Page 27 of Falling for My Shifter Guardian

And no matter what comes next, I’ll fight for him. Just like he’s fought for me.

Chapter 10

Derek

The first thing I register is the steady rhythm of her breathing. It’s soft but unmistakable, and it sends a sort of calm through me that I haven’t felt in years. Before my eyes even open, the scent of her fills the room—wildflowers and honey, tinged faintly with lavender shampoo. Olivia.

I crack my eyes open slowly, the faint morning light leaking through the curtains casting her in a warm, golden glow. She’s curled up in the armchair near my bed, her legs tucked beneath her, her face turned slightly toward me. Her auburn hair, loose from the braid she usually wears, spills in soft waves over her shoulder, framing her face like she’s stepped right out of one of my dreams. Her arms are wrapped around herself, as if even in sleep, she’s trying to shield something fragile.

My wolf stirs at the sight of her, at the mere fact of her presence here. A low, protective hum thrums in my chest, blending with the ache that lingers in my shoulders and ribs. My body’s healing fast, thanks to the forced shifts—the pain dull, manageable—but the real ache has nothing to do with my injuries and everything to do with the woman sitting no more than three feet away.

I let my eyes linger on her, taking in the steady rise and fall of her chest, the slight furrow in her brow that still lingers even in rest.How many nights has she spent worrying because of me? How many times have I been the reason she’s tried to carry a burden far heavier than she should ever have to bear? Seeing her like this stirs something in me, something I’ve kept locked away for far too long.

The truth slams into me like a brutal punch. There’s no going back. No more excuses. No more distance. She deserves better than a man who will hide, who will protect her from ten feet away because he’s too much of a coward to face what’s in front of him. I've been a fool, wasting years pushing her away thinking it was for her safety, when all it’s done is hurt her—and me.

She stirs slightly, her fingers brushing the soft fabric of the chair as her eyes flutter open. For a moment, her gaze is unfocused, bleary from sleep. Then, she sees me, and everything changes.

“Derek!” Her voice is soft but urgent, and before I can even speak, she rushes to my side, her bare feet whispering against the floor. Her hair falls across her face as she leans down, her hands hovering over me like she’s afraid I might shatter under her touch.

“You’re awake,” she breathes, relief flooding her voice. “How are you feeling? Does it still hurt? Do you need anything?”

Her questions come in a rush, but I can hear the tremor beneath them, the worry she’s trying so hard to mask. I reach for her hand, wrapping my fingers gently around her wrist to still her frantic movements. Her skin is soft and impossibly warm against mine. She freezes, her gaze darting to our joined hands.

“I’m fine, Olivia,” I say, my voice coming out steadier than I expect. Still, I feel the weight of those words—the unspoken truth underneath them. I’m fine because of you.

Her lips press into a thin line, the fierce determination in her light brown eyes making me want to smile despite everything. “Fine, huh?” she says, arching an eyebrow. “You nearly bled out in the middle of Whispering Pines, and now you’re lying here telling me you’re fine?”

Her voice is low but filled with a tension I can’t quite pinpoint. Anger? Concern? Guilt? Maybe all three. But I don’t miss the way her breathing hitches slightly, or the way her thumb unconsciously moves across the back of my hand in a soothing circle.

“They’re just scratches,” I tease lightly, hoping to ease some of the weight sitting heavy between us. “I’ve had worse.”

The corner of her mouth twitches as if she’s fighting back a smile, but she doesn’t let me off that easily. Her eyes narrow, and she crosses her arms over her chest. “Scratches?” she echoes. “I’m sorry, did you miss the part where Ben tried to—”

Her words cut off abruptly, her eyes clouding with something darker. Fury and sadness swirl together, casting a shadow over her features. My chest tightens at the mention of Ben, the weight of my failure pressing down on me all over again. I should’ve seen it sooner—his betrayal, the danger he posed. I should've kept her away from him.

I sit up slowly, ignoring the warning ache in my ribs, and reach for her hand again. She doesn’t pull away this time. “Olivia,” I say, my voice soft but firm. “You’re safe now. That’s all that matters.”

She shakes her head, her hair falling into her eyes. “You keep saying that—like your safety doesn’t matter. Like you didn’t nearly die for me.” Her voice cracks, and the sound slices right through me. “Do you even realize what it’s like to watch you gethurt over and over again, just to keep me safe? Like I’m some helpless—”

“You’re not helpless,” I interrupt, my tone sharper than I intend. I take a steadying breath, keeping my wolf in check as it claws at me to close the distance between us. “You’ve never been helpless, Olivia. Don’t ever think that.”

Her lips tremble slightly, but she lifts her chin, meeting my gaze with the kind of fierce resilience that has always left me in awe of her. “Then why do you keep acting like you have to carry everything alone?” she demands.

Something inside me breaks. Maybe it’s the exhaustion, the years of guilt and longing wearing me down. Or maybe it’s the way she’s looking at me now—with hope and fear tangled together in her eyes, like she wants to believe in me but she’s afraid I’ll let her down again.

“I’ve known since the day I met you,” I begin, my voice raw, unsteady. “Since the moment you walked into the room at eighteen, I knew. You’re my mate, Olivia. The one person in this world I’m bound to—body, soul, all of it. It’s not just a feeling; it’s... it’s a connection, deeper than anything I can explain.”

Her eyes widen, her breath catching slightly, but she doesn’t pull away. “That's what you said... that I'm your mate?” she repeats, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nod, swallowing hard. “It’s why I’ve stayed close, why I’ve always been there. Not just because of your father, or the promise I made to him. But because you’re mine, Olivia. Mine.”

The word lingers between us, heavy and unyielding. But it’s the truth, and I won’t take it back. Not now.

She stares at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, she reaches up and cups my face in her hands. Her touch is soft, steady, but it sets my entire body alight. “You should’ve told me,” she says, her voice breaking slightly. “I don’t understand all of this yet, but what I do know is that I’ve felt this connection, too. For a long time. And I’m not afraid of it, Derek. I’m not afraid of you.”

Her words undo me. Before I can stop myself, I’m pulling her toward me, my hand tangling in her hair as I kiss her. It’s slow at first, a tentative meeting of lips that quickly deepens into something raw and consuming. Years of restraint, of holding back what I’ve wanted more than anything, crumble in an instant.

She lets out a soft moan, but I can feel her hesitation, the slight tense of her body as she pulls back, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.

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