Chapter 295: Quiet Promises

"I’ll fight," she said to him. "I’m willing to do so, and you know me — I’m not going to let anyone fight my battles for me and do nothing."

"I knew you were going to say that," Orion murmured.

If there was one thing his stubborn mate was known for, it was always being ready to stand her ground. She didn’t back down from a fight.

His fingers closed around hers, and before she could answer, he leaned down, pressing his lips against hers.

The kiss was meant to be simple and quick. Just a little touch — but the second their mouths met, it stretched, deepened, became an urgent press of need and relief that had nothing to do with the fever and everything to do with the longing they both felt for each other.

Their tongues moved against each other as Orion held her carefully. Even with how intense the kiss was, he held her with care, his hands gentle so as not to hurt her.

His head tilted as his tongue sought hers, and hers sought his.

Sophia returned him with the small strength she had, mouth answering with hungry energy. She tasted like the herbs Marta had given her and like relief. Her arms wound around his neck, and for a moment the rest of the world fell away.

Sophia moaned into the kiss as Orion closed the distance more between them until there was no space left between the both of them.

Then came a polite, hesitant knock followed by someone clearing their throat.

Orion and Sophia snapped apart as if they had been stung by a bee.

They turned towards the doorway and saw two young girls. They were healers-in-training, Orion knew.

"Um," the younger one with freckles all over her face spoke up; she looked to be around Dren’s age. "Sorry for disturbing you guys, but we knocked and there was no answer. We thought you were sleeping and just—"

"No need to apologize," Orion said. Sophia’s face was buried in his shoulder as her own shoulders shook from laughter.

Orion’s lips twitched too, but unlike Sophia, he was better at controlling himself.

"What is it that you want?" Orion asked them.

"Um... Marta sent us," the other one spoke up. She had dark skin and her curly hair was packed neatly. "She told us we needed to clean the room up."

"Ah... yes. Um... just get to your work," Orion said. It was only after the girls spoke that they even noticed they had cleaning cloths, a bucket, and even a broom.

The girls gave Orion a nod.

As they moved in, they were careful, trying to be discreet, but the smiles on their faces already gave them away. The younger one glanced at Sophia, then at Orion, then at Sophia again, and smiled to herself. She even hummed a song as she worked.

Sophia’s face remained hidden but her shoulders relaxed. "You should get some sleep," Orion whispered into her hair.

She pushed back, swatted him lightly on the shoulder in mock indignation, and then gave a tired, crooked smile. "You need to get some rest too. You look hideous with those bags under your eyes."

He grinned despite himself. "I’ll sleep once you do."

"You’d better not sleep on that chair," she said quickly, rolling her eyes. She attempted to scoot aside and make room on the bed as if offering her frail half of the mattress would be a comfort to him.

He put his hands up in mock offense. "You are absolutely not inconveniencing yourself," he said with a laugh. "I’ll go home and change. I’ll be back in a while. And I’ll get proper sleep."

She squinted at him, suspicion knitting her brow. "Do you promise?"

"Promise to come back?" he asked her.

She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth softened. "You’re obsessed with me; of course you’ll come back. Besides, if you don’t, then I’ll send someone to find you."

Orion chuckled at her words.

"I’m asking if you promise to get some sleep. I can’t have you walking around with those bags under your eyes that make you look like some monster from a nightmare. What would that say about me?" she asked him.

Orion laughed. "I promise to come back to you, shorty, and I promise not to disgrace you with the bags under my eyes."

She shifted so she could see him better. The girls worked quietly, but they observed everything, and the freckled one even giggled at some point like she could not believe what she was witnessing.

Orion leaned down and kissed the top of Sophia’s head again. His forehead rested against hers for a heartbeat, then he straightened. "Get some rest now."

She nodded.

Orion waited until she was comfortable. He stood observing her breathing — the rise and fall of her chest and how peaceful she looked. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and she sighed deeply.

Orion smiled and then turned to the door. He gave the girls a nod and said softly, "Please don’t disturb her."

"Yes sir," the younger one said.

Orion nodded and then left the room, moving to his home. For the first time in days, his chest wasn’t tight with worry. He felt relieved. At least she was alive.

Meanwhile, the two girls in the room made sure to clean the room and make it spotless. They made sure not to disturb Sophia, even adjusting the blanket on her quietly when it slipped off, before they left.

And before Sophia even woke up, the news that she was awake had spread throughout the pack. And what spread through the medical facility was how perfectly Orion and Sophia fit each other. The two girls gave a reenactment of what they witnessed in the room, and when they did, most of the healers in the medical facility squealed in excitement.

Those who had claimed Sophia and Orion didn’t belong with each other were being shunned by those who believed they were perfect for each other — and with evidence too.