Alison’s POV
I stumbled back to my room, every step heavy, my chest aching as if I’d taken a direct blow. I had never felt such a sharp, unrelenting pain before. The moment I’d walked into Xander’s office, I’d been frozen, seeing Caitlyn’s hands draped around him and her lips pressed against his. Even worse, I’d seen the shock on his face, but it hadn’t mattered. That image was now burned into my mind. It felt like deja vu.
When I reached my room, I shut the door with a thud and slid down against it, my body trembling. I wrapped my arms around myself, clutching tightly, as if holding myself together could somehow stop the pain. Everything we’d shared these past few days, the trust that had been growing between us… it felt fragile now, on the verge of shattering.
A knock sounded against the wood, quiet but firm. My heart clenched as I heard his voice.
“Alison, please. Open up. I need to talk to you.”
I bit down on my lip, anger and hurt twisting in my chest. “Go away, Xander. Just… leave me alone.”
“Alison, please,” he pleaded, his voice thick with desperation. “Just let me explain. I can’t stand the thought of you thinking… please, just open the door.”
I wanted to ignore him, to keep that door locked between us. But even as I told myself to stay strong, my hand was already reaching for the knob, and before I knew it, I’d opened the door a crack. Xander didn’t wait; he pulled the door open and immediately wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. His arms were like a lifeline, and as much as I wanted to push him away, my heart betrayed me, and I sank into his embrace, burying my face in his chest as the tears came.
I could feel his heartbeat racing as he held me close, whispering softly. “I’m so sorry, Alison. I swear I didn’t know she would… she just… she came out of nowhere. Please, believe me. I would never hurt you like that.”
After a few minutes, when my tears began to slow, he gently led me inside, shutting the door behind us. He guided me to sit on the edge of the bed, never letting go of my hand. I looked down, still feeling the weight of what I’d seen, and took a steadying breath, steeling myself.
“Alison,” he began softly, “Caitlyn has been a childhood friend to me and I bear no other feelings for her, but I swear to you, I never willpz. She came to my office uninvited. She… she kissed me without my permission. I was caught off guard, and I should’ve pushed her away immediately. I messed up, and I’m so sorry.”
I searched his face, looking for any hint of insincerity, but his eyes held a depth of guilt and remorse that left me breathless.
“You… you should’ve pushed her away, Xander,” I whispered, my voice breaking.
His hands tightened around mine, his face drawn. “I know. You’re right, and I’m sorry. I never want you to feel betrayed, Alison. You mean too much to me.”
I could feel the sincerity in his words, the desperation in his voice. His gaze softened as he lifted a hand to my cheek, brushing away a stray tear with a gentleness that both soothed and deepened the ache in my heart.
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Xander,” I murmured, though the words were shaky.
“No, I do. I need you to know that I want this with you, Alison. Nothing and no one else. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove it to you.”
There was a long silence between us, filled only with the weight of his words and the unspoken tension. But then, as if by some invisible force pulling us together, he leaned closer, capturing my lips in a kiss that spoke of both desperation and promise. My heart raced, and I felt my wolf, Maya, pushing me forward, urging me to trust him again.
The kiss deepened, and I found myself surrendering to the pull between us, feeling as though we were healing the broken pieces in that single, heated connection. His hands moved gently along my arms, holding me like I was something precious, something he wanted to protect. The walls I’d built around my heart began to crumble, piece by piece.
We broke apart, and his forehead rested against mine as his breathing came in soft, shallow waves. His fingers brushed down my arm, and I shivered at his touch.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered again, almost to himself this time.
I didn’t know how much time passed as we sat there, locked in each other’s embrace. His hands moved to the edge of my back, pulling me closer, and I felt the world around us fade into the background. There was only Xander and the raw, vulnerable bond we were building.
But as his hand slipped to the edge of my dress, pulling me gently toward him, I found myself hesitating. He noticed immediately, pulling back with a look of concern in his eyes.
“Alison?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Are you okay?”
A blush rose in my cheeks as I looked down, struggling to find the words. “I… I’ve never done this before, Xander.”
His eyes widened in surprise, and he froze for a moment, then a warm smile spread across his face, softening his gaze. Gently, he reached out, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes.
“I’d never want to push you into anything, Alison,” he murmured, his voice steady and calm. “You’re worth waiting for. I’ll wait as long as you need. Just being with you, having you here… that’s all I need.”
A wave of relief washed over me, and I managed a smile, feeling the tension slowly dissolve. The vulnerability between us was raw, but in that moment, I knew I could trust him. I didn’t have to rush anything; I could take things at my own pace, and he would still be there.
“Thank you,” I whispered, barely able to hold back the overwhelming surge of gratitude and affection I felt.
We lay back onto the bed, his arm wrapped securely around me as he pulled me close. My head rested against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, feeling a peace that I hadn’t felt in a long time. We began to talk, our voices soft and easy, the room filled with gentle laughter as we shared random memories and dreams.
He told me about his childhood, about the trouble he used to get into with Luke and the times he’d gone exploring the pack’s territory. I laughed at his stories, letting myself get lost in his words. It was like seeing a different side of him, one that felt more human, less of the strong Alpha I’d known, and more of the man I was coming to love.
I shared stories of my own, my voice wavering as I spoke of the loneliness I’d felt before, how isolated my life had been. Xander’s hold on me tightened protectively, as if he wanted to shield me from every ounce of pain I’d ever felt.
“Alison,” he said softly, his voice a quiet promise. “You’ll never have to be alone again. I’ll always be here, even when it gets hard. Especially when it gets hard.”
I looked up at him, meeting his steady gaze, and for the first time, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be. Cuddled up against him, I let the warmth of his embrace chase away the remnants of doubt and fear. His hand stroked my hair gently, lulling me into a quiet peace as the world outside faded away.
As we lay together, cocooned in the comfort of each other’s presence, I knew that no matter what happened next, I could face it as long as Xander was by my side.
For tonight, the rest of the world didn’t matter. We were here, together, and that was enough.