AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
I woke up to a throbbing ache everywhere, blinking against the pale ceiling. Before I could move, Jaxon's firm hand pressed me back down.
"Easy." He commanded, his voice rough but relieved.
Michael stood nearby, arms crossed.
"You gave us a scare."He said.
I swallowed, the cliff incident flashing back.
"I'm fine." I mumbled, even though my voice cracked.
"System Notification: Synchronization at 78%"System said.
"My eyes squeezed shut. Seventy eight? It was rising fast. Before I could process it, Jaxon was already lifting me with Michael's help. I squirmed.
"Hey, I can walk!"I said.
Jaxon snorted.
"Not a chance."He said.
Michael's grip was firm.
"We're not risking it."Michael agreed.
Heat crept into my cheeks as they carried me effortlessly back to my room. Their hands were warm and steady, and despite my protests, I felt…safe. When they finally set me down on my bed, I tried to sit up straighter.
"You don't have to hover."I said.
Michael just smirked.
"Get used to it."He said.
Jaxon's gaze lingered.
"Rest. We'll be back."Jaxon said.
The door shut, and I was left alone, my mind racing and that damn 78% burning behind my eyes. I sat on the bed, my hands gripping the soft blanket as I stared at the door they'd just left through. My heart was still pounding from being carried like that, and the ache in my body hadn't completely faded. A frustrated sigh slipped out. Why did they have to be so... overbearing? I wasn't some fragile doll. I could handle myself. My chest tightened. I couldn't wrap my head around it. They had been so worried. Jaxon's jaw had been clenched the entire time, and Michael's usual calm had cracked, revealing something almost like fear. Why? I was just... me. The same person they had dragged into this crazy world. It didn't make sense. Why did they care so much?
A flicker of warmth coursed through me, and I shook my head violently, trying to dispel it. No. I couldn't think like that. It was probably just the stupid system pushing feelings on me. I couldn't let myself get comfortable with this. I was supposed to survive, not get attached.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" I muttered under my breath.
My thoughts kept drifting back to how they looked at me not just worried, but almost desperate. It didn't match their usual demeanor. I couldn't figure out why it made my chest ache in a way that wasn't entirely unpleasant. The system's notification still hovered in my mind. Seventy eight percent. It was getting closer. That scared me more than falling off that cliff. If it reached one hundred... what then? I couldn't stand another second of my racing thoughts, so I pushed off the bed and fled to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. I stared at my reflection, tousled hair, pale skin underlined by dark circles, and the faintest redness on my neck. I splashed cold water on my face, pressing both palms against the cool porcelain sink until my heartbeat slowed. After a few deep breaths, I straightened my shirt and slipped back into the bedroom.
They were waiting. Jaxon sat on the edge of the bed, a tray in his lap piled with steaming bowls of soup and plates of bread. Michael leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a small, hopeful smile on his face.
"Hey." Jaxon said softly, setting the tray down. "Thought you might be hungry."
My stomach twisted, part nerves, part relief. I cleared my throat.
"Thanks."I said.
Michael pushed off the wall and moved to my side. He lifted a bowl of soup, handing it to me.
"It's chicken broth. Healer says it'll help with the bruising."Michael said.
I nodded, hugging the warm bowl as if it were a lifeline.
"You didn't have to.."I whispered.
Jaxon's eyes softened.
"We want to."He said.
I sat on the bed and took a small sip. The warmth spread through me, easing some of the tension in my chest. Michael settled beside me, and Jaxon sat on the other side, close enough that I could feel their presence on both sides.
"Why are you two so… concerned?"I asked.
Michael exchanged a look with Jaxon.
"Because you matter to us." Michael said quietly. "And we don't like seeing you hurt."
Jaxon reached out, brushing a thumb over the bruise on my arm.
"You're part of this now, our world, our pack. We look after our own."He said.
The words settled in me, comforting and terrifying all at once. I took another sip of soup, then met their gazes.
"Okay." I finally whispered. "Thank you."
They both smiled, and for the first time since the fall, I felt something like peace. My hands trembled less, and the knot in my chest loosened. I began trusting them without even realizing it. Jaxon leaned back against the headboard, stretching his arms casually.
"You're eating more. That's good."He said.
I looked down, realizing I had almost finished the bowl. "Yeah… guess I was hungrier than I thought."I said.
Michael chuckled, the sound low and warm.
"Good. You need your strength." He paused, then added with a grin. Especially with how you keep running off."
A blush crept up my neck.
"I wasn't running off… I just needed space."I muttered.
"Space?" Jaxon arched a brow, clearly amused. "You practically flew out of that room yesterday."
"Like a startled deer."Michael snorted and nodded.
I couldn't help it, I laughed. It felt foreign but good, shaking off some of the tension. I set the empty bowl back on the tray, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
"Okay… maybe I panicked a little."I said.
"A little?" Jaxon teased, his grin widening. He nudged my shoulder lightly.""More like a lot."
I nudged him back without thinking, my hand brushing his arm. He seemed surprised, but not unhappy. Michael watched us with that same gentle smile, his eyes glimmering with something I couldn't quite place. For a moment, it was… easy. Sitting between them, not feeling like I was trapped or overwhelmed. Just... there. Jaxon's voice broke the silence.
"You should rest more. Falling off a cliff is no small thing."Jaxon said.
I rolled my eyes.
"You don't say."I said and smiled.
Michael chuckled, his fingers brushing against mine briefly as he took the tray away. The touch sent a weird warmth through my hand, one I couldn't quite shake off. He caught my gaze, his eyes softer than I'd seen them before.
"If you need anything, just ask"He said.
I swallowed, nodding slowly.
"I will… thanks."I said.
Jaxon got up, stretching his arms with a lazy grin.
"And we're not leaving you alone this time. So don't get any ideas."Jaxon said.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Afraid I'll jump off another cliff?"I asked.
Michael smirked.
"Afraid you'll try to outrun us again."He said.
My mouth opened, ready to fire back with something sarcastic, but I stopped. They weren't wrong. I had run... more than once. But right now, with both of them here, I didn't really want to. I couldn't quite explain it, but something in their presence felt like safety like maybe I wasn't alone in all this.
"Get comfortable. We're sticking around."Jaxon said while petting the bed.
I hesitated, but eventually, I scooted back against the headboard. Michael returned with fresh tea, placing it on the bedside table, and then, to my surprise, settled himself on the edge of the mattress. Jaxon did the same on my other side. We just sat there, the three of us, not talking but not needing to. It was… peaceful. My chest tightened, not with fear but with something uncomfortably close to longing. I pushed the feeling aside, but it lingered stubbornly, warming my ribs and curling into my stomach. I wasn't sure if I liked it.
"Get some rest." Jaxon repeated, his voice low and smooth.
I felt the bed shift as he leaned back, his head resting against the headboard, eyes still on me. He didn't need to say it, but I knew I could feel it they weren't going anywhere. I blinked once, twice, and then everything faded into a comfortable haze. Their scents, warm and familiar, filled my senses as I let sleep drag me under.
Before I drifted off entirely, a single thought slipped to my mind. : "Maybe… maybe this wasn't so bad"