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brAM

F uck.

Sweat made the blanket stick to my skin as I jolted upright in bed. I blinked profusely as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

I could still see the vivid outline of my father standing over someone, ranting about the privilege of nobility. It was the same shit I always heard growing up, but something was different. Someone was screaming, and then…

My heart hammered against my ribs as I locked gazes with Pandora, who gently slid out of bed and pointed toward the bathroom.

She didn’t have to tell me twice.

Her concern for me flooded the bond. Nobody had ever shown concern for me the way she had. I wanted her more than anything right now. I needed to fucking ground myself in the present instead of drowning in repressed memories of my childhood, and she could do that for me.

She could heal me.

Shifting up, I maneuvered around the guys. Comet swatted her paw at me as I moved over Skel, but I managed to slip out of bed and join her without waking anyone else up.

As soon as the door clicked shut, she wrapped her arms around me. “Nightmare?”

Her sleepy voice went straight to my dick, but I tried to ignore it as I masterfully fixed myself.

“Uh, yeah,” I replied lamely.

She was absolutely stunning. Her big red eyes were tired, and long silky black hair cascaded down her back and over her shoulders.

Her pouty lips parted in a yawn as she planted her chin on my chest and looked up at me. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I shook my head slightly. “I honestly don’t know how to explain it. I swear it’s like I’m having dreams of repressed memories or something.”

The skin between her eyebrows crinkled as she frowned and pulled away for a moment. “Hmm. Maybe we should have Reed look into it?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted with a sigh as I sat my groggy ass down on the bathroom floor. “If he could figure anything out, I don’t know if it would fuck me up more or help me cope.”

“That would be up to you. You don’t have to dwell on it if you think it’s best to leave it in the past.” She kneeled next to me and wrapped her arm around my back, leaning her head against my shoulder.

“How did I get so fucking blessed to be mates with you?” I asked, regret welling like a lump in my throat. “I can’t believe I almost lost you because of my own stupidity.”

She let out a huffed giggle. “But you didn’t lose me, did you?”

“No, I didn’t.” I turned and pulled her between my legs, inhaling that caramel scent of hers with greed. “And you’ve forgiven me. That’s something I still can’t wrap my head around.”

“You deserve forgiveness, Bram,” she rasped, wrapping her arms around my neck. “You’ve proven yourself to me enough. I’m happy with us.”

“I’m happy with us, too,” I said honestly. “I’m happy with you.”

“Are you happy with Slater and Melinda’s offer?” She pierced me with her red eyes. The look she sent me practically made my heart stop.

“I’ve never really thought about having a normal family. Or a family that actually cared the way they seem to care for each other. I can’t understand why they’d want me to ruin what they have.”

“Ruin it?” Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. “Bram, you wouldn’t ruin anything. They want you there. Didn’t you feel that in their souls?”

“I did.” I hesitated. “But…”

“But what? I can feel your soul, and I can feel that you don’t believe you deserve love or family.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but she pressed her finger over my lips to silence me.

“You’re wrong. You’re more than what your parents told you. You’re more than your past, and you’re more than the angry drunk you were when we met,” she promised.

“I…” A lump formed in my throat that I had to swallow back. “I’m definitely not the same guy I was last year or even two months ago, but that’s all because of you. I’m going to be six months sober. Because of you, Pandora. Your existence knocked some sense into me. I couldn’t be more grateful to you.”

“I know,” she murmured with a small smile playing on her lips. “But it isn’t because of me, Bram. It’s because of you and your dedication to not drinking.”

“I’ve been on my own for so long,” I admitted, and my heart ached from that raw honesty. “I don’t know how to be a suitable mate or even a good friend, but I promise I’m going to be the best I can be for you and the others.”

“And for Slater and Melinda,” she reminded me. “They care for you, too.”

“You’re right.” I nodded. I remembered the depth of their care and feelings about me from their souls. There was no faking the way they felt, but as shitty as it was to admit, it scared me.

“And...I care for you, Bram. A lot.” She tightened her arms around my neck and dipped her head to seal her soft lips over mine.

Her feelings for me seeped down our bond, warming me from the inside out.

Chaos and Demo manifested together, and Chaos nudged his colossal head between us as Demo scratched at the stone floor like she wanted to dig.

“Sorry,” I groaned.

My chaos magic alwayslost control around her.

“Don’t be.” Pandora pulled away with a reluctant giggle and booped Chaos on his nose with her finger before scratching him behind the ear. His tongue lolled to the side as he enjoyed her pets. “Demo also got out.”

“Fuck,” I muttered, staring at her with an emotion I could only describe as love. “I should’ve cherished you the moment I saw you. I’ll always regret not doing that.”

“Yeah, you messed up pretty bad.” She looked up at me through her thick lashes and smiled. “But you have a chance to do better now.”

“You can be a brat, can’t you?”I let out a weak chuckle. “I promise, Pandora. I’ll treat you the way I always should’ve.”

“I know you will.” She continued lavishing Chaos with pets.

Demo ended up getting jealous and tugged at my hand with her sharp teeth.

“Ouch,” I hissed, pulling my hand back until the gashes healed, then I reached out and pet her chaos manifestation the same way she pet mine.

The moment they melted back into us, Pandora surged forward, planting her lips on mine again.

Fuck. I really loved her.