Delilah's Pov 

After I finished taking my bath, I wrapped the towel tighter around my body and stepped out into the bedroom, water dripping off my skin like quiet whispers against the floor. The room was still dim, the curtains filtering in only a little sunlight, but it was enough.

I took my time getting dressed, I wore simple clothes that hugged my body just enough. My hair was still damp as I combed through it, letting the strands fall naturally. My fingers lingered on the comb longer than necessary, my mind slipping back to what had happened earlier.

Those eyes. I knew those eyes. I would never not know them, not in a million lifetimes. It was Malric. I was sure of it.

And now, for the first time since I'd arrived in this strange pack, he was awake.

I smoothed my hands over my clothes one last time and stepped out of the room, walking through the stone corridors that still felt too grand and too cold. My feet were light, but my heart was loud.

As I turned the corner, I saw one of the pack maids and called out softly, "Excuse me, do you know where Alpha Malric is?"

The girl gave a polite nod. "At the dining hall, my lady. He's having breakfast."

I hummed a quick thanks and made my way there.

And there he was.

Sitting at the head of the long, intimidating table like a damn king. His presence alone sent a shiver crawling up my spine-but I didn't let it show.

I walked in, head held high, my heels barely making a sound. I chose a seat two places away from him, close enough to be heard, far enough to keep the illusion of casual.

He didn't acknowledge me at first. Just continued eating like I didn't exist.

So I leaned back and said softly, "I see you're getting better."

He turned his head slowly, eyes piercing, voice cold. "And who are you?"

A smile curled on my lips, unfazed. "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself properly. I'm Delilah Elaris, a healer. The one who pulled you out of whatever hell you were in. And now here you are, eating without even a thank you."

I tilted my head toward the plate in front of him. "Though I'd advise against that particular dish. Your body's still recovering. Eat that"-I pointed to a different bowl-"it'll help your strength return faster."

He scoffed, eyes narrowing slightly. "And who are you to tell me what to eat?"

My smile didn't falter. "At this point, I have to tell you what to do. Because if you don't listen, you'll end up right back in that bed, half-dead and miserable. Unless that's what you want?"

I stood slowly, took a bite from a piece of bread on the table just enough to make a statement-and looked him straight in the eyes. "Finish eating. I'll be waiting for you in your room. I need to check you."

And with that, I turned around, not giving him the satisfaction of a backward glance.

His eyes followed me. I could feel it.

My plan was working.

I walked back to his room, calm, composed, and slid into the chair beside his massive bed. Crossing one leg over the other, I leaned back, arms folded... and waited.

****

I waited in silence, my eyes drifting toward the heavy grand door, half-expecting it to stay shut forever. But then, with a slow, agonizing creak, it opened.

Malric stepped out.

My breath caught. The way he filled the space with his presence, tall and commanding, like a god carved from obsidian and midnight. Every step he took echoed authority. 

He walked past me without a word, settling onto the edge of the bed. Then, he just... stared. Not blinking. Not speaking. Just watching me like I was some riddle he didn't want to solve.

"What do you want?" he asked finally, his voice deep, gravelly, like thunder rumbling in a bottle. "And what are you doing here?"

I stood, brushing imaginary dust from my robe, even though I knew his gaze hadn't left my body since I entered. "As I said before, I came to check how you're improving. If you'll let me."

He said nothing.

So, I took that as a yes.

Crossing the room, I reached for his wrist, my fingers curling gently around it. His skin was warm... stronger than before. I held his pulse, counted in silence, then lifted his chin to examine his eyes.

Still pale.

I leaned in again to double-check his eyes, but this time, I got closer. 

My chest brushed against his face.

He stiffened instantly. "What do you think you're doing?" His voice was taut, dangerous.

I smiled, tilting my head. "The exact thing you're thinking I'm doing." I stepped back slightly, teasing, taunting. "You saw me."

His brow furrowed. "Saw you where?"

I let the silence throb for a moment.

"Having a bath."

It was like striking a match.

In one swift movement, he was on his feet, gripping me by the neck and pinning me to the wall. His fingers were rough, tight but not crushing. Just enough to remind me who he was.

"How dare you accuse me of that?" he growled.

But I didn't flinch. I didn't even blink.

I looked him right in the eye, my voice sweet as poison. "Acting angry about what you actually did? That's cute."

A long second passed between us.

Then he let go abruptly, as if touching me burned.

I fixed my hair like nothing had happened, my smirk lingering as I walked past him.

"See you soon, Malric," I murmured. "Try not to miss me."

Malric's Pov

Lying lifeless is not as peaceful as one might imagine.

There was pain which was a dull and relentless pain but no means to show it. I existed in a limbo of suffering, somewhere between life and death, until a voice shattered the silence. A touch broke the stillness. A woman.

Delilah.

The same woman I watched walk straight into a trap without hesitation. The same woman who looked at me as if I were something more than a cursed, broken beast. She pulled me out. Not with brute strength, but with her stubbornness. Her fire. Her scent.

I felt it before I saw her.

And when I did see her stumbling around my chambers with bowls of strange herbs and infusions-I found myself staring. Staring in ways I hadn't in over a century.

She was dangerous.

Beautiful things always are.

I had never been captivated by anyone. I was not built for captivation. I was built for war, for command, for silence. I would not be the one to fall. Not for her. Especially not for her.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Seraphine's voice pulled me from the dark spiral of thoughts.

I blinked and turned toward her, the Moon Goddess sitting across from me like she owned the world and maybe she did.

"Yes," I said coolly.

"Then what was the last thing I said?" she challenged.

"The same thing you always say," I murmured, folding my arms. "That I should come out more. Talk to the boy."

Seraphine's gaze didn't waver. "Because he's not just some boy. He's your son now, whether by birth or blood bond. You've both been marked. You share the same blood. He may not have come from you, but he's yours now."

"I didn't ask for that," I replied, voice like ice. "And when I'm ready to act like he matters, I will."

She exhaled slowly, then stood. Her long silver gown brushed the floor as she made her way toward the door.

"I'll see you later," she said over her shoulder.

But before the door could close behind her, it opened again.

Talk of the devil.

Delilah stepped in with another bowl of herbs. Her timing was as irritating as it was perfect. She had a habit of walking in just when my walls were beginning to crack.

She looked... dangerous.

The dress she wore clung to her like a sin. Whoever made it clearly didn't believe in modesty. The neckline plunged, revealing the curve of her breasts-plump, soft, enticing. Her scent drifted into the room before she spoke, floral and wild, like she had bathed in temptation itself.

Seraphine shot her a look. Delilah only smiled and nodded in greeting, then waited for her to leave.

The door shut.

Delilah turned to me, her voice light. "Time for your medicine."

She walked toward me slowly, hips swaying like she knew the effect she had and maybe she did. The bowl was warm in her hands as she knelt beside me, close enough for her scent to sink into my skin.

I didn't even bother to hide the way my eyes dropped.

Her breasts were right there.

Full. Tempting. Forbidden.

What the hell was wrong with me?

She sat opposite me, waiting for me to take the bowl. I did, swallowing the bitter liquid without complaint. I was starting to feel better and stronger. Whatever concoction she kept feeding me was working. She was working.

I should've thanked her.

Instead, I asked, "What's your purpose here?"

Delilah blinked, caught off guard. "To help you feel better," she answered cautiously.

"And what else?"

Her lips curved. "Do you want there to be something else?"

I leaned forward, letting my eyes linger where they shouldn't. Her breath hitched.

"Looks like it."

"I don't know what you're saying," she whispered, her voice low and soft. Even dangerous.

Or maybe it was just the way my name sounded on her tongue, the way her lips curved with each word. I stared at them, unable to tear my eyes away. My wolf Drekkar wasn't helping either he was still, attentive, watching her just as much as I was. We were both caught, like prey in her trap.

"I want you to know one thing," she added, stepping just a little closer.

I didn't move.

Her voice dipped again, a ghost of a sound. "I'll do anything to make you feel better... because that's what I was paid to do."

Anything.

I echoed that word in my mind. Over and over. It wrapped around my thoughts, strangled reason.

"Anything?" I asked, my voice suddenly rough.

She nodded, barely a whisper. "Anything."

Then she stood.

"I'll see you later, Malric."

She turned to leave.

"Delilah."

Her name slipped past my lips before I could stop it.

She paused, turned halfway, eyes catching mine.

My wolf clawed inside me, warning me to back off, to stop whatever was about to happen. But I didn't listen.

I couldn't.

Something stronger than instinct moved through me, need? Obsession? Madness?

I stood. Walked toward her. The scent of her hit me like a drug. It was intoxicating, sweet and wild, with a hidden bite beneath it.

She didn't move as I stepped into her space.

"What are you doing, Malric?" she asked, her voice feather-light, teasing.

"What did you do to me?" I growled, not truly angry-just confused. Ravaged. Shaken.

"You said you'd do anything to make me feel better," I said.

"Yes," she replied, holding my gaze, calm and unreadable.

"Then will you do what I ask of you?"

She tilted her head. "Depends on what you want, Malric."

I didn't blink. "Kneel for me."

The words left my mouth like a curse. I couldn't believe I said them. Who was I becoming?

I wanted to drag my words back. My wolf was howling now, raging, demanding I stop.

But I didn't.

And she didn't say a word.

Instead...

She got on her knees.

Delilah's Pov

I was on my knees, looking up at Malric, his piercing gaze burning into me like he could see straight through every secret, every hidden thought. His presence was overwhelming, the raw power radiating from him making my chest tighten. Then, suddenly, he bent down, his large hand curling beneath my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his.

"You look so beautiful when you kneel for me," he murmured, his voice deep, rough, and commanding.

My throat went dry. I swallowed hard but said nothing. My heart was pounding, yet I refused to let him see just how much he was affecting me.

His thumb brushed against my lower lip slowly, deliberately, tracing the soft curve before gliding downward along my neck. I inhaled sharply when his touch lingered at the hollow of my throat, warm and demanding. My body responded before I could stop it, heat pooling low in my belly, my breath growing unsteady.

But just as suddenly as he leaned in, Malric pulled back, his jaw tense, his coldness slamming back into place like a steel wall.

"Stand," he ordered, his tone sharp and distant.

I rose slowly, keeping my composure, refusing to let him see the chaos he had stirred inside me.

"I don't know what you're trying to do... or planning," Malric said, his voice dark and laced with warning. "But stay away from me, Delilah. Or you won't like how things turn out."

A slow smirk curved my lips. I stepped closer, deliberately invading his space, my scent wrapping around us like a trap.

"I heard everyone fears you, Malric," I whispered, tilting my head just slightly. "But I'm not everyone. I'm not afraid of you. I'm simply here... to do my job."

I let my fingertips trail lightly down his chest, tracing the hard lines of muscle beneath his shirt. I moved lower, almost brushing against the heat of his manhood, when his hand shot out, gripping my wrist firmly.

"Leave," he ground out, his voice a low growl.

"Fine," I said softly, letting my lips curl into a teasing smile. "But I'll be back... with your medication."

My heart was racing as I turned to go, though I forced my strides to remain calm and measured. I would not give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much power he held over me... yet.

As I stepped out into the hallway, the cool air hitting my flushed skin, I almost walked straight into one of the pack members - a tall, handsome man with an easy smile.

"My lady," he said warmly, giving me a polite bow. "Would you care to go on a walk with me?"

I hesitated for a moment, considering. I wasn't doing anything else, and part of me needed to clear my head after what just happened with Malric.

"Alright," I said finally.

We walked through the winding paths of the pack's territory, the forest whispering around us as the sun dipped lower in the sky. After a while, he glanced at me curiously.

"This is the first time we've spoken properly," he said. "Tell me about yourself."

"There's not much to tell," I replied smoothly. "I'm a healer. That's all there is."

He frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on my face. "It's strange... you look so familiar. Almost like the woman who was cast out two years ago."

My steps faltered slightly, though I masked it quickly. "Cast out?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Yes," he nodded. "She betrayed the pack. Tried to work with the enemy, even attempted something against the Alpha. They punished her... killed her, they said."

I forced a small, amused laugh. "And how do you know she wasn't framed?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, trust me. No one doubts it. She was guilty."

"Hmm," I murmured, schooling my expression into something calm and unreadable, even as my thoughts churned.

After a moment, I stopped walking. "I should go," I said curtly.

He blinked in surprise. "Already? I thought we could-"

"Could what?" I cut him off sharply, my voice cool and dismissive. "Learn something? Share secrets?" I took a step closer, my eyes narrowing. "Do yourself a favor... stay away from me."

With that, I turned on my heel and strode back toward my chambers, leaving him behind without a second glance.

I pushed the door to my room shut and leaned against it, my heartbeat still wild from everything that happened earlier. My head felt heavy, too full, too restless, so I sat cross-legged on the bed and closed my eyes. I needed to calm my racing thoughts, and meditation was the only thing that ever worked.

I forced myself to focus, drawing my energy inward, visualizing peace, but the more I tried to pull away, the closer his image became, filling every corner of my mind. I meditated until I felt light, almost floating, before finally opening my eyes. The tension in my chest had softened, but it hadn't disappeared.

I ate a quick meal afterward, something light, something to ground me, but my thoughts were still tangled. Eventually, I gave in and decided to rest for a bit before heading over to Malric's chamber with his medication. My body was warm, exhausted, and heavy, sinking into the soft mattress as my lashes fluttered shut

Sleep came fast, and with it... him

Malric's voice was deep, rough, and close enough that I could feel the heat of his breath against my skin

His fingers dug into my flesh hard enough to bruise, his cock pistoning into me with a rhythm that stole my breath. Every thrust was a claim, a brand, his voice a growl in my ear"You're mine, Delilah," he growled, his words edged with possession, "you are mine"

My back hit something solid, his body pressing me down. My breath caught when his lips found my neck, slow, burning kisses dragging lower and lower until I was trembling under his touch. His hands roamed like he owned me, like every inch of me belonged to him, and my body... gods, my body betrayed me, arching up into his

"Malric..." I gasped his name, half a plea, half a surrender

"You feel that?" he rasped against my ear, thrusting harder, deeper, until I cried out, nails clawing at his shoulders, my walls clenching around him. "That's mine too"

Every word, every movement set me on fire, pulling me closer and closer to the edge until my whole body quivered, straining, desperate for release. My breath came ragged, broken, my climax almost there, almost-

I jolted awake, chest heaving, drenched in sweat, the remnants of the dream clinging to me like silk. My body still hummed with need, throbbing with the ghost of his touch

And then I froze

Because Malric was there

He was sitting at the edge of my bed, half in shadow, his intense gaze locked on me like he could see every sinful thought I'd just had. His expression was unreadable, but his jaw was tight, his breathing shallow, like he'd been fighting something

My throat went dry. "Malric...?" I whispered, voice shaky, my body still betraying me with every ragged inhale

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes dark and unrelenting. "Were you," his voice was low, husky, almost dangerous, "having an erotic dream about me, Delilah?"