Chapter Seventy-two
Hunter’s POV
Waking up in Faelen’s bed, I lay still for a moment, letting the early morning sun which pierced through the window settle over us.
The warmth of Faelen’s body beside me was a reminder of the steamy night we’d shared, every detail printed into my mind.
Her bare shoulder peeked out from under the sheets, her red hair spilling around her face like fire against her pillow.
Laying there, she looked almost unreal, soft and breathtaking… like an angel… in her sleep.
My fingers itched to reach out to her again, but I held back, not wanting to disturb the rare peace that she had in this moment.
Slowly, I shifted, slipping out of the bed with a careful, measured silence. I gathered my clothes and moved away slightly.
I glanced over at her every few seconds, as if to check that she was still there, that last night hadn’t been some hazy dream.
As I pulled my shirt over my shoulders, I couldn’t help but recall the warmth of her touch against my skin, or the sweet sounds she made.
My gaze drifted back to her sleeping form, her delicate features illuminated by the sunlight shining through the curtains.
There was just something about her that stirred something deep in me… something that I had never allowed myself to feel.
Buttoning my shirt, I found myself hesitating, my hand hanging over the last button. I didn’t want to leave, but the day was creeping in, and duty called.
I stepped closer to the bed, unable to resist brushing a strand of her hair away from her face, watching as it fell back softly.
The urge to wake her, to hold her close just one more time hit me with a force that surprised me. But I knew she needed her rest… last night had been as intense for her as it had been for me.
I leaned down, letting my lips brush her cheek in a gentle kiss, a gesture that carried feelings I didn’t yet have the words to explain.
She stirred slightly, her face turning toward me in her sleep, and a soft smile tugged at my mouth as I straightened up.
I took one last look at her beautiful form, letting myself memorize this sweet, unforgettable moment before heading for the door.
As I slipped into the hallway, I glanced around, making sure no one was up to witness my quiet exit.
It wasn’t that I was ashamed… everyone would eventually know. But sneaking out like this in the early hours wasn’t how I wanted this to be known.
I didn’t want people seeing their Alpha creeping out of Faelen’s room, drawing all sorts of talks and assumptions.
…
As the days turned into weeks, I found myself thinking about the possibility of building my personal relationship with Faelen.
We spent much time together now, during the day, and also at nights. The night times were my personal favorite, we got to drive ourselves mad with pleasure then.
However, the aftermath of the attack, two weeks ago now, had left our pack in a state of recovery, so the past still loomed over us.
On the negative side of things, my possessiveness grew even worse as Faelen and I spent more time together.
Every time I saw someone else speaking to her, a sudden urge of protectiveness rushed over me, and it came with rage most times.
I knew that part of it came from the unexplainable bond we had… the one Faelen thought was a mate bond, and the instinct to keep her close was stronger than anything I had ever felt.
Even though I knew I had to keep my jealousy in check, I felt if truly what we had was a mate bond and she was my mate, then it was justified.
But the problem was that I had barely even admitted that we shared something unusual, so I wasn’t really in a position to claim her.
Also, I couldn’t shake off the lingering words of the council members about her loyalty. Especially with Gaius’ voice lingering in my mind.
Faelen had once been a spy, and although she had proven herself since, their words stirred something in me that wanted to make sure I could completely trust her.
The more we slept together, the more watching her interact with other pack members, especially Caleb, ignited an unsettling knot in my stomach.
I knew they shared a friendship, but the playfulness between them made my heart beat with irritation.
I couldn’t help but think that she might harbor feelings for him, even if they were nothing more than friends.
Each time they shared a laugh or exchanged glances, I felt an irrational urge to pull her away, to claim her as mine and remind everyone that she was not to be trifled with.
But I also knew that Faelen was struggling with her own feelings. The warmth of our relationship was intoxicating, yet complicated.
She had spent so long working undercover, playing a role that was a lie, and amidst the relationship we were building, I could see the struggle within her to reconcile her loyalty to me and the pack.
Later, as we sat together in my office, the tension in my mind about her friendship with Caleb ate at me.
I leaned back in my chair, my eyes fixed on her, trying to read her thoughts. Soon, I couldn’t help but speak, intending to know her thoughts towards Caleb.
Not knowing how to even begin saying these things, “Hey, do you have to talk to Caleb so much?” I asked, the edge of jealousy creeping into my tone.
Faelen looked up, surprise flashing across her face. “You know Caleb is just being friendly, Hunter. And he’s trying to help me fit in again,” she replied, her voice steady but edged with concern.
“I know, I know. It’s just that, it feels… different seeing you together sometimes, you know? Like you’re both sharing something that I’m not a part of,” I admitted, the frustration revealing through my words.
Her heart sank at my words, and I felt a sense of regret wash over me. “It’s not like that, Hunter she said reaching out to me. “I am yours, remember?”
“Yeah. I don’t know, sometimes I just feels like soon I’ll have to compete for your attention, that all.” I confessed, my voice dropping to a whisper.
I watched her expression shift, and it twisted something in my chest. “You don’t have to compete, Hunter. I’m still figuring things out, but I’m all yours.”
Her gaze met mine, and I felt the warmth grow between us. Leaning in, I reached out a kissed her deeply, and she responded with the same vigor.
I was working on myself to get used to these feelings, and I realized that while the path to rebuilding our relationship was bound to be tested, the bond we share… whether it’s a mate’ or something else… was powerful enough to always bring us together.
In time we would navigate our feelings and confront all our insecurities, as we lean on each other, forging a new path forward… Hopefully together.
Caleb had always been a great friend, someone who understood me and also the complications that came with my relationships.
He had been supportive of Faelen from the very beginning, even during the difficult times when her true self as a spy hung over us all like a dark cloud.
And that sometimes made me a little jealous. Especially how he always knew exactly how to be kind to her, which I sometimes found difficult to carry out.
But soon, I began to see the shift in him as he seemed to recognize the bond that was forming between Faelen and me, and respected it.
I quickly realized then that Caleb, while being supportive, was also stepping back.
That evening when we stood together with Caleb, watching the new recruits train, I felt a sense of gratitude come over me..
I had been so consumed by my own emotions and insecurities that I hadn’t truly appreciated the loyalty and understanding my friend had always shown me.
The tension between us regarding Faelen had been unspoken but obvious, and it was time to address it.
“Caleb,” I began, taking a deep breath. “Look, I want you to know that I’m sorry for any misunderstandings that has happened between us about Faelen. I know I’ve been… intense about it in the past. I guess I was just trying to protect what I’ve found with her.”
He turned to me, his expression calm and knowing. “I get it, Hunter. You’ve been through a lot, and so has she. I want the best for both of you.”
Relief rushed through me, and I nodded, feeling the weight of my worries lift slightly. “Thanks, man. I’ve just been feeling so protective of her, and it made me defensive. I didn’t mean to push you away.”
Caleb chuckled softly, shaking his head. “It’s not a problem. Truthfully, I had developed feelings for her at one point. But I never tried to pursue that. I knew she had a connection with you, even before all this.”
I blinked in surprise, the admission catching me off guard. “Really? I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, well, it was brief, when she was a slave and was kind of… suffering. But then when I saw the way you looked at her, it was soon clear that you two were meant to be together,” he said, his tone genuine. “You don’t have to worry about me stepping in. I’ll always support you both in whatever way I can, just like I’ve always done for you.”
Hearing his words warmed my heart. Caleb was right… he had always been there for me, and knowing he felt this way about Faelen yet chose to step back for our sake only solidified the strength of our friendship.
“I really appreciate that, Caleb. I’m lucky to have you as my friend and Beta.”
He smiled, the tension between us clearing completely. “Just remember, it’s important for you to let her find her own path within the pack too. You’re both still figuring things out, and that’s okay.”
“Yeah, I will,” I promised, knowing that I needed to be patient and allow Faelen to navigate her journey alongside me.
As we stood there, watching her laugh and mingle with the others, I realized that the bond we were forming could after all be of fate… but it was something we would build together, step by step.
I took a moment, letting Caleb’s words sink in. The tension that had hung between us regarding Faelen seemed to dissolve now, as I realized just how much he cared for both of us.