Noises into the night caused my eyes to flutter open as I groggily sat up. Shifting my gaze towards the source, I spotted a distressed Alijah on his bed.

Ah… it sounds like you’re…

Wiping my eyes, I headed toward the troubled wolf, whose cries were familiar. When I was twelve, I had night terrors after the accident. My siblings would cuddle me to sleep every night to combat them—one evening, Vera, the other Aiden/Caden, and so on.

By the time I was fifteen, I had stopped having them so frequently, although my siblings would still sleep with me from now on. It had become a ritual of sorts. Vera was the worst offender, who came around much more often than the other two.

I’m lucky… while you… you have no one to do that, do you, Alijah?

This poor wolf probably hadn’t dreamt all those years he spent in his timeless prison. Sitting on the edge of his bed, I brushed away his hair from his face, only to see him wincing and gripping onto his chest.

“Alijah...” I whispered his name, trying to raise him from his dream gently.

Sadly, he was trapped in it with no way out of it, and I didn’t want to scare him awake. Getting closer to him, I reached for his hand before hesitating to grab onto it.

Wait… Is this right? Eh… It isn’t like you don’t hate me already.

I sighed, slowly lying beside him and caressing his hair to soothe his troubled soul. My mom hummed a lullaby for us; I hoped he would find the same comfort it gave us when we were young.

“It’s okay; I’m here.” I cooed.

Intertwining his left hand with my right, I gently caressed his skin with my hand’s thumb, continuing to soothe his dreams.

I wish to make all your pain disappear and never return, Alijah.

Slowly, the restless wolf became blissful once again. The moment his troubled expression softened, I simpered.

Just a bit more… I just want to feel your warmth for a second longer.

Before I knew it, I struggled to stay awake, comforted by the heat radiating from his hand into mine.

“Lilith...” the wolf mumbled in his sleep.

Hearing her name caused me to wince bitterly. In his dreams, she was the one to comfort him, even though I was the one who held his hand. The urge to wake him up and tell him otherwise rushed through me, but I quickly drowned him.

I’ll be your replacement until you return to him for now and forever.

“I’m right here.” My voice quivered as my eyes stung with the welling tears.

I thought I would have been alright with that, but my heart ached to enact it. Trying not to overthink, I caressed his hair as it left my fingers feeling tingly, but my eyes felt heavier. The warmth from his hand comforted me so much that I couldn’t help but fall asleep next to him.

The following morning, I was rudely awakened by stumbling onto the floor. The grumpy wolf growled at me after finding me in bed with him.

Okay! That was unneeded!

I could feel my body flare up with each moment my bum ached, yet I stopped in my tracks when I noticed he was naked under the covers when I climbed onto the bed. The only thing that covered his privates was the thin sheets.

Oops...

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Thankfully, an ache rose from the fall that snapped me out of my gaze to his...

“Ouch!” I complained, rubbing my lower back.

Recently, all my injuries seemed to find themselves there, though the floor was hard and smooth this time, unlike the spiky tree from before.

“Wench, did you attack me in my sleep?” Alijah snapped, flashing his fangs at me.

No! That isn’t what I want it to look like!

Wanting to defend my honor, I faced him head-on. However, it would be a slippery slope.

I won’t allow myself to be called a pervert! Especially when I haven’t done a thing!

Well, while in my waking moment with him, my dreams were another matter.

“I did nothing of that sort!” I defended myself, puffing my chest, ready for a fight.

In my burst of emotions, I failed to realize something that slowly set in after those words left my mouth.

Ah... Wait, you probably think I’m like all the other women you’ve encountered before. Argh… I’m so stupid!

The same ones who only wanted him for his seed and the future he could provide for them. My poor brothers were hounded by Lycan girls back home, too. It was probably why Aiden was smitten by Sophie, who couldn’t care who he was.

She was also the only one who knew him for who he was rather than what he was.

Damn it, again, I did something that might’ve hurt you, but I couldn’t help myself. You were in such pain that I couldn’t prevent myself from indulging you. I… I don’t know how…

“Then why the fuck were you in the bed with me?” He glared.

Although I felt I knew him thanks to my dreams throughout the years, I was an utter stranger to him. We were unknown to one another, yet I couldn’t stop feeling this way.

Why can’t I move past them? All that happened in them was nothing but a fantasy. This wolf will never look at me like I want you to.

The wolf’s eyes were so full of malice whenever he gazed at me, leaving my chest feeling like there was a hole there. The sad part was that I couldn’t blame him for being cautious around me. The bond allowed me to do whatever I wished with him—something he was fully aware of.

“Last night, I...” I paused, shaking my head.

Get a grip, Rem!

“I saw you in pain and wanted to comfort you,” I reassured him.

Though it sounded worse than I thought, his expression of pure disgust showed me he didn’t interpret my words the way I wanted him to. Before I knew it, he was gazing at me like I was a complete creep.

Maybe I was... a bit, but I would never... Scratch that. I would do that, but only if you want it.

“You fucking did what?” Alijah snarled at me.

I tried to keep my ground, even though I was on the floor squirming.

“All I did was hold your hand! I swear! You were groaning and, oh… I also pet your hair for a bit, but that’s all! I didn’t do anything else, nor did I know you were nude under the sheets!” I confessed, trying not to sound like a creep.

My words caused him to huff, gazing away from me.

Wait, are your cheeks light pink? Crap! Do you feel ill? We don’t have time for that!

I went to stand up to check on him, but he quickly recovered, rolling his eyes.

“Don’t touch me again, wench,” Alijah warned me, releasing a slight growl along with those words.

Ah… I… Is this an ultimatum?!

There was no way I could keep my mittens to myself if he were in discomfort. I’d always try to find a way to comfort him, even if it meant he hated me more.

“I probably will...” I trailed off in a mumble.

“What?” He muttered, eyes shimmering again.

Ah! Damn it all!

I stood up from the floor, facing him straight on. There was no backing down for me.

This is a hill I’m willing to die on! Mom called you a monster, but you aren’t! I know you aren’t! Even if it’s because of the magical bond we have right now.

Even so, I only wanted to comfort Alijah and show him that this world couldn’t harm him.

I want you to know that someone will be here for you—no, not just anyone. I’ll be here for you!

However, I would show some of my emotions to reach this wolf's closed heart.

But I can’t show you all of it, or you’ll use it against me.

“If I see you in pain, I’ll do everything to improve it! I swear that’s all I want. So, I’ll probably touch you if it means I can help you!” I declared, grabbing onto my pajama’s blouse.

All those words did was trigger another glare to come my way. No matter how often this wolf tried to push me away, I would constantly be there for him.

Always and forever, I’ll never abandon you!

Even if it meant a world of heartbreak for me later, I would save him.

“You little...” Alijah tried to appear tough and unbreakable, but there were cracks on his exterior.

This wolf was brittle and fragile as the fractures in his heart were so visible to me.

Why does everyone ignore them? You… aren’t…

This man who was taken advantage of once before—one who was used and abused in ways I couldn’t begin to imagine.

No… I won’t back down, even if it means I’m on the floor daily!

I would repeat my actions until he could sleep soundly every night.

“Moan and cry all you want, but I won’t apologize. Not for trying to ease your pain.” I simpered, reaching my hand towards him.

Alijah slapped it away, growling, “Stay away from me.”

Ah… We’re getting nowhere.

Releasing a sigh, I headed towards the stuff I bought the previous day. Grabbing the bag, I offered it to him as he glared at me.