FRAGILE

Chapter 33: Rest and Recover

Inside the recesses of Levi's mind, it felt warm and soft, a sanctuary far removed from the cruelty he had endured for so long. He was nestled in a mental nest, one woven from threads of comfort, safety, and trust—things he had thought were lost to him forever. The nest cradled him in its embrace, holding him securely against the storm that had once raged through his thoughts. It was quiet here. The chaos of the outside world, with all its harsh commands and relentless expectations, couldn't touch him. He could finally breathe.

Levi's human form appeared small and fragile within the nest, curled tightly as if trying to make himself disappear. His knees were drawn up to his chest, arms wrapped around them protectively, his fingers clinging to the soft fur-lined edges of the nest. Every inch of him felt weary, the weight of his recent actions pressing down heavily on his fragile soul. Memories of his behavior—the way he had frantically tried to serve Maximus, how he had reverted to the painful, degrading routines that Thomas had beaten into him for years—flooded his mind.

He had offered his body to Maximus, not out of love or desire, but because he had believed it was the only way he could be of value. The only way he could be good. The thought made him feel sick now. Levi's body shuddered with shame as the depth of his disgrace washed over him like a tide of filth. How could he ever expect Maximus to look at him the same way again? After everything Thomas had done to him, after all the things he had been forced to believe—that he was worthless, that he was nothing more than a pet—he had fallen so easily back into those twisted habits.

"I'm so broken," Levi whispered, his voice trembling. "Why can't I just be normal?"

His words barely left his lips, but the crushing self-disgust filled the air around him. He buried his face against his knees, his breath coming in shallow, painful bursts as he choked back the sobs rising in his throat. Levi felt unworthy of everything. Unworthy of Maximus, of love, of safety. The past, with all its horrors, seemed too heavy to move beyond. The burden of his past mistakes, his conditioned obedience, weighed him down like chains that refused to let go.

But then, from the shadows of his mind, a soft presence stirred—one Levi had forgotten he could feel. His wolf, the white wolf that had been buried deep inside him for so long, suddenly moved, as if awakening from a long slumber. Golden eyes, warm and full of understanding, appeared in the darkness. The wolf padded quietly toward him, its movements slow and deliberate, and Levi couldn't help but glance up at the approaching figure.

The wolf was strong—far stronger than Levi had ever imagined. Despite all the years of suppression, all the conditioning that had tried to bury this part of him, the wolf had survived. Its golden eyes glowed softly in the dim light of Levi's mental space, exuding a calming energy that Levi had never experienced before. It circled him once, brushing its soft fur against his side before settling beside him in the nest. Then, it laid its head gently in his lap, as if it had always belonged there.

You are not weak, the wolf's voice whispered in his mind, each word dripping with warmth and reassurance. You survived. You are strong, Levi. You are enough.

Levi's breath hitched as the wolf's words settled over him like a soothing balm. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers trembling as they brushed against the wolf's soft, white fur. The simple act of touching his wolf felt surreal, like a lifeline pulling him out of the darkness. He hadn't realized how much he had needed this, how much he had longed for comfort. The wolf's presence calmed the raw ache in his chest, its warmth seeping into the deepest cracks of his soul.

"But I don't know how to be..." Levi's voice broke again. "I don't know how to be what Maximus needs. I've messed everything up."

The wolf nuzzled against Levi's chest, its breath warm and steady. Maximus doesn't need you to be anything other than yourself. You are his mate. You are ours. He loves you, Levi, exactly as you are. He only wants you to heal.

The wolf's words pierced through Levi's doubt, but still, the weight of everything lingered. How could Maximus love him after all he had done? After how he had failed to be the perfect omega? Levi's fingers tightened in the wolf's fur, clinging to it for comfort as he fought to believe the truth that was being offered to him.

"I don't know how to heal," Levi whispered, his voice fragile, barely audible.

That's okay, the wolf responded, patient and gentle. You don't have to know right away. I will help you. Maximus will help you. We are in this together.

Levi's breathing began to slow as the wolf's presence enveloped him, the steady rise and fall of its chest matching his own. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Levi allowed himself to let go of the shame, the guilt, and the crushing pressure to be perfect. He let the warmth of the nest seep into him, allowing himself to relax into the softness of his wolf's fur. The storm that had raged inside him for so long began to calm, replaced by a sense of quiet peace.

In this space, he didn't need to be anything more than he was. He didn't need to fight, or serve, or punish himself for every perceived failure. All that mattered was that he was safe. Maximus didn't expect perfection from him. His wolf didn't either. What they wanted was for him to rest, to heal, and to begin the long process of reclaiming the parts of himself that had been lost to the cruelty of his past.

Levi curled tighter into the nest, his body relaxing as a deep, contented sigh escaped him. The weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders, even if just for a moment. His wolf, still lying beside him, breathed in rhythm with him, their heartbeats synchronizing as if they had always belonged together.

Rest, the wolf murmured. You're safe here. You are free now.

And for the first time in years, Levi believed it. He allowed himself to believe that he was free from the past, free from Thomas's hold. He let the warmth of the nest, the softness of his wolf's fur, and the distant but steady rhythm of Maximus's love lull him into a deep, healing sleep.

Levi's body, both in his mind and in the waking world, relaxed completely. The tension that had gripped him for so long began to ease, and he felt himself sinking deeper into the comforting embrace of the nest. He was still broken, still fragile, but for the first time, he no longer felt hopeless. He could heal. He would heal.

With his wolf by his side and Maximus waiting for him in the real world, Levi knew that he was on the path to becoming whole again. He didn't have to know how to get there right away, and that was okay. He was finally beginning to believe that it was possible, that there was a future beyond the pain.

Wrapped in the warmth of his mental nest, Levi slept deeply, the weight of his burdens slowly lifting as he rested. His healing had only just begun, but for now, he was safe. He was loved.

And for now, that was enough.