His Delicate Love

18

The next morning, Killian sat across from the Alpha in his study, his usual calm and controlled demeanor replaced by a frustration that had been building for days. His jaw clenched, his fingers tapping against the arm of his chair, unable to fully relax. The weight of the last few days—and everything that had come with claiming Annie—seemed to settle heavily on his shoulders.

"I feel like my patience and temper is being tested every day," Killian sighed, running a hand through his hair, his eyes dark with frustration. "It's like... ever since I claimed her," he paused, searching for the right words, his voice tight, "ever since I claimed Annie, shit has been hard."

The Alpha leaned back in his chair, his eyes watching Killian closely as he spoke. He had known Killian long enough to recognize when the Beta was struggling, and right now, the stress of everything was taking its toll. With a slow nod, the Alpha acknowledged his friend's struggle. "Love isn't easy, man," he said, his tone calm but understanding. "Especially when you care as deeply as you do."

Killian exhaled sharply, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "I love her more than anything. But the protectiveness, the need to shield her from everything—it's like it's eating me alive. And then Riley—" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "I can't lose control like that again. Not in front of her."

The Alpha gave him a knowing look, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly in understanding. "You're not the first wolf to feel that way, Killian. We're wired to protect, especially our mates. But that need to shield them from everything... it can destroy you if you don't find balance."

Killian leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his voice quieter now. "I know. I just... I don't want her to see me like that. I don't want to push her away because I can't control myself."

The Alpha sighed, his gaze softening. "Look, love is messy. It's not always going to be easy, and it's not always going to make sense. But you've got to trust her to handle the difficult parts too. She's strong, Killian. She chose you knowing who you are. Let her in. Don't be afraid to lean on her."

Killian nodded slowly, the weight of the Alpha's words sinking in. "Yeah," he murmured. "I guess I'm just afraid of screwing it all up."

"You won't," the Alpha reassured him. "But you've got to let go of the idea that you have to handle everything on your own. Trust in her, and trust in yourself. You'll figure it out."

Killian sat back in his chair, feeling a bit of the tension ease from his body. The Alpha was right—love wasn't easy, but maybe it didn't have to be as hard as he was making it. He just needed to trust Annie, and himself, a little more.

"You know," Alaric began, his voice quieter now, more personal. "Ever since I lost our Luna—my love—I break down too." His eyes softened as he spoke, a hint of the pain he kept hidden surfacing for just a moment. "I miss her every day, but those times when we would fight, when I'd lose my temper... those were the moments that made us stronger." He paused, looking at Killian meaningfully. "Because we would talk about it. We always worked through it together."

Killian sat still, taking in every word. He had never seen this vulnerable side of Alaric before—the Alpha was always so composed, so unshakeable—but here, talking about his Luna, the cracks showed. It was raw, and it hit Killian hard.

Alaric continued, his voice thick with memory. "Losing her made me realize how important those conversations were. We didn't have them to avoid conflict; we had them to grow. To understand each other better, to love harder, even when things were tough."

Killian's chest tightened as he listened. He hadn't expected this. He knew Alaric had been through unimaginable loss, but hearing him talk about it, about the depth of his connection to his mate, made it all feel so real. It made Killian think about Annie, about their bond, and how he had been struggling with his temper, afraid to let her in fully.

"I get it, man," Killian finally said, his voice low. "I don't want to screw it up with Annie. I know I need to talk to her more, let her in. I just..." He trailed off, unsure of how to express the fear gnawing at him.

Alaric nodded, his gaze steady. "You're not alone, Killian. None of this is easy. But trust me when I say, the more you lean on her, the stronger you'll both be. Don't let fear keep you from building something even deeper with her."

Killian sat back, his mind racing. He hadn't thought about it that way. He had been so focused on protecting Annie, on shielding her from his temper and his struggles, that he hadn't considered that talking to her, letting her see those parts of him, might actually bring them closer.

"I'll try," Killian said finally, his voice more determined now. "I'll talk to her. I just don't want to lose her."

"You won't," Alaric said firmly. "Not if you let her in."

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This one is a short one hehe, just wanted to add more to the Lore behind Alaric's background! Thank you so much for the read!