Chapter 37
779 Words
For the first time in a long time , I woke up without a knot of dread in my stomach. That feeling had been eating at my chest for a while now. The morning light spilling through the curtains felt warm instead of heavy, and when I rolled over to find Devon already watching me, smiling that lazy smile that always made my heart trip, something inside me softened.
“What?” I whispered, embarrassed under his gaze.
“Nothing,” he said, brushing my hair back from my face. “Just… you’re glowing.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Glowing? Please. I look like I’ve been dragged through hell.”
His fingers tilted my chin so I couldn’t look away. “You don’t see it, do you? Every day you’re looking more alive. More… you.”
The words settled deep in my chest. A part of me still wanted to argue, to cling to the safety of doubt, but another part whispered maybe he was right. Maybe I could let myself believe. Just a little.
I buried my face against him, my voice muffled. “I’m scared, Devon. What if it doesn’t last?”
“Then we’ll make it last,” he said firmly, kissing the top of my head. “Happiness isn’t something you wait for, Addy. You fight for it. And I’ll fight with you.”
Something in his tone lit a spark in me. A different kind of fire.
Later that morning, he led me outside to the training grounds. My stomach twisted the moment I saw the open space. The same ground where whispers followed me, where glares burned holes into my back.
I froze, my body locking up. “Devon… I can’t. They’ll be watching.”
He stepped in front of me, his big hands settling on my shoulders. “Let them watch. Let them see what I already know—that you’re stronger than all of them put together. You’re my mate, Addy. That makes you untouchable.”
His confidence wrapped around me like armor. For the first time, I wanted to believe it.
I took a shaky breath. “Okay. Just… don’t laugh if I mess up.”
He smirked, leaning down to kiss me quick and hard. “Sweetheart, I’ll never laugh at you. I’ll probably end up bragging.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I squared my shoulders. Fine. If he believed in me, maybe I could try to believe in myself.
We started slow. He showed me how to hold my stance, feet planted firm on the ground. How to keep my arms up, protect my face. He moved behind me, adjusting my posture with careful touches, his voice steady in my ear.
“Good. Like that. Strong. Balanced.”
Every time I slipped, every time I felt clumsy, he didn’t scold. He just guided me back, patient, unshaken. His presence made it easier to breathe.
“Punch,” he ordered gently, holding up his palm.
I hesitated.
“Don’t think, baby. Just feel.”
So I did. My fist slammed against his hand, weaker than I wanted, but it was something. He grinned like I’d just taken down an army.
“That’s it. Again.”
I hit him harder. Then harder. With each strike, something in me cracked open. All the years of silence, of being beaten down, of being told I was nothing—it poured into my fists. My knuckles stung, my arms shook, but I didn’t stop.
By the time I lowered my hands, my chest was heaving and sweat clung to my skin. Devon was still smiling, pride shining in his eyes.
“You see that?” he asked.
I frowned, confused. “See what?”
“You.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “That fire. That strength. That’s who you really are. And no one, not even me, can take that from you.”
The words hit me harder than any punch I’d thrown. My throat burned as tears threatened, but this time they weren’t from sadness. They were from something lighter. Something like hope.
For the first time, I believed, maybe, just maybe. I wasn’t doomed to live in the shadows. Maybe happiness wasn’t a trick waiting to be snatched away.
Devon kissed me again, slow, hot, and deep, tasting the sweat and salt of my tears, grounding me in his arms. “You’re going to be unstoppable, Addy. Just wait.”
And for once, I didn’t argue.
I smiled, shaky but real. “Then don’t you dare let me quit.”
His answering grin was wolfish, fierce. “Oh, sweetheart, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
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