Alpha's Dark Desires
Chapter 64: Together

Chapter 64: Together

Elena’s POV:

He leaned in, his nose tracing a slow, deliberate path along my jawline. I instinctively turned my face away, but he took the opportunity to dip his face into the curve of my neck, inhaling deeply before his lips began trailing kisses along my skin.

"I so want to fuck you everywhere in this bathroom, starting right here," he murmured possessively, his voice dark and husky. "But first, I need to mark you, so you’ll know you can’t run or hide from me."

His words sent a shiver down my spine, both from fear and an undeniable spark of desire. His mouth moved to the spot where his mark should go, and he began sucking on it, the sensation pulling a gasp from my lips.

Fuck. I was wavering, my resolve slipping. A part of me reconsidered everything—whether to just let this happen. But no. I clung desperately to the rational part of my mind. This was not the way I wanted to be marked. Not like this!

My hands frantically searched for anything I could use—anything at all to stop him. My fingers finally found a switch—the shower tap. Just as he leaned in, his lips brushing dangerously close to my neck, I turned it on.

A gush of icy water poured down, soaking us both instantly. "What the fuck!" he growled, recoiling as the freezing spray hit him.

The deep, lust-filled haze in his eyes seemed to ease slightly, softening ever so slightly into a mixture of shock and frustration. Thank the goddess—it worked. Well, at least a little.

He just stood there, the cold water pooling at his feet, his dark, lust-filled eyes gradually clearing. The heavy haze of his wolf faded, replaced by the man I knew—Kane. "You came back," he said, his voice no longer dark and dangerous, but rough with emotion. Kane was in control now, not his wolf.

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t. I just stood there, watching him. The water streamed over his body, gliding over every taut muscle of his broad chest, down the carved ridges of his abs, before dripping lower, vanishing beneath the V shaped.... Don’t look,

I told myself. Don’t. But my eyes betrayed me, flicking downward, tracking every tantalizing movement of the droplets. Fuck, Elena, stop!

Zena, my shameless wolf, growled in frustration at me for stopping him earlier. Our mate was ready to mark us, and you stopped him? she hissed, her anger simmering as she pushed flashes of desire into my mind.

He stood there a moment longer, his wet hair plastered to his face, water trickling down the curve of his strong jaw. My soaked clothes clung to me, turning translucent, and I noticed the flicker of heat in his eyes as they briefly dipped to take in the sight. His jaw clenched, and he tore his gaze away, taking a steadying breath.

Without a word, he turned to leave, and that was when I saw it—the smooth expanse of his hard back, every muscle shifting with his movements, the way the water glistened on his bronzed skin. Then my eyes traveled lower, catching the firm curve of his perfectly sculpted butt before he disappeared through the door.

Fuck. How is this guy even real?

I stood in the shower for a while after Kane left, the cold water pooling at my feet as my thoughts spiraled. With a sigh, I turned off the water, glancing at the ruined door. There was nothing to lock anymore, no barrier to keep him out. My chest tightened at the thought of him walking in again, so I moved quickly.

I peeled off my wet clothes, the fabric clinging stubbornly to my skin. Grabbing a towel, I rubbed my hair dry and then wrapped it up before slipping on a robe. The entire time, I couldn’t shake the feeling of his presence, like he could reappear at any moment. My eyes darted over my shoulder constantly, nervous and shy, even though I knew it was irrational. I mean, it wasn’t like Kane hadn’t already seen me naked. But still... I’m shy, okay?

Wrapping the robe tightly around me, I stepped out of the bathroom and froze. Kane was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands, wearing only a pair of shorts. His broad shoulders were slumped, his usually powerful frame looking smaller somehow, like the weight of the world was pressing him down. My heart clenched painfully at the sight.

This is it, isn’t it? I can’t run anymore, I thought as I took a tentative step toward him. Kane’s head lifted slightly, and his tired eyes locked onto mine. For a moment, I saw something raw and vulnerable in his expression—guilt, maybe even shame. He looked utterly dejected, and it broke something inside me.

When he beckoned me closer, I didn’t hesitate. My feet carried me to him before I even had a chance to think. As soon as I was within reach, he pulled me into his arms, wrapping them securely around my waist. I didn’t resist.

Kane buried his face against my chest, holding me as though I might disappear again. His strength surrounded me, but his vulnerability hit me harder than anything else. He was so tall that even sitting, his head rested against my collarbone, his breath warm against my skin.

We stayed like that for a while, silent but connected, before he spoke. His voice was low and raw with emotion.

"I’m sorry," he murmured, his grip tightening. "I’m sorry I drove you away. I was so worried I’d never see you again... worried something terrible had happened to you. And then you saw me with Ashley, and... and I came onto you. I almost marked you without your consent. I’m so sorry."

I felt his body tremble slightly against mine as he continued, his words pouring out like a desperate confession.

"But please... don’t leave me. Don’t leave me again. I’ll try to be better, I swear. I’ll be the mate you deserve. Just don’t run from me. Promise me, Elena. Punch me, yell at me, throw something at me, but please, just... don’t run from me again."

His voice cracked, and the plea in his words struck me dumb. I stood there, frozen, my hands hovering awkwardly by my sides as I tried to process everything he’d just said. This... this was not how I’d expected this day to end.

I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to respond. But as I looked down at him, vulnerable and pleading, I knew one thing for sure—this man, my mate, wasn’t the arrogant alpha I thought he was. He was broken, too. And right now, he was putting all his broken pieces in my hands.

I felt my chest tighten as Kane’s words settled into me, each one a vulnerable, raw plea that left me shaken. He was still holding me tightly, his face buried against my chest like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. His warmth seeped into me, but so did his fear, his guilt, and his hope.

For a long moment, I stayed frozen, not knowing what to say or do. Then, something deep inside me cracked, and I finally wrapped my arms around him. My fingers gently threaded through his damp hair, and I let out a shaky breath.

"I won’t run again," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I promise, Kane. I’ll try, too. I’ll try to be a better mate."

He went still at my words, like he was holding his breath. Slowly, he pulled back just enough to look at me, his dark eyes searching mine. For the first time in what felt like forever, I saw the man behind the Alpha—soft, vulnerable, human. His lips parted as though he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. Instead, his arms tightened around me again, pulling me back into his chest.

Relief radiated from him, and I could feel it in the way he held me, in the way his breathing slowed. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head, and for a moment, we just stood there, wrapped in each other.

After a while, Kane pulled back and cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You don’t know what that means to me."

I gave him a small, hesitant smile. "It means a lot to me, too."

He kissed my forehead gently, and the tenderness of the gesture sent a warmth blooming in my chest. Without another word, he stood and led me to the other said of the bed. His grip on my hand was firm but not demanding, like he was afraid to let go but didn’t want to push me.

When we reached the other side of the bed, Kane pulled back the covers and gestured for me to lie down first. I hesitated for just a second before sliding under the blankets. He followed, settling in behind me, and I felt his strong arms wrap around my waist as he pulled me against his chest.

His warmth enveloped me completely, and I let myself relax into his hold. It felt safe here, despite everything. His steady breathing tickled the back of my neck, and I could feel his heartbeat against my back.

"I’ll keep my promises, Elena," he murmured, his voice soft and sincere. "I’ll never hurt you again."

I didn’t respond, but I covered his hand with mine, letting him know I’d heard him. Slowly, my eyes fluttered shut as the tension in my body drained away.

Kane held me close, spooning me protectively, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt at peace. As sleep began to pull me under, I whispered, "We’ll figure this out. Together."

I felt his lips press a soft kiss against my shoulder, and his grip on me tightened slightly. "Together," he echoed, and I fell asleep in his arms, feeling safer than I ever thought possible.