The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate-Chapter 113: Just Let Me Take Care Of You

Serena stirred awake, arms wrapped around her. She was lying on top of a chest that rose and fell with steady breaths.

She blinked, disoriented.

Then flashes of memory started to surface. Dark Fae. Gold light pouring out of her. And her squirming out of Fin and Dex’s arms as they both tried to catch her.

Gods, that was embarrassing.

"Hey, Serena... it’s okay," Dex murmured, kissing the top of her head.

She was dazed. And now she was lying on top of Dexmon.

She tried to push herself off of him to see where she was. And because she was thirsty. More the latter.

Dexmon’s arms tightened around her. "Serena, wait. We need to talk."

She exhaled, head throbbing. "Dex, can I get a tonic?"

Her voice came out hoarse and didn’t sound like her at all.

Dex stiffened at the sound. "Shit. Yeah, hold on."

He let go of her and quickly grabbed three tonics from the cooling cabinet across the room. He opened the first, handing it to her. When she took it, her arms were shaking so badly that Dex didn’t let go, helping her raise it to her lips.

She didn’t object, drinking it quickly. Dex immediately grabbed the second jar.

The throbbing in her head eased with each gulp.

Only after she finished the third jar did Serena notice where she was. She was back in Dex’s room.

The room where she’d last seen him with Agnes.

Great.

And she was wearing a silk chemise. Similar to the one that had been on the floor when she walked in on them.

Also great.

Dex sat next to her, his arm behind her, almost as if he expected her to get up and run. Which she probably would have if she didn’t feel like absolute crap.

This was the last thing she wanted to do right now.

As soon as she put the tonic down, Dex pulled her back on top of him, arms wrapping around her.

He didn’t say anything. He just held her.

Then his emotions hit her through their matebond, so hard it nearly stole her breath.

He was tearing apart from the inside. Grief and guilt twisted together like a rope around his chest. Longing so sharp it cut. A sadness that had settled into his bones and made a home there. And underneath it all, a desperate, aching hope that terrified him more than the rest.

She couldn’t see his face because she was trapped against his chest, but she knew he was crying. She could feel it through the matebond and smell the salt of his tears. He was trying to compose himself, trying not to let her know.

Her heart cracked open at that.

She tried to move her arms to hug him, but his grip tightened, thinking she was trying to run.

"Dex... I’m trying to give you a hug. I’m not running," she whispered.

His grip loosened, just enough for her to wiggle her arms free and hug him. She felt that calm him slightly through their matebond. Something he needed.

"Serena..." He swallowed. His voice was raw. "I’ve broken something I don’t know how to fix."

She felt him take a shaky breath.

"My memories keep coming back, and I’m not sure if sorry can even cut it."

He swallowed again, blinking back tears.

"But I’m going to say it anyway. I’m sorry, Serena. I’m sorry for everything you went through because of me. You are the last person I ever want to hurt..." His voice trailed off, cracking. "And it kills me that I’m the reason you went through that."

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes red-rimmed and desperate.

"I need you to know I meant everything I said to you. I filed paperwork to give you my name the day you agreed to be my mate. I’ve never held someone in a bath before you. I never wavered in my choice." His jaw tightened. "Because there was no choice. It was always you."

Serena felt tears spill down her cheeks.

Dex continued, his thumb brushing them away even as his own kept falling.

"I love you more than anything. I think I loved you since the second I laid eyes on you. You mean everything to me. So much that the damn black magic cut you out of my mind."

"You have every reason to hate me and never want to see me again. I don’t deserve your forgiveness." He swallowed hard, and took a steadying breath. "But I’m going to ask for it anyway."

"Please forgive me. Please. If you give me the chance, I will make it up to you every day for the rest of my life."

"I love you so much, baby." His voice broke completely, and a sob escaped him.

He buried his face in her hair, shaking, holding her like she was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.

His grief bled through their matebond so hard, it felt like a punch to the chest. And underneath it, a frustration aimed entirely at himself. For something he had no control over.

"It wasn’t your fault, Dex. I understand," she whispered.

She took a deep breath. The truth was, it still didn’t erase what happened. As much as she wished it could.

"I’m still trying to sort it..." Her voice cracked.

Silent tears fell from her eyes, landing on Dexmon’s chest.

"I’m not myself. I can’t tell you with certainty that..." She trailed off, unsure even what she was trying to say.

He pulled her up his body, keeping one arm around her while he wiped her tears with the other.

Then he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I know you are, baby," he murmured. "Just let me take care of you. We’ll go slow."

Serena wanted to say okay. She truly did. But she kept seeing Fin’s face, and her heart cracked. And she wasn’t ready to jump back into things with Dexmon like nothing had happened.

Another tear slid down her cheek.

Dexmon could feel her turmoil slicing through their matebond.

Her sudden silence was louder than a scream, and he reacted the only way he knew how. To pull her back before she drowned in it.

Before she could spiral further, his lips were on hers. He didn’t let her pull away, pushing calm and love into her through their matebond.

She jolted mid-kiss, the sensation warming her chest. The ache didn’t go away, but it helped.