Little witch

Safe Haven

The pack house loomed in front of us as Titus pulled up. My heart was racing, a mix of fear and exhaustion twisting in my stomach. The moment we stepped out of the car, we were greeted by Zander, Gray—the gamma and third in command—and a small army of warriors. At least twenty of them stood at attention, their expressions serious and focused.

Titus wasted no time. "Zander, Gray, I want patrols around the house 24/7. No one gets close without us knowing. And keep an eye out for Aspen. He's crossed a line, he needs to be dealt with."

Zander nodded, his usual playful demeanor replaced with something far more serious. "You got it, Alpha."

Gray gave me a polite nod, though his gaze flickered with curiosity. "We'll make sure you're safe, Luna. Aspen won't get close to you."

I swallowed hard, the mention of Aspen sending a fresh wave of anxiety through me. But being near Titus, hearing him issue orders with such authority, made me feel grounded—like everything would be okay as long as he was here. I stayed close to his side as we made our way inside the massive pack house, the warriors already dispersing to carry out their duties.

Once we were in Titus's room, he turned to me, his expression softening. "Why don't you take a shower? Relax a bit. I'll get some food for you."

I nodded, too tired to argue, and headed into the bathroom. The hot water did wonders to calm my nerves, and by the time I stepped out, dressed in a pair of Titus's oversized sweats and a t-shirt, I felt more like myself. At least physically. My mind was still racing, haunted by the image of Aspen's face when he recognized me.

When I walked back into the room, Titus was sitting on the bed with a tray of food and drinks. He looked up at me, his eyes warm and soft, but there was a tension in his posture that hadn't been there before.

"I brought you some food," he said, his voice gentle.

I shook my head. "I'm not really hungry, Titus."

He frowned, a flicker of something—concern, frustration—crossing his face. "Adeline, feeding your mate is important. It appeases our wolves. Blaze is restless, and he wants to take care of you."

I blinked, taken aback by his words. The bond between mates was something I was still trying to understand, but I could see the seriousness in his eyes. Titus wasn't asking just for the sake of it—this was about something deeper.

"H-he wants to come out?" I asked, hesitating. I wasn't sure if I was ready for that kind of interaction, but at the same time, I trusted Titus. I felt safe with him.

He nodded. "He wants to make sure you're okay. You don't have to be scared of him, Adeline. He's... protective."

I took a deep breath, weighing my options. A part of me was anxious, unsure of what to expect, but another part of me wanted to let go, to trust in the bond that had been slowly growing between us.

"Okay," I whispered, looking down at my hands. "I'll let him."

Titus's expression softened even more, and he gave a small, reassuring smile. "Thank you."

I watched as his eyes darkened slightly, a subtle shift in his posture as Blaze came forward. He moved with more intensity, more purpose, as if every action he made was calculated to ensure my comfort and safety.

Blaze reached for the tray of food, picking up a sandwich and holding it out to me. His eyes locked onto mine, waiting. His presence was overwhelming, the dominant energy filling the room, but it wasn't threatening. It was... comforting.

I took the sandwich, my fingers brushing against his, and I could feel the warmth radiating from him. "Eat," he said, his voice a little rougher than Titus's, but still gentle.

I obeyed, taking small bites as he watched me closely, his eyes never leaving mine. It was strange, but the longer we sat like that, the more I felt my nerves start to ease. Blaze's presence, though intense, was soothing in a way I hadn't expected. He was watching me, caring for me, in a way that made me feel safe and cherished.

When I had eaten most of the food, Blaze seemed satisfied. He leaned back, still watching me with that same intensity. "You're safe here," he said, his voice softer now. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Thank you."

He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes said enough. Blaze was here for me, and he wasn't going to let anything happen. As I settled back against the pillows, I realized that, for the first time in a long time, I truly believed that I was safe. And that made all the difference.