Little witch

Determined

As the door closed softly behind Titus, I lay in bed, staring at the empty space he left behind. I could feel the tension in the air from earlier, the way his eyes had darkened, and how he'd fought so hard to keep his wolf—Blaze—at bay. It was like watching a storm brew just beneath his surface, waiting for the right moment to unleash.

I knew why he left. He needed control. He had to gain control over whatever was happening between him and Blaze. But still, the way he'd left me alone, in this unfamiliar room, gnawed at my heart. A part of me understood that he was trying to protect me, but another part, the part that longed for him more than I ever thought possible, felt rejected. Alone.

I wanted to be near him. I wanted to feel the warmth and security I always felt when he was close. I didn't care if his wolf was struggling for control; it felt worse without him here.

Before I could stop myself, I tossed the blankets off and climbed out of bed. My legs were shaking slightly, and my heart raced in a mixture of determination and nervousness. I didn't even give myself time to second-guess the idea. I just knew I had to do it.

Marching out of the room, I made my way down the hallway, my steps heavy with resolve. The guards outside the room—two men who had been stationed there since we arrived—looked at me with a mixture of surprise and concern as I approached.

"You shouldn't be wandering the house alone, Miss," one of them said, stepping forward, blocking my way. He had the air of authority around him, his stance protective. "Alpha Titus gave strict orders to make sure you were safe."

"I want to see him," I said, crossing my arms, my tone firmer than I felt inside. "Now."

The two exchanged glances. "He's... not to be disturbed right now, Miss Adeline. He needs space."

I clenched my fists. "I don't care what he needs. I need to see him." I could feel the frustration bubbling up, and with it, the loneliness I'd been carrying for so long. I wasn't going to be pushed aside—not when I knew Titus wanted to be near me too. "Now, let me through."

One of the guards cleared his throat, shifting nervously. "With all due respect, Luna, it's for your safety."

Luna.

The word struck me like a jolt, and I blinked in surprise. The guards had referred to me as their Luna before, but it hadn't fully sunk in until now. I was their Alpha's mate, their future Luna. They were protecting me like I was already one of them.

But that didn't change anything. If I was their Luna, then they had to listen to me too, right?

I squared my shoulders and stared up at them, channeling every bit of confidence I had. "If I'm your Luna, then you'll listen to me. Now take me to him."

The guards hesitated for a moment, their eyes darting between each other, and then back to me. I could see the internal conflict on their faces, but I wasn't going to back down. Not now.

"Please," I added softly, my voice losing some of its edge. "I need to see him."

Finally, the guard on the right sighed, nodding slightly. "Very well. Follow me."

I exhaled in relief, following them through the halls of the pack house. Every step I took made my heart race even faster. What was I even going to say to him? Demand that he come back and stay with me? That I felt abandoned? That I wanted him, and I didn't care how dangerous he thought it was?

We reached a large wooden door at the end of a quiet corridor. The guard knocked twice before opening it just enough to peek inside. "Alpha Titus? She's here," he said carefully.

A pause, then a muffled, low response came from the other side.

The guard stepped aside, and I walked in, my breath catching as I saw Titus standing near the window, his back to me, his muscles tense. The moonlight spilled through the glass, casting a soft glow over him.

"Titus," I said, my voice trembling just slightly. "Why did you leave?"

He turned slowly, his eyes dark and conflicted. His jaw tightened, and I could see the struggle within him, the battle between his desire to protect me and the instinctive pull of the bond we shared. "Adeline... I left because I didn't want to lose control."

I took a step forward, my heart aching for him, for us. "I don't care if you lose control," I whispered, surprising even myself with the intensity of my words. "I feel more alone when you're not here."

His eyes softened, and for a moment, the tension in the room seemed to ease. But then he shook his head, stepping forward until there was barely any space between us. "You don't understand, Adeline. Blaze... he's stronger when you're near. He wants you in ways that might be too much, too soon."

I reached up, placing a hand on his chest, feeling his heart hammering beneath my palm. "I want to be near you. I want both of you."

Titus's breath hitched, and I could see the way his eyes flickered between gold and brown, Blaze fighting to stay in control. "Adeline," he murmured, his voice low and strained. "You're my mate. I'll always want you close, but I can't risk hurting you."

"You won't hurt me," I said firmly, my fingers curling into his shirt. "Just stay with me tonight."

He let out a long, shaky breath before finally nodding. "Alright... I'll stay."

Relief flooded through me as he pulled me into his arms, his warmth surrounding me, making everything else fade away. We stayed like that for a long time, neither of us saying anything, but it was enough. For now, it was enough.

I wasn't alone. Not anymore.