The room felt quieter now.
The aftermath of the heat still lingered—thick, heavy, but strangely peaceful. Nine lay in my lap, his body loose and exhausted. His breathing had calmed, though he still shivered faintly, his small noises of discomfort a reminder of just how far he had been pushed.
I didn't want to move, but I knew he needed me to help him.
Slowly, I leaned back, my hand running through his damp hair, brushing the strands from his forehead. The scent of him, wild and sweet, hung in the air—muddied with remnants of the heat, but still unmistakably Nine.
He was so beautiful like this. Fragile. Soft. Shaken but not broken.
I reached for the cloth I had set aside earlier, wetting it with warm water. As I pressed the fabric gently to his body, I couldn't help but marvel at how delicate he looked now. His skin had a faint sheen to it, still flushed from the heat, but it was softer than I'd ever noticed before. Every curve of his body, every little dip of his waist or curve of his ribs, was so... perfect. So him.
My breath hitched at the thought.
I hadn't realized it until now, but I was utterly captivated by him. Not just by the way he looked or the way his scent intoxicated me—but by him as a whole. The way he trusted me. The way he needed me.
Carefully, I wiped the sweat from his body, running the cloth over his chest, over his thighs—anywhere that still felt warm and slick to the touch. He shifted under my touch, little gasps escaping him as his body adjusted to the cool cloth, but I didn't stop. He needed this—needed the comfort. The assurance that I was here.
I leaned in close, pressing a soft kiss to the top of his head.
"You're so beautiful, Nine," I whispered. "So strong."
He didn't answer me—not with words—but he pressed closer, instinctively curling into me as though he needed to be surrounded by my scent. My hands slid down his back, smoothing the lines of his spine, tracing the curve of his shoulder blades.
My beautiful boy.
Nyx stirred inside me, her growl low but affectionate, a soft rumble of approval at the bond that flowed between us.
He's ours, she murmured. Our mate. Ours to protect.
I smiled softly at that, unable to resist the warmth in my chest. There was something deeply comforting about the bond. Something so natural about it.
Nine sighed softly, and I paused, holding my breath, not sure if I was pushing him too far. But when I looked down at him, his eyes were half-closed, the tiniest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
You're so pretty like this, I thought, sending it through the bond, letting him feel the soft affection behind the words.
His lips parted, a broken whisper escaping him. "Alpha…"
I kept wiping him down, moving more gently now, every touch of the cloth a quiet reassurance. I wanted him to feel loved, to feel cared for—no matter how badly the world had hurt him.
The heat might have burned him, but I would make sure the aftermath was different. I would make sure he knew what it was like to feel cared for.
I hummed a soft tune, one I hadn't realized I was singing until the sound left my lips. It was a quiet melody, one my mother used to sing when I was small. It felt right in this moment, like it was meant for him.
Nyx's presence settled over me like a comforting blanket. He's ours, she repeated softly, more firmly now. He trusts you, Rhea. He trusts us.
I took a deep breath, my hands slowing as I ran the cloth over his shoulders. His skin was warm, but not feverish anymore. He was recovering. Slowly.
The tenderness in my touch was something I couldn't hold back. I had been holding him so tightly before—so fiercely—because I was afraid of losing him. But now, now he was here. Safe. In my arms. And all I wanted was to show him, to remind him, that he wasn't alone anymore.
I leaned down, brushing my lips against his temple, taking in the soft scent of his hair.
Mine.
The bond thrummed with warmth, and I could feel his presence more clearly now. He was still half-lost, still catching his breath, but his body felt more at ease, more grounded.
I let my hands fall to his sides, smoothing over the thin layer of sweat still clinging to his skin. He shifted slightly, a little whimper escaping him, and he looked up at me through half-lidded eyes.
"Alpha…"
I smiled softly at him. "I'm here. I've got you."
His fingers flexed against my chest, the delicate touch both a question and an answer. He wasn't asking for anything, but he was still reaching. Reaching for reassurance, for comfort. And it was all I could give him.
I reached for the blanket, wrapping it around both of us, cocooning us in warmth. I pulled him close, holding him against me, not wanting to let go.
I wanted to stay like this. To hold him close and protect him from everything that had hurt him. To give him the safety and love he deserved.
Nine let out a soft sigh, his head tucked against my chest, his breath slow and steady now. His hand gripped mine, fingers weak but insistent.
I brushed my lips against his forehead once more.
"You're mine," I whispered, the words coming out like a promise, a vow.
I felt the bond tighten in response, like he was holding me back with everything he had. I closed my eyes, pressing him closer.
Nyx's voice was quiet in my mind, but it was there, like a constant hum in the background. We'll make sure no one hurts him again. He's ours.
I nodded silently, breathing in the scent of Nine and the comfort of the bond that held us together.