Chapter 54
Fiona
57%
Warmth greets me as I wake up, and I can’t stop myself from smuggling deeper into it. My body is heavy with sleep and as I’m being drug back into the darkness of sleep, a little sliver of unease creeps in. It’s almost too comfortable, sending a shot of alarm through me until I open my eyes.
A bare chest is the first thing I see, and for a moment, all I can do is stare. Tan, smooth skin, broad shoulder a wicked six pack fill my vision when I pull back and take in the sight.
“Like what you see?”
I startle at the deep voice, looking up to Ethan’s green eyes watching me intently. His face blurs from the sleep in my eyes, so I reach up to rub at my eyes which pulls a yawn from me.
“You didn’t sleep well,” Ethan says softly, running a hand over my hair. The gentle contact soothes me, allowing me to relax again. I let my cheek lay against his chest while he continues, “You woke twice calling for help, then you were restless the whole night. I decided we would take the day off.”
I nod, feeling the fatigue of a restless night. It hovers over me like a weighted blanket that holds me down. With a sigh. I curl back into Ethan and close my eyes in hopes of ignoring the elephant in the room.
He’d saved my life yesterday and was the sweetest, most understanding man all night, keeping me from falling apart. I just wish he hadn’t seen my breakdown. I probably looked like a crazy woman, and that was not how I wanted Ethan to remember me. And he would.
Anyone would remember when their friend with benefits/situationship person went crazy. I mean, I know I had a good reason, but there’s always going to be that picture of me, thrashing on the bed full of fear, in his head.
“Fiona, look at me,” Ethan orders, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. Doing as he says, I lift my head from his chest again.
When we connect eyes again, Ethan shifts, his hands come up, and he cups my cheeks. His big, warm hands steady me, like a tether keeping me here with him.
“Stay with me today,” Ethan says. “You’re safe here, and if you want to sleep all day, sleep all day. If you want to sit and watch movies, read, or take a long bath while you relax, do that, but don’t shut me out. I’m here and you don’t have to worry about anything.”
His words soothe the rattled, frayed parts of me. My body relaxes on instinct, and I lean into his touch, closing my eyes.
Ethan is the only one, other than my mom, who has ever been able to ease my discomfort. I didn’t realize it until Ethan’s arms wrapped around me, and I sagged against him with relief, but Jack never comforted me like this. His words were always empty, searching, and now I know why. He never truly meant anything he said to me.
His words were hollow, unlike Ethan’s which were filled with concern, sincerity, and an emotion I can’t grasp now. In scratches the emotional place in my mind, but I can’t quite figure out what it is at the moment.
I study his face, noting the furrowed brows, the downturned eyes, and the slight frown on his lips tell me he’s doing his best to empathize with what I’m feeling
“How do I get rid of the nightmares?” I whisper.
Ethan blinks as if he didn’t expect me to lay anything.
“It may take time, but…” Ethan shifts again, this time nudging me gently off of him. I move to my pillow and watch as Ethan leans over to the bedside table, opens the drawer, and pulls out a small box.
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My interest peaks when he rolls back over and pushes up to sit back against the headboard.
“What’s that?” I ask adjusting to sit up as well. I don’t mean to, but I lean into his body, seeking the heat and comfort he
gives.
“I want you to have this,” he murmurs, flipping the lid open to reveal a silver chain with a beautiful wolf pendant. The silver of the pendant swirls together with an opalescent white stone. “This necklace is yours to wear, but once you put it on, I want you to keep it on. While you wear it, let it remind you that I’m in your corner and that I’ll do what I can to protect you.”
He lifts the necklace from the box and lets it dangle in the space between us. The light glints off the pendant. I reach for it almost in a trance. It’s so pretty with the way it sparkles and
“Are you sure? It seems important and expensive,” I murmur and stop before touching the necklace. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to=”
“Fiona.” He stops me by leaning in, carefully lifting my hair, and securing the necklace around my neck. His fingers brush the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. He’s so close that if I leaned in. I could kiss him, and something in me screams to do just that.
The memory of his lips on mine makes my body tingle, and as Ethan stares down at me, his hand gently grips the back of my neck..
“I want you to feel safe, but I can’t always be at your side and-
I press my lips to his, cutting off him off.
“Thank you, Ethan. This means a lot to me.”
Ethan
I stare down at Fiona as she studies the pendant. The pendant I’d planned to never give to anyone. The pendant I swore would stay locked away because no woman was ever good enough, but Fiona…
She deserved it, and I wanted her to have it. There have been too many scares in the past few weeks with her safety and giving her the pendant cases the anxiety that has strangled me since last night.
Watching her fall, not knowing if I was going to catch her, was terrifying. Then, holding her through the night as she fought her nightmares made my chest tighten and ache. I couldn’t stop the nightmares no matter how much my wolf protested.
“It’s important, isn’t it?” Fiona questions, peering up at me with interest.
“It’s a family heirloom,” I answer. I can’t exactly tell her it’s the necklace each Luna wears as a protective charm. Alphas give the protection necklace to their Luna until a new Luna is appointed. It’s been passed down from my great–great–great grandfather down to my dad then me.
Before now, I didn’t realize how important Fiona is to me. What was supposed to be one year.. I don’t know where the emotions are coming from, but Fiona is an amazing woman. She’s kind, compassionate, and hardworking, so different from any woman I’ve ever been with, and so much better.
She’s not just a benefits kind of woman.
“It is?!” Fiona gasps, her eyes widening. She lets go of the pendant, and it falls between her breasts, the silver a stark contrast from her tanned skin. The image burns itself into my brain, and I realize she was meant to have the necklace.
“It’s perfect for her,” my wolf says.
“It is,” I reply.
Wrapping my arms around Fiona’s waist, I lift her and tug her forward. She gasps as our bodies
ur bodies connect, her hands
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Chapter 54
immediately finding my shoulders as she settles on my lap
Fiona takes a deep breath
“Ethan, this is… are you sure you want to give this to me?
“There isn’t anyone else I’d rather give it to”
