?


    Warm water cascaded over me as I took a deep breath, inhaling thevender scent from the bath oils. The warmth of the tub worked its magic, slowly melting away the tension and fatigue from the evening. With every passing moment, I felt my muscles rx, sinking deeper into theforting embrace of the water.


    "Hey," Enzo called from the other room, "which scent do you want tonight in the diffuser? Lavender or eucalyptus?"


    "Hmm... Eucalyptus," I called out.


    This was our new routine, and it was one that I had grown fond of. Living in our own home suited us well as opposed to the more rugged life of living in the dorms.


    Enzo always made me promise that I wouldn''t tell his friends that he secretly liked putting oils in the diffuser and reading novels before bed. I always teased him and said that I would, but I never did. It was like our little ritual, one of the things that kept us feeling whole in the wake of everything that had happened.


    When I eventually stepped out, toweling off and wrapping myself in a soft, plush robe, I was met with theforting sight of the dimly lit bedroom. Enzo was propped up on the bed, flipping through a book, his focused expression making me smile.


    Slipping into bed beside him, I felt the warmth of his body pull me in. He set aside his book, turning to me with that heartwarming smile of his-the one that never failed to set my heart aflutter.


    "Feeling better?" he asked, his fingers gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.


    "Mmm," I murmured, snuggling closer. "I didn''t realize how much I needed that bath."Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    His arm wrapped around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. "The party was a hit," he whispered against my hair. "Thanks to you."


    I chuckled softly. "All I did was set up some decorations and put out snacks. It was your friends that made it fun." "Our friends," Enzo corrected, nting a kiss on the top of my head. "Our pack."


    I smirked, realizing that I never thought that I would be here now, in Enzo Rivers'' arms, talking about our... werewolf pack. Which also happened to contain several humans and a talking skeleton-an Undead, as Luke preferred to be called these days-wearing a human disguise. It was certainly an interesting friend group dynamic, to say the least.


    "Right," I murmured. "Our pack."


    Wey there for a few moments, just reveling in thefort of each other''s presence. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Enzo pulled back slightly, looking me in the eyes. "You know, when I''m gone, I don''t want you to be alone in this big house."


    I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden seriousness. "What are you getting at?"


    He hesitated for a beat, choosing his words carefully. "Maybe someone could move in with you. A friend, perhaps? Lori or Jessica? Maybe Luke?"


    My eyes widened. "Enzo, you''re not suggesting-"


    *Luke was your bodyguard once," he cut in. "It might not be a bad idea to have him back in that capacity. At least until I return."


    I shook my head in disbelief, smothering augh. "You seriously think I need a bodyguard now? Enzo, the Crescents are gone. They won''t daree back, especially not after what happened."


    His expression turned somber. "Nina, I love you. And it''s because I love you that I worry about you. The Crescents are unpredictable. You never know when they might decide toe back and try something."


    I sighed, running a hand through my damp hair. "I get it, I really do. And I appreciate your concern. But having


    Luke here, acting as my bodyguard these days... It just seems a bit over-the-top, don''t you think?"


    Enzo studied me for a moment, his gaze unwavering. "I just want you to be safe. Even if it''s over-the-top, even if it''s unnecessary, I''d rather be safe than sorry."


    His earnestness took me by surprise. I leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "I''ll think about it," I promised softly.