Chapter 19
612 Words
Elvis did not stop walking until he reached his chambers.
The hallway was quiet, far away from the kitchen and the whispers and the eyes. Irene was still trembling in his arms, her face buried against his chest, her hands clutching his shirt as if letting go would make everything disappear again.
He kicked the door open gently with his foot and stepped inside. The room was dim, warm, and calm nothing like the chaos she had just come from.
Elvis carried her to the bed and carefully laid her down. She whimpered softly as he pulled his arms away, her body curling inward as if trying to make herself smaller.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured quietly, even though he wasn’t sure she could hear him.
He sat beside her and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her skin was warm, flushed from crying. She shivered and sniffed, her breath uneven.
Then the sobs came.
Big. Broken. Loud.
Her body shook as the pain she had been holding back poured out of her all at once. Her hands fisted the blanket, her shoulders rising and falling sharply.
Elvis froze for half a second then he moved closer.
He rested a hand on her back and began to pet her slowly, gently, like he would a frightened pup. His touch was careful, steady, meant to soothe rather than claim.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”
She cried harder for a moment, the sobs ripping out of her chest, then slowly, very slowly they softened.
Her breathing stuttered.
Then quieted.
Her sobs faded into weak sounds, then into small, broken sniffles that came every now and then.
Elvis stayed exactly where he was. He did not rush. He did not move away.
When her body finally relaxed, he carefully pulled the blanket up around her shoulders, covering her fully. She curled into it instinctively.
He rubbed her hair gently.
It was soft, so so soft.
Silky beneath his fingers, like she had never known hardship a day in her life. The thought made something twist painfully in his chest.
He looked down at her.
She looked small in his bed. Smaller than she ever had in the corridors or the ceremony grounds. Tired. Drained.
He whispered her name.
“Irene…”
No answer.
Her breathing was slow now. Even. She had fallen asleep.
Elvis stared at her face, taking her in. The tension was gone from her features. Her brows were smooth. Her lips slightly parted. Innocent. Peaceful.
His heart tugged painfully.
His wolf stirred and then melted.
Mate, it murmured softly.
Elvis swallowed.
“I know,” he whispered back.
He made a promise then. Quiet. Firm.
I will protect you.
No matter what it cost him.
No matter who stood in the way.
He slowly stood, planning to give her space, to let her rest. But as he moved her hand closed around his, not tight.
Just enough to stop him.
He froze and looked down.
Her eyes were still closed. She was still asleep.
His wolf stirred again.
She’s scared, it said gently.
Elvis nodded once. “I know.”
Lay with her, his wolf suggested.
Elvis shook his head slowly. “What if she wakes up?” he whispered. “What if she gets mad?”
His wolf did not answer.
Carefully, so carefully Elvis loosened her fingers from his hand. He paused when she shifted slightly, holding his breath until she settled again.
Once she was still, he straightened.
He looked at her one last time, then n he walked away.
Even though he didn't want to, he had to respect boundaries
- Writer
