Evaline:
"Eva... sweetheart, wake up."
Oscar's voice drifted into my dreams, soft and low, pulling me gently back to consciousness.
My lashes fluttered open, and the very first thing I saw was his face - still a little sleepy, his hair tousled adorably, and that warm, heart-stealing smile lighting up his features.
And just like that, my day began wrapped in something I hadn't felt in so long - safety.
It wasn't just his voice or his smile. It was waking up beside someone who made me feel wanted, cherished. Not like a burden. Not like a problem. But like I mattered.
I hadn't felt this way since I lost my mother almost a decade ago. Back then, mornings were warm hugs and her soft hands brushing my hair back. Since her death, mornings had always been cold. Lonely.
But not today.
Today, I had my mate by my side. One who pulled me into his arms without a second thought, one who held me through the night and protected me in silence.
