Alpha's Dark Desires
Chapter 65: Morning After Promises

Chapter 65: Morning After Promises

Elena’s POV:

The morning light seeped through the curtains, soft and warm, casting a golden glow across the room. My eyes fluttered open to the quiet sound of Kane’s steady breathing behind me. His arm was wrapped securely around my waist, the weight of it grounding and protective, while my back pressed firmly against his broad chest. His warmth seeped into me, and for a moment, I simply stayed still, savoring the quiet intimacy.

Everything about him was overwhelming—his sheer size, the solid, unyielding feel of his body against mine, and the way his hand splayed across my stomach as if he were afraid I’d vanish in the night. His breathing was deep and even, but his hold tightened slightly when I shifted, pulling me closer, as if he instinctively knew I was awake and thinking about moving.

I smiled softly to myself, recalling the promises we had made to each other last night. To try, to communicate, to be better mates. The memory of his broken voice as he pleaded with me not to leave still echoed in my chest, tugging at my heart. I knew then that no matter how terrifying this bond felt at times, I wasn’t going anywhere.

When I moved again, trying to adjust my position, I heard a low growl rumble from deep within his chest. It wasn’t threatening or angry—more of a sleepy, possessive sound. I froze, surprised, and felt the tip of his nose nuzzle against the curve of my neck.

"Don’t move," he mumbled, his voice thick and raspy with sleep. "Just stay here a little longer."

"Kane," I whispered, biting back a smile, "it’s morning. I need to get up."

"No," he muttered stubbornly, tightening his grip on my waist. "Morning can wait."

I felt his lips brush lightly against the back of my neck, warm and soft, sending shivers down my spine. His hand slid slightly upward, resting just under my ribs, his thumb absentmindedly stroking small circles on my skin. I swallowed hard, my resolve to get out of bed melting with every touch.

"Kane," I tried again, my voice weaker this time. "I have things to do."

"Not right now, you don’t," he murmured, his voice quieter but no less commanding. He shifted slightly, and I felt the scruff of his jaw graze my shoulder as his lips continued their gentle exploration. "You’re mine for a little longer."

Heat bloomed across my cheeks, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. "You’re impossible."

"And you’re perfect," he countered without missing a beat, his lips now trailing down the side of my neck. "Now stop arguing and let me hold you."

I didn’t have much of a choice, not with the way his body enveloped mine so completely, keeping me cocooned in his warmth. And honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave his arms. There was something intoxicating about being this close to him, about the way he touched me like I was something precious.

His kisses grew bolder, lingering on the sensitive spots just below my ear and along my collarbone. Each press of his lips sent little sparks of electricity shooting through me, making it harder and harder to think straight. My hand instinctively reached back, tangling in his hair, and I heard a satisfied hum rumble from him in response.

"You’re distracting me," I said weakly, though my words held no real conviction.

"Good," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You distracted me first. You distracted me the moment you walked into my life, Elena. And now you’re stuck with me."

I turned slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of his face. His dark eyes were soft but still carried a smoldering intensity that made my heart skip a beat. His messy hair fell slightly into his face, and his lips curved into a lazy, half-awake smile that was almost boyish, if not for the raw heat in his gaze.

"Stuck with you?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That’s one way to describe it."

He grinned, and before I could say anything else, he leaned in, capturing my lips in a slow, tender kiss. It wasn’t rushed or demanding—it was deliberate, as though he wanted to savor every second, every touch. His hand moved up to cradle my face, his thumb brushing against my cheek, and I melted into him without a second thought.

When we finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, his eyes searching mine with an expression so open and vulnerable it made my chest ache.

"You’re not just stuck with me," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You’re my everything, Elena. My mate. My home. I don’t think I could survive losing you."

I reached up, cupping his face in my hands. "You’re not going to lose me, Kane," I said softly. "I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. And... I’ll try to be better too. For us."

His eyes softened even more, and for a moment, he just looked at me, like he was memorizing every detail of my face. Then, without warning, he wrapped both arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace that made me feel completely and utterly safe.

"You have no idea how much that means to me," he murmured against my hair. "No idea."

We stayed like that for what felt like hours, wrapped up in each other, the rest of the world fading away. His fingers traced lazy patterns along my back, and I let myself relax fully for the first time in what felt like forever. For once, I wasn’t overthinking or worrying. I was just... present, in this moment, with him.

Eventually, Kane shifted slightly, leaning back against the pillows and pulling me with him so that I was resting against his chest. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his hand still holding me securely by the waist.

"You’re not getting up anytime soon," he announced, a teasing note creeping into his voice. "I’ve decided this is where you belong. Right here. With me."

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at my lips. "Is that so?"

"Absolutely," he said, his tone smug. "The world can wait. Right now, it’s just us."

And for once, I found myself agreeing. There was nowhere else I wanted to be.

Kane’s POV:

The first thing I became aware of was her warmth. Not just her body against mine, but her presence—soft, steady, grounding. My arm was draped around her waist, fingers brushing the curve of her stomach, holding her close like I might wake up and find her gone. Except this time, she didn’t pull away. She wasn’t trying to leave.

That alone sent a surge of emotion through me so strong I didn’t know how to name it. Relief? Gratitude? Possession? Maybe all of it, twisted together in a way only she could make me feel.

I shifted slightly, pressing my face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent. It was faintly sweet, warm, and so distinctly Elena it made my chest tighten. My wolf stirred, not in agitation this time, but with a deep, rumbling satisfaction. She was ours. She’d stayed.

My hold on her tightened reflexively when she moved, her body tensing for a moment before relaxing again. The wolf in me growled low in contentment, and I buried my nose against her skin, letting her scent calm every restless part of me.

And then it hit me—the memories of last night, of her standing there drenched and vulnerable telling me to get a grip of myself when I was on the verge of marking her. I had come to my senses with the help of the cold water and I had been so ashamed of what I might have done. I had beg for her forgiveness and promised to be a better mate. Her response had been hesitant but honest, her eyes full of a hope I hadn’t dared let myself believe in until then. I’d held her, whispered my own desperate promises, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I’d gone to bed without the fear that she’d slip away.

She was still here. My mate, my everything, lying in my arms without running, without fighting me.

I wanted to stay like this forever, but then I felt her shift again, this time more deliberately. The loss of her warmth, even for a second, was unacceptable. A growl slipped from my throat, quiet but enough to make her still.

"Don’t move," I muttered, my voice rough with sleep. "Just stay."

"Kane," she whispered, her voice soft and teasing, but I could hear the smile in it. "It’s morning. I need to get up."

"No," I said firmly, pulling her even closer, my arm tightening around her waist. "Morning can wait. You’re not going anywhere."

She let out a quiet laugh, and the sound was like a balm to the raw edges of my soul. I felt her relax again, and I took the opportunity to press a kiss to the soft skin just below her ear. She shivered, and my lips curved into a smile against her neck.

"Impossible," she muttered under her breath, but she didn’t try to move again.

"Maybe," I murmured, my voice quieter now, more intimate. "But you’re still mine, Elena. And I’m not letting you go."

The words came out possessive, raw, but I didn’t regret them. They were the truth, and I’d stopped trying to hide how much I needed her. I trailed kisses along the side of her neck, slow and deliberate, savoring the way her breathing hitched.

"Stop distracting me," she said weakly, her voice lacking any real conviction.

"Never," I replied, grinning against her skin. "You distracted me first, you know. Ever since the moment I laid eyes on you, you’ve been all I can think about."

She turned slightly, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of her face. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The way she looked at me—like I was something worth staying for—undid me completely.

I cupped her face in my hand, brushing my thumb along her cheek. "You have no idea how much this means to me," I said softly. "Waking up with you here, in my arms, not trying to run or push me away... It’s everything, Elena. You’re everything."

Her cheeks flushed, and I couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her. It was slow and gentle, a far cry from the desperate passion of last night. This was something else entirely—something deeper, more real.

When I pulled back, I rested my forehead against hers, my fingers threading through her hair. "I’ll never stop proving myself to you," I murmured. "Never."

Her hand came up to rest against my chest, right over my heart. "And I’ll try too," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the vulnerability in her eyes. "I’ll try to be better. For us."

Those words undid me all over again. I kissed her once more, harder this time, pouring everything I felt into it—gratitude, love, and the overwhelming need to protect and cherish her for as long as I had breath in my body.

When we finally pulled apart, I pulled her back against my chest, wrapping both arms around her like I could shield her from the world.

"You’re not getting up anytime soon," I said, my voice lighter now, teasing.

She laughed, the sound vibrating through me. "You can’t keep me here forever."

"Watch me," I replied smugly, nuzzling the top of her head. "This is where you belong. Right here, with me."

She rolled her eyes, but I could hear the smile in her voice when she said, "Is that so?"

"Absolutely," I said, pressing another kiss to her temple. "The world can wait. Right now, you’re all that matters."

And for the first time in my life, I felt like everything was exactly as it should be.

Only to remember the contract was still lying in the sitting room shit!