110 By My Side
Lennox’s POV 1
Everything felt heavy.
My body… my head… even my heart.
I wasn’t sure where I was. My mind floated between light and darkness, pain and peace. I heard voices–some loud, some soft. But one stood out.
Olivia’s voice.
Even in my sleep, I felt her. Heard her. Smelled her scent–soft, warm, comforting. Like home.
I tried to open my eyes, but they felt too heavy. My body didn’t want to move. Still, I wasn’t alone. I could feel a hand in mine. Warm. Gentle. Familiar.
I wanted to wake up. I wanted to see her.
Slowly, my body started to respond. My fingers twitched. My breathing deepened. My eyelids fluttered open, though the light stung my eyes.
It took a moment, but then I saw her.
Curled beside me on the bed, her head resting near my arm. Her hand still holding mine like she never wanted to let go.
She was asleep.
Even in sleep, she looked so beautiful. So tired… but peaceful. There were dried tears on her cheeks, and I wondered if they were for me.
My heart ached.
She was supposed to hate me.
So why was she here?
I turned my head slowly, ignoring the pain. I wanted to look at her properly, to take her in. My mate. My wife. The one I had hurt the most… yet here she was, by my side.
I lifted our joined hands and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. She didn’t stir.
“Olivia,” I whispered, my voice rough and low.
She didn’t wake, but her grip on my hand tightened a little, like even in sleep she didn’t want to lose me.
A sad smile pulled at my lips.
“We are going out of the plan,” I whispered, my voice low. “We are supposed to hate each other, remember? Then what is happening?”
I brushed a lock of hair from her face, careful not to wake her. I didn’t deserve her. But right now, I was just thankful she was here.
Sighing softly, I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts a mess.
“How do you feel?”
My wolf’s voice echoed gently in my mind.
I shrugged, “Okay,” I replied quietly.
Olivia’s fingers tightened around mine again, like a silent reminder she was still there.
I turned my head slightly, looking at her sleeping form again. Her lashes fluttered, and her breathing shifted. She was waking up.
A part of me wanted to pretend to still be asleep.
But it was too late.
Her eyes slowly opened, hazy at first, then wide and alert when they landed on me.
We stared at each other.
Silence.
And then I spoke, my voice dry and cold. “Did you lose your way, Olivia? Or did you just forget this room belongs to someone you hate?”
She sat up slowly, brushing her hair out of her face, her jaw tightening. “Don’t flatter yourself. I stayed because the healer said someone should.”
I scoffed. “I’m sure Levi or Louis could’ve done the job. Or one of the guards. Why you?”
She looked at me, her expression unreadable. Then she said simply, “You wouldn’t let go.”
That caught me off guard.
“What?” I asked, frowning.
She gestured to our joined hands–still locked together, even now. “You were unconscious. But when I tried to leave, you held on. Even in your sleep. That’s the only reason I stayed.”
My grip loosened instantly, and I let go of her hand. “Well, you’re free to go now. I don’t need your pity.”
She pulled her hand back sharply. “Trust me, I wouldn’t waste pity on you.”
I sat up slightly, wincing at the pain in my ribs. “Then what was that, huh? You falling asleep next to me? Tears on your face? Was that part of your act?”
She glared at me. “Everyone was crying, so what do you expect me to do? Not cry? They will think I want you dead! So yeah, I fake cried.”
I smiled, not able to stop myself from it. Her excuse was really hilarious. It reminded me of the silly lies she used to give when we were younger.
She stood abruptly, backing away from the bed like my presence physically burned her. “Since you are awake, I bet I should take my leave.”
She turned to leave, But before she could take another step, I reached out and grabbed her wrist.
She froze.
“Lennox,” she warned softly, not looking at me.
I didn’t let go.
In one swift motion, I pulled her back–hard enough that she lost her footing and fell onto the bed. I guided her onto my lap, and in seconds, she was straddling me, both hands pressed against my chest for balance.
She looked shocked, her lips parting, eyes wide as they stared into mine.
“What are you doing?” she breathed.
I held her waist firmly, not letting her move. “I don’t like feeling like I owe anyone anything,” I said, my voice low, rough. “Especially you.”
Her brows furrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means,” I said, my hand sliding up her back slowly, “you stayed… even when you didn’t have to. You sat here and cried for me, Olivia. That’s not nothing.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.
“I want to repay you.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “With what?”
My eyes didn’t leave hers as I leaned forward, close enough to feel her breath. “Let me show you.”
I dipped my head, trailing soft, slow kisses down her neck. She sucked in a breath, her hands tightening against my chest.
“Lennox…” she whispered, her voice shaking.
I didn’t stop. I kissed the spot just below her ear, the place that always made her shiver, And it still did.
My fingers slipped under the hem of her top, pulling it upward. She didn’t fight me—not yet. I pushed the fabric higher until her chest was exposed, and my lips found her skin again.
I kissed along her collarbone… then lower… until I took one of her nipples into my mouth.
She gasped.
“Lennox… stop… you’re not healed…”
“I don’t care,” I murmured against her skin.
She moaned softly as I sucked gently, switching to the other breast. Her fingers tangled in my hair, like she wanted to push me away–but couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“You’re insane,” she breathed.
“Maybe,” I whispered. “But I have to repay you.”
Her breathing got heavier, her body tense on top of mine as I kept kissing and sucking gently on her skin. Every small moan from her lips made my blood burn hotter. I could feel myself getting harder under her, my body reacting like it always did around her–hungry, desperate, wild.
She whispered my name again, softer this time.
“Lennox…”
I kissed her again, slower, deeper. My hands slid around her waist, pulling her closer against me. Her hips brushed against my arousal, and a low groan escaped me.
I was losing control. I wanted her–right here, right now. I didn’t care that I hadn’t healed fully. I didn’t care about the pain in my ribs or the chaos we came from. I just needed her.
But just as I was about to push her top completely off, I heard footsteps.
We both froze.
A second later, a firm knock sounded at the door.
She pulled away from me instantly, her eyes wide, chest rising and falling with every shaky breath. Her arms crossed quickly over her chest, fixing her clothes as she climbed off me.
I stared at her, still catching my breath, my body throbbing beneath the covers.
Without sparing me a glance, she turned around and walked to the door.
I didn’t stop her this time.
The door opened. Closed.
Then silence enveloped the room.
I dropped back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling… then down at myself.
My cock was hard–aching, straining against my pants. I groaned softly, running a hand over my face.
“She’s going to kill me,” I muttered.
I kept staring at the door like my eyes could pull her back.
But instead of her… in stepped someone else.
A tall figure dressed in a dark uniform–my personal guard, Bala.
He stepped in cautiously, then paused when he saw me sitting up in bed, shirtless, flushed, and clearly pissed.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped, my voice sharp and filled with anger.
Bala stood straighter, clearly sensing my mood. “Apologies, Alpha. I came to check on you. The healer said you were stable but still recovering-”
“I’m fine,” I growled.
He blinked, then glanced awkwardly toward the door Olivia had just walked through. He knew something was up.
His eyes dropped to the floor, pretending not to notice the state I was in.
My frown deepened as I glared at him. “Of all times, you decided to show up now?”
I grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it straight at him.
It hit him square in the chest.
“Out. Now.”