KEILAH
As Ralph’s deep voice broke the silence, I couldn’t help but feel a knot tighten in my stomach. What could he possibly want to talk about at this hour? Oh, of course, there’s a lot to talk about. But can’t he wait for tomorrow? I grumbled inwardly.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I sat upright and hesitantly shifted closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body radiating against my skin. His presence was both comforting and unnerving, like standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure if I would fall or find solid ground beneath me.
With a trembling breath, I spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. “Can’t we talk tomorrow? I’m not feeling well and need to rest.”
He turned to face me, his expression unreadable in the dim light filtering through the curtains. His eyes bore into mine, searching for something I couldn’t quite decipher. “I need to apologize,” he began, his voice heavy with sincerity. “For everything that’s happened between us, for the way I’ve treated you.”
I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his unexpected admission. “Apologize?” I repeated, my mind struggling to process his words. “What in the crazy world is wrong with everyone? Why is everyone apologizing to me all over a sudden? Am I dying or what?” I asked loudly, totally perplexed.
I turned my gaze at him. “I don’t get it. Why?”
He sighed, running a hand through his wet hair. “Because I’ve realized that I’ve been a fool,” he admitted, his voice raw with emotion. “I’ve let my pride and stubbornness come between us, and I can’t bear the thought of losing you because of it anymore.”
His words hung in the air between us, heavy with unspoken truths and unspoken desires. I could feel the tension crackling between us, thick with the weight of unresolved emotions and unspoken words.
“I don’t want to lose you, Keilah,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “I love you.”
The words hit me like a tidal wave, washing over me with a force that left me breathless. I had never expected to hear those words from him, never dared to hope that he would say it. But then, amidst the weight of his confession, a bubble of laughter bubbled up inside me, escaping in a burst of unexpected amusement. “Love?” I chuckled, unable to help myself. “Oh, Ralph, you do know how to make a girl laugh.”
He looked at me, confusion flickering in his eyes, and I couldn’t help but chuckle again. “I mean, “love’?” I teased, shaking my head. Love is a bit of a big word for us, don’t you think? Especially considering how you remind me every day that I’m just a mere human to be loved by a supernatural being like you.”
Still chuckling, I turned to him, my eyes twinkling with amusement. “How about we stick with something a little more… realistic? Like ‘I like you a lot’ or ‘I’m falling for you’? You know, something that doesn’t have ‘forever’ written all over it.” “Those seem a bit more manageable, don’t you think?”
He looked down for a moment, a hint of sheepishness crossing his features before he turned back to me, gently taking my hands in his. “You’re right,” he admitted, his voice low and earnest. “Love does sound big, especially coming from me. My bad for jumping the gun there.” He paused, his thumb stroking the back of my hand as he continued, “But I do want to experience that, to say it to you when I truly mean it. And I want us to get there together.” I’m new to this kind of stuff, and since you’re my mate and the first woman in my life, I want to experience that kind of love with you, Keilah. He said, his sincerity shining through.
“But,” he continued, his expression hopeful, “you have to help me get there. From tomorrow, let’s go on what you humans call dates. Let’s walk around, explore, and get to know each other well. I want us to build something real, something meaningful.”
His words hung in the air between us, heavy with the weight of possibility and promise. As I looked into his eyes, I saw a vulnerability that mirrored my own, a shared desire for something more than just words and empty gestures.
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I instinctively squeezed his hands gently. “I’d like that,” I said softly, my heart fluttering with anticipation. “I’d like that a lot.”
A comfortable silence settled between us, the weight of our conversation easing as the possibility of a new beginning loomed on the horizon. Yet, there was a lingering fear in the back of my mind, one that I needed to address before we could move forward.
Taking a deep breath, I looked into his eyes, my voice wavering slightly. “Ralph, I need to know… if we’re going to try this, if we’re going to get to know each other and build something real… you have to promise me something.”
He nodded, his expression serious and attentive. “Anything, mate.”
“Promise me that you won’t hit me anymore? That you’ll never hurt me again?”
His expression softened, and he looked down, a deep frown creasing his brow, and for a moment, I feared he might pull away. But when he looked back at me, his gaze was steady and sincere. “Keilah,” he uttered, his voice imbued with conviction, “I promise. I may not excel at making promises, and I won’t pretend that I won’t go berserk if someone else lays a hand on you, but I will never raise my hand against you again. That much, I promise you.”
I searched his eyes, looking for any hint of insincerity, but all I saw was genuine remorse and determination. “Okay,” I said quietly, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders, though the berserk word lingered still. “Let’s take it one day at a time.”
He nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. “One day at a time,” he agreed. “And tomorrow, we’ll start with our first date.”
Then, without warning, he pulled me into a deep kiss. His lips were soft yet firm against mine, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through me. It was a kiss filled with passion and sincerity, one that made me forget all the pain and doubt that had clouded our relationship.
As our kiss deepened, I felt my body respond, wanting more, craving the connection we were beginning to forge. His tongue gently brushed against my lips, seeking entrance, and I responded immediately, parting my lips to meet his. Our tongues danced together, exploring and tasting, igniting a fire within me that I hadn’t realized was there.
His hands cupped my face, pulling me closer as the kiss grew more intense. I could feel the raw emotion behind his touch, a mix of longing, regret, and hope. My fingers threaded through his wet hair, pulling him even closer, not wanting the moment to end.
But just as the intensity built to a fever pitch, he gently pulled away, his breath mingling with mine as he looked into my eyes. “Get some rest,” he murmured, his voice a soothing whisper. “You mentioned you weren’t feeling well.”
Though a pang of disappointment pricked my heart, I acquiesced with a nod.
As I lay back down, he gently tucked the covers around me, his touch tender and careful. He stayed by my side, his presence a comforting reminder that perhaps, despite everything, we could find a way to heal and build something new together.
~~~
As the morning sun shot through the curtains, I gradually began to stir from my sleep. But as consciousness returned, I hesitated to open my eyes, a lingering sense of disbelief clouding my thoughts. Was the conversation I had last night just a dream? Did Ralph really apologize and promise to change? I couldn’t shake the feeling of uncertainty, especially when I couldn’t feel his presence beside me.
However, as I took a deep breath, his familiar scent enveloped the room, calming my racing heart and bringing a smile to my lips. With cautious optimism, I decided to open my eyes, only to be met with disappointment when I found the space next to me empty. My smile faltered, a pang of uncertainty gnawing at me.
Yet, even as doubt lingered, a rational part of me knew that Ralph, as the alpha with responsibilities, wouldn’t necessarily linger in bed until this time. The memory of his sincere words and the promise of a fresh start flooded back, reassuring me that last night had indeed been real.
I let out a sigh, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves as I prepared to face the day ahead.
As soon as my legs hit the floor, the growling commotion coming from outside startled me. With a quickened heartbeat, I rushed to the window and slid the curtains aside for a better view of what was happening. What I saw made my eyes go wide with shock and disbelief.
Pack members were engaged in a wild fight with what looked like vampires. Their movements were frenzied, a chaotic dance of claws and fangs illuminated by the pale light of dawn. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, one that I never imagined I would witness firsthand.
Instinctively, I wanted to ignore it, to retreat from the window, and pretend like I hadn’t seen anything. After all, what could a mere human like me do to intervene in the supernatural powers at play?
But as I cautiously scanned the chaos outside for any sign of Ralph, instead I caught sight of Damien. He moved with a deadly grace, his movements fluid and precise as he dispatched one wolf after another. His eyes burned with a fierce rage, as if he held a powerful aura that no supernatural being could touch.
For a moment, I was frozen in awe, unable to tear my gaze away from the scene unfolding before my eyes. Despite my fear and uncertainty, there was something undeniable about his presence, something that demanded attention. But then reality crashed down on me, and I quickly retreated from the window, my heart pounding in my chest. I had no right to intervene in their battles.
Anxiety propelled me into a restless pacing around the room, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts amplified by the cacophony outside. Suddenly, like a sudden storm, waves of nausea surged through me, accompanied by a piercing headache throbbing behind my eyes. Before I could grasp the situation, a woman’s voice reverberated in my mind, sharp and urgent.
“You need to stop Damien now.”
Startled, I staggered backwards, my pulse racing. The voice was unfamiliar, yet it carried a weight of authority that sent shivers down my spine. Was this some kind of hallucination brought on by fear?