Alec’s

Again, he doesn't reply, but I see a small shift in his eyes. He's an Alpha. A leader. Of course, he wouldn't be okay hiding while others sacrificed their lives.

"It doesn't sit well with me... I just want to protect you."

Something softens in my heart and I feel something warm uncurling within me. I try to push the feelings down, but it's stubborn. Instead, I just decided to ignore it.

"Everyone dies at some point, and I've already accepted that I might die sooner than I had originally thought... And besides, premonitions aren't always set in stone. I saw it for a reason, and we believe it is so that I have the chance to change it."

His eyes turn contemplative. As if my words were sinking through. He relaxes, but not fully. His jaw is still locked and his shoulders are tense.

"Nothing is going to happen to me," I tried to assure him, but I knew that I was lying. I wasn't so sure myself, but something in me felt the need to reassure him.

Right here, right now, it feels like we are real mates. The way he is concerned about me. The way he is fearful of losing me. The way I am trying my best to reassure him. It all feels like we are in an actual relationship.

"Try to get some sleep, Alec," I mumbled, pushing those thoughts to the back of my head. "It looks like I am not the only one who needs it."

"But I don't want to leave you alone," he honestly sounded like a little kid. I had to fight the need to smile.

"I'll be okay."

"I still don't want to leave you."

I swallowed down my shock. Since when did Alec get so clingy? I have never witnessed this side of him. Not even when he was with Lola.

"Fine," I breathed, tiredly. "But don't come complaining when you wake up with a stiff neck."

A soft, warm look takes over his face.

"Shouldn't you be resting too?" he questioned.

"Just go to sleep," I muttered, already feeling worn out, before adding "And next time you try telling me what to do, I'll chop off your balls and feed them to your wolf. Am I clear?

"Yes, ma'am," he salutes while chuckling.

"Good, now sleep."

He folds his hands on top of the bed before leaning forward, placing his head on top of his arms and closing his eyes. Within minutes, his shoulders relax and his breathing evens out.

A yawn escapes my lips, but I don't fall back to sleep immediately. I continue staring at him, seemingly captivated by how good he looks.

Would things have been different had fate not played that cruel joke on us? Would we be madly in love? Would we be happy?

The questions keep playing in my head. Each one is tougher to answer than the previous one. I didn't have an answer to any of them.noveldrama

Alec seemed so different from the man that he was three years ago. Hell, he seemed different from the

pack

man that stepped into my me How

lands and threatened to kill me. How could he have changed that much in such a little time? And how much of that change was because of the bond?

Venet

Sighing tiredly, push everything to the back of my mind. My body was craving rest and that's what I was going to give it. I needed to start training. I needed to prepare for what was to come, but for now, I needed sleep.

After checking in with Martha concerning Aspen and getting reassurance that she

was fine, I closed my eyes.