Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 120: 120

POV Savannah Bowen

I woke up, feeling surrounded by a familiar and comforting scent that filled the air around me.

It was his scent. Mine. Our scent.

I groped the mattress beside me, feeling his clothes scattered around. My nest.

Each inhale brought a sense of safety and protection. The longing I felt for him, for Dăneşti, was overwhelming.

I slowly opened my eyes, letting myself be flooded by the peaceful and familiar atmosphere of the room. The soft light coming through the window painted the room with golden, welcoming tones.

I snuggled a little more into the soft sheets, allowing myself to enjoy the feeling of being home.

I sighed, curling my lips into a smile.

“How are you?”

I jumped at the sound of his voice. Carefully, a bit dizzy, I sat up in bed, propping my back against it to steady myself. My body felt weak, but I could move, and I no longer felt pain.

Fenrir was in the armchair, his elbow resting on the back, his face leaning on his hand. There were dark circles under his tired eyes, his hair was messy, random curls falling over his forehead. His beard had grown out and was unshaven, and his lips were twisted in a grimace.

I sighed, feeling the full weight of missing him hit me.

My partner. My destined mate. Only mine.

My throat tightened, and tears shimmered behind my eyelids.

I cleared my throat.

“I’m fine,” I answered, my voice rough like gravel.

He let out a heavy sigh.

“Yes, now you’re fine,” he agreed, shifting in the chair. He rubbed his palms over his face before standing up and walking over to me. “Do you want some water?” he offered. I nodded in acceptance.

I let the liquid slide down my throat, wetting my dry mouth. I was so thirsty that I drank the entire glass of water.

“What happened?” I asked, a bit confused. “How many days did I sleep?”

Fenrir sat on the edge of the bed, making the mattress dip under his weight. He stared at me, locking his blue eyes onto mine.

“You almost died,” he answered, shuddering at the mere memory. “You slept for two days.”

I pressed my lips together.

“Heavens...”

“Before that, I ran with you in my arms for three straight days, without stopping, until we got home.”

He was wearing simple clothes and was clean, but he didn’t seem to have slept more than a few hours.

Our endurance was remarkable compared to humans. But running for three days without stopping to rest or eat showed that nothing was above Fenrir’s determination. It went far beyond our wild nature. He was a strong male.

“Why?” I murmured.

I remembered waking up halfway, but I had no idea why he had run with me for so long.

“Jax gave me a suitcase with some special medicines once. I needed one of the injections inside it to administer to you.”

Now it made sense, why he had been so adamant, begging me to hold on, to survive. My body was exhausted, without food, and healing wasn’t as effective when I lacked important nutrients.

“You could have broken the mating bond. It was the right thing to do, Fenrir. If I had died, at least you would have survived.”

A mocking laugh parted his lips.

“Are you crazy, damn it? I’ve already told you, there is no life without you. If you hadn’t survived, my heart would’ve stopped beating too.”

“Don’t you think about your pack?” I spat. “How would they have been if you had died?”

He leaned toward me, narrowing his eyes.

“Nothing, other than you, matters to me,” he declared vehemently.

I sighed, lowering my lashes.

Nothing I said about this would matter. Not anymore. I couldn’t imagine a world where he didn’t exist, a life where he wasn’t part of it.

“Anton... I...” My throat choked, and I couldn’t speak anymore.

He gently placed his hand over mine.

“I know, little wolf. I know.”

“I’m sorry.” Tears rolled from the corners of my eyes.

“Anton fought for you and for me. He will never stop being missed in our lives, but he died with honor.”

I lifted my gaze to him.

“For Dăneşti, until my last breath,” I whispered.

He blinked, confused, furrowing his brows.

“What?”

I swallowed with difficulty.

“These were the words he chose to say when Hunter killed him.” Pain, anger, and longing pulsed in the alpha’s eyes, the silver around his pupils lighting up as if they were flames. I cleared my throat and continued. “It was Hunter who killed him, but it was on Marilyn’s orders. She said Anton had never properly respected her. It was she who deceived us and led us into the trap.”

“I know,” he said, surprising me.

“You know?”

“Yes.”

I fell silent for a few seconds, trying to decide if I would tell him the whole truth. But he had the right to know; that’s why I fought through all those days.

“It was Marilyn who killed Catalina, Fenrir. It was all her scheme.” I ran a hand through my hair, tossing the strands over my shoulder. “She confessed this secret before Hunter dragged me away with him.” I bit my cheeks, feeling nervous. His expression was impassive as he looked at me, showing no reaction. “Where is she?” I asked, breaking the oppressive silence that had settled.

“Dead.”

I blinked, confused. I grew angry, opening and closing my lips, not knowing exactly what to say.

“What?”

He sighed a resigned breath.

“Marilyn told me that you had run away with Hunter willingly because you were still in love with him.”

“It’s a lie!” I cut in, seething with anger at the falsehood they had created.

“I know it’s a lie.”

“You didn’t believe her for a second?” I asked in a whisper, looking away at one of the shredded clothes on the bed.

He moved closer to me and placed a delicate kiss on my forehead.

“No, little wolf, I didn’t believe her.”

I ran my eyes back to him.

“Why not? They created a convincing lie. I had already shown interest in removing the mark.” I rubbed my nails on my neck. “For a long time, I thought it wouldn’t come to me, that you wouldn’t come for me.”

“I’m sorry if that’s the idea I gave you.”

“It wasn’t the idea you gave me, but what I chose to believe.”

He raised his fingers and stroked my face, his eyes fixed on mine.

“For a while, I really believed Marilyn and was manipulated by her. I thought she was on my side, that she wanted what was best for me. But things changed since you entered my life.” He smiled, his fingers making idle circles on my face. “I felt your desperation, little wolf. And I would never, even if I didn’t feel your reaction, believe that it was with Hunter because you were still in love. I’ve learned to know you, over the past months, little wolf.”

“Learned?” I asked, curious, narrowing my eyes.

He nodded.