Avery POV

I slowly stirred awake, the warmth of Kai's body pressed against me and his arms wrapped protectively around me made me feel so comfortable. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Kai's scent still thick in the air around me and clinging to my skin. Everything feels different now—charged, alive. I know I should be worrying, questioning what happens next, but I can't bring myself to. He was in a rut, will he regret it? The thought gnawed at me, but I couldn't let it consume me—not now. Not when I was still wrapped in the warmth of his arms. Instead, I just breathed him in. For once, I don't want to think about the consequences.

 As I started to move my body ached, and it was a sharp reminder of the knotting. Flashes of last night began to replay in my mind—the way he bit and sucked my skin, the way his lips would tenderly graze my flesh sending chills down my spine, even the moment he marked me. Embarrassment flashed through my mind. I felt ashamed remembering how raw and needy I was, but at the same time I was elated by the intensity of our bodies becoming one. The weight of Kai's arm wrapped around my waist made me feel claimed and cherished. Regardless of how Kai will feel when he wakes up, there's no going back.

 Careful not to wake up Kai, I slipped into the bathroom, shutting the door softly behind me. My body ached with every step, a reminder of the night before. I stood there, my reflection staring back at me, bruises blooming across my skin. I traced the marks, feelings bubbling up to the surface. Pride. Satisfaction. He did this—Kai did this. I don't know what it means yet, but right now... I'm his. A dozen different thoughts raced through my mind, but one thing hit me harder than the rest. Everything has changed, and rather than feeling panicked I felt certainty.

 Turning the water to the shower on, I stepped in. The hot water stung as it hit my skin, but all I could think of is how it doesn't hurt nearly as much as Kai's hands. His touch was hotter—burning, consuming. His scent, his heat, it still clung to me even after scrubbing my body. A sense of satisfaction spread through me, and I couldn't help but think how I never wanted it to go away.

After stepping out of the shower I lazily dried my hair before wrapping it in a towel, and the thick fabric brushed against my mark. The bite on my neck began pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. Every throb felt like a reminder, an echo of last night. My fingers grazed the bruises on my chest, and a flood of warmth rushed through me. My body was singing, satisfied, as if it's been waiting for this moment all along.

Trying to calm down a bit I decided to take a bath. The steam rose around me like a fog of uncertainty. I knew how I felt, but the thought that Kai did it all just because of his rut weighed on me. Even now, I still desperately crave his touch. I wanted to run back into the bed at this very moment and feel his arms wrapped securely around me, making me feel like I was truly his. Even so, doubts filled my mind about whether Kai would feel the same way. Getting out of the bath I dried myself off and tip-toed back to the bed.

As I slipped back into the room, my body still hummed with the warmth from the bath, but the ache from last night's intensity lingered. Returning to bed, I felt a little more at ease. The doubts that had weighed on me earlier seemed to recede, just like the fog in the mirror.

Kai was still sound asleep, his tousled hair falling into his face and his lips slightly apart while he slept. I slowly sat back down on the bed and watched him sleep. He looked so unguarded as he slept, so peaceful, almost as though there was a slight smile pasted onto his usually calm and calculated face. I couldn't help but wonder what our dynamic would be like once he woke up. Will he want to go back to the way things were? Will he say that we crossed a line? I wanted everything that happened... But did he?

I leaned over slightly to grab my phone from the nightstand. Kai must have put it there last night after I fell asleep, and it also seemed like he plugged it in for me. It was 2:47 in the afternoon, and other than a text from my mom making sure I was alright, I wasn't missing anything. I quickly responded, letting her know that everything was fine and apologizing for the late reply. She had been avoiding me since our last conversation, so it was nice to hear from her, even if it was for something trivial.

My movement must have stirred Kai awake, and he lazily stretched out his arm to search the side of the bed I was previously sleeping on. His large and warm hand found a home on my thigh, and he looked visibly more relaxed after making contact with me. His heat radiated around my leg, and both my lower stomach and neck began throbbing in response to his touch. I could feel myself getting hotter, and I started aching to be as close to him as possible.

"Mmmmh, Avery, you awake? C'mere, go back to sleep."

His morning voice was unbelievably sexy. His words were laced with a deep tone, and their huskiness reverberated in my ears sending a pleasant chill down my spine. He usually spoke in a calculated manner, as though he was trying to always say the right thing. Kai was always so composed, so measured. But right now, with his groggy voice and casual touch, he felt more real than ever before. And I loved it. I moved closer to him to sit down where I was previously laying and leaned my back against the pillows and headboard.

"Yeah, I'm awake. I woke up a bit ago but didn't want to wake you, so I snuck into the bathroom for a shower. I just got back to bed a few minutes ago."

At some point while I was speaking my hand found its way to Kai's head, and I realized I was stroking my fingers through his hair.

"Hmm, that feels so nice. Don't stop."

 Kai moved to lay his head on my lap and wrapped his arms around my legs. As he nuzzled into me, something inside me broke open. The tension that had weighed on me all morning lifted, replaced by a warmth so overwhelming I could barely breathe. He was mine, and I was his. The realization was so intense, I didn't notice the tears slipping down my face until I tasted salt on my lips.

 He turned his head slightly to look at me, and the expression on his face was foreign to me. His eyes were bright and full of life, and he looked like the gentlest creature to ever walk on this earth. A sad smile adorned his face as he used his finger to wipe away a tear threatening to drip off my chin.

 "What's wrong, hmm? Why are you crying?"

 His voice radiated love and concern, and the comforting touch from his hand on my face filled me with warmth. I swallowed hard, the words forming in my throat but refusing to come out. I had to tell him. The fear that had been gnawing at me all morning felt like it would choke me, but I couldn't hide it any longer.

 "I was so scared, Kai. I was terrified that you would wake up this morning and regret your actions. That you would tell me it was a mistake, and it shouldn't have happened. I couldn't help but think to myself how much I wanted you last night, but that maybe you only wanted me because of your rut. I'm just so happy that it doesn't seem to be the case."

 Guilt rushed over me like a tidal wave. How could I have doubted anything about this man? I may not know him well, but he has always been honest with me. He sat up in bed and wrapped me in his arms, holding me close to his chest. He stayed silent, just holding me against him, the only sound to be heard was that of his heartbeat. It calmed me down, and Kai was the first one to break this comfortable silence.

 "It must have been really lonely, huh?"

 Kai's words startled me a bit. Unsure of what he was referring to, I asked him to clarify.

 "What do you mean it must have been lonely?"

 "You know how they say that most of the time people don't know whether they have imprinted or not because it generally occurs after they've been mated?"

 "Yeah, I know that. That was why the doctors were so shocked that I had actually imprinted on you. But I am still unsure of what you are talking about."

 He took a deep breath before continuing, and he hugged me even tighter as he began to speak.

 "It's usually hard to tell because the feelings someone has after imprinting and the feelings someone has after being mated are very similar. I marked you last night, and the way I feel now is probably very similar to how you felt all this time. Just the thought of feeling this way towards someone, and being alone with those emotions, sounds so horrifying. And to think that I was the one who made you feel this lonely—I just. I am so sorry."

 I didn't expect him to feel guilty, and the raw emotion in his voice took me by surprise. How could I ever feel alone when he looked at me like that? Kai kept holding me in his arms, and I let him. The knot in my chest loosened as he held me. It was as if the fear I'd carried for so long dissolved in the warmth of his arms. He really did understand... and I didn't have to be afraid anymore.

I didn't know if it was because we were mated, the pheromones he released, or both, but I could sense his regret clearly. Alongside it, there was an immense wave of love that enveloped me, making me believe that if this is what the rest of our lives looked like, I would be the happiest person on this planet.