CHAPTER 599: FORGIVENESS

The moment he came inside me, I felt it.

We both took deep and heavy breaths, trying to catch our breath.

It had been so intense and mind-blowing that I still couldn’t believe we had just done that.

He took in an intense breath, and our eyes made contact.

He rolled off of me, and I felt disappointed that our connection was over.

Only for me to be surprised when he caught me in his arms and pulled me up to him.

I stiffened, surprised at his willingness to hold me so close to him.

I slowly eased into the comfort of his arms and relaxed.

For a while, none of us said anything.

The only thing that could be heard was our breathing, the heavy raindrops, flashes of light, and the thunder strikes.

He gently played with my hair and said. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He fastened his hold around me and continued playing with my hair.

"I prefer your red to the black." He said. "You should never dye your hair black again."

I blushed at his compliment.

I had my reasons for doing so.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked.

"Yes." He said as I felt him dangle a strand of my hair in between his fingertips.

"Do you frequently have nightmares?" I asked.

I felt him stiffen instantly.

He said nothing for a while, and I regretted asking the question because I had ruined the mood between the two of us.

"Sometimes I do." He said quietly. "How do you know?"

"I heard you in your sleep," I explained. "And then the other time, when I first spent the night in your bedroom. You were having nightmares, too."

As my head lay on his chest, I could hear his heartbeat.

I wanted to stay like this forever.

"I’m used to it now. I’m sorry if it was a bother to you." He apologized softly.

"No, it didn’t," I said quickly. "I was just worried about you."

I saw him swallow, and then he rubbed my back with his arms.

"Thank you." He said.

I went quiet too.

Together we just lay there unable to say a word.

"Jasmine." He began. "I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything I ever put you through."

My fingers froze.

I froze.

I had no idea how to react to what he had to say.

"You don’t deserve it." He said into the night. "My apologies are the least you deserve. It won’t make up for the things I’ve done. Or the mistakes I’ve made. Neither will it bring back our daughter."

I felt the tears begin to well up in my eyes.

"But I need to say it." He said. "I’m sorry. So sorry."

I burst into uncontrollable tears and began to weep.

I wept so much, and he cradled my body, speaking soothing words into my ear

I wept like a baby, releasing all my frustration and anger.

It felt like the rain was washing down everything I had built up in me.

The years and years of my pain I had choked in.

Neither my father nor my stepmother ever apologized to me, nor did Jessica.

No one ever did.

But hearing him say it healed a part of me I never knew was broken from the start.

He cradled me and spoke gentle words into my ears as I wept.

When I was fine, I went down to whimpers.

He held me so protectively, and I knew I was safe.

Soon, I was quiet, the tears gone, and only my eyes were weak and tired from crying.

"I’m going to make amends. I promise you." He said.

I looked up at him.

Did this mean everything would be different when we moved back to the Crescent Pack tomorrow?

That I had a brighter future?

Are things between the two of us going to change for life?

This promise my Alpha had made.

He kissed my forehead softly and whispered. "I promise you."

I looked up at him and found myself reaching my lips to his.

We kissed, and soon it became passionate again.

Except this time, it was slow and mature.

With every touch, he explored, we were slow and passionate.

With every stroke he pulled in and out of me, from the moment he sent me down on my belly and had me on my knees.

It was filled with maturity and passion.

Every second he plunged in and out, our pain became our pleasure.

We spent the entire night making love until we fell asleep.

When I was asleep, he whispered in my ear. "I hope you forgive me."

❧

The next morning, I slowly woke up to light rays of the sun streaking into the bedroom.

I smiled and turned around to feel Xaden, but he wasn’t beside me in bed.

I rushed my hands all over the space where he was supposed to be sound asleep.

But it felt empty.

I slowly opened my eyes and gasped, sitting up.

Xaden wasn’t there.

Had I just imagined the previous night on my own?

I looked down at myself and saw that I was naked under the bed covers, and my thighs were weak, evidence of what had happened the previous night.

I rubbed my eyes and leaned back into the pillows.

I smiled to myself when I remembered the events of the previous night.

We were going to the Crescent Pack today, which meant we would finally start something new.

The door opened and Hildegard emerged.

I happily got up from my bed in excitement.

"Oh, Hildegard!" I said as I held the bedcovers to cover my nudity.

As I raced to her, I noticed that she didn’t have a smile on her face.

I stopped.

"What’s wrong?" I asked her. "Is everything okay?"

She managed a weak smile. "Yes. But I have something to tell you."

I furrowed my brows, fear beginning to creep in.

"What’s wrong? What’s happened?!" I demanded. "Where is Xaden?"

"Xaden is fine." She told me.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"And Nanny Nia?" I asked.

"Nanny Nia is fine." She said.

I closed my eyes, relieved. "So what’s wrong?"

"They are gone." She dropped the bombshell.