“While I can still see that hurt deep in your eyes, yes, I do.”
“I didn’t realize I was walking around looking so wounded.”
“You don’t,” I answer, cupping her jaw and looking into her eyes. “But I can see it, because I’m the one who put it there.”
“Oh, Galen,” she shakes her head, putting her hands on my chest. At first, I think she’s going to push me away, but then she puts her arms around my waist and snuggles against me.
“Just hold me, Galen. That’s all I need for now.”
“Okay,” I answer, wrapping my arms around her. “That I can do.”
Now and forever, my love. I’ll hold you until the end of time.
Chapter 21 - Clara
When warm sunlight caresses my cheek and I feel softness all around me, I don’t know where I am. I stretch a little, trying to turn over, and that’s when I feel Galen pressed up against me.
I turn to look at him, amazed that we’re curled up together in bed. I’m still in my velvet dress, and even though there’s a soft blanket over us, we’re still on top of the covers.
He must have carried me in here when I fell asleep.
I wait for the inevitable rush of fear, and to my surprise, it never comes. I watch Galen’s face as the light filtering into the room gets brighter, thin rays that angle through the curtains to pick out the shine in his dark blonde hair.
A moment of hurt wells inside me as memories from the past fall through my mind like pieces of broken glass. We woke up together a couple of times, but Galen was always so careful not to stay too long with me. He was too afraid of his family finding out.
And I took that. Instead of telling him I was worth more, I let it slide. I have guilt in this, too—I should have told him it was unacceptable and made him come clean.
But with that realization comes a swelling wave of even greater pain. It sweeps through me, engulfing me in self-blame and sorrow.
I couldn’t do it! I loved him so much, I wouldn’t dare put our relationship at risk. That’s why I’m so angry and afraid—because I did that to myself!
For the first time in my life, I let these feelings come. I examine them as they flow through my mind and my heart, and instead of hurting me, I feel soothed as if I’m finally treating the wound instead of ignoring it, or worse, denying its existence.
All those nights, I cried and raged, blaming him, telling myself I hated him—when I hated myself. I never stopped loving Galen.
Watching him sleep beside me, the emotions are painfully clear. He reminds me so much of Nico while he’s sleeping—the same tangle of dark golden hair across the brow, the long lashes falling gently on his cheeks, and the curved lips that look ready to smile up at me with love.
Tears prick at my eyes, and even though my eyes well up, I don’t let them flow. I wriggle a little in Galen’s arms, feeling his warm chest against me. Some instinct in me, a learned response, is telling me to run, but I’m having a problem with that for the first time.
I don’t want to.
I want to stay curled up in his arms forever. I feel so safe and so loved. All those years struggling alone, determined to make it work and be strong for my son… the last few weeks have been bliss, if I could just let myself accept it.
I glance back at Galen’s face, wanting to enjoy the relaxed, peaceful look again, but a shock crackles through me as I realize his eyes are open.
I jump in his arms, a tremor running through me. My heart hammers up into my throat, making me dizzy as my breath catches in my throat.
“I’m sorry, Clara,” he says, letting go of me. “I must have curled up with you after I fell asleep. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
I watch him roll away from me, and the loss that rips through me is more than I can bear. I reach out and grab his hand, rolling towards him.
“No, Galen. Don’t let me go.”
The joy that breaks across his face is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Even the tender moments he’s shared with Nico recently don’t even come close. I knew that being the big, bad wolf was just a show as the alpha, but in this moment, I realize how vulnerable he really is.
As he pulls me against his chest, I tilt my head up toward his lips. When his mouth touches mine, a shiver runs through him, and it’s so powerful his hands tremble.
I deepen the kiss, searching for his tongue and running my hands over his body. He’s still wearing the silk shirt, and the soft feel of it against my hands and his hard muscles underneath heighten the intensity.
