His Delicate Love

21

Riley sat quietly, ordered to remain in the omega barracks for two days as a consequence of his recklessness. Water and food would be brought to him, the Alpha had told him sternly. Now, as both he and Annie sat with their heads bowed in front of the towering figures of the Alpha and Killian, the weight of their mistake pressed down on them.

Before the Alpha could say anything further to Annie, Killian interrupted, his voice a growl filled with frustration and protectiveness. "You're not allowed to step foot into the forest," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Annie winced at his harshness, tears brimming in her eyes as she stared at the ground, ashamed and guilty.

Annie slowly looked up at Killian, her heart aching. Her eyes, wide and full of emotion, tried to meet his, silently begging him to understand how his words were hurting her. She didn't want to upset him, didn't want to cause him pain, but the weight of his disappointment was unbearable. But Killian, still seething, refused to meet her gaze. He looked away, his jaw clenched, unwilling to give in to her soft expression.

"You disobeyed me, Annie," he growled, his voice booming with both anger and vulnerability. "You put yourself in danger. What if we hadn't been there on time? What if something happened to you? They could have taken you—hurt you!" Each word was like a lash of guilt, his fear masked by his fury.

Annie's tears slipped down her cheeks as Killian's words cut deep. She understood now just how much her actions had affected him. He wasn't just angry—he was terrified at the thought of losing her. But before either of them could say more, the Alpha placed a calming hand on Killian's shoulder, grounding him, reminding him to control the rage and vulnerability he was feeling.

"Listen, Annie and Riley," the Alpha said, his voice firm but calm, a contrast to Killian's intensity. "We don't want this to happen again. What you did was reckless, and you need to understand how serious it was. Take this as a lesson."

Annie nodded, her heart heavy with guilt. She had wanted to explore, to have fun, but in doing so, she had put herself—and Riley—in a dangerous situation. The thought of what could have happened, of what might have become of her had Killian and the warriors not arrived in time, was sobering.

"I'm sorry," Annie whispered, her voice trembling as she wiped at her eyes. "I didn't mean to worry you."

Killian clenched his fists, his chest still heaving with emotion. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to tell her he just couldn't bear the thought of losing her—but his frustration held him back. For now, the hurt lingered, but beneath it all was love. She was his world, and the thought of anything happening to her was unbearable.

————

As they entered their home, the air between them was thick with tension. Killian walked ahead of Annie, his jaw clenched, his anger still simmering. He was furious, not just at her but at the situation, at the fear he had felt for her safety. Annie sat quietly on the edge of their bed, her body small and fragile in the dim light of the room, her emotions raw from the reprimand and the weight of his anger.

Killian paced back and forth, his frustration bubbling over as he rubbed his shaved head in a desperate attempt to calm himself. "How could you be so stupid, Annie?" he growled, the words spilling out before he could think about the impact they would have.

Annie winced, her heart sinking as tears welled up in her eyes again. His words cut deep, each one like a fresh wound. She had never seen him like this—so hurt, so angry. Her lips trembled as the tears slipped down her cheeks, her hands gripping the edge of the bed.

"A stupid little girl," Killian snarled, the weight of his fear for her twisting into frustration and anger.

Annie's breath hitched, and her voice, broken and barely a whisper, trembled as she spoke. "You don't mean that..." She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, pleading with him, her heart aching at the thought that her mate, the one she loved so deeply, could think so little of her in this moment.