FRAGILE

Chapter 19: What the Wolf Wants

Levi awoke to the warmth of blankets cocooning him, the soft fabric nestling against his skin. For a brief moment, he lay still, his body tucked securely within the nest he had created with Maximus's guidance the night before. It felt strange—comforting, yet foreign. His mind, still fogged with sleep, struggled to process the unfamiliar sensation of safety. But then he felt it—a presence beside him, strong and reassuring.

Maximus.

The Alpha's scent was everywhere, surrounding him, grounding him. Levi's wolf stirred at the comforting smell, a low, quiet rumble of contentment humming through his chest. Levi hadn't felt that in so long—the feeling of peace, of safety. It made him feel like he was whole, at least for now. He nestled deeper into the blankets, letting out a soft breath, but then he hesitated.

There was a gnawing in the back of his mind. What am I doing? I shouldn't be resting. I should be— The automatic response, the deeply ingrained need to follow commands and anticipate punishments, began to creep in.

Levi opened his eyes slowly, blinking at the soft morning light that filtered through the window. The weight of everything began to settle over him again. The nest, the comfort, the Alpha—none of this felt like something he deserved. It felt like something that could be taken away at any moment.

He glanced over at Maximus, who sat at the edge of the bed, his eyes distant as if deep in thought. Even sitting still, Maximus radiated strength, his broad shoulders relaxed yet commanding. Levi could feel his presence pressing against him, but instead of causing fear, it gave him something to hold on to. He needed that. He needed Maximus's strength.

Levi's wolf stirred again, faint but stronger than before, nudging him forward. His instincts were pushing him toward Maximus—toward the Alpha who had pulled him out of the nightmare he had lived for so long. Levi hesitated, uncertain. His wolf was telling him to move, to do something he hadn't done in what felt like forever, but the human part of him—the part that had been broken and trained to obey in silence—was frozen.

As if sensing his inner turmoil, Maximus turned to look at him, his gaze softening the moment their eyes met. "How are you feeling, love?" Maximus asked, his voice low and soothing, though there was an edge of concern in it.

Levi opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. How was he feeling? He didn't know. He was so used to being told what to feel, what to think, that he no longer trusted his own instincts. He lowered his gaze, his fingers twisting nervously in the blankets as he struggled to find an answer that wouldn't disappoint.

"I..." Levi began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know, Sir. I don't... know what to do."

Maximus's eyes softened further, and he moved closer, his large hand coming to rest gently on Levi's back. The touch was firm but reassuring, a reminder that Levi wasn't alone. "That's okay," Maximus said, his voice calm and steady. "You don't have to know. You just need to listen to your wolf."

Levi blinked, the words sinking in slowly. Listen to my wolf? That part of him—the part he had been taught to suppress—was weak, still recovering from years of being buried under the weight of training and trauma. But as Maximus spoke, Levi could feel his wolf stirring again, responding to the Alpha's presence.

"What is your wolf telling you?" Maximus asked softly, his hand still resting on Levi's back, grounding him. There was no impatience in his voice, only care.

Levi closed his eyes for a moment, trying to focus on the faint connection he had with his wolf. It was like trying to hear a distant voice, muffled and faint, but it was there. His wolf wanted something—something simple but instinctual. Levi didn't fully understand it, but he felt the pull.

He swallowed nervously, then glanced up at Maximus. "I... I think... my wolf wants..." His words trailed off as he struggled to put the feeling into words. His chest tightened, unsure if he was allowed to ask for anything, unsure if he had the right.

Maximus leaned in, his voice quiet but encouraging. "What does he want, Levi? You can tell me."

Levi's gaze dropped again, his hands clenching in the fabric of the blankets as his wolf's needs pushed him forward. "He... he wants to be close to you," Levi whispered, his voice trembling. "He wants... comfort."

There was a moment of silence, and Levi's heart pounded in his chest, fearing he had said the wrong thing. But then, Maximus's hand moved from his back to his hair, stroking gently in a way that sent warmth spreading through Levi's body.

"Good," Maximus said, his voice full of approval. "That's exactly what you should do. Come here."

Levi hesitated, but when Maximus gently tugged him closer, his body moved on instinct, following the Alpha's quiet command. Levi let himself be pulled into Maximus's lap, his small frame curling against the warmth of the Alpha's body. Maximus wrapped his arms around Levi, holding him securely, and the weight of the embrace made Levi's heart race. It was overwhelming, but it was also... right.

The moment Levi's head rested against Maximus's chest, his wolf responded with a rush of contentment. It was the first time in years that he had allowed himself to feel this—this need to be close, to be protected, to be cared for. His body relaxed almost immediately, the tension slowly ebbing away as Maximus's steady heartbeat pulsed beneath his ear.

Maximus's hand continued to stroke through Levi's hair, slow and soothing. "There you go," Maximus murmured. "Just relax. You don't need to worry about anything right now."

Levi nodded against Maximus's chest, his breath hitching slightly as he tried to process the unfamiliar sensation of comfort. He hadn't been held like this since he was a child—since before his world had been shattered by loss and cruelty. His wolf stirred again, stronger this time, pushing him to lean into the safety Maximus offered.

Levi's breathing began to slow, his body finally relaxing fully as the warmth of Maximus's embrace enveloped him. The Alpha's scent was everywhere, surrounding him, calming him. Levi had never felt anything like this before—this sense of belonging, of being right where he was supposed to be.

"I... I don't know how to be an Omega," Levi whispered, his voice small and hesitant. "I don't remember how."

Maximus's grip tightened slightly, his voice a quiet rumble in Levi's ear. "That's okay," he said. "You don't have to know. I'm here to guide you. Your wolf already knows what to do—you just need to listen to him. Trust him."

Levi closed his eyes, focusing on the steady rise and fall of Maximus's chest, trying to connect with the part of himself that had been locked away for so long. His wolf—weak but growing stronger with every moment spent in Maximus's presence—whispered to him, urging him to accept the comfort, to let himself be cared for.

As Levi lay there, nestled against Maximus, something began to shift inside him. The fear, the doubt, the shame—they were still there, but they were quieter now. The bond between him and his wolf, between him and Maximus, was growing stronger, piece by fragile piece.

Maximus's hand stilled for a moment, and he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Levi's head. "You're doing well," he murmured. "You're safe, Levi. You're mine, and I'm going to take care of you."

Levi's heart fluttered at the words, a strange warmth spreading through his chest. Mine. It was a word that should have terrified him, but instead, it filled him with a sense of security he had never known before. Maximus wasn't claiming him like a possession—he was claiming him like a mate, like someone to protect and cherish.

For the first time in years, Levi let himself relax completely, his body melting into Maximus's hold. His wolf—small, fragile, but undeniably there—finally settled, content in the knowledge that they were safe.

And for the first time, Levi allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could heal. With Maximus by his side, guiding him, he could learn to be an Omega again.

He could learn to be himself.