25. Jytos

25

JYTOS

I drift in and out of consciousness as my body burns with fever. The pain from my wounds comes and goes, replaced by vivid memories that assault my senses.

Suddenly, I'm back in the Umbrath homeland. The air is thick with smoke and the stench of blood. My people scatter, their screams piercing the night. I stand frozen and watch shadowy figures tear through our defenses like paper.

"Fight, you cowards!" I roar, my tentacles lashing out at the nearest attacker. But it's not enough. Never enough.

The scene shifts. I'm running through dense forest, branches whipping at my face. Behind me, the dying cries of my kin echo through the trees. My lungs burn, but I can't stop. Won't stop. I'm the last. The only one left.

"Weak," a voice hisses in my ear. "You let them die."

I snarl, thrashing against invisible bonds. "No! I fought! I-"

But the voice is right. I ran. I survived while others fell.

The forest melts away, replaced by the cold, damp walls of my cave. My sanctuary. My prison. Years of solitude flash by in an instant - hunting, surviving, existing but not living.

Then... warmth. A gentle touch. Bella's face swims into view, her eyes filled with concern. Even in my fevered state, my heart clenches at the sight of her. My human. My mate.

"Don't leave me," I growl, reaching for her with clumsy fingers. But she fades away, replaced by the leering face of the waira leader.

"She'll never truly be yours," it taunts. "You're a monster. Alone. Always alone."

Rage boils within me. My tentacles whip out, tearing the creature apart. "She's mine!" I roar. "I'll kill anyone who tries to take her!"

The cave dissolves, and I'm standing atop a mountain. Bodies litter the ground - waira, humans, creatures I can't even name. At my feet lies Bella, her eyes closed.

"No," I whisper, dropping to my knees. "Wake up. You can't leave me."

Her eyes flutter open, and she smiles. "I'm here, Jytos. I'll always be here."

I jolt awake and gasp for air. The cave comes into focus, lit by the soft glow of embers. Bella sleeps beside me with her hand clutching mine. Relief floods through me and chases away the last wisps of the nightmare.

I soon drift back to sleep. My mind slips into another vivid dream. The cave fades away, replaced by a sun-drenched clearing in the forest. Bella stands before me, her brown curls dancing in the breeze. She's wearing a dress made of soft animal hide adorned with intricate beadwork that catches the light.

"About damn time you woke up," she teases, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep the whole day away."

I growl playfully, closing the distance between us in two long strides. My tentacles snake out, wrapping around her waist and pulling her flush against my chest. "You should know better than to challenge me, little one."

Her laugh is music to my ears. She doesn't flinch at my touch, doesn't shy away from my monstrous form. Instead, she leans into me, her small hands tracing the contours of my arms.

"I wouldn't dream of it," she murmurs, tilting her head back to meet my gaze. "You're the fiercest warrior these mountains have ever seen."

Pride swells throughout me at her words. I've never needed anyone's approval, but hearing Bella's admiration stirs something primal within me. I lean down, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that leaves us both breathless.

When we part, I notice movement behind her. Two small figures emerge from the treeline. Their features are a perfect blend of Bella's softness and my own otherworldly appearance. Our children.

The sight nearly brings me to my knees. I never dared hope for this - a family, a legacy, a future beyond mere survival.

"Papa!" the little ones cry out, racing towards us on unsteady legs. I scoop them up effortlessly, one in each arm, while my tentacles keep Bella close.

"Look at you," I rumble, my voice thick with emotion. "Strong like your old man, aren't you?"

Bella laughs, reaching up to ruffle our son's hair. "And just as stubborn, I'm afraid."

I grin, baring my sharp teeth in a way that once struck fear into the hearts of my enemies. Now, it only makes my family giggle.

"Good," I declare. "They'll need that strength to survive in this world."

As if on cue, a distant howl echoes through the trees. The children tense, but I stand tall, my tentacles flaring protectively around my family.

"Nothing to fear," I assure them, my voice filled with unwavering confidence. "Your papa will tear apart anything that dares threaten what's his."

Bella's hand finds mine, squeezing gently. "We know," she says softly. "You've always kept us safe."

I look down at her, at our children, at this life I never thought possible. And in that moment, I know with absolute certainty that I would burn the world to ash to protect them.

"Always," I vow, pulling them closer. "You're mine. All of you. And I protect what's mine."

The dream begins to fade, but the warmth within me lingers. Even as my consciousness fades in and out, I cling to the image of that perfect future. It gives me strength, fueling my determination to heal, to fight, to claim the life I now know I want more than anything.

I suddenly wake with a start. My eyes snap open as full consciousness floods back. The cave's familiar scent of damp stone and earth fills my nostrils, grounding me in reality. My body aches. Each movement sends sharp jolts of pain through my muscles. But I'm alive, dammit, and that's what counts.

Bella's face swims into focus, her brown eyes red-rimmed and puffy. Tears have carved glistening tracks down her cheeks, and dark circles shadow her eyes. She looks like hell, but she's still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

"You're awake," she breathes, her voice cracking with relief. "I thought... I was afraid you..."

"Takes more than a few mangy waira to keep me down," I growl, my voice rough from disuse. I try to sit up, but my body protests violently. "Fuck," I hiss through clenched teeth.

Bella's hands are on me instantly, gentle yet firm as she eases me back down. "Don't move," she orders, and I can't help but smirk at the authority in her tone. My little human's grown some backbone.

"You've been out for days," she continues, reaching for a crude wooden bowl nearby. "I've been doing my best to keep you hydrated and tend to your wounds, but..." She trails off, biting her lip.

I take in the cave around us. Signs of Bella's efforts are everywhere - piles of herbs, strips of cloth stained with blood, the remnants of small game animals. I suddenly feel overwhelmed with pride. My mate is a survivor.

I reach out, ignoring the pain as I cup her face with one massive hand. "You did good, little one," I rumble, my thumb brushing away a stray tear. "Kept us both alive."

She leans into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. When she opens them again, there's a fire there that sends a thrill through me.

"I won't lose you," she says fiercely. "Not now, not ever."

A soft growl of approval rumbles in my throat. I pull her closer, ignoring the protest of my battered body. "You won't," I promise, my voice rough with emotion. "I'm not going anywhere."

She nods, and says softly, "You should keep resting. You need to regain your strength."

I nod reluctantly, settling back against the furs. As my eyes start to close, I catch her hand in mine. "Thank you," I murmur, the words feeling foreign on my tongue. But she deserves to hear them.

She squeezes my hand as a smile spreads across her face. "Always," she whispers.

As sleep claims me once more, I'm filled with a sense of peace I've never known before. I'm home, I'm safe, and I'm loved.

I soon wake from my short nap. My body still aches, but my mind is clearer. Bella's warm presence beside me is a balm to my battered soul. I turn my head, drinking in the sight of her. Even exhausted and worried, she's fucking beautiful.

"Hey," I growl softly, my voice still rough. "Miss me?"

Her eyes snap to mine, relief flooding her features. "Jytos," she breathes, her voice cracking. "How are you feeling?"

I smirk, flexing my muscles despite the pain. "Like I could take on a whole pack of waira single-handedly."

She laughs, the sound music to my ears. "Liar," she accuses, but there's no heat in it. Her small hand finds mine, squeezing gently. "I was so scared," she admits.

Something in my chest tightens at her words. I tug her closer despite the protest of my wounds. "I'm not leaving you. Not now, not ever."

Tears well up in her eyes, and she buries her face in my chest. I wrap my arms around her, my tentacles curling protectively around us both.

"I love you," she murmurs against my skin.

A growl of satisfaction rumbles through me. I cup her face in my hands. "I love you too," I declare.

Her eyes shine with unshed tears and something else – desire, maybe. Love, definitely. She leans in, pressing her lips to mine in a kiss that's equal parts desperate and tender.

When we break apart, I can't help but grin. "Careful, little one," I tease. "I might not be fully healed, but I'm more than capable of showing you exactly how much I love you."

She blushes, but there's a glint in her eye that sends a thrill through me. "Later," she promises. "When you're stronger."

I pull her close again, savoring the feeling of her soft body against mine. When I'm healed, I'll show Bella just how much she means to me. How she's changed everything.