Chapter 126
I opened my eyes to see the familiar chamber, and I could feel the promise of serenity filling my body instead of the burning world. The light was pouring in through the open drapes, covering the bed, and illuminating the knots in our bodies.
With Derrick's head on my tummy and his body heat seeping through, I could feel his sound sleep. With his head resting on the blanket covering me, he turned to face me. He firmly anchored himself to me by placing one hand beneath my back, allowing me to feel every breath he took.
Despite my body's weakness after days of abuse, I raised my hand and let it sink into his hair. It felt like ages since I had enjoyed him in this way, with such a delicate touch and an aching heart, as I threaded my fingers through his overgrown locks, sliding my hands through the tangles and reveling in the feel of him. The electric touch of our mate bond seeped through me.
He shifted in my grasp, his grip tightening around me as he let out a loud moan of satisfaction. I enjoyed the feeling of his body releasing tension beneath my hands, even though I knew it wouldn't be long until he woke up and discovered me.
I repeatedly ran my fingers through his hair. Repeatedly, I ran my fingers through his hair until he finally opened his eyes. He blinked slowly through the cloud of his tiredness as he glanced at me drowsily. He took me in with a kind smile, not quite realizing that I was awake too.
"Did you sleep well?" With my fingers moving to the base of his head, I muttered. They wrapped themselves around his neck and made contact with the mark I had applied to him.
He groaned gently and started to stretch, his body pressing into mine.
It took him a moment before his body became motionless, capturing my attention once more.
His eyes were clear of sleep now, and he moved more quickly than I had ever seen him move. He hung over me, holding me in place with his arms.
"Do I get a good morning kiss, or are you going to carry on staring?" His eyes widened, taking in every detail of my face as if he were seeing me for the very first time.
"You're awake?" His hands swept over every inch of my body as if he were still in disbelief as his gaze darted over me once more.
He observed the movement of my lips as I grinned once more.
"I'm awake." I draped my hands over his shoulders, tracing my fingertips over his exposed flesh. "And I'm never leaving you ever again." My words pierced through his last remaining power as my hands interlocked behind his neck.
His arms bowed against his will as his body crushed against mine, leaving little room between us, while the tears came down quickly. With tears seeping into the mark he had left on me, he buried his face in the bend of my neck.
I pulled him to me, encircling him in my arms and giving him quick pecks on top of his head as I felt his sobs tremble through my body.
"I'm here." I kept whispering while he clung to me, my emotions exploding.
"Kylie, you wouldn't wake up. I truly believed that you had been slain by your magic." Though he spoke in a hushed tone, I could still understand him. "I felt so hopeless as each day passed, thinking that I would lose you." And with that, he abruptly moved away from me, his desperation giving way to annoyance.
He was looking down at me again, and there was fire in his eyes.
"You made the most foolish decision of your life when you instructed me to remain motionless. Did you really believe that I could survive on this planet for even a brief period of time, knowing that you would not be living with me? Did you really think that I would be happy without you?" As I looked at the rage on his face, my heart slowed to a stop.
I muttered, "I'm not going to apologize." "I would choose the same option once more. I couldn't survive a day on this planet without you; therefore, I had to save you since I was the only one who could." He seemed much more enraged by my statement.
"You are so infuriating." He complained.
"But you love me." His nostrils flared, yet I could feel his body softening.
"You are such an infuriatingly demanding, impossible woman." A frown formed between my brows as he went on.
"Tell me you love me." I sulked.
"Tell me that you're sorry for leaving me first." He put out a challenge, but I declined.
"Kylie." I ignored his admonition and continued to shove at his shoulders.
"I guess I won't tell you what she showed me then." He took some time to consider whether or not he should amuse me.
"Who showed you what?" I embraced him once more and placed a peck on the upper portion of his bicep.
"The moon goddess." His heart sprang in his chest as his eyes grew wide. "What—what is it?" Curious as to why my statement had taken him by surprise given his knowledge of the events that day in the clearing, I queried.
"Your brother mentioned something a couple of days ago, and I didn't believe him."
"What did he say? Is he okay?" Suddenly frantic to get out of this bed, I leaned forward.
"He wasn't asleep for as long as you, but he told me that he was visited by the moon goddess too—that she showed him his future." His eyes swept across mine, and my heart sprang, just as it had moments before. "What did she show you?" Now, more curious than ever, he asked.
The possibility in his eyes, so full of love and the urge to protect me, made my heart pound.
"Will you take me outside first? I'm feeling a little cooped up in this room." Without hesitation, he moved to embrace me.
He kicked in doors and went all the way down the stairs from the top of the pack house to the bottom, not giving a damn about how we were dressed.
I watched as the other pack members abruptly halted and bowed their heads as I pressed my ear to his chest and cuddled up to him. It appeared that their king had remained by my side ever since I had passed out in his arms in the middle of the battle ground.
"I—"
I was about to speak when he looked at me and curved his palm around my posterior, squeezing me in a manner that appeared to be lost on him.
From the bustling kitchen, he led us out via a set of French doors and into the cool morning air. Derrick headed for the little patio that included a huge seating area, and I shuddered a little as the cold breeze touched my face.
He helped me into a loveseat and then positioned himself next to me, his arm behind my back.
"That particular day when my mother—" I scowled, trying not to think about the specifics of that day. "Was anyone injured?" Silently, I inquired.
"Although the spell on those wolves did not cause any grave injuries, only the same magic that initially enchanted them can break your mother's spell. It's a very difficult process, but your brother has been gradually removing the enchantment that has made them remain in their wolf forms." I gave a head nod. I would be able to assist my brother too now that I was awake, but only after Derrick stopped following me, since he felt the need to be overly protective of me.
I counted the empty space as I gazed off into the distance.
It seemed like home now that my mother had passed away, and I knew she couldn't take me away from it.
The news that I was awake was spreading throughout the pack, and I could feel the pack link thriving in my brain.
Derrick reached out to touch my naked thigh, his t-shirt sliding up. Through the relationship, I could sense his irritation, but his urge to look after me was greater.
I finally exclaimed, "You're going to build me a house," realizing that my silence was killing him. I saw his countenance shift from inquisitiveness to conceit.
"With my bare hands?" With a smile, he asked.
I gave a head nod.
I told him, "I saw it; it was beautiful," but he frowned and appeared uncertain.
"She showed you the house I built you; that's it?" I didn't like how little physical contact there was between us when he grasped my thigh. I crawled onto his lap, and he tightly wrapped his arms around my waist, refusing to let go.