FRAGILE

Chapter 21: Making Sense of Things

Levi lay still, his body pressed closely against the warmth of his mate, feeling the steady rise and fall of Maximus's chest beneath him. It was strange—comforting, but strange. He had been awake for a while now, longer than he cared to admit, but he couldn't bring himself to pull away from the safety of Maximus's arms. The man held him like he was precious, something to be protected, and Levi was perplexed by the intensity of the sensation. He hadn't felt anything like this in years—maybe never.

And then there was his wolf. That was what had changed everything. Maximus had commanded him to free his wolf, and the pain that had followed was excruciating, but in the end, it had been worth it. His wolf had emerged, strong and wild, taking over in a way that made Levi feel both terrified and... free.

Levi was still trying to make sense of it all. He had spent so long without his wolf—without that part of himself—that when his wolf had finally broken through the walls built by years of training, Levi had almost panicked. It was as though he had been shoved into the passenger seat of his own mind, watching his wolf take control, disregarding all of the rules that had been drilled into him.

Rules that had kept him alive.

His wolf, however, seemed to have no regard for those rules. Levi had watched in stunned horror as his wolf bit their master—no, their mate. It was wild, unrestrained, and against every rule he had ever learned. Levi had been trained never to bite, never to mark, never to defy. Yet here was his wolf, breaking all of those rules without hesitation.

What baffled Levi most was how good it had felt. The bite, the touch of his mate's lips against his skin, the warmth and comfort of being held. It felt... wonderful. But it didn't make sense. None of it made sense.

Levi shifted slightly in Maximus's embrace, staring at the bite mark on his mate's neck, the one he had left. His face flushed with embarrassment as the memory of what had happened last night resurfaced. The biting, the touching, the way he had craved his mate's approval and warmth.

Mate.

Levi's mind stumbled over the word. Could it be true? Was Maximus really his mate? The idea felt impossible—he felt impossible. After everything Thomas had told him, after years of being told how worthless and weak he was, how could he ever have a mate, let alone an Alpha as powerful as Maximus?

No self-respecting wolf would want a weakling as a mate. You, 2197, are the prime example of weakness. Pathetic omega.

The words echoed in his mind like a cruel mantra, stirring the doubt and fear that had lived inside him for so long. Levi squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the voice. He could feel the commands, the rules, the harsh expectations still lurking in the corners of his mind, like shadows he couldn't escape. Somewhere, buried deep, he could hear the dull roar of Thomas's voice, reprimanding him, calling him back to the training that had ruled his life for so long.

But there was something else now. Something stronger. Levi's wolf had returned, and with it, the dull roar of Thomas's voice seemed to fade. He wasn't free of it entirely, but it felt distant, muffled, like it was behind thick glass. And with that distance came something Levi hadn't felt in years—safety.

You're safe now. His wolf's voice was quiet but firm in the back of his mind, pushing away the fear. Our mate set me free. We are no longer alone.

The concept was so foreign that Levi almost couldn't process it. Safe? With a mate? It felt like a dream, like something that couldn't possibly be real. But as Maximus shifted beneath him, still holding him tightly in his sleep, Levi realized that this was real. His mate, this powerful Alpha, had given him back his wolf, had claimed him, protected him.

Levi took a shaky breath, feeling a wave of emotion rush through him. Was this his reward for obedience? His mate had set him free, but Levi still knew his place. He was a servant, a tool to be used, a pet. But something about Maximus didn't fit that narrative. The way he looked at Levi, the way he touched him—it wasn't like anything Levi had experienced before.

Levi's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Maximus stirred beside him, his arms tightening slightly around Levi's body. His mate's deep voice rumbled through the quiet of the room as he shifted onto his side, gently pulling Levi closer until they were face-to-face.

"Good morning, mate," Maximus said, his voice husky and warm.

Levi's heart stuttered at the word, and his wolf let out a soft purr of delight. Mate. It was still so hard to believe. Levi's gaze met Maximus's, and for the first time, he didn't feel the urge to look away. There was no fear, no shame in meeting his mate's eyes, just... connection. He felt grounded in that gaze, like it was an anchor in a storm.

Maximus leaned forward, brushing his lips gently against the mark on Levi's neck—the one he had left—and Levi shuddered at the sensation. A soft, involuntary moan escaped his lips as his mate's mouth traced the sensitive skin, nuzzling against the mark before trailing gentle kisses up his neck.

Levi's breath hitched, his mind spinning. He had been taught that touch, affection, pleasure—these were things he wasn't allowed to have. And yet here he was, with his mate, who seemed to relish in touching him, in making him feel good. Levi's body responded without his permission, arching slightly into Maximus's touch as the Alpha's lips pressed against his own in a soft, lingering kiss.

When Maximus began to pull away, Levi surprised even himself by leaning up to deepen the kiss, his hands tangling in Maximus's hair. The sensation of their lips moving together sent a rush of warmth through Levi's entire body, something new and intoxicating. Maximus groaned in approval, pulling Levi closer as the kiss deepened, and Levi's wolf practically purred with satisfaction.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were panting softly, trying to catch their breath. Levi's heart was racing, but for the first time in as long as he could remember, it wasn't from fear. He felt... happy. Safe. And something else, something he didn't quite have the words for.

Maximus's smile was soft, and Levi couldn't help but mirror it, feeling a strange warmth bloom in his chest. His mate's approval meant everything to him, and the way Maximus looked at him made Levi feel... special. Like he wasn't just 2197, the weak Omega. Like he was something more.

But the reality of it all still hung in the back of Levi's mind. This—whatever this was—felt too good to be true. He had to be careful. He couldn't let himself hope for too much. His mate, no matter how kind, was still his master, and Levi had a job to do. He needed to please him, to follow the rules, to be perfect.

Even now, part of Levi wanted to slip into the familiar, submissive role he had been trained for, to fall to his knees and offer his obedience. But something in Maximus's touch, in the way he held him, told Levi that maybe—just maybe—this was different. Maybe Maximus didn't want a servant. Maybe, just maybe, Maximus wanted him.

As Maximus pulled him closer, Levi allowed himself, for a brief moment, to believe that this could be real. That he could belong to someone who truly wanted him, not just as a tool or a possession, but as a mate.