348 In my Arms

The wolf’s voice was harsher than mine, but I knew where it came from–possession, protection, love. The same things that made my chest ache every time I looked at her.

I sighed contentedly, letting the comfort of having her in my arms sink into me. But then it hit me–when she woke, she would be hungry. I opened my eyes, realizing I needed to prepare breakfast for her.

My wolf prowled inside me, restless. He wanted me to go to her, to claim her again, but I forced him down. She needed space–peace. After last night, after her nightmare, she needed more than my hunger and desire.

She blushed and let me continue feeding her. When she finished the last sip of tea, Olivia leaned back against the pillows, her lips curving faintly into a tired smile. For a moment, she simply stared at me, her eyes softer than I’d ever seen them.

Care.

The bedroom was still dim, curtains drawn against the morning sun. Olivia hadn’t moved much–still curled into the blankets, her breathing soft and even. For a moment, I just stood there, watching her, something heavy and unexplainable pressing into my chest.

I pressed a kiss into her hair, murmuring against her crown. “Get used to it, Olivia. You’re mine to take care of.”

I watched her go, a quiet exhale leaving me. Goddess help me–this woman would ruin me in every way, and I’d let her.

The thought alone made my wolf snarl with desire, but I shook my head, smirking despite the ache in my chest. “No. If I see you naked again, I won’t be able to stop myself. You should bathe alone.”

“Tell me if anything goes wrong,” I said to Lennox.

His words hit me in a way I hadn’t expected. I sank deeper against the bedframe, glancing down at Olivia sleeping soundly against my chest. The knot in my stomach loosened just a little.

My wolf rumbled in approval, quieting, but I still felt his hunger, his need to claim her in every way possible. I ignored it, focusing instead on the tea I was pouring into a cup. Sweet, with just a hint of honey–the way she liked it.

Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she asked, “Do you want to join me?”

“Good girl,” I whispered, unable to stop the words. Her blush deepened, but she chewed obediently, swallowing before murmuring, “You’re enjoying this too much.”

I closed my eyes, letting her scent soothe me. Lavender from the bath, the faint sweetness of her skin–it calmed the unease inside me, reminding me why I had to keep steady. For her. Always for her.

Her lashes didn’t flutter, her eyes didn’t open, but she murmured something faint and sleepy, a sound that made my chest ache with tenderness. I lingered for a heartbeat, then carefully slid her down against the pillows, making sure the blanket stayed tucked around her. She curled into it instantly, still wrapped in the warmth of our night.

Bit by bit, I fed her–toast, eggs, fruit–watching the tension ease from her body as she filled her stomach. She sighed in contentment when I finally offered her the tea, holding the cup steady while she sipped.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation, meeting her gaze with a smile. “Last night drained you. The least I can do is make sure you eat.”

“Mine.” My wolf howled possessively inside me.

“Don’t worry… just have fun.” With that, Lennox ended the mind link.

I gave her a look, half stern, half amused, and she laughed softly, though it ended in a sigh. I picked up a slice of toast first, brushing the edge lightly against her lips until she parted them. She took a small bite, her eyes never leaving mine.

I straightened, my chest tightening with concern. “Olivia?” I asked softly, “What is it?”

Lennox scoffed lightly, not angrily—just matter-of-fact. “Come on, Louis. She’s also your mate. That doesn’t matter. Not to me.”

Louis’s POV

“Don’t worry,” Lennox said, his tone collected, the edge of command slipping in the way it always did when he took charge. “Just stay with Olivia. At least she needs one of us right now. I’ll tell Calvin she went on a trip with you. He’ll back off if he thinks she’s safe.”

348 In my Arms

She tried to sit up fully, fumbling with the blanket, but I placed a steady hand on her shoulder.

I pressed another kiss to her hair, her soft strands brushing against my lips. She didn’t stir, only sighed faintly and burrowed closer against me.

“Easy,” I murmured, reaching for the tray. “Let me.”

Her brows lifted, amusement flickering in her sleepy eyes. “You’re going to feed me now?”

My wolf stirred inside me, restless. “She deserves more than this. She deserves the world. You saw her last night–how fragile she was after the dream. We should never let her out of our sight.”

Not dominance. Not play.

I cracked a couple of eggs into the pan, the sizzle rising as the yolks spread across the heat. The sound filled the quiet kitchen. I grabbed bread, sliding it into the toaster, then sliced a few strawberries and apples, arranging them neatly on a small plate.

“Maybe,” I admitted, lifting a forkful of eggs next. “But only because it’s you.”

“So… what now?” I asked after a moment, uncertain.

Eggs, bread, fresh fruit. Even my favorite tea was stacked carefully in the corner, untouched since the last time I came here. I made a mental note to thank the housekeeper later, but for now, my mind was on Olivia.

I nodded instinctively, even though he couldn’t see me. “Okay.”

“We will care for her,” I promised quietly, sliding the eggs onto the plate. “But we will give her space.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line as her eyes met mine, and the smile I had expected wasn’t there. Instead, a faint frown shadowed her beautiful face.

Leaning down, I whispered against her ear, “I’ll be back.”

“Space gets her hurt. Look at Frederick. Look at her mother. Don’t let her out of our sight.”

348 In my Arms

“You should have just said it,” he muttered.

I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my face. “I didn’t want things to get awkward.”

I had braced for his anger–for him to lash out, accuse me of lying, of sneaking behind their backs while everything else was falling apart. But instead, all I heard was the faint sigh that slipped through the link.

I inhaled deeply, pressing a kiss to Olivia’s head. She was still fast asleep. It seemed our play last night had drained every bit of strength from her.

“So, you’re really with Olivia,” Lennox said. His tone caught me off guard. It wasn’t sharp, not the furious edge I had prepared myself for. Instead, it was calm, almost resigned.

Her laugh was soft, melodic, filling the room. She smiled at me, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to my cheek.

Quietly, I pulled on a shirt and padded out of the room, closing the door softly behind me.

Minutes later, the sound of the water stopped.

I rolled my sleeves and set to work.

“She’ll like this,” I murmured aloud, though it wasn’t really to myself.

Then she stretched lightly beneath the blanket and murmured, “I need to wash up.”

Then I crossed the room quietly, setting the tray down on the bedside table. Leaning closer, I brushed a kiss against her temple.

“Suit yourself, Master Louis,” she teased, slipping off the bed with the blanket still wrapped around her shoulders. She glanced back once, her smile lingering as she padded toward the bathroom.

Her lips curved into the faintest smile, but her cheeks warmed. She leaned back against the pillows, surrendering. “Alright then… feed me, Master Louis.”

That was Lennox–always quick to find a solution, even in the messiest situations. He didn’t dwell, didn’t overcomplicate. While Levi would’ve pressed me with a hundred questions, Lennox had already decided the path forward. That quality of his—steady, decisive—was something I had always admired, even if I never admitted it to his face.

348 In my Arms

When she finished, she rested her head lightly against my chest again. “You spoil me,” she whispered, eyes heavy with sleep once more.

I sat up just as the bathroom door opened. Olivia stepped out, steam curling behind her, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders. She wore one of my shirts, loose and falling just past her thighs. For a moment, she looked calm until I caught the crease in her brow.

The kitchen smelled faintly of polish–the housekeeper had been here earlier. I opened the cupboards and the fridge, finding them neatly stocked, just as I’d asked her to keep them. Everything was arranged in order, labeled, and easy to reach.

By the time I was done, the tray looked simple, but it was made for her. Eggs, toast, fruit, tea. I picked it up carefully and carried it back upstairs.

My mate needed food, comfort, and a reason to smile when she opened her eyes.

I tilted my head, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Do you want me to draw the bath again?”

She’d be starving when she woke up. After last night… I knew I had drained her. My wolf howled proudly at the thought, but I shoved him back, focusing instead on what mattered now.

I glanced down at Olivia again, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She shifted slightly, sighing softly in her sleep, her arms curling tighter around me as though she knew, deep down, she was safe.

I clenched my jaw lightly as I stirred the eggs, lowering the flame. “I know. But we can’t cage her, either. She needs freedom, space.”

349 Hurt