40.

The thick, eerie fog of Jack’s lair clung to Aeryn’s skin like a cold, suffocating blanket. The black foam that surrounded her moved in sickening waves, its stench filling her lungs with every breath. Her heart raced, her mind teetering between panic and the desperate urge to survive. The cut on her arm throbbed, and she could feel the blood trickling down her skin, warm and sticky.

Jack’s maniacal laughter echoed through the air, sending shivers down her spine. His eyes glistened with dark satisfaction as he held her arm tightly, his grip painful and unrelenting.

“Blood... human blood,” he muttered again, his voice dripping with sinister glee. “That’s what I need.”

Aeryn winced, biting back a scream as Jack’s fingers dug deeper into her flesh. She had never been this afraid. The black foam shifted, swirling around her feet like it had a life of its own, adding to the surreal nightmare.

"You won’t get away with this," she managed to whisper, her voice trembling, but her eyes defiant.

Jack sneered, his face twisting with malice. “Oh, sweet girl, I already have. No one is coming for you.”

But he was wrong. Aeryn knew Alex would come. He had to, She gasped cluthing herself tightly. sobbing and crying.

Aeryn woke with a sudden jolt, her body drenched in sweat, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Her heart pounded in her chest, the lingering terror of her nightmare still gripping her. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus, her surroundings blurry and unfamiliar at first. But then, as her vision cleared, her eyes landed on a familiar face—Alex. He was sitting beside her, his expression a mix of concern and calm.

"Aeryn, it's okay. You're safe," he said softly, his voice a soothing balm against her racing thoughts. He reached out, gently placing his hand on her shoulder.

But she couldn’t shake the fear. The images of Jack, the black foam, the blood—they all felt too real. She sat up, her body trembling as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the cold that didn’t seem to come from the room but from inside her.

“I—I can’t breathe,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “He was there... I was... I couldn’t move, and he—he hurt me, Alex.” Her fingers pressed into her arm where the cut had been, feeling the phantom pain.

Alex’s gaze softened, and without a word, he slid closer to her on the bed. His strong arms encircled her gently, pulling her into his warmth. “Shh, Aeryn, I’m here. Jack’s gone. You’re not in that place anymore,” he murmured, stroking her hair. “He can’t hurt you again.”

But Aeryn couldn’t help but tremble. The fear was too much, too deep. She closed her eyes tightly, feeling the warmth of Alex’s body, but the darkness still loomed in her mind.

“I’m scared, Alex,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know if I can do this... Being here. With all of this. It’s too much.”

Alex pulled back slightly to look at her. His hand moved to her chin, gently lifting her face so she had to meet his gaze. “Aeryn,” he said firmly but with tenderness, “you’re not alone in this. You’ll never be alone. I swear, I won’t let anything or anyone harm you again.”

Her eyes filled with tears as she searched his face, looking for reassurance, for something to hold onto. But the fear wouldn’t leave her, no matter how hard she tried. “But what if it happens again? What if someone else comes for me? I... I don’t know if I’m strong enough to survive this.”

“You are,” Alex said without hesitation, his voice steady and full of conviction. “You’re stronger than you think, Aeryn. Look at everything you’ve already survived. You faced Jack and his cruelty, and yet, you’re still here. Still fighting.”

“I don’t feel strong,” she said, her voice trembling. “I feel broken.”

Alex frowned, shaking his head. “You’re not broken, Aeryn. You’re human. You feel fear because you care about living. And that’s not weakness. That’s strength.”

His words washed over her like a calming wave, but still, her heart wouldn’t settle. Her mind wouldn’t quiet. She clutched the fabric of his shirt, her grip desperate. “I can’t stop seeing him,” she admitted, her voice shaking as tears slipped down her cheeks. “I can’t stop hearing his voice in my head, and it terrifies me.”

Without a word, Alex leaned in and kissed her—softly at first, as if testing the waters. His lips pressed gently against hers, not just to distract her, but to show her that she wasn’t alone, that he was there for her. His hand moved to cup the back of her head, holding her close as he deepened the kiss, pouring all his warmth and care into the contact.

Aeryn gasped softly, the intensity of the kiss surprising her, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned into him, letting the warmth of his touch replace the cold fear that had wrapped around her heart. The world outside disappeared, and for a moment, all she could feel was him—his lips, his strength, his presence.

When they finally pulled apart, Alex rested his forehead against hers, his breath steady but heavy with emotion. “I will never let anything happen to you, Aeryn. Never. I swear it,” he said, his voice barely a whisper, but there was a fierce promise in his tone.

Aeryn looked into his eyes, her own still filled with tears but mixed now with a sense of hope. She bit her lip, trying to steady her own breath. “I... I want to believe you,” she whispered, her voice so soft it was almost lost in the air between them. “But I’m scared. I’m scared to be here... to be with you...”

Alex’s eyes darkened with determination, and he took her face in his hands, gently brushing his thumbs across her cheeks, wiping away her tears. “Then let me show you,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet strength. “Let me prove to you that you don’t have to be afraid. That I’ll protect you, no matter what.”

Aeryn closed her eyes, her body relaxing just a little in his hold. “I’ve never felt this kind of fear before, Alex,” she admitted. “Everything here is so different. I don’t belong in your world. I don’t fit in.”

“You belong here,” he whispered against her forehead. “You belong with me.”

She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze again, searching for the truth in his words. She saw it there, clear as day—his unwavering resolve, his love, and his promise to keep her safe. But the fear lingered at the edges of her mind, a shadow that wouldn’t entirely go away.

“I don’t know how to be the person you need me to be,” she said softly. “This world... your people... they’ll never accept me.”

“They will,” Alex said, his voice firm. “They will because I’ve chosen you, Aeryn. And I don’t care what anyone else thinks. You’re mine.”

Aeryn’s breath caught in her throat at his words. The way he said it, so confidently, so full of certainty, it was almost enough to make her believe it too. But doubt still gnawed at her heart.

“What if something happens again? What if... Jack wasn’t the last threat?”

“I’ll be by your side,” Alex promised. “Always.”

“But I can’t fight like you can,” Aeryn said, her voice faltering. “I don’t have the strength, the power...”

“You don’t need it,” Alex interrupted, his voice soft but insistent. “You have me. And I’ll be your strength.”

Aeryn looked at him, her tears beginning to dry but still glistening on her lashes. “I don’t want to feel like a burden,” she whispered.

“You’re not a burden,” Alex said, shaking his head. “You’re everything to me.”

Her heart ached at his words, and she felt a deep pull inside her, something that told her to trust him. To let go of the fear, even if just for a moment.

“I don’t want to lose you,” she finally admitted, her voice small and vulnerable.

“You won’t,” Alex said, pulling her close again, pressing his lips to her forehead. “I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Aeryn closed her eyes, feeling his warmth surround her like a shield, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the fear began to ease. It didn’t disappear entirely, but with Alex’s arms around her, it was manageable.

“I’ll stay by your side,” he whispered, holding her tight. “Always.”

And in that moment, Aeryn believed him.