VALERIE
VALERIE'S POV
It was the soft light filtering through the curtains that woke me up eventually. My body was heavy, as though every muscle weighed twice as much as it should. The tension from last night still lingered like a shadow in the room, coiling in the pit of my stomach. But as I stirred and my senses adjusted, I realized I wasn’t alone
Sitting in a chair beside the bed, his hands resting on the arms of the chair, was Alpha Marion. I froze. The Alpha’s presence was commanding even in a position of rest and despite the calm demeanor on his face, I was a bit scared to see him there in my room. His eyes—dark and observant—met mine, and he offered me a gentle smile.
“Good morning, Valerie,” he said, his deep voice steady.
My throat went dry. “Good morning, Alpha,” I croaked,
