Lucian's POV
Not just to protect my pride, but because... I didn’t want to miss a second of her.
And most importantly, I stayed awake. Because the last time I dozed off, I woke up wrapped around a damn werewolf like we were lovers in a romance novel.
Never. Again.
Victoria, lying there between us, breathing softly. The subtle rise and fall of her chest. Her scent—earthy, wild, distinctly hers—soothing and maddening all at once. It did something to me. Calmed the storm in my head. Anchored something in my chest I hadn’t even known was adrift.
Her hair spilled over the pillow like dark ink. She mumbled once in her sleep and shifted, unconsciously curling just a little closer to my side, her fingers twitching against the sheets.
I didn’t move. I barely breathed. I just watched her. Lis
