Chapter 69
Danie’s POV
Something was wrong with Valencia. I had been sensing it for days now–maybe longer–but it was only now, as I stared into her wide, horrified eyes, that the weight of it settled over me like boulder.
She looked like I’d caught her committing some heinous crimeler cheeks were pale, her breaths shallow, and Castor’s carrier dangled awkwardly from her trembling hands.
My own chest tightened as I took a step forward, frowning deeply. The sight of her like this–panicked, fragile–tore at something deep inside me. My voice came out firmer than I intended, tinged with worry. “Where are you going?”
“N–nowhere,” she stammered, the words spilling out hurriedly, was just going to the hospital to see Marcelene–her mother..
Her words didna sit right with me. I moved closer, my steps deliberate and measured, watching her carefully. Something about her posture her hunched shoulders, the way her eyes darted to the door as if planning an escape–made my heart thunder against my ribs.
“Marcelene’s mother?” I echoed, trying to keep my voice calm. “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?
She took a step back, her grip on Castor tightening. “I didn’t think I needed to report every little thing to you,” she muttered. her voice wavering.
I stopped in my tracks, my eyes harrowing. “You don’t,” I said slowly. “But we just fought, and now, all of a sudden, you’re leaving? You expect me to be okay with this?” My tone sharpened as my own frustration bled through. “I know you’re hiding something, Valencia.”
Her head shook almost violently, her hair brushing against her shoulders. “I’m not hiding anything!” she snapped, but her trembling lips betrayed her.
Stop lying
The thought gripped me, unspoken but heavy in the air between us. I could see it in her eyes–the fear, the desperation. And it terrified me.
She took another step back, and her knees hit the edge of the bed. She stumbled slightly, letting out a startled yelp as she sat down, and I was in front of her in an instant.
“Valencia,” I said, my voice dropping to a gentler tone. I didn’t want to scare her, not more than she already was What’s going on?”
Talk to me.
She refused to meet my gaze, her head turning to the side as if avoiding me would make me disappear. The carrier rested against her lap, Castor glowing faintly inside.
The quiet, ever–present voice in my mind–one that had grown louder since bonding with her–whispered again. Rumag.
It was my dragon’s voice, its instincts prickling at the edges of my consciousness, I wanted to calm her down, to hold her and chase away whatever fears were consuming her.
Without thinking, I released a subtle wave of my scent, hoping it would soothe her. It wasn’t overpowering, just enough to nudge her pheromones into calming down.
Her shoulders slumped almost immediately, the tension in her body melting away as her eyes softened, dazed and heavy- lidded.
1/3
Chapter 69
“Valencia.” I murmured, leaning closer. My hands moved to her arms, steadying her. “Why do you want to leave?”
She let out a soft, breathless noise, almost like a whimper, her lips parting slightly as she blinked up at me. Her scent flared in response, her own pheromones spiraling out of control
Damn it. This was bad.
I’d forgotten how easily Omegas reacted to Alpha pheromones. And being a hybrid Alpha–a mix of dragon and wolf- meant my pheromones were significantly stronger. The effect they had on her was almost instantaneous, her body trembling under my touch.
Her lips parted again, and a faint, almost kitten–like mewl escaped her.
My gaze homed in on her soft, red lips marred with two small wounds. I felt heat start to grow inside me and I moved close almost instinctively touching my lips with her’s.
Shit.
I pulled back slightly, reigning in my scent as much as I could. The last thing I needed was to lose control. My rut was nearing, probably will begin in a couple day–I could feel it brewing at the edges of my restraint–and if I didn’t stop now, I wouldn’t be able to hold myself back.”
Her eyes slowly cleared, widening as she came back to herself. She looked at me with a mix of confusion and alarm, her brows furrowing.
Irepeated my question from earlier, keeping my voice steady. “Why do you want to leave?”
She pushed against my chest, creating a small gap between us.“–because..” She paused, her words faltering before she took a deep breath. “Because I want some time alone. I’ll be back by evening
Her tone was sharper now, her voice regaining some of its strength. But 1 could see through it. Her lips were trembling again, and fear lingered in her eyes.
I clenched my jaw, my own frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Why was she all of a sudden so scared of me? Was this because of her trauma? Did I do something that made her afraid?
I sighed, stepping back to give her space. “Alright,” I said reluctantly. “But I’ll go with you.”
Her eyes narrowed, her brows scrunching in disbelief. “Do you not know what ‘alone‘ means? I need time by myself.”
I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re alone in this room,” I pointed out. “I’m busy most of the time now. You have plenty of alone time.”
She shook her head, her voice rising slightly. “You don’t understand! This is different. I need fresh air, Dante. I need to clear my mind. You’re suffocating me!”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. My eyes widened, and for a moment. I couldn’t breathe.
Suffocating her?
My hands curled into fists at my sides, and I fought to keep my emotions in check. Caius’s voice echoed in my mind, his words from earlier haunting me.
“See? She’s spiraling
Maybe she was right. Maybe she did need fresh air, some time to herself. She said she’d be back by evening. That was good. We could talk properly when she returned.
Chapter 69
I nodded stiffly, forcing the tension out of my shoulders “Fine, said, my voice low. “But you’ll be escorted by a guard to and from the hospital.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, but she bit her lip and nodded, her shoulders sagging in relief.
I watched as she adjusted the carrier, her hands still trembling. Apart of me wanted to stop her, to hold her back and demand answers. But I didn’t.
I just hoped I wasn’t making the wrong decision.
As she walked past me and out the door, I stayed rooted in place, my mind a tangled mess of emotions.
Something was wrong with Valencia.
And I didn’t know how to fix it.
