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Your heart had dropped when you got the call. The arena that Shaw Security, your pack, was working at was under attack and almost everyone you knew was stuck in there and you didn’t know if any of them would make it out alive. David. Your alpha, the man you grew up with, the friend you were reconnecting with might not make it out. Asher, your friend that had always been kind to you even when you were at your worst.
Things couldn’t be worse, except they could. Sam. Last night he had been over at your apartment with you, watching a movie, when he told you about his plans for today. Vincent’s partner, his lovely, they were participating in the event and he had asked Sam to come with him. He said that it wasn’t very common for vampires to show so the seating box for them was usually empty. Sam had invited you to go with him but you had been busy as much as you wanted to go.
Not only was the pack you considered family trapped in there but so was Sam, the man who you cared about more than you could fully comprehend.
Sam had appeared in your life at a time you considered one of your lowest, only rivaled by your time with Quinn. He was a warmth you had never expected and the care he showed you was unlike anything you had experienced before. Your life had been filled with so much bad, Sam was a good you didn’t think you deserved.
And now he was in danger, danger you couldn’t fathom. Shades? Sam was a vampire but that didn’t mean he couldn’t die.
The thought made your blood turn to ice in your veins. By the time you had gotten to Milo he had a plan. There were enough people to open the ward now, it just had to be done.
Shifting helped, like stretching a muscle you couldn’t reach but you were still anxious. Was Sam okay? How were David and Asher? Vincent and his partner? You hoped you’d be able to tear into something.
The ward dropped and you moved in searching for whatever you could. You passed people who looked shocked at the ward dropping, relieved. Your eyes scanned looking for any shades or people who needed help.
After tearing apart a shade that had cornered a student you caught a familiar scent. Sam. Running as fast as you could, you spotted him, it felt like you could breathe again. Shifting back you finished closing the gap.
“Darlin?”
“Sam,” You nearly cried, almost tackling him as you held onto him. His arms wrapped around you holding on to you like a life preserver out at sea, his face tucked into your shoulder.
“It’s so good to see you-” He said, pulling back to look at you, his eyes blurry with tears. You’d never seen him cry, it tore you apart. You would do anything to keep him from crying but this time you couldn’t prevent what had already happened. “-hold you.” His voice is almost a whisper.
“I was so scared-” You get choked up and Sam doesn’t hesitate to take your face in his hands and kiss you. It’s nearly desperate, filled with every ounce of fear and hurt you were both feeling. A kiss that you both knew you were lucky to share. To be in each other’s arms, to feel loved. You both knew that many people today wouldn’t get to see their loved ones again, to hold them.
“That’s what you look like as a wolf?” He said as he pulled back. You nodded, hands still gripped onto his shirt.
“Yeah, I wanted it to be a bit more special when I showed you but…” You explained bashfully. It was a big thing, showing your wolf form to your mate. Especially when they weren’t a wolf, there was a lot of anxiety there. At least Sam was no stranger to the strange world you both lived in unlike David and Asher’s mates. But you had thought about it a lot and you wanted it to be a special thing. It didn’t matter now, all that mattered was Sam was here and alive.
Sam laughed at your words, a weak smile on his lips before his laughter turned into sobs. Your heart broke, eyebrows furrowing as you pulled him back into your arms. You held him like maybe if you held him close enough you could take some of his pain away. You couldn’t imagine what he had seen, what he had gone through.
“Oh darlin,” He sighed against your shoulder. His sobs continued for a while and you held him trying to hold back your own tears at his distress. “Vincent’s partner, they-”
Your eyes widened, they were dead? You couldn’t imagine how devastated Vincent would be. The thought hurt.
“They died?” You asked hesitantly, scared to hear the answer.
“No, no-” He said, pulling back to look at you again. “He had to turn them. I couldn’t heal them,”
“Sam, I can only imagine how drained you were. It’s not your fault.” You’re quick to stop him from blaming himself, you know he would be thinking it even if he never said it out loud.
“No, it wasn’t a hurt I could fix.” He explained. “Even if I could have, I was so drained from healing Asher.”
“Asher?!” Your eyes widened. Was he okay?
“He’s okay, he took a bad hit. I had to have David help me heal him.” He said.
“David?” You asked. They had been together there. It made you feel better to know they were able to help each other.
“He’s okay, he was injured pretty badly but still standing, the last I saw him.” He said. “We can go see them, I know you’re worried about them.”
“Don’t you want to go home?” You asked.
“We can after, that is if you want to go with me-” He said, uncharacteristically stumbling over his words. “If you need to stay for the pack-”
“No, I can go with you. I don’t want to be away from you for a long time. Maybe ever.” You said, Sam let out a breathy laugh. “What about Vincent and-”
“He called William, he’s on his way, probably already here to help them. He’s far more experienced than I am.” He said.
“Okay.” You said with a nod. “Okay, let me see David and Asher then we can go.”
After checking in on David and Asher, seeing them healed up and okay with your own eyes you felt better. You felt bad for their mates, you knew how stressed you had been, you understood how horrible their day had been. You wondered if you should stay and help with anything but David saw, he knew first-hand how exhausted Sam was after today and knew that he wanted to go home with you, so he didn’t hesitate in telling you to leave. Never leaving any room for arguments with his alpha voice.
When you arrive at Sam’s apartment you’re glad that you’ve left some pajamas there for the times you had spent the night after watching movies or just talking for hours on end like you often did.
The two of you took turns taking showers and changing into comfortable clothes. By the time you were both done you sat on his bed together, leaving no space. No, any distance between the two of you hurts now more than ever.
You could see a sense of tiredness in his eyes that you had never seen before.
“Is there anything I can do?” You asked. You wanted to take his pain away more than anything but you knew there wasn’t much you could do for him.
“Just hold me.” His voice is so small it makes you tear up. You don’t hesitate in taking him in your arms, taking deep steady breaths. Your face is pressed into his chest and his face rests against your hair.
“Is there anything else?” You mumble against the fabric of his shirt. “Are you hungry?”
The feel of him stiffening in your arms is answer enough. You were sure that with how much he exerted himself today it would make him hungry.
“I am, but I don’t have any blood here.” He said. “I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. I can go and get some-”
“No,” You stop him, looking him in the eyes. “I wasn’t- I- I was offering. If you want, if you feel comfortable.”
“Really?” He sounds stunned. He knows your history with Quinn, that it was bad, that he did things you weren’t comfortable with and it wasn’t a stretch to assume some of the things that had happened. He knows that offering for you isn’t just the usual discomfort of fangs near your skin, it goes a lot deeper than that. “I- Are you sure? I never want to make you feel like you have to do anything.”
“Sam,” You give a soft laugh. “All you’ve ever done is make me feel comfortable and safe. Safe like I’ve never felt in my entire life. I know that you don’t expect anything from me. I want to give this, I trust you Sam.”
Sam stared at you for a moment in awe. Your trust was a gift that was leagues above anything else he had ever received.
“That means everything to me.” He said. He doesn’t argue any more, not wanting to seem ungrateful for such a genuine display. “I promise I’ll be gentle.”
“I know you will.” You smile.
Sam is true to his words, his warm hand brushes over your shoulder moving anything in the way. His other hand is soft at the side of your neck, gently leaning your head to the side to give him access.
“Please, if you’re even slightly uncomfortable. Even just almost uncomfortable, please stop me.” He nearly begs. He knows how you push yourself past your limit and it’s the last thing he wants you to do right now. “I’ll starve before I do anything to you.”
“I promise you, Sam.” You said putting a hand on his cheek to reassure him.
“Okay,” He said. The hand at the side of your neck brushes at your skin soothingly, so much so you almost forget about the task at hand, your eyes drifting closed. His other hand rests on your side holding you close to him.
As his warm breath brushes against the skin of your neck you wait for the piercing of fangs. As different as this moment is you can’t help but face the memories of Quinn that pop up, the way he held you down and bit into your skin all with a laugh at your pain and discomfort.
What you don’t expect is the soft kiss placed there, your eyes open and you see Sam there. You take in again the soft hold he has on you, his words before and it’s hard not to get teary eyed at the man who you’re almost convinced you’re in love with.
“Ready?” He asks, pulling back a moment from his kiss.
“Yeah,” You sound breathless already. Sam nods and returns to his spot on your neck.
You’re waiting for him to bite down when you realize that he already has. It’s relaxing- which is a stark contrast from your last experience. His hand rubs soothing circles at your side and his lips are warm against your skin. You let out a content sigh, feeling a lot of the tension from the day melt away.
Sam pulls back licking at his lips and you open your eyes to look at him.
“Are you okay?” He asks and you can see his concern in his eyes.
“Better than,” You said. “Was that enough?”
“I’ll be fine.” He answered.
“I didn’t ask if you’d be fine, I asked if that was enough.”
“I don’t want to take anymore, I don’t want you feeling sick.” He said.
“I have a pretty good tolerance to blood loss.” You said, you had tested it in quite a few ways. If the fights you got into weren’t a good enough example you know for a fact Quinn had drank from you much longer before your vision got blurry.
“Don’t remind me of all the times you’ve gotten hurt.” He sighed and you smiled at his worry.
“Drink at least a little bit more.” You urged.
“Fine, but only because I don’t think you’ll let me hear the end of it if I don’t.” He sighed and you let out a small laugh.
Sam returns to his previous position and you find yourself relaxing again. When he stops he looks into your eyes with such a softness that you feel yourself melting. You lean in to kiss him and he isn't hesitant to return it.
“Was that okay?” He asked.
“It was perfect.” You said. “I didn’t know it could be like that, it was peaceful, relaxing.”
“It’s about intention,” He said, his hand squeezing yours. “All I wanted was for you to feel comfortable, relaxed.” He explained. “Safe.” His voice is soft.
“Thank you, Sam.” You said, it’s overwhelming how much he cares about you. Now you had a new memory to replace your last experience and this one you cherished even after the awful day you both had.
“I’m exhausted.” He said.
“Me too.” You said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a longer day and I’ve gone weeks without sleeping.” He said laying down on the bed. You followed him, his arms gently guiding you to his side.
When you both settled you could feel the weight of the day settle on Sam. You moved your hand to the side of his face, leaning in to kiss him softly.
“Rest.” You said, pulling him closer to you. Sam rested against your chest, his arms wrapped around you.
“Thank you.” He sighed.
“Thank you.” You returned. As much as it may have seemed you helped him, he had helped you so much tonight. It felt every time you were around Sam you could feel your wounds heal and not just the physical. The edges that you thought were broken beyond repair and would never be mended did just so.
Sam’s breaths evened as you smoothed your hand over his back. When you were sure Sam was deep asleep you closed your eyes.
Finally this awful day came to an end and despite all of the terrible things that had happened, the things that would surely affect everyone’s lives for a very long time, Sam was here in your arms. He was safe and that was all you could as for.