FRAGILE

Chapter 20: Bonding

Maximus slowly drifted into awareness as the soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. His gaze fell to the small, fragile figure still nestled tightly in his arms. Levi, his mate, had somehow curled even closer to him during the night. His slender body was tucked into a tight ball, knees drawn up to his chest, hands folded beneath his head like a child seeking protection. Levi's head rested beneath Maximus's chin, his warm breath brushing softly against Maximus's skin with each exhale.

The sight tugged at something deep within Maximus, stirring the fierce, protective instincts of his Alpha nature. Levi seemed so small, so vulnerable in his sleep, and yet there was something in him—something quiet but powerful—waiting to be brought to the surface. Maximus could feel it, and so could his wolf, who rumbled contentedly inside him, basking in the presence of their mate.

A knock at the door broke the peaceful silence, and Maximus's grip on Levi instinctively tightened for a moment before he carefully loosened his hold. He gently lifted Levi from his lap, settling him back onto the bed. Even in sleep, Levi shifted closer to the spot where Maximus had been, instinctively seeking his warmth and comfort.

Maximus's heart swelled with a mix of emotions—love, protectiveness, and determination. He needed to help Levi heal, to show him that he wasn't alone anymore. As quietly as he could, Maximus slipped out of bed, padding over to the door and pulling it open just enough to see who was there.

Saxon, his Beta, stood on the other side, his sharp eyes instantly assessing Maximus's expression. Saxon's presence was commanding, but less intense than Maximus's, and it was clear the Beta had come with a purpose. Maximus gestured for him to enter, holding a finger to his lips to indicate they should be quiet. The last thing he wanted was to wake Levi before he was ready.

Saxon stepped into the room silently, his gaze immediately shifting to Levi's sleeping form on the bed. He observed the small, fragile figure with an unreadable expression before turning back to Maximus, who had closed the door and crossed the room to stand beside his mate.

Maximus took a deep breath, his voice low as he spoke. "He's... fragile," he began, his tone laced with concern. "His wolf... it's still trapped. He's been through so much, Saxon. I don't even know where to start."

Saxon glanced at Levi again, his brow furrowing slightly. "He looks like he's been broken in ways that would destroy most wolves," he said, his voice equally quiet. "But he's still here. There's strength in that, Max. More than you realize."

Maximus nodded, though his heart ached with the knowledge of what Levi had endured. He could sense the flicker of strength in his mate, but it was buried so deep beneath layers of fear, pain, and conditioning. Levi had been trained to obey, to submit without question, and Maximus knew that undoing that training would take time. And it would take something more than just patience.

"I want to help him," Maximus admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "I want to bring him back to himself, but I don't know how. Every time I try to show him kindness, he tenses up. It's like he's waiting for the next blow to fall."

Saxon folded his arms across his chest, his expression thoughtful as he considered Maximus's words. "He's been conditioned to expect pain, Max. Kindness probably feels like a foreign concept to him right now. He doesn't know how to process it. But you're his Alpha—you're the only one who can guide him through this."

Maximus looked down at Levi, who stirred slightly in his sleep, a soft whine escaping his lips. His heart clenched at the sound, and he instinctively reached out, brushing a hand through Levi's dark hair in a soothing motion. The touch seemed to calm Levi, and he curled a little tighter into the blankets, his breath evening out once more.