FRAGILE

Epilogue

The city skyline glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Maximus's penthouse, casting a warm glow across the sleek, modern room. The soft hum of the city below was barely audible, as if the world outside had dimmed just for this moment, leaving only the two of them in their private sanctuary. Maximus led Levi toward the center of the room, his grip gentle yet firm, guiding him as they moved with a shared purpose. Tonight was a night they had both been waiting for—the night they would mark and mate, binding themselves to one another forever.

Maximus had chosen this space carefully, a place where Levi could feel both safe and connected to their world. The penthouse overlooked the city he ruled, the empire he had built, but here, they were free from the outside pressures. It was just them. The soft lighting cast shadows across the room, creating an intimate atmosphere that made Levi's heart race with anticipation.

Maximus turned to face him, his golden eyes filled with warmth and a love so deep it took Levi's breath away. He cupped Levi's face in his hands, his touch reassuring and grounding. Levi gazed up at his mate, a flutter of nerves and excitement swirling in his chest. After everything they had endured together—the trauma, the healing, the battles fought and won—this moment felt like the culmination of their journey.

The past weeks had been a whirlwind of emotion for Levi. After breaking free of the chains that had held him in captivity, both mentally and physically, he had found himself overwhelmed by the freedom that Maximus's love offered. Maximus had been patient, never pushing, always giving Levi the space to heal at his own pace.

Maximus's thumb gently stroked Levi's cheek as if sensing the whirlwind of emotions stirring within him.

Maximus's lips curled into a soft smile before he leaned in, capturing Levi's mouth in a kiss that was both tender and filled with promise. Levi responded eagerly, his hands sliding up to rest against Maximus's chest, feeling the steady thrum of his mate's heart beneath his palm. Maximus's hands slid down to rest on Levi's hips, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened, their connection palpable, electric.

As they parted, Maximus rested his forehead against Levi's, his breath warm against his skin. "Tonight," he murmured, "there is nothing, but us. No more shadows. No more fear."

Levi smiled, his eyes soft as he looked up at Maximus. "No more pain."

Maximus stepped back slightly, his gaze never leaving Levi as he moved toward the bed that dominated the center of the penthouse suite. The sheets were a deep, rich blue, matching the night sky beyond the windows. Levi's heart skipped a beat as Maximus beckoned him forward, the unspoken invitation clear in his eyes.

Levi followed, feeling the pull of their bond, the magnetic energy that had only grown stronger between them. When he reached Maximus, the Alpha gently guided him down onto the bed, positioning him carefully, reverently, as if he were the most precious thing in the world. Levi's breath hitched as Maximus lowered himself beside him, the weight of his presence comforting, protective.

Maximus's hands moved slowly, reverently, as he trailed his fingers along Levi's body, memorizing every curve, every scar. Each touch sent a shiver of anticipation through Levi, his wolf stirring beneath his skin. Maximus pressed a kiss to Levi's neck, his lips lingering on the sensitive skin where his mating mark sat. That delicate skin that had previously held his claim was finalized in their intimacy, sealing them together as mates for eternity.

Levi's eyes fluttered shut as he let himself surrender completely to Maximus, to the love and devotion that radiated from him in waves. He could feel the power of Maximus's wolf, a dominant force that demanded nothing but gave everything. Levi had once feared this power, but now, he embraced it, knowing that Maximus's strength was also his protection, his sanctuary.

For a long moment, they simply stared at each other, the weight of what they had shared settling over them both. A comforting reminder that Levi belonged.

Maximus reached out, pulling Levi into his arms and holding him close. "I love you," he murmured against Levi's hair, his voice thick with emotion.

"I love you too," Levi whispered, nuzzling into Maximus's chest as the warmth of their bond surrounded him like a blanket.

For a long while, they lay there in silence, content in the knowledge that they were truly bound together. Their journey had been long and painful, but it had led them here—to this moment, to each other.

Maximus's hand gently traced the mark on Levi's neck, a soft smile playing at his lips. "I'm never letting you go, you know that?"

Levi chuckled softly, his fingers tracing idle patterns on Maximus's chest. "I wouldn't want you to."

They stayed like that for what felt like hours, basking in the afterglow of their bond, until finally, Maximus's voice broke the comfortable silence.

"Saxon's going to have his hands full soon," Maximus mused, his tone shifting as he thought of his Beta. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us, taking down the packs involved in the trafficking."

Levi nodded, understanding the gravity of the task before them. But he also knew that they would face it together, side by side. "We'll stop them," Levi said softly, determination lacing his voice. "We'll stop them all."

Maximus smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of Levi's head. "That we will, love. That we will."

As they drifted into a peaceful sleep, the future loomed ahead of them, full of challenges and uncertainties. But with Maximus by his side, Levi knew they would face whatever came their way—together.

And as the night settled in, they both slept soundly, knowing that this was only the beginning of the life they would build together. A life of love, strength, and the unbreakable bond they shared.

But for tonight, they rested, ready to face the battles ahead.