FRAGILE

Chapter 36: I Need to See It

Maximus led Levi back to their shared quarters in the penthouse, the weight of the night's meeting still pressing heavily on them both. Levi was quiet, his steps careful as they walked through the darkened halls. The tension from the intense discussions still lingered, but Maximus remained calm, his dominant presence a comforting anchor for his mate.

As they entered the spacious bedroom, the city lights twinkling outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Levi sank into a chair by the window, curling his knees up to his chest. His mind was spinning with the enormity of what was about to happen. Tomorrow night, the very people who had destroyed him would finally be brought down. A part of him felt a surge of relief, but another part was drowning in a storm of memories—of pain, of fear, and of being helpless.

Maximus crossed the room in silence, removing his jacket and draping it over the back of a nearby chair. He could sense Levi's inner turmoil, even if the omega hadn't said a word. His mate had been through so much, and now, they were about to face the monsters who had caused it all.

Maximus settled on the edge of the bed, watching Levi closely. "You don't have to come tomorrow, love," he said softly, his voice low and gentle, but filled with concern. "If it's too much, you can stay here. I can handle the auction."

Levi's gaze flickered to Maximus, and for a moment, his wolf stirred beneath the surface, reminding him that he was no longer that broken omega trapped in a cage. He was more than Thomas's victim—he was Maximus's mate. But the thought of facing the auction, of standing in the place where so many wolves had been bought and sold like property, sent a chill down his spine.

"I want to come," Levi whispered, though his voice trembled. "I need to see it end. I need to see it... with my own eyes."

Maximus's expression softened further, his heart aching for Levi. He knew how much this meant to him, how important it was for his mate to reclaim some measure of power from the past. But the Alpha in him couldn't help but worry about what it would do to Levi, being so close to the source of his trauma again.

"I'll be right by your side," Maximus promised, standing and moving to kneel in front of Levi. His hands gently rested on Levi's knees, grounding him in the present. "You won't face any of it alone."

Levi's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he nodded. He believed Maximus—he trusted him. Maximus had pulled him out of the darkest moments of his life, had given him safety, comfort, and the promise of a future where he didn't have to live in fear. And now, Levi had to face the remnants of his past one last time, with Maximus guiding him through it.

Levi looked out the window, the city lights a blur of colors against the dark sky. "Do you think... do you think I'll ever feel normal again?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Maximus rose from his kneeling position, sitting next to Levi and pulling him into his arms. Levi curled into the Alpha's chest, his small frame fitting perfectly against the strength and warmth of Maximus's body.

"I don't think 'normal' is what you should aim for," Maximus said softly, stroking Levi's hair. "But I do think you'll feel whole again. You'll heal, in your own time. And I'll be with you every step of the way."

Levi relaxed into his mate's embrace, the tension in his body slowly ebbing away as Maximus's calming presence enveloped him. He knew tomorrow would be hard. Facing the men who had controlled him, who had reduced him to nothing more than a number, was terrifying. But Maximus's words wrapped around him like a protective blanket, reminding him that he wasn't the same omega who had been trapped in that dark cell.

They stayed like that for a long while, neither of them speaking, just holding onto each other. Levi's heart beat in time with Maximus's, their bond strengthening with every moment. It was a bond that had weathered pain, suffering, and trauma—and now, it was becoming something indestructible.

Finally, Maximus pulled back slightly, his eyes searching Levi's face. "Do you want to rest? Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

Levi hesitated, then nodded. He was exhausted—emotionally and physically—but the thought of sleep made him uneasy. He was afraid of the nightmares, afraid of slipping back into the memories that still haunted him. But Maximus seemed to sense his unease, as he always did.

"I'll stay with you," Maximus whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Levi's forehead. "I won't leave your side, not tonight."

With that promise, Levi felt a small measure of peace. Together, they climbed into bed, Maximus pulling Levi close so that he was wrapped in the Alpha's strong arms, safe and secure. Levi's head rested against Maximus's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart, and slowly, the tension began to fade from his body.

As sleep claimed him, Levi allowed himself to believe—for the first time in a long time—that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay. He was no longer alone. He had Maximus, and together, they would face whatever came next.

Tomorrow would be the end of the auction ring, the end of the horrors that had shaped Levi's past. But tonight, in the safety of Maximus's arms, Levi found solace.