Pandora’s POV
It all started with little things, fatigue after what should have been simple tasks, and a constant ache in my head that refused to leave.
As usual though, I ignored it. I had been so preoccupied, too busy managing the lives of everyone around me, ensuring their well-being, and guiding them through the storms.
I never noticed how my own body was quietly failing me. I didn’t notice, not until the night I passed out after stepping out of the shower.
One moment, I was toweling off, feeling the steam from the hot water still cling to my skin, and the next, my legs gave out beneath me. The floor rushed up to meet me, cold and hard, but I didn’t feel the impact. There was only darkness.
When I woke, Rolan was beside me, panic etched into every line of his face. His hands were trembling as he held mine, and his voice cracked as he called my name.
“Pandora?” he whispered, brushing the damp hair away from my face. “Pandora, stay with me.”
I tried to speak, to tell him I was fine, but the words got stuck in my throat. The room spun around me, and I could barely keep my eyes open.
My body felt foreign, and heavy, like it was no longer mine to control. I felt the sharp sting of fear for the first time in a long while.
Rolan was quick, though. He called the pack’s doctor without hesitation. Within minutes, the doctor was at the palace, his face grave as he examined me.
His eyes flicked to Rolan before he spoke, and I could tell from the tension in his voice that the news wasn’t good.
“She needs rest,” the doctor said firmly, his eyes scanning my face before he glanced back at Rolan. “Her blood pressure is dangerously high. If she doesn’t slow down, things could take a turn for the worse.”
Rest? Slow down? The words sounded foreign to me, like something from a distant past where I had the luxury of time. I couldn’t afford to rest, not now, not when everything around me was hanging in such a delicate balance.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, trying to sit up despite the dizziness that followed. “I don’t need to rest. There’s too much to do, especially with the infirmary nearing completion. I…”
“No,” Rolan interrupted, his voice soft but firm as he gently pushed me back against the pillows. “You’re not fine, Pandora. And you’re going to do exactly what the doctor says.”
I met his gaze, and for a moment, I considered arguing. But there was something in his eyes, a rare vulnerability, a depth of concern I hadn’t seen in a long time. He wasn’t just worried. He was scared.
“We’re taking a vacation,” Rolan said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “Somewhere quiet, away from all of this, where we can both relax. And you are not to lift a finger until the doctor gives the all-clear.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand, silencing me with a look. “Pandora, if you come up with any more excuses, I will be very upset.”
He wasn’t joking. Rolan rarely allowed himself to lose control, but the weight in his voice told me he was serious. I sighed, feeling the tension in my body release, just a little.
“Fine,” I agreed reluctantly, though every instinct in me screamed to keep going. “But the infirmary…”
“The infirmary can wait,” he cut in, his eyes softening as he reached for my hand. “You’ve done more than enough. Let others take care of things for once.”
I bit my lip, the overwhelming guilt settling in my chest. “But Rolan, I can’t just stop. There’s so much left to do, and everyone…”
He kissed me before I could finish, his lips warm and reassuring. “You’ve spent your entire life taking care of others,” he murmured, his forehead resting against mine. “Let me take care of you this time.”
I blinked, trying to push away the rising tears. It wasn’t often that I let myself be vulnerable. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time I had.
Right then, sitting in that bed with Rolan looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world, I felt a sense of peace. It was unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
“You’re stubborn,” I teased weakly, managing a small smile despite the weariness pulling at my edges.
“Only when it comes to you,” he replied, brushing his thumb over the back of my hand. “I’ve made arrangements. Everything’s already set. You just need to relax.”
“And what if I don’t feel like relaxing?” I raised an eyebrow, though the thought of actually stopping for once was growing more tempting by the second.
“Then I’ll make sure you have no choice,” he said with a grin, his eyes lighting up with that mischievous glint that always made my heart race.
I laughed softly, despite myself. “You’re impossible.”
“I know,” he admitted. “But you love me for it.”
I couldn’t argue with that. He had been my rock through so much, even when I didn’t realize I needed one.
Now, as I sat there, tired and fragile in a way I hadn’t allowed myself to be in years, I realized just how grateful I was for him.
“You’ve made me so happy, Rolan,” I whispered, my voice cracking slightly as the weight of everything we’d been through settled between us. “I don’t know how I’d manage without you.”
He smiled, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “This is just the beginning, Pandora. We’ve got a lot more happiness ahead of us.”
His words were a promise, one I held onto as tightly as I held onto him. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to let go of the need to control everything, to be the one who carried the weight of the world. Maybe it was time to trust that someone else could carry me for a while.
“I love you,” I confessed quietly, my voice filled with the truth of it.
“I love you too,” he replied, his eyes never leaving mine. “Now rest, Pandora. Let me take care of the rest.”
For the first time in a long time, I let myself relax in his arms, trusting that he had everything under control. And for once, that felt like enough.