A Fragile Reunion

Nathan's home was warm, but the weight in my chest made it hard to breathe. The door clicked shut behind us, and I stood frozen for a moment. Then, like a dam breaking, all the emotions I had suppressed came crashing down. I turned to him, and without hesitation, I closed the distance between us and kissed him deeply.

The world melted away. Relief and longing overwhelmed me as I clung to him, my fingers curling into his shirt. His lips pressed against mine, firm yet tender, grounding me in a way I desperately needed. It felt like coming home after being lost in a storm.

Nathan didn't pull away. Instead, his hands moved to cradle my face, his touch so gentle it almost brought me to tears. Our kiss deepened, and before I knew it, we were stumbling toward the bedroom, our movements frantic yet desperate to stay connected.

When we finally fell onto the bed, both of us stripped bare, I felt a fleeting sense of safety. His warmth enveloped me, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe. We moved together, our bodies finding solace in one another, chasing away the shadows of the past few weeks.

But as the intensity of the moment faded, reality crept back in. Lying against Nathan's chest, I couldn't stop the tears that began to spill. The weight of everything I'd endured crashed over me like a tidal wave. I buried my face in his shoulder, my sobs muffled against his skin.

"Cael," he murmured softly, his voice filled with concern. His arms tightened around me, and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "What happened? Tell me everything."

I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat. My chest heaved as I struggled to force them out. "I—" My voice broke, and I choked on another sob. "I don't even know where to start."

Nathan's hand moved in slow, soothing strokes along my back. "Take your time," he said. "I'm here."

The dam burst. Between broken sobs, I told him everything—how Julls had taken me, how he had marked me, how I had been forced to endure things I never wanted. I confessed my fear, my helplessness, and the horror of realizing I was carrying a life I never asked for.

Nathan's face hardened as he listened, his jaw clenching with each word I spoke. His arms never left me, holding me tightly as if to shield me from the world. When I finally finished, my voice hoarse and my fists weakly pounding against his chest, I looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

"Where were you?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and heartbreak. "Why didn't you come back sooner?"

Nathan's expression crumbled, and for the first time, I saw guilt etched deeply into his features. "I'm so sorry, Cael," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know. If I had—" He broke off, his voice thick with regret. "I should have been here. I should have protected you."

"You should have," I whispered, my voice breaking. I hated how vulnerable I sounded, but I couldn't stop the tears that continued to fall.

Nathan leaned his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin. "I'll make this right," he vowed, his voice filled with determination. "I swear, Cael. Julls won't get away with this. I'll make him pay for what he's done to you."

His words were firm, but they did little to ease the ache in my heart. I wanted to believe him, to trust that he could fix everything, but the scars Julls had left on me felt too deep.

An hour passed, my sobs subsiding into quiet sniffles. Nathan stayed by my side the entire time, his presence steady and comforting. But the weight of my situation still pressed heavily on my chest.

"I don't know what to do," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, the thought of the life forming inside me filling me with dread. "I'm too young for this. I don't know if I can be a parent. And…" My voice faltered as fresh tears welled in my eyes. "I hate that I need him—his pheromones—to keep this child alive."

Nathan's eyes softened, and he reached out to cup my cheek, gently wiping away my tears with his thumb. "Cael," he said, his voice steady, "whatever you decide, I'll be here. If you want to keep the baby, I'll stand by you. I'll be their father. If you can't… I'll still support you. You don't have to go through this alone."

His words were like a balm to my raw emotions. I leaned into his touch, my eyes closing as I tried to find some semblance of peace in his presence.

"I'm scared," I confessed, my voice trembling.

"I know," Nathan said softly. "But we'll figure this out together. I promise."

He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. It wasn't like the desperate kisses from earlier—it was slow, tender, and filled with reassurance. I melted into him, letting his warmth calm the storm inside me.

As I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, I allowed myself to believe, even if just for a moment, that everything might be okay.