45. Chapter 45

Chapter 45

-Naomi-

W e needed to isolate Reese, so his mother volunteered to distract Rosa while his father summoned him to the office. The other wolves all departed, taking refuge in nearby rooms, ready to intervene if needed, while I remained behind, awaiting his arrival. Reese walked in, looking freshly showered and oddly content, a sight that pained me to see, knowing the reason why. As he closed the door, his gaze finally fell upon me, a look of confusion crossing his features.

“What are you doing here?” he inquired.

I recoiled, stunned, realizing how thoroughly Rosa had manipulated him, making him sound almost hostile toward me.

“Reese, I mean, Alpha Reese, I, um…” I faltered, feeling foolish now, my words stumbling.

“Can I help you?” he asked, approaching a bit closer. Despite his lack of recognition, he remained the same trustworthy Alpha as always.

“Yes,” I replied, closing the distance between us. “But I need to whisper it.”

“What?” he prompted.

“It’s… embarrassing, and I don’t want anyone to overhear,” I explained.

Reese appeared skeptical, not fully grasping my intentions, but his trusting nature, perhaps the very trait that had led him into this situation, compelled him to draw nearer. Leaning in, he awaited my supposed secret, and I seized the opportunity to act on my primal instincts. With a swift motion, I pulled his T-shirt aside, and before he could protest, I sank my teeth into his shoulder, piercing his skin and leaving my mark. He struggled against me, but I clung to him, ensuring the connection wasn’t severed too soon. Yet, his strength surpassed mine, and he forcefully tore me away, gripping me by the hair. I screamed in pain as he held me in a bent position, his own teeth bared in aggression, seemingly ready to strike.

With my eyes squeezed shut, I feared my attempt had failed, until a sudden thud echoed through the room, followed by a loosening of his grip. Opening my eyes, I saw Reese before me, doubled over and coughing, clutching his chest in agony. He vomited onto the floor, the expelled substance an unnatural shade of blue, as if he had ingested something toxic. He continued to retch, the pain evident as he purged whatever poison Rosa had given him, perhaps continuing to administer. When the ordeal finally subsided, he trembled like a newborn pup, hands resting on his knees as he remained hunched over, visibly in distress.

“Reese?” I whispered, cautiously inching closer, avoiding the blue mass on the floor.

He continued to cough, expelling more of the blue substance before slowly turning toward me, tears brimming in his eyes, his expression shattered.

“W-What’s happening to me?” he breathed, his voice trembling.

I moved closer, enveloping him in my arms, seeking to offer comfort through my touch. He didn’t resist, drawing me nearer, his hand trailing down my arm, seeking solace.

“Naomi…” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“You recognize me as your mate?” I asked, locking eyes with him.

He nodded, still trembling, his gaze feverish. “Of course… But I don’t… remember…”

“What’s the last thing you remember?” I inquired gently.

“Telling Rosa I didn’t want her anymore.”

“And then?”

He groaned, unable to recall, and I shook my head, hushing him.

“You’re safe now. No more magic,” I reassured him.

“Magic?”

Just then, we heard approaching footsteps, and his father entered with the other fighters, surveying the chaotic scene before him. He quickly moved to Reese’s side, gripping his shoulder tightly as if afraid he might vanish.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched on his face.

“I-I don’t know,” Reese admitted, his memory blank. “I don’t remember what happened to me.”

“Let’s get you downstairs to have you checked,” his father decided.

Reese nodded, and we all helped him to his feet, his body still wracked with pain as the others stayed behind to tidy the room.

-Reese-

Naomi and my father swiftly filled me in on everything, with the witch present, ready to remove Naomi’s brand. However, she declined, insisting on keeping it to demonstrate her loyalty. I assured her it wasn’t necessary, but she stood firm in her decision. I had her stay by my side as the doctor and witch examined me, both concluding that I simply needed time to recuperate. But everything they told me reshaped my understanding of recent events, and it filled me with a deep sense of dread. I had been living amongst enemies all this time, unaware.

“I still can’t wrap my head around this,” I murmured, squeezing Naomi’s hand, drawing strength from her touch.

My wolf finally confirmed our bond as mates, his confusion evident except in this certainty. It seemed Naomi and I truly belonged together all along, but our connection had been obstructed by Rosa’s magic. It explained the chill of her touch and the sickness I felt after being with her. As true mates, no one else should have been able to captivate me. Yet Naomi didn’t seem angry with me, only concerned. She offered me a gentle smile, leaning down to kiss my arm before focusing her attention on me once more.

“It seems your mate was right all along,” my father remarked, gesturing toward Naomi, and I felt a profound sense of fulfillment knowing I could finally claim her entirely.

“How did you know marking would help me?” I asked.

“We weren’t entirely certain,” Naomi interjected. “But it was the best option we had.”

“How did you figure this out?”

“My wolf realized it after she finally claimed you,” Naomi explained.

“She claimed me?” I questioned, my tone tinged with happiness.

“Yes, even while you were involved with Rosa,” she admitted, causing a pang of guilt to surge through me.

“Hey, I’m not upset,” she reassured me.

“Maybe you should be. I can’t believe I did... those things while you were in the house!” I exclaimed, overcome with remorse.

“Reese, it’s not your fault. It was the magic.”

“Still, you’re my mate, my true mate. I shouldn’t have been able to betray you like that. I didn’t want to!”

“And you didn’t. I promise you, I’m not angry. I’m just concerned. I mean, where do we go from here?” she asked.

“What do you mean? I’m claiming you. You’re moving in with me,” I declared, a smile spreading across her lips.

She chuckled softly, but then shook her head.

“I meant with Rosa,” she clarified.

“Oh,” I responded, sharing her laughter and squeezing her hand in mine before turning to my father.

“She’s with your mother right now, keeping her distracted.”

“We have the advantage at the moment,” I pointed out. “She doesn’t know the spell or potion has been expelled.”

“You want to continue pretending,” my father observed.

I nodded.

“Is that wise?” Naomi interjected.

“Yes, because it gives me a chance to gather intel on where and when they might strike,” I explained.

“What if they aren’t planning to attack until after you’re mated?” Naomi countered.

“She may have a point,” my father chimed in. “They may be waiting for you two to be bound together, playing the long game.”

“What do you suggest?” I asked.

“What do you remember about their formation? Their tactics?” my father questioned.

“Not a lot, I must admit.”

“But you have a way to get inside, right?”

“I do.”

“Then suggest a visit to her parents, her pack. Let them believe you’re still under their influence. When you can, slip away and create an opening for us. I want this done swiftly and with less brutality, probably more than they deserve, but I want this fight to be over with once and for all.”

I nodded, in agreement with my father’s plan.

“Now, I wish I could let you rest, but it’s better you get up as fast as you can,” he insisted.

“Yes, just a moment,” I said, holding Naomi’s hand even tighter, and my father understood the silent promise in my gesture. He motioned for the witch to follow, most likely going to do some extra planning with her. The moment the door closed, I lifted Naomi into bed.

“Ah, Reese,” she chuckled, as I placed her beneath me.

I let my hands roam down her covered body, feeling the electric sensation growing even more powerful than before.

“Mm, this is something I can get used to,” I purred, leaning down to take in her scent, which was stronger as well.

I grasped her thighs, spreading them open for me, so I could settle between them.

“Reese, you were just cured,” she pointed out as I nibbled the skin on her neck.

“Yes, we should celebrate.”

“No, we have work in front of us.”

“And if I’m a good Alpha who does his job well?” I teased, hearing her laugh again, the sound doing funny things to my heart.

“I think we can talk about a private meeting to reward you,” she jested.

I pulled back, seeing her smile at me. It made my heartbeat quicken, and all I could think about was resting in bed with her. I couldn’t believe I even thought Rosa was my mate. This was what a true bond was like.

“I should mark you too,” I said, coming closer, but Naomi placed her hand over my mouth.

“What?” I asked.

“You can’t. We can’t solidify it yet. She would notice.”

“Goddess, I have to cover this up well,” I groaned, placing my hand over Naomi’s mark.

“You can do it,” she assured me, running her hands down my shoulders. “And I will be waiting for you.”

I leaned closer, pressing my forehead to hers.

“Thank you for not giving up on me. I meant what I said. Rosa only—”

She placed a finger over my lips.

“I know,” she whispered, then wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me to her.