the possibility that maybe, just maybe, I could believe him.

“Jaxon…” I breathed, his name a whisper that hung in the space between us.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing against my forehead. “I love you, Amara,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. “Not just for who you are, but for everything you make me want to be. You’ve changed me in ways I can’t even explain.”

My breath hitched, and before I could stop myself, I leaned into him, pressing my forehead against his. “You don’t know how much I’ve wanted to hear that,” I admitted, my voice breaking.

“Then let me say it again,” he whispered, his lips moving to hover over mine. “I love you, Amara. I’ll say it a thousand times if that’s what it takes for you to believe me.”

And then he kissed me.

It wasn’t rushed or desperate—it was soft, slow, and achingly tender. His lips moved against mine with a care that made my chest ache. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was a promise, a vow wrapped in warmth and hope.

When we finally pulled apart, his forehead rested against mine, and we stayed like that, sharing the same breath.

“You feel like home,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Jaxon smiled, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on the back of my hand. “Then let me be your home,” he said, his voice barely audible. “Because you’ve always been mine.”