Rian's POV
Nightmares still come sometimes.
I wake gasping, Marcus's death replaying behind my eyelids. The helplessness. The failure.
"Rian." Luca's voice cuts through the panic. "Hey, I'm here. You're safe."
I clutch him desperately. "Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."
"Don't apologize." He strokes my hair. "Bad dream?"
"Marcus. Again."
He's quiet, just holding me. Through the bond, I feel his comfort, his love.
"Tell me about him," he says softly. "The good parts. Not just how he died."
I've never talked about Marcus. Not really. But Luca deserves to know.
"He was fearless. Always laughing. Made me brave when I wanted to hide." I smile despite the pain. "He'd have liked you."
"Yeah?"
"You're both stubborn. Both challenge me. Make me better." I pull back to look at him. "But what I feel for you—it's different. Stronger. Maybe because I'm different now."
"How?"
"Less naive. More desperate. More aware of how fragile happiness is." I cup his face. "I love you differently than I loved him. Not less. Just... more intense. More possessive. More terrified of losing you."
"You won't lose me." He kisses me gently. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?"
"Promise." He settles against my chest. "Tell me more. About the good times."
I do. For the first time in years, I talk about Marcus without just pain—remembering joy, laughter, love.
Luca listens, stroking my chest, offering silent comfort.
"Thank you," I finally say. "For not being jealous. For letting me remember him."
"He was important to you. That makes him important to me." He tilts his head up. "I'm secure enough in us to honor your past."
"How did I get so lucky?"
"Kidnapping, mostly." His smile is teasing.
I laugh despite everything. "Best terrible decision I ever made."
"Agreed." He kisses me softly. "Now sleep. I've got you."
For the first time in years, talking about Marcus doesn't destroy me. Because I have Luca. My second chance. My forever.
The next morning, he's extra affectionate—touching constantly, kissing randomly, staying close.
"What's this about?" I ask, amused.
"You were vulnerable last night. Showing me you're not just Alpha." He wraps his arms around my waist from behind. "I love all of you, Rian. The strong parts and the broken parts."
My throat tightens. "You're going to make me cry."
"Good. Show me you're human too." He turns me to face him. "We're partners. That means sharing everything. Strength and weakness."
I kiss him deeply, desperately. "I love you. So fucking much."
"I know." He smiles against my lips. "Now come on. We have pack duties."
"Five more minutes like this?"
"Clingy Alpha."
"Your clingy Alpha."
"Yeah." He kisses me again. "Mine."
Later, in a pack meeting, he sits beside me—hand on my thigh, silent support. When I make a difficult decision, he squeezes gently.
I'm proud of you, echoes through the bond.
I love you, I send back.
I know.