Cursed Love (The Vallaverse)

14. Koa

Koa

I wake up feeling safe and fully rested. It’s a foreign feeling, one that immediately puts me on edge. My body is warm, cocooned in thick arms, and for a moment, I don’t move, my breathing shallow as I take in my surroundings.

The first thing I notice is the strong smell of cedarwood, layered with the faintest hint of something darker, muskier. It wraps around me like a second skin, mixing with the clean, crisp scent of fresh sheets beneath me. My body is relaxed, the ache from last night completely gone. But more than that—I know for a fact there was slick everywhere. It was humiliating, unstoppable, but now? It’s like it was never there. Everything feels fresh, untouched, and for some reason, that only deepens the confusion swirling in my chest.

I shift slightly, the weight of the arms around me lifting as I slowly sit up. The sheets slip down my body, and I grab at them instinctively, pulling them up to cover myself as my eyes dart around the bed. That’s when I see them.

All three men from last night are sprawled out around me, their massive forms filling the bed in a way that feels both protective and suffocating. Amel is on one side, his lips parted in sleep. Beside him, the hazel-eyed Valla—Moses, I think—is draped half over Amel, his hand resting on his chest as he snores softly. They’re so casual, so at ease, it’s almost enough to make me forget how intimidating they were last night. Almost.

But it’s the other one—the one lying closest to me—that makes my breath catch in my throat.

His deep blue eyes snap open, pinning me in place like he’s been awake this whole time, just waiting for me to stir. There’s no grogginess in his gaze, no hint of sleep lingering in those piercing orbs. I freeze, clutching the sheet tighter against my chest as he slowly moves to lie on his back, stretching out with the kind of lazy confidence that only makes him seem more dangerous. Then he turns his head to me, his lips curving into the faintest smirk as he lifts his arm and lays it across the pillows, an unspoken invitation.

“Come here,” he rumbles, the sound of his voice sending a shiver down my spine.

I shake my head quickly, my back pressing against the headboard as I try to put some distance between us. “What… what happened last night?” I ask, my voice shaky but steady enough to get the question out.

Amel stirs at the sound of my voice, his eyes fluttering open before he sits up, brushing Moses’ arm off him with a playful huff. His gaze locks on me immediately. “You had a heat spike. Hunter helped you through it.” He nods toward the Valla next to me—the blue-eyed one whose arm is still outstretched, waiting.

He doesn’t rush me, doesn’t say a word. He just waits, his arm resting across the pillows. Finally, I crawl back into his side, letting the warmth of him seep into me. His arm wraps around me the second I settle, pulling me closer in a way that feels right. Safe.

“Whatever you need,” he says softly, his breath fanning against my temple, “we’ll make sure you have it.”

A surprised laugh slips out before I can stop it, disbelief laced in my tone. “You’re supposed to be monsters,” I murmur, half-joking, half-serious. The words barely leave my lips before I groan, shaking my head. “Shit. I’m sorry. That was—”

Hunter cuts me off with a grin, leaning in to press a kiss to my cheek this time. It’s quick and soft, and yet his scent lingers. “To you, baby girl, we’ll never be monsters. Not ever.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest tighten and I find myself leaning into him without thinking, my body relaxing against his side like it belongs there. I don’t know why I’m okay with his touch. I don’t know him. And yet, being here, pressed against him, feels like I’ve known him forever.

For the first time in years, I feel important. Like I matter. And it’s terrifying, because I know it won’t last. Being mated to the St. Clairs won’t bring the money my family wants, won’t give them the control they crave. Damien will demand that the St. Clairs help with the family business and when they won’t, he’ll demand that I leave them.

The thought hits me like a punch to the gut, my expression shifting before I can stop it. Hunter’s arms tighten around me, drawing my attention back to him. “Hey,” he says softly, his voice pulling me from the spiral. “Don’t do that. Don’t get lost in your head.” His thumb brushes against my arm, grounding me. “We’ve got you, Koa. Let us take care of you, yeah? Let us help.”

I glance up at him, the sincerity in his eyes catching me off guard, and before I can say anything, he grins again. “Let’s start simple,” he says, his voice teasing now. “How about a bath? Then we’ll get some food in you. Sound good?”

My cheeks flush at their attention and I drop my gaze again, fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. “You don’t have to—”

“Yes, we do,” he cuts me off, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Now, bath or food first?”

I don’t answer, too overwhelmed to think straight, and before I know it, I’m falling back onto the bed, my body sinking into the soft mattress. I stare up at the ceiling, my face burning with embarrassment, but the tension in my chest is already easing.

Hunter and Moses climb off the bed with all the grace of predators who know exactly how much power they hold. My eyes betray me, dragging down their bodies before I can stop myself—and then I see them. I blurt it out before my brain can catch up. “How the fuck did that thing fit inside of me?”

The room goes silent for half a second and then they all burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the space and sending my cheeks into full-blown flames. I groan, covering my face with the sheets, wishing I could disappear. Why the hell did I say that out loud?

Hunter’s the first to lean down, as he tugs the sheet down far enough to kiss my forehead. “You’re perfect, baby girl,” he murmurs, his voice low enough that it sends a shiver down my spine. Moses follows suit, his kiss just as gentle but lingering for a second longer, like he’s trying to tell me something without words.

I peek out from under the sheets as they step away, still chuckling as they pull on clothes and head for the door. Hunter winks at me just before they disappear into the hall, leaving me alone with Amel. My Omega immediately mourns their absence as I turn to Amel, confused as to why they left. “Why did they leave?”

I twist around, pulling the sheet tighter around my body as I face him. “Why did they leave?” I ask, my voice quieter than I intended.

“Because I wanted to talk to you. Just you.” He shifts closer, his hands brushing against the sheets as he leans in. “I know you came home with us because there weren’t many other choices and I get that. But now that the chaos of yesterday is over, I want to know where we stand.”

My chest tightens at his words, panic flickering at the edges of my mind, but before I can spiral, he moves. In one fluid motion, he scoops me up into his arms, the sheet wrapping securely around me as he holds me against his chest.

“Amel—” I start, my voice catching as he stands and starts walking.

He doesn’t let me finish. “Relax,” he murmurs. “I’m not here to scare you, Koa. I’m here to take care of you.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head as he carries me toward the attached bathroom.

When we reach the bathroom, he sets me down on the toilet, the cool surface making me shiver as I cling to the sheets around me. He starts filling the tub, the sound of running water breaking the silence as he glances back at me.

“I also wanted to pamper you a little bit,” he muses. “Give you something else to focus on while we talk.”

“Pamper me?” I echo, wondering what I’ve done for Amel to offer this kind of attention. No one has ever taken the time to pamper me or give me the time of day like this.

Amel’s lips twitch into a small smile, his eyes softening as he steps closer, cupping my cheek with one hand. “Yes, pamper you,” he says quietly. “Because you deserve it. And because I want to.”

My chest tightens again, but this time it’s not panic. It’s something else. Something I don’t know if I’m ready to name yet. But as I watch him move, I can’t help but feel a little of the fear I’ve been carrying start to melt away.