POV: Fiona
I woke up to the sharp sound of wood splintering and loud, angry voices that pulled me out of the dark fog in my mind. My head felt like it was being crushed in a vice, and my limbs were heavy, like I was trapped in quicksand. Panic quickly overtook me as I tried to remember what had happened—Jeremy, the men, and the needle. The memory hit me like a truck, and I tried to move, but my body refused to obey.
I could feel my heart racing, the terror clawing at me, but everything felt wrong. I was sluggish, trapped in my own body. What was going on? Was it the drug? Why couldn't I move?
Then the door slammed open with such force that it made me flinch. The harsh light poured into the room, stabbing at my eyes, and I blinked hard, trying to focus. The blurry shapes slowly cleared, and I saw him—Alpha Xavier.
His eyes were burning with raw fury, his face twisted in a mask of anger. He looked… terrifying. More animal than human, his jaw clenched so tight I thought it might crack. And I could see it—he was here to make sure I didn't stay in this nightmare any longer.
"Get away from her!" His voice was low, rough, a growl that rattled the air.
Jeremy stumbled back, his wide eyes showing the first hint of fear I'd ever seen from him. But it was short-lived. His defiance quickly replaced it. "You can't touch me! I'm your son!" he shouted, trying to act tough.
Xavier didn't even flinch. One second, he was standing in the doorway, and the next, he was on Jeremy—slamming him into the wall so hard that the sound echoed through the room. Jeremy let out a strangled noise, but Xavier wasn't done. He didn't even give him a second to breathe before pinning him there with terrifying force.
The two men who had helped Jeremy didn't stand a chance. They scrambled to reach Xavier, but before they could even take a step, a shadow moved—Leon, Xavier's Beta. He was a blur of movement, taking them down with swift precision. The room filled with grunts, the sound of fists meeting flesh, but I couldn't focus on it.
Everything felt too distant, like I was watching the scene through a thick fog. I tried to lift myself up from the bed, but my body refused to cooperate. "Xavier…" My voice came out hoarse, weak, like I was underwater.
When Xavier heard me, he stopped mid-motion. His head snapped toward me, his gaze softening instantly. He let go of Jeremy, who crumpled to the floor, and rushed to my side.
"Fiona," he whispered, his voice gentle as he knelt beside me. He reached out, brushing the damp hair from my forehead, his fingers warm against my skin. I felt the relief flood through me like a wave crashing over me.
I swallowed hard, trying to force words out, but they got stuck in my throat. "He… he was going to…"
"I know," Xavier said, cutting me off. His voice was a growl now, sharp and tight with anger. "But no one is going to hurt you ever again. I swear it."
I tried to speak again, but the weight of his words, and the exhaustion from the drugs, left me speechless. I wanted to tell him I was fine, to somehow reassure him, but my mouth wouldn't work. I just nodded weakly, too tired to even form a proper sentence.
Before I could get another word out, I saw Jeremy move. He wasn't done yet. He tried to run—dashing toward the door like some cornered animal trying to escape. But Leon was faster. He grabbed Jeremy by the collar and slammed him back to the ground with a sickening thud.
"You're not going anywhere," Leon said, his voice a deep growl, full of menace.
Jeremy's face twisted in rage as he struggled to get free, but he was nothing compared to Leon. "You're making a mistake!" he shouted, but it was clear no one was listening to him anymore. Not after everything he had done.
Xavier stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving Jeremy. The room felt heavy with the tension in the air. "You'll answer for this," Xavier said, his voice low and deadly. "I don't care whose blood runs through your veins. You're going to rot in the dungeons for what you've done."
Jeremy's eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a sneer. "You'll regret this. Both of you!" he spat, his words full of venom.
Xavier didn't even respond. He didn't need to. He turned back to me, his expression softening. He stepped closer and gently lifted me into his arms like I was weightless. It felt like everything in the world had stopped.
"Let's get you out of here," he said, his voice steady.
I wanted to protest. I wanted to tell him I could walk, that I wasn't some fragile thing, but I couldn't. Not now. The safety I felt in his arms was more than I could have ever expected. And the exhaustion that had been slowly overtaking me was too strong.
I let him carry me, feeling the warmth of his body against mine, the steady thrum of his heartbeat under my ear. I couldn't explain it, but in that moment, I felt a strange comfort, a sense of security I hadn't had in forever.
As he walked out of the room, the chaos of what had just happened seemed to fade away. I could hear muffled voices behind us, but they were distant, insignificant compared to the feeling of being in his arms.
We passed through the door, and I caught a glimpse of the house—no, it wasn't a house anymore. It was a battlefield, with shattered glass, broken furniture, and signs of the struggle we'd just gone through. It felt like another world entirely.
I rested my head against Xavier's chest, my eyes fluttering shut. My grip on reality was slipping again, and it felt like I was sinking into darkness.
But through the fog, one thought stayed with me, clear as day: I had never been more grateful for Xavier's arrogance. If it hadn't been for him, if he hadn't come looking for me, I wouldn't be here right now. I wouldn't be safe.
And I had no idea what to do with the way my heart was racing in my chest, knowing that, in some weird, twisted way, I was beginning to trust him. I didn't know if it was a good idea or a terrible one, but I couldn't deny what I was feeling.
Before I fully lost consciousness, I felt Xavier's arms tighten around me, and I thought I heard him whisper something under his breath.
"I've got you, Fiona."
And in that moment, I believed him.