chapter Twenty four

Nikolas's POV

I woke to the sound of steady breathing and the weight of something warm around me.

Arms.

Strong. Solid. Anchoring.

Caspian.

My eyes blinked open, the dim light in the room casting shadows across the walls. His chest was pressed against my back, one arm draped securely around my waist, the other beneath my neck like a shield. I could feel the rise and fall of his breathing slow, calm, content.

For a moment, I just lay there, frozen, unsure of how to feel.

His hold wasn't crushing. It wasn't threatening. But it was… intimate. And that was enough to send a ripple of discomfort through me.

I shifted slightly, trying to ease myself free, but his arm only tightened a little, as if his body didn't want to let go—not aggressively, just instinctively. The closeness made my throat tighten.

I wasn't used to this. To being held. To being wanted like this.

My hand found his forearm, and I gently tried to move it, but he stirred, murmuring something low and almost inaudible. His grip relaxed, just a little. Enough for me to breathe again.

He didn't fully wake, but his voice—deep and rough with sleep—murmured, "You okay?"

I hesitated.

"I just… I didn't expect to wake up like this," I said quietly, still not turning to face him.

A pause. Then a softer voice, "You were cold. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

I nodded slowly. "I know."

His arm didn't move further, but the tension in his body shifted—less like a cage, more like a shelter. I wasn't sure which scared me more.

"I'm not used to it," I admitted, surprising even myself with the confession. "Being this close to someone."

Caspian was quiet for a beat. Then, gently, "I'll let go if you want."

I thought about it. About how safe and terrified I felt all at once. My heart was loud in my chest, but… I didn't pull away.

"Not yet," I whispered.

The silence that followed wasn't heavy. It was warm. Tentative. Like something was shifting between us.

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself close my eyes… and didn't feel completely alone.

Here's a continuation of Nikolas's POV, keeping the tone soft and intimate with a hint of playful tension:

After Caspian bathed and got dressed, he offered his hand to me. I hesitated for a second before slipping mine into his. We made our way to the dining hall in a quiet sort of peace.

The room buzzed with energy pack members laughing, eating, talking about training and patrols but it all felt distant. Caspian led me to a small table tucked near the window. As we sat and food was placed before us, I realized I was... comfortable. Maybe even a little hungry.

We ate in a calm rhythm, talking in low voices. He asked me about the books I liked, the foods I missed, and I found myself answering without much hesitation. His attention never drifted. It was unnerving how focused he could be.

Then, as I was laughing at something he said about Ronan's horrible aim with a crossbow, Caspian leaned in. His eyes dropped to my lips.

And he moved.

I flinched back, eyes wide. "Caspian—stop. People are watching," I whispered, heat rising to my face.

He didn't move further, but his smile was slow, cocky. "No one cares. They're busy with their lives."

I frowned and looked around.

And he was right. No one was paying us the slightest attention. Warriors were joking at the far end. Omegas bustled in and out with trays. Conversations filled the air, none of them about me.

I blinked, caught off guard by how unnoticed we actually were.

Just as I opened my mouth to say something, he appeared.

Ronan.

Out of nowhere.

"Alpha," he said, not even pretending he hadn't seen what was about to happen. His brows raised ever so slightly in amusement.

I watched Caspian's jaw twitch.

Then he growled low, sharp. "Go train the new members, Ronan. Since you're so unoccupied you have time to watch my mate and I make out."

My face flushed so hot I thought it might actually catch fire.

Ronan smirked, gave me a mock bow, and left without another word.

I buried my face in my hands. "You're impossible."

Caspian chuckled, voice low beside me. "You're cute when you blush."

I mumbled something that might've been a curse under my breath, but the truth was... it didn't feel bad. Just new. Overwhelming. A little terrifying.

After breakfast, I tried to walk ahead, hoping to cool off the heat still lingering on my cheeks, but Caspian's hand found the small of my back like it belonged there.

"Clinic?" he asked casually, as if I hadn't just nearly melted into the floor moments ago.

I hesitated. "I guess… yeah."

The walk there was quiet. Not awkward, just… calm. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the path. I felt eyes on me here and there, but no one said anything. Just respectful nods and polite distance.

The pack clinic sat near the eastern wing, tucked beside the training grounds. It smelled faintly of herbs and antiseptic, and the moment I stepped in, something in me settled. The scent reminded me of the small hospital I used to volunteer at. Before everything fell apart.

Caspian held the door open, and I stepped inside. A middle-aged woman with a kind smile looked up from behind a desk. Her eyes softened when they landed on me.

"You must be Nikolas. I'm Mara," she said, coming around the desk. "The Alpha said you might be interested in helping."

I glanced at Caspian. He gave me a little nod but stayed back, letting me breathe.

"I… yeah," I said. "If you need help."

"We always need help," she said, her smile growing. "Come. Let me show you around."

I followed her through the rooms—storage areas filled with bandages and tinctures, treatment rooms with clean beds and instruments, and a cozy back office with a wide window looking over the forest.

"You have experience?" she asked gently as I helped her sort supplies.

"A little," I said, voice low. "I used to help a doctor back home. Just minor stuff. Cleaning wounds, restocking meds."

"That's more than enough. You're welcome here anytime."

For the first time in a long while, I felt something unfamiliar settle in my chest—purpose. Like maybe I wasn't just surviving anymore.

Hours passed before I realized how long I'd been there. Caspian hadn't come to drag me out, hadn't hovered. I liked that.

When I stepped outside, the sky had shifted to late afternoon gold. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching the warriors train nearby—but the second he saw me, he straightened.

"How was it?" he asked.

I shrugged, but I couldn't stop the small smile. "Good. Kind of peaceful."

His eyes softened. "You look… lighter."

"I feel it," I admitted. "A little."

He walked beside me in silence for a while before asking, "Want to go for a walk? Just us. No Ronan. No growling. No making out."

I snorted. "So just quiet?"

He grinned. "Exactly."

And I said yes.