17. Bella

17

BELLA

T he first light of dawn creeps into the cave and casts a soft glow on the rugged walls. I stir, my body aching in places I didn't know could ache, a delicious reminder of the night Jytos and I shared. The memories come rushing back. The waira's attack, his fierce protection, and the raw, unbridled passion that followed.

The rustle of movement draws my attention to the cave's entrance. Jytos stands there, silhouetted against the morning light, his tentacles shifting restlessly behind him. He's returned from a hunt with a large carcass draped over his broad shoulders. His eyes find mine, and there's a softness in them that makes my heart flutter unexpectedly.

He approaches, his steps careful, as if he's aware of every injury I carry. "You're awake," he says, his voice a rumble that resonates through the cave.

I nod, pulling the furs tighter around me. "You're back early."

"I don't like leaving you alone for long," he admits, setting the carcass down and beginning to butcher it with efficient, practiced movements. "Especially after... everything."

I watch him, the play of muscle and sinew beneath his dark skin, the way his tentacles move with a life of their own. There's a beauty in his brutality and a grace in his strength. "You didn't have to do that," I say, gesturing to the meat. "I can manage."

He glances at me, one eyebrow raised, a smirk playing on his lips. "I know I didn't have to. I wanted to." He finishes his task and moves towards me. His gaze sweeps over me in a way that makes me feel both vulnerable and cherished. "How are your wounds?" he asks, his voice laced with concern.

"They're healing," I assure him, though the pain is still there, a constant reminder of how close I came to losing everything. "Thanks to you."

He grunts in acknowledgment and reaches out to caress my face. His touch is feather-light, a stark contrast to the power coiled within him. "I don't ever want to see you in pain, Bella."

The sincerity in his voice touches something deep within me. I reach up and place my hand over his. "You've kept me safe, Jytos. I'm not sure I can ever repay you for that."

"You don't owe me anything. I protect what's mine," he states definitively.

The possessiveness in his tone should frighten me, but instead, it ignites a spark of desire. I'm his, and he's mine, in a world that would see us torn apart. It's a forbidden love, one that defies the laws of my village, of nature itself. But lying here, with his gaze upon me, I can't bring myself to care.

He moves away to prepare the meat, his tentacles whisking through the air as he works. I watch him, my heart aching with a complex blend of uncertainty, gratitude, and a burgeoning love that I never saw coming. He's a monster, by any standard, but he's my monster.

As he finishes his work, he turns back to me, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that takes my breath away. "You need to regain your strength," he says, offering me a piece of cooked meat. "Eat."

I take it from him, our fingers brushing, sending a jolt of electricity through me. "Thank you," I murmur, taking a bite. The meat is rich and flavorful.

He watches me eat, his expression unreadable. When I've finished, he reaches out with his thumb and gently wipes away a drop of juice from the corner of my mouth. "You're welcome," he says.

In that moment, surrounded by the raw beauty of the cave and the warmth of his presence, I realize that I've found a home here, with him. It's a truth that's as undeniable as the pull of the moon, as inevitable as the tides.

As the day wears on, Jytos and I find ourselves sitting at the mouth of the cave. We watch the sun dip below the horizon. The sky bleeds orange and pink, casting a warm glow over the rugged landscape. I lean against him and feel the steady rise and fall of his chest.

"Bella," he rumbles, his voice vibrating through me. "I need to talk to you about something."

I tilt my head to look up at him, noticing the intensity in his deep eyes. "What is it?"

He shifts, turning to face me fully. His tentacles twitch nervously, betraying his usual confidence. "I want you to be my woman. Permanently."

My heart skips a beat. I've known this was coming, felt it in every touch, every glance. But hearing it out loud makes it real. Terrifyingly, exhilaratingly real.

"Your woman?" I echo, buying time as my thoughts race.

He nods, a faint growl rumbling in his chest. "All mine. To protect, to care for, to..." He trails off, his gaze dropping to my lips.

I swallow hard, heat rising to my cheeks. "Jytos, I... I don't know what to say."

"Say yes," he urges, one hand coming up to cup my face. His touch is gentle, at odds with his monstrous appearance. "I know I'm not what you expected. I'm not human, I'm not... normal. But I swear to you, Bella, I'll keep you safe. I'll give you everything I have."

I lean into his touch, closing my eyes. My heart wars with my head. He's right – he's not what I expected. He's a monster, an Umbrath, something that should terrify me. And yet...

"You've already given me so much," I whisper, opening my eyes to meet his gaze.

He pulls me closer. "And I'll continue to give you that and more. Always."

I breathe deeply, inhaling his scent – earthy and wild. "What about children? A future? There's so much we haven't talked about."

He hesitates, his brow furrowing. "I don't know if we can have children. But a future? That I can promise you. Whatever it looks like, it'll be ours."

His words stir something in me. A longing I didn't know I had. For a moment, I see it – a life with Jytos, unconventional but filled with love and protection. It's more than I ever hoped for back in the village.

"Okay," I breathe, hardly believing my own words. "Yes. I'll be your woman, Jytos."

I reach up to caress his face, expressing the deep gratitude that floods through my body.

Suddenly, his lips crash onto mine with bruising intensity, a feral possessiveness that leaves me breathless. His tentacles wrap around us, cocooning us in a world where only we exist. I kiss him back with equal fervor. The taste of him, a heady mix of the wild and the unknown, ignites a fire within me that I never want to extinguish.

He pulls away, his breath ragged, and his eyes blazing with an inner fire. "You are completely mine, Bella," he declares, his voice leaving no room for argument. "And I am yours. Forever."

I smile, a sense of rightness settling over me. "Forever," I echo.

We sit there for a moment, in the quiet of the cave, our bodies entwined, our hearts beating as one. I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart, a sound that has become my anchor in this strange, new world.

His hand strokes my hair, his touch both gentle and assured. "You've changed me, Bella," he admits, his voice a soft rumble beneath my ear. "I was content in my solitude, but now... now I crave your presence, your laughter, your warmth."

I tilt my head to look up at him, my eyes drinking in the rugged beauty of his features. "And you've changed me, Jytos," I reply, my voice filled with awe. "You've shown me strength, resilience, and a world beyond the confines of my village."

He nods in acknowledgment, his gaze dropping to my lips once more. "We are bound by fate, you and I," he murmurs, leaning in to capture my mouth in another searing kiss.

As we part, I can't help but marvel at the path that has led me here, to the arms of a monster who has shown me more kindness and passion than any human ever did. Our love may be taboo, a defiance of the rules that have governed my life for so long. But in this moment, none of that matters to me. All that matters is the connection between us, a connection that transcends the differences between our two worlds.

His hand captures mine, holding it against his face. "Bella," he growls, his voice a low thrum that resonates in the very marrow of my bones, "tell me you feel it too."

I nod, any lingering uncertainty melts away as I give in to the truth that's been simmering beneath the surface of my consciousness. "I feel it," I admit, my cheeks flushing with the confession. "I'm falling in love with you."

He pulls me closer, his embrace a fortress that shields me from the dangers that lie beyond the cave. "I will protect you always, Bella," he vows. His words are a solemn oath that carries the weight of his very soul. "I will be the mate you deserve."

I close my eyes, basking in the warmth of his promises. "I know you will," I whisper, my faith in him unshakeable. "I know."

And in the stillness of the cave, with the echo of our heartbeats surrounding us, I realize that this is just the beginning of our story. A story of love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond that ties us together. It's a tale that defies convention, a narrative woven from the threads of our shared experiences and the undeniable attraction that burns between us.

As the night wears on, Jytos and I remain entwined, our bodies a testament to the love that has blossomed in the most unlikely of places. And though the world outside may never understand or accept our union, here, in the heart of the mountain, we are invincible.