Page 83 of Wisteria and Cloves
"If they contact her, it needs to be her decision how to respond," I said, though every alpha instinct in me wanted to shield her from any further manipulation. "But we'll make sure she knows she has options," I continued, keeping my voice low to avoid disturbing Lilianna. "That she doesn't have to speak to them if she doesn't want to, and that she can set boundaries they've never allowed her to have before."
Miles nodded, his expression unusually fierce. "And we'll be there if she decides to confront them. She won't face them alone."
"The medical evidence alone gives her significant leverage," Nicolaus added, his analytical mind already mapping potential scenarios. "Dr. Chen's documentation of the improper suppressant use could be grounds for legal action if Lilianna ever wanted to pursue that route."
I watched Lilianna's peaceful face, hating the thought of her having to deal with the people who had systematically suppressed everything vibrant about her. "Let's focus on her healing first. Legal considerations can wait until she's stronger and if she wants to take them to court at a later date we can.”
"Agreed," Christopher said softly, his gaze following mine to Lilianna's sleeping form. "She's been through enough. Right now, she needs stability and care, not more conflict."
A comfortable silence settled over us as we watched her rest. The afternoon light had shifted, casting longer shadows across the room, and I found myself checking the time. She'd been asleep for nearly two hours—longer than she'd managed to rest at any stretch since starting the new medication.
"Should we wake her?" Miles asked, noting my concern. "She might have trouble sleeping tonight if she naps too long."
"Let her rest a bit longer," Nicolaus advised, consulting something on his tablet. "Her body is working hard to recalibrate. And deep sleep is therapeutic."
Christopher rose quietly from his chair. "I'll start dinner prep. Something light but can give her some extra energy for when she wakes up.”
I nodded and watched him walk away as I turned my attention to Lilianna, a small smile coming to my lips as she slept peacefully and hoped quiet moments like this would be in the future for her. She deserved it.
Chapter Thirty
Lilianna
Each day brought new discoveries as my body continued to adjust to the reduced suppressants. Colors seemed more vibrant, scents more complex, and the simple pleasure of a hot shower had become almost overwhelming in its intensity. But nothing was as disorienting as my growing awareness of the four men caring for me.
I noticed things I'd been blind to before—the way Julian's eyes darkened when our hands accidentally brushed, how Miles's scent strengthened whenever he leaned close to show me something in his gardening journals, the careful way Christopher ensured our fingers touched when he passed me a mug of tea, and the increasingly frequent moments whenNicolaus's cold mask slipped to reveal something warmer, more primal beneath.
Now it was Saturday morning, and I stood in my room staring at my reflection, trying to decide what to wear for our shopping trip. The handful of dresses my mother had deemed appropriate suddenly seemed like costume pieces—garments that belonged to a different version of myself, one I was rapidly outgrowing.
I selected the simplest dress I owned, a navy blue A-line with minimal embellishment. At least it wouldn't draw attention while we shopped for clothes that actually reflected who I was becoming. My hand hovered over the green silk scarf Miles had scented for me, tempted to bring it for comfort in what would certainly be an overwhelming day.
A gentle knock at my door interrupted my frustrated contemplation of the limited options.
"Come in," I called, turning from the mirror with a sigh.
Miles entered, carrying what looked like a garment bag. His green eyes took in my expression, and a smile tugged at his lips.
"Having trouble deciding?" he asked, setting the bag down on my bed.
"Everything I own feels... wrong," I admitted. "Like they belong to someone else."
"They do," Miles said simply. "They belong to the person your parents wanted you to be, not who you actually are." He gestured to the garment bag. "Which is why I thought this might help, just for today."
I approached the bed cautiously, curiosity overcoming my uncertainty. "What is it?"
Miles unzipped the garment bag carefully, revealing a dress unlike anything I'd ever owned. The fabric was a deep forest green that reminded me immediately of his eyes, but the cut was different from anything my mother would have approved of—still modest but somehow more alive, with gentle curves that followed the female form rather than hiding it.
"I hope you don't mind," Miles said, his voice carrying a note of uncertainty I rarely heard from him. "I noticed how much you seemed drawn to green when we were choosing your nesting materials, and I thought... well, I thought you might like to wear something that was chosen specifically for you."
I reached out to touch the fabric, marveling at its softness. The material seemed to shimmer slightly in the morning light, and I could already imagine how it would feel against my increasingly sensitive skin.
"You bought this for me?" I whispered, my throat tight with emotion and before I could stop myself I threw my arms around him.
Miles's arms came around me immediately, strong and warm, pulling me against his chest as I breathed in his familiar scent of earth and growing things. The embrace felt different from the careful hugs he'd given me before—more solid, more present. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheek, could sense the way his breathing deepened as he held me.
"Of course I did," he murmured into my hair, his voice rougher than usual. "I wanted you to have something beautiful, something that was yours from the beginning."
I pulled back slightly to look up at him, suddenly aware of how close we were, how his hands had settled at the small of my back, how his green eyes had darkened as they searched my face. The air between us felt charged, electric in a way that made my skin tingle.
