Chapter Sixteen

Raising my arms above my head, I stretched, immediately noticing a few things. Zion's sheets were softer than mine. My legs swished against them while I took inventory of all my achy places.

A wave of nausea hit me, making me groan. Being nauseated was the worst. I was hungry, but my stomach had been protesting against anything other than crackers and Zion's homemade food for the last couple of days.

Longer than a few days, but before, I'd simply not eat until Zion brought me something.

"Crackers are on the nightstand. I got up earlier and put them there with your water."

His voice stirred a million emotions within me. But things had definitely changed after last night. We hadn't had sex. We had made love.

Everything I knew to be true about Zion, he showed me last night.

He had been caring and attentive. He asked me questions and paid solid attention to my answers. He touched me where I craved his touch. He kissed me in a way that made me warm inside and out. Every second with him felt like I was loved.

And while those feelings of love had been pushed to the forefront, it did nothing to make the other ones waiver.

"How? I'm usually a light sleeper," I answered, opening my eyes to both the sun and the sweet bear next to me. Our pajama pants had been discarded on the floor along with our boxers.

"Well, you weren't this morning. I even mixed up a banana bread and put it in the oven."

I rolled over right into his hold. He kissed my lips gently, and then the kiss became more heated. I loved the feel of his body next to mine. We fit together perfectly.

"Did you happen to make coffee?" I asked and tried to pull away as peskier thoughts wiggled their way to the front and center of my mind.

"Omega." His voice deepened. "I made coffee, but why are you pulling away? And don't tell me it's for the coffee. Talk to me, little hedgehog."

I sighed and lay against his bare chest. He growled down deep. Not a growl of anger but one of contentment. My animal felt the peace and happiness through his bond with Zion's bear. "I'm afraid."

"Of what?" he asked, stroking my back with one hand and threading his fingers through mine with the other. He was a touchy-feely alpha, and I didn't know how much I craved that touch until him.

"That all of this will change. That once we are marked and committed, your real self will come out. That's what he did. Derek. He was so nice in the beginning and then all of that changed."

Zion huffed out a breath through his nose. "Was he nice, really, in hindsight?"

I sat up and turned to face him. "What do you mean?" Gods, he was beautiful in this morning light. There was nowhere else I wanted to wake up but right here next to him. If I could only get over myself.

"Think about the things he did to make you happy in the beginning of your relationship. Looking back, does anything seem off?"

I peered out his window. He kept them open at night, letting the sweet Oliver Creek air in. The town always smelled like home to me. More now than ever, after last night.

"I'll have to think about that," I replied.

"While you think about that, I'm making you breakfast and coffee. My home is yours. Shower. Bathroom. Whatever you need."

He raised up only to pin me down and rain kisses all over my face and neck before getting out of bed to stretch. I nearly caught fire at the sight of him stretching his arms over his head as his back was turned to me. The man was incredibly beautiful.

"Keep that up, and we won't get anything done today," he chuckled, throwing on a pair of shorts and making his way to the kitchen.

I showered quickly and found a new toothbrush in its packaging on the side of the counter. I came out, and Zion was standing there, holding up one of his button-down shirts for me. It swallowed my form but if given the chance, I would never take it off.

He insisted I sit down and then served me a breakfast spread fit for a king, accompanied by a very small cup of coffee.

I hadn't forgotten his request that I think about Derek in the beginning.

"Everything was over the top in the beginning," I said after practically fainting over how good the banana bread was. It even had some white chocolate chips and crushed macadamia nuts in it. Zion was showing off with this one.

The alpha nodded. "Tell me about it."

I sighed. This probably wasn't the morning after he wanted, but I was still so messed up from what Derek had done to me. The healing would have to be a part of this relationship, this mating, if it were to continue. Even though I found myself falling completely for Zion, I still was on the fence. "He took me on extravagant trips. Romantic vacations. We had only been together a matter of months before he told me that he thought I was his soul mate and that I was the one. He showered me with gifts. Big ones. Expensive watches. New clothes. You name it. And then, once we slept together, it all changed."

Zion nodded. I knew this had to be hard for him to hear. "During this grandiose time, were there signs of change to come?"

He was giving me so many things to think about. And while I had certainly analyzed most of the facets of the relationship, clearly there were still some things to get through.

"Yes," I answered. "Critiquing what I ate. Criticizing everything and then calling it trying to look out for me or protect me. He questioned every interaction on my social media until I shut them all down. Sometimes, his eyes would go black and I was afraid of displeasing him. There are so many."

"Do you see any of those things in me, omega?" He placed another piece of bacon on my plate. My stomach was not protesting at all, and I was sure it was because of Zion and his calming presence.

"No," I replied. "You're nothing like him."

"But…" he prompted.

"I'm still worried."

He nodded. "Then I'll have to prove myself to you. Time will tell you that I'm here and not trying to change or control you. You can be your own person with me. Work in your shop or be a stay-at-home dad if it pleases you. Have more babies or not. You are free with me, Cicek."

I glanced at the clock above his door. "Free but late," I giggled. "I have to run and get dressed."

He tipped his chin to the bed where a pile of clothes was stacked. "I slipped next door and grabbed you a change. I hope it was all right."

"More than all right." The man thought of everything.