Chapter 84

Phoenix

It has been a week since I rescued my little wolf—or, well, she rescued herself. So, I guess a week since I brought her home. I think she's doing better, but she's still not ready for people to see her. And I'm more than fine with that.

I know exactly what she's avoiding: the pitying looks, the invasive questions that will only bring back her trauma. She's not ready to face that kind of attention, and frankly, I don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks. Not our parents, not her so-called friends, who keep blowing up my phone every single day. I've got her right where I want her, and there's no rush.

Majority of the day, we're in bed fucking or just holding each other. She clings to me, like I might just disappear if she lets go. I'm her sanctuary, and that means so fucking to me that she feels safe with me even after I wasn't there in time to stop Kate from abducting her.

She's still passed out after I wore her out last night, sleeping deep into the afternoon. I carefully slip out of bed to make her something to eat, letting her rest as much as she needs.

When I get to the kitchen, Luke's leaning against the counter, arms crossed like he's been waiting. His scowl doesn't surprise me. "Phoenix," he grumbles, disapproval thick in his voice.

"What's up?" I ask, opening the fridge and pulling out the ingredients to make omelets.

I'm not in the goddamn mood for a lecture, and I already know it's coming.

"We can't keep Philip at bay forever. He and her mother are demanding to see her today."

I slam the door to glare at him. "Well, she's not ready," I snap. "Tell them to back off."

Luke's gaze narrows. "Is it her that's not ready, or you?"

I pause, my jaw tightening. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"You can't keep hiding her here, Nix. I know you're worried about her safety, but you have a job, and so does she."

I grit my teeth. "My businesses are doing fine, Unc. I check the reports every damn day."

He's not wrong, though. I am worried. The Devils are still out there, and now that my father knows she's my mate, he'll target her if he finds out we've been delving into his dark secrets. The last thing I want is for someone to come for her because of me, or because of what we're planning to do with my father. It's not that I'm forcing her to hide away here, but I'm sure as hell not pushing her to leave, either. This house is the safest place for her, short of me shipping us off to a deserted island—which I'm not ruling out completely yet.

Luke shakes his head. "That's not the point, Phoenix. You know Philip's going to ask you to step up as Alpha. It's your birthright and it seems like you're avoiding it."

My jaw clenches tighter. "When Selene becomes Luna, it's going to put an even bigger target on her back. How do you expect me to focus on being Alpha when I'm constantly worried someone's going to fucking take her away from me again. I nearly lost her, and I can't go through that again."

He puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You're a strong leader, Nix. When you become Alpha, you'll have the power to eliminate threats before they even get close to her. You'll make your enemies fear you. And don't forget that the pack will protect their Luna. You won't be alone in this."

I inhale deeply, allowing his words to sink in. Maybe I have been letting my own fears bleed into Selene's, making us both willing prisoners in this place. But fuck, I almost lost her. I can;t just get over it like it's nothing.

"Maybe you're right," I mutter, "but I won't force Selene to return to the outside world if she isn't ready."

Luke hums in agreement. "I'm not asking you to do that, but this isn't helping her. She can't just fuck and sleep the pain away, Nix. Maybe you should suggest that she sees a professional, and see how she feels about it."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, I'll bring it up."

I don't expect that conversation to go well, but Luke has a point. I don't want her wasting away in that room. I've had to force her to get out of the bed just to bathe, I fear it will only get worse if I don't do something.

I finish making the omelets and carry them back to the bedroom. Selene stirs as I walk in, stretching beneath the covers, her eyes fluttering open. "Good morning, mate," she murmurs sleepily.

I set her plate down on the bed, sitting beside her. "Eat, little wolf," I say firmly. "We're going to go on a run today."

Her emotions hit me all at once—fear, uncertainty, anger. She's pissed I even suggested leaving our sanctuary. But we can't stay here forever.

"No," she says softly, but I can hear the tremble in her voice.

I pull her into my lap, holding her close. "Baby, we can't just stay in here forever," I tell her, my tone soft but resolute. "Yeah, this past week has been amazing, but there are people that miss you out there. And I know you miss your job."

She shakes her head, her voice tight. "I can't go back. I'll never feel safe there again."

Hearing her voice break makes my chest tighten, but I refuse to let this fear paralyze her—or us. "Zack and Kate are gone," I whisper, trying to soothe her. "They'll never touch you again."

She's quiet for a long time before finally meeting my gaze, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "What about the Devils?"

"I'll make my dad increases security. Nobody will get in or out without my approval. I'll make sure of it."

She looks away, her silence heavy. I know she's still scared. I know I promised her that there was no rush. But I can't just sit back and watch her waste away in here, afraid of the outside world.

Suddenly, I feel her anger wash over me. She jumps out of my lap, whipping around to point a finger at my chest. "I thought you said there was no rush, that I could go back when I truly felt ready!" she fires back.

I keep my voice leveled. "And I'm not rushing you. I just...I know this isn't healthy for you. But we're going to take this one step at a time. First, let's start with a run in our wolf forms. You need it, I need it. I can feel your wolf, restless, just like mine."

She nods, reluctantly. "Yeah," she whispers. "I guess she does need to get out."

"Then, let's get some fresh air, baby," I say, giving her a small, encouraging smile. "Eat, and then we'll head out. You'll see, my little wolf. You're so much stronger than you give yourself credit for."