His heart dropped to see her cry. It didn't used to affect him but after he marked her it was like he could feel her emotions through their bond.

"What do you mean?" He asked slowly as if he already knew the answer but wanted to hear it from her. A stray tear created a stream down her face that led the other tears follow through the path the first tear made.

"T-the dark magic showed me that I was going to die. I saw a woman there but she had no face. There was one face that I recognized though, Henry," she said. He could feel her fear in the room, not only through their link. She always spoke about how she wanted to die, but now that she is going to die, reality set.

"I'm scared," she whimpers. She let down her walls and let Malcom in. She let him comfort her because for once she didn't know what to do. She had grown to love the pack she once resented. She had loved a pack she only knew a select amount of people and a few places, but she felt the need to protect all of it.

There were families here. There were children living the childhood some children may never have. There were people here with the mothers and fathers that love them. There were lives being lived here and she envied them all. She wanted those families to continue being loved. So, she wanted to fight but she was scared to do it.

Malcom walked over to the small hospital bed and climbed into it. Nicolette pressed her face on his chest, taking in his smell, as he pulled the thin hospital blanket over the both of them.

He wrapped his arms around her body and took in her scent. In that moment, Nicolette didn't want to move, ever. She wanted to stay with Malcom, where it was safe and they could be safe together.

For once in a long time, she felt at home and it wasn't this hospital bed or this pack or the his house, but it was Malcom. She could never call something that she loved so much home because eventually she'd have to leave. She doesn't want to leave. She wanted to be in Malcom's arms.

She cried into his chest and he stroked her hair gently, and in that moment, she realized that she loved him. In the month they had spent together he had done little to prove he was worth loving but a relationship is not about the fighting but what happens after it. The after was that she fell in love with the good and horrible parts of him and somehow, it became ten times harder to leave this pack.

She wanted to finish the mating bond so when she dies, she can hear Malcom's voice as she slowly slips away from her body, but not now.

"I don't want to die," she cries out. Malcom leans his chin on her head and looks away as she continued to die. Malcom ran his fingers through her knitted hair and then just held her head against him.

"Go to sleep Nicolette," he said. He didn't know how to comfort her because he was speechless himself. He didn't know how to react to his mate dying. Malcom felt her tears soaking through his shirt and flowing down her face.

She chocked back sobs quietly until she was asleep. Malcom liked having her in his arms. He liked the feeling of having someone he loved in his arms. That was the first time he admitted that he loved her, the first time he realized.

He didn't want her to die. He didn't want to push her away or leave her for someone else because she was perfect. Everything about her was perfect and no one could say otherwise. No matter what monster she thought she was. Malcom thought she was no where near being a monster compared to him.

He wanted to take her, and finish the mate bond but she was weak and tired. He doubted she wanted to finish it either. Eventually, he fell asleep too, with his love in his arms.

———

Nicolette woke up in her room but Malcom was still wrapped around her. She felt like she had more energy and rested up. It was night time now which meant she had lost a few hours to prepare. She jolted you which caused Malcom to wake up with her.

"I need to plan," she said looking down at him. He groaned and rubbed his eyes before sitting up next to her.

"Plan for what?" He asked, still too tired to think straight. She went through all of the possible ways that this pack could be destroyed and through of all possible ways to protect this pack.

"Can I have a map of your pack?" She ask him. He stared at her, still wondering what she was planning for. "I'm trying to protect your pack can I please have a map of your pack?"

"Alright give me a second," he mumbled sleepily and forced himself out of her comfortable bed. He walked into his private office and pulled open the bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out a copy of his pack. All buildings were labeled and all of the forests and lakes were labeled too.

He didn't want Nicolette planning while Lucas and Seth were already planning but she seemed adamant about planning. Maybe she'll see something they don't. He walked back to her room and handed it to her and climbed back into bed and watched her think.

He rested his chin on her shoulder and watched her point to the forests and lakes labeled on the map. He watched her mumble spells and tiny little figures popped up on the map.

"We should put the best border patrol team on the border," she commented. Tiny little figures spread out along the border of the pack as she kept thinking. "The Warriors should also be put on the border but further in, towards the middle. The Royal Guards should protect pack house and protect the people because they're more trained and can help pack members. The rest fill in the gaps."

Tiny little people filled the map in places she mentioned. The whole map was filled with guards and where they should be when the pack would be attacked.

"Great, the pack is protected but what about you?" He asked. She stared at the map for a second and runs her hand across it, feeling the bumps and ridges of the textured paper. Then, she stops at the edge of the forest.

When they attack, the month will be over and I can leave. I'll be taken here and I fight like hell to escape," she said pointing. Malcom jerked backward and stared at her like she was crazy.

"What? You are staying in the pack house you are not allowing yourself to be taken," he growled. She turned around and looked at him with sorrow in her eyes.

"It's the only way to protect your pack. You'll find me, you have to find me," she nods. He shook his head and ran his hand down his face.

"Nicolette," he trailed off.

"I love you," she blurted out. Malcom's eyes widened, "I love you and this pack and in order to protect it, I need you to let me get taken."

He didn't say anything, still taking in the fact that she said I love you. He tossed the map to the side and smashed his lips into hers. She hesitated for a second but kissed back.

⚠️Sexual Content⚠️

"Finish it," she said pulling back from his lips. "Finish the mate bond." He nodded and smashed his lips back onto hers. He grabbed her waist and grabbed her closer to him, his body craving hers.

He placed soft kisses on her neck than ripped her shirt off of her body. He never lusted for another she-wolf as much as he did for her.

She tugged at the hem of his shirt and he grabbed his shirt and pulled it up and over his head. He grabbed her waist and pushed her onto her back and kissed every inch of her body.

He wanted to know he loved her. She let out a moan as he got closer to her sweet spot. She grasped at her bra and threw it to the side. Malcom pulled his shorts off with an obvious bulge in his underwear.

Malcom pulled off Nicolette's underwear and ran his hand down her body. He stopped at her heat and and she let out a gasp as he pushed two fingers in. He muffled her cry of pleasure by kissing her.

"Malcom," she moaned his name. He let out a growl as his wolf pined for her to moan his name again. He took his underwear off and pressed it against her heat.

He looked at her and she nodded before she let out a scream of ecstasy as he pushed himself inside of her. She gasped as he pounded inside of her.

A well of pleasure started to build up in her stomach. Her legs started to shake as he continued. They were both gasping for air and sweaty.

Nicolette has never felt anything more wonderful in her life. The well kept building up until it was almost overflowing. Her body began to shake as she let out a scream of euphoria.

She panted for air as her body went limp but Malcom continued but not for long. His thrusts became sloppier unroll he became undone inside of her. He fell next to her also panting.

"I love you too," he whispered to her.

———