In the depths of Levi's sleep, the familiar suffocating darkness closed in around him, like a shroud wrapping him in cold isolation. The chill in the air clung to his skin, as tangible as the fear that gripped his chest. He was back there again, back in the auction house, where every breath seemed to freeze in his lungs. The icy stone walls towered above him, their oppressive weight pressing down, confining him. The dim light cast long, menacing shadows across the floor, each one crawling toward him like the haunting remnants of his past.
"2197," a voice hissed from the shadows, cruel and filled with contempt. It was Thomas. His voice slithered through the darkness like a snake, sharp and unyielding. "You are nothing. An object. A slave."
Levi stood frozen in the center of the room, his body rigid and unresponsive. The collar around his neck felt impossibly tight, constricting his throat and cutting off any hope of breath. His hands, though shaking, were limp at his sides, as if all the strength had been drained from him. Fear was a constant companion here, a relentless tide that he could never seem to escape. And Thomas's voice—cold, insidious—dug into him like barbed wire, reopening wounds that had never truly healed.
"Do you think anyone could love you?" The voice growled closer now, slithering into his ear. "No one could ever love a weak, filthy omega like you."
Levi's breath hitched, his chest tightening painfully as the words crashed into him with the force of a battering ram. The weight of it pressed against his chest, crushing him. His fingers instinctively gripped the collar at his neck, clawing at it, but it only seemed to tighten further, the metal digging into his skin. Panic surged through his veins, drowning him in the familiar sensation of helplessness, of being caged in his own mind. Every terrible moment of his past came rushing back with terrifying clarity—the punishments, the beatings, the relentless conditioning that had turned him into an obedient, broken shell.
He wanted to run, to scream, but his body refused to move. The familiar suffocating panic paralyzed him, like chains wrapped around his very soul, holding him captive. He could hear the sound of his own heart pounding in his ears, feel the tightening of his chest as his breaths became shallower, each one more desperate than the last. Thomas's presence in his mind, his voice, felt overwhelming—too real.
But then, amidst the suffocating darkness, something began to change.
A warmth spread through him, seeping into his chest like sunlight breaking through the thick clouds of a storm. It was a strange feeling in this place of nightmares—a comforting presence that cut through the fear. It started as a flicker, barely noticeable at first, but then it grew, a pulse of strength and love that radiated from deep within him. Maximus.
Levi's trembling stilled as the warmth surrounded him, protecting him from the darkness that had held him captive for so long. The bond between him and Maximus flared to life, glowing like a beacon in the night, guiding him back from the edge of despair. He could feel Maximus's presence so clearly now, even here, even in the deepest corners of his mind, where Thomas's voice had always reigned supreme.
"You are not nothing," Maximus's voice resonated deep in his mind, rich with love and unwavering strength. "You are mine. You are loved. And Thomas can never hurt you again."
Levi's breath steadied, his heartbeat slowing as the oppressive weight of the nightmare began to lift. Thomas's voice, once so powerful and cruel, faded into the distance, growing weaker and less tangible with every beat of Levi's heart. The collar around his neck loosened, no longer suffocating him. The fear that had gripped him for so long began to ebb away, as if it could no longer stand against the strength of the bond he shared with Maximus.
Maximus's warmth surrounded him fully now, wrapping around him like a shield. It was protective, reassuring, and Levi clung to it like a lifeline. The stone walls of the auction house, once so menacing and towering, began to crack and crumble. The darkness receded, melting away as light flooded in, illuminating the space around him. And then, with a final shuddering breath, the collar disintegrated, falling away like dust in the wind.
Levi stood there, free. For the first time in years, truly free.
The auction house, the place that had symbolized his torment for so long, collapsed into nothingness. The shadows, the walls, the voice of Thomas—they were all gone, erased by the power of the bond Levi now shared with Maximus. He was no longer controlled by his past, no longer shackled by the fear that had once gripped him so tightly.
Levi's lips curled into a soft smile as the dreamscape transformed, the cold, oppressive darkness replaced by the gentle warmth of Maximus's love. It was like being wrapped in a cocoon of safety, guiding him out of the nightmare and into the light of their bond. For the first time, Levi felt peace wash over him, the last remnants of Thomas's control dissolving into nothingness.
When Levi's eyes fluttered open, he was greeted by the sight of Maximus standing over him, his body tense, his eyes filled with concern. Maximus's clothes were splattered with blood—evidence of the lengths he had gone to protect Levi, to seek justice for what had been done to him. But instead of fear, Levi felt a strange sense of calm.
He blinked, his mind still hazy from the dream, but the familiar warmth of Maximus's presence soothed him. "So," Levi murmured, his voice thick with sleep, "is this what you wear to bed now?"
Maximus blinked in surprise, a huff of laughter escaping him, the tension in his body slowly melting away. He sat down beside Levi, his hand finding its way to Levi's hair, brushing through it with the same tenderness he always showed him. "Only when I have to take care of business," Maximus replied, his voice deep and soothing. "But I'll clean up before bed next time."
Levi chuckled softly, the sound light and full of ease. His hand reached up, resting on Maximus's arm, grounding him in the steady presence of his mate. "You're a mess," Levi teased, his eyes sparkling with affection.
Maximus smiled, a genuine, heartfelt expression that made Levi's chest tighten in the best way. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Levi's forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. "I am," Maximus admitted quietly, "but I'm your mess."
Levi's fingers tightened on Maximus's arm, his heart swelling with a warmth he had never thought possible. For so long, he had believed himself unworthy of love, broken beyond repair. But now, lying here with Maximus by his side, he knew the truth.
He wasn't alone. He wasn't broken.
He was free.
Free from Thomas's control, free from the nightmares that had haunted him for so long. And most of all, he was loved—loved deeply and unconditionally by the one person who had shattered the chains of his past.
"That you are," Levi whispered, his eyes drifting shut again as he nestled into the safety of Maximus's arms. The soft smile on his lips remained as sleep began to claim him once more, this time bringing with it peace instead of fear.
Maximus would always be there, ready to face the future with him, side by side.
YOU ARE READING
FRAGILE
Lupi mannariLevi, a broken omega, has spent years trapped in the brutal world of werewolf trafficking, stripped of his name, his wolf, and his will to fight. He's been conditioned to obey, to serve, and to believe he's nothing more than an object-a slave marked...
