39. Casey
THIRTY-NINE
Casey
Casey
I expected to wake up sore, aching more than I ever had in my entire life.
And I’m not saying I didn’t feel like every muscle and joint in my body was on fire.
But even though my body was tender and raw, I was truly content.
I helped my Alpha with his rut. And more than that, he stayed with me through all of it.
He trusted me with his most vulnerable moments. I’d never felt so happy, or so proud.
Wincing, I sat up, and just as I was contemplating a shower to clean myself off, not to mention changing the sheets, I realized it had already been done for me. He cleaned me up, like he always did, and there were fresh sheets on the bed.
Adam. You always surprise me.
I lifted the sheet and checked where I’d slept. No blood. I laid my hand over my belly and breathed a sigh of relief. The baby was safe.
I turned to my nightstand and saw a glass of water with two AfterCare pills beside it.
I downed them both with a gulp of water and then finished the rest of the glass.
After waiting for them to kick in, I got up and found my suitcase sitting on Adam’s dresser.
I put on a pair of sweatpants and left his bedroom.
The sounds and smells of breakfast cooking greeted me as I went downstairs.
Adam was in the kitchen, also shirtless, holding a spatula with his hip pressed against the counter.
He turned when he heard my feet creak on the wood floor.
A small, awkward pause passed between us before he set the spatula down.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I could ask you the same question. You should be resting.” I joined him in the kitchen. He was cooking bacon and eggs for us.
“Hush. I slept enough. I’m worried about you right now.” His eyes searched mine, his body rigid with worry. He was so scared. I’d never seen him this afraid.
I crossed over to him and put my arms around his sturdy waist, resting my head on his chest. “I’m fine. We’re both fine.”
“You’re not bleeding?”
“No.” He was so warm, and his earthy scent soothed away any remaining aches. “Thank you for staying with me during your rut. I promise I’m okay.”
He folded into my embrace, resting his head on mine and wrapping his arms around me.
“I will never not be afraid of hurting you or our baby, but I will never abandon you during my rut. Not ever.” I tightened my arms around him.
It wasn’t close enough. I would never be close enough to him.
“Thank you for taking care of me. And thank you for tending to yourself when I couldn’t. ”
Tears pooled in my eyes. Why was I crying? Maybe because… I had never felt so safe or so seen after a rut. I knew deep down in my bones he would never walk away from me, and it had been so long, so long, since I had someone like that.
“Hey,” he cooed, gently wiping my face clean.
“I’m here now. We’re both okay.” He brushed his thumbs across my cheeks to catch more tears.
“I uhh… I said something to you last night.” My body went rigid as I realized what he meant.
“I’m mostly angry that you first heard those words from me when I was high on rut pheromones.
But I meant them, Casey. I love you. I love you more than I could ever say.
I didn’t think it was possible to love someone this much.
And I’m going to tell you every single day for the rest of our lives.
I want a life with you, Casey. I will stay by your side no matter what. ”
“I love you.” The tears returned in full force as I said the three words that unbound me. “I’ve wanted to tell you for so long. I love you, Adam. I thought falling in love again would feel like a cage, but I was wrong. I just want you. I love you so much, Adam.”
He picked me up in his arms, and we laughed and kissed in the morning sunlight. “I love you. And you have me, no matter what. Move in with me, Casey. I’ll take care of everything.”
The choice was easy. Simple. Just like loving him. “I do love your house.”
“Our house.”
Yes. Our house.