Chapter 85: He didn’t break me

The next morning, the sound of thunder and heavy rain roused Alyssa from sleep. The downpour had started early, leaving the bedroom cool and damp.

She stretched, pulling the sheets up to her chin, and peeked beside her. Dorian wasn’t in bed. The faint hum of running water from the bathroom told her he was already showering.

She slid out of bed, running a hand through her disheveled hair as she padded across the cold floor. Joining Dorian in the shower whenever she woke up had quickly become a habit she cherished.

Pushing the door open, she paused at the threshold. Steam filled the shower enclosure, and for several seconds, she simply stood there watching him.

His head was thrown back under the stream, eyes closed, his long, dark hair clinging to his shoulders and back. Every movement he made sent a rippling flex through the broad muscles of his back.

His tattoos never failed to make her knees weak. Covered in ink and taut muscles, he looked like a Greek god of ruin.

Her heart hammered against her ribs. Goddess, she loved him. The love she felt for Dorian was wild and consuming, nothing like the naive affection she had once held for Fabian. This love burned hot enough to destroy her.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she stepped further into the bathroom. Something about her presence must have alerted Dorian because he turned slowly, his gaze locking onto hers.

A warm smile touched his lips, softening his sharp features. "Good morning, my love."

She smiled back, shyly tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Good morning. You’re up early."

"I didn’t want to wake you." He pushed the glass shower door open and extended a hand, steam curling outward around him. "Join me?"

She nodded eagerly. Slipping out of her satin nightgown, she took his hand and let him pull her under the warm water. The steam enveloped her skin, chasing away the morning cold as goosebumps prickled along her arms.

"Did you sleep well?" Dorian asked softly. He poured a generous amount of bath oil into his palm, lathering it into the scrub before running it gently across her shoulders.

"Yes," she whispered, her gaze clouding with desire as his hands smoothed down over her breasts. "Do you have somewhere to be today?"

He nodded, guiding the scrub lower, his palm firm against her hip to keep her steady under the water. "I wanted to tell you last night, but you fell asleep right after dinner."

"Tell me what?"

"We received reports of abducted girls near the border, and the trail leads back to the Southern pack." He paused, unsure of how she would take the news. "Gerald abducted them."

Alyssa’s eyes widened. Her pulse spiked, this time from fear and shock rather than desire.

She had forgotten all about Gerald. After the night he hunted her through the forest, after Dorian had saved her, she had convinced herself she would never have to face him again.

And in forgetting him, she had also forgotten Henna, the friend who had helped her survive those three terrible years in the estate. Henna must have delivered her baby by now. A pang of guilt struck her. What kind of friend was she?

"I’m taking a contingent of the Lycan army South," Dorian continued. "You don’t have to worry about Gerald. I’ll put an end to him and free those girls."

"I’m coming with you."

Dorian blinked, surprised. He had wanted to bring her along, but he had hesitated to ask, unsure if she could handle facing the man who had bought and abused her for three years.

"Are you sure?" he asked softly.

She nodded firmly. "I am. I can’t let fear rule me anymore. I need him to see that he didn’t break me. And," She licked her lips. "I have a friend there. Henna. I need to make sure she’s alive."

Dorian studied her face for a long second, then gave a slow nod. "Alright. We leave right after breakfast."

A soft smile touched her lips, relieved that he hadn’t tried to dissuade her. The rest of their shower passed in comfortable, intimate silence, a quiet moment locked away from the rest of the world.

Afterward, Alyssa slipped on the outfit Dorian picked out for her; a warm cream-colored gown that hugged every curve of her body with soft, furry sleeves.

She sat still at the vanity as he dried her hair and ran a soft brush through the strands. Doing this had also become one of his favorite routines.

When he finished, she took the dryer and returned the favor. His dark hair had grown slightly longer, framing his sharp jaw and neatly trimmed sideburns. He looked devastatingly handsome, and her heart gave a sharp, tender tug at the sight of him.

Downstairs, breakfast passed smoothly, filled with the usual playful banter between Anthony, Pandora, and Alec.

By the time they finished, the rain had eased to a steady drizzle. Jake hurried outside to bring the cars around front while Alyssa and Dorian walked toward the main entrance.

But as they reached the double doors, Samantha burst out from a side corridor, her steps frantic as she rushed toward them.

"Dorian!" she called out, her voice trembling. "Dorian, wait!"

Dorian stopped, his brow furrowing into a dark scowl. Alec stepped between them immediately, blocking her path. "That’s Alpha Dorian to you, Samantha."

Samantha ignored him completely, keeping her panicked gaze locked on Dorian. "I... I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" Dorian snapped. When she hesitated, his patience snapped. "Don’t waste my time, Samantha."

"If we could just speak in private..."

"Whatever you have to say, say it right here."

Alyssa watched Samantha in silence, a worried frown drawing across her face. Seeing the usually arrogant and haughty she-wolf looking so pale and frantic was jarring.

What could possibly have shaken her this badly?

Samantha’s eyes darted frantically between the faces staring back at her. All night she had agonized over whether to tell Dorian about Seth’s murdered body or reach out to her father first.

She was terrified, grieving, and entirely confused on what to do.

"Last night, I saw something..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before she could finish, the side door leading to the corridor swung open. Seth stepped into the hall, carrying a wooden supply crate along with several other servants.

His eyes instantly locked onto Samantha and hardened.

The words died instantly in Samantha’s throat. Her blood ran cold.

Dorian’s scowl deepened. "What did you see?"

Samantha swallowed hard, backing away. "Nothing. It’s... it’s nothing."

Annoyed by the delay, Dorian muttered a curse and turned away. He slipped a firm arm around Alyssa’s waist and led her out the door.

Alyssa glanced back over her shoulder, watching Samantha’s shoulders collapse in sheer terror. A strange wave of unease washed over her.

"Maybe we should hear what she has to say," she suggested softly.

"She has nothing to say," Dorian replied, taking the open umbrella Alec held out to him. "Samantha has always been a manipulative, attention-seeking liar. I doubt she had anything useful to say."

He held the umbrella high over Alyssa’s head to shield her from the drizzle as they moved towards the waiting car.

But all through the long drive toward the Southern pack, Alyssa remained restless.

It wasn’t because of the upcoming confrontation with Gerald that kept her heart racing; it was the look of absolute terror on Samantha’s face.

What had she been trying to say?