"She's waking up." The voice is fuzzy and distant as I finally open my eyes. My vision blurs momentarily, the blinding white florescent light burning my eyes. For a moment, I feel like I'm seeing the bright light at the end of life. Then I hear the voice again, clearer now.

"Alessandra?" My vision focuses, and I see Octavius looking down at me.

I open my mouth to speak, but I can't. I try again, touching my throat lightly. Only air whistles between my lips. I open my eyes wide, beginning to panic, mute.

"Baby, calm down. The poison reached your throat and burned it, but it will be healed in a few hours. You're going to be okay."

I exhale, and then I remember Lacy and Charlie. I want to ask, and I move my arms a bit to signal I have something to say.

"Here," Octavius grabs a note pad, and hands it to me with a pen. I uncap it, and write quickly.

"Where are Lacy and Charlie?" It reads.

"They're okay. They're recovering in the children's wing. We checked every other member of the pack, no one else was poisoned." I lie back on the bed, relieved. I raise my arm, stroking his cheek softly.

"I almost lost you again." He whispers, and takes my hand in his, kissing it softly. "The antidote only paused the poison, but it began multiplying on its own." He inhales, squeezing his eyes shut. "You were dead, Alessandra. Your heart stopped beating for three seconds." He lays his head on my chest, listening to my steady heart. I run my numb fingers through his soft hair, and we lay like that, joined together.

I must have fallen asleep again, because I wake up in Octavius' bed, and Octavius wrapped around me, half on top of me, with his head buried in my shoulder. He breathes through his mouth, and his soft lips lightly brush my shoulder as he breathes. I really need to use the bathroom, so I slowly try to wiggle out of Octavius' grip.

"Stay." He whispers, making me jump.

"I didn't know you were awake." I respond, as he shifts tightening his arms around me. Thankfully I can finally speak.

"I like laying with you. You talk in your sleep." He mumbles against my skin.

"I do not." I snuggle into him, any escape attempts forgotten.

"You were mumbling about Lacy and Charlie last night, and how they were like your children."

"Oh." I blush.

"And I had a dream," He raises himself on his elbows, looking down at me. "You were holding a child. My child. I was so damn happy. I am so damn happy with you." I smile at him, and I feel as if I'm about to cry. This man is willing to die for me, to kill someone for me. The panic and fear in his eyes at the thought of my death was so genuine, so true.

"I love you." I whisper, smiling at each word. "You don't have to say it back-"

"Say it again." His voice is deeper, huskier, and his eyes are their beautiful blue.

"I" I kiss him under his jaw. "Love" I place a kiss at his cheek. "You" As I am about to kiss his neck he grips my head in his hands, and covers my lips with his. I pull him down to me, chest to chest, breathing together. He pulls away to breath but I pull him back, kissing him harder than ever before, and roll on top of him, taking control. I sit up, straddling his waist, and slowly peel off my shirt. He is gazing up at me, mesmerized.

"So perfect." He runs his hands up and down my waist, up to my chest, and I moan. I lean down and kiss him deeply, pushing myself impossibly closer to him.

"Off" I growl, grabbing at the bottom of his shirt. He removes it quickly, sitting up and flipping us, so he is on top. He kisses down my neck, to my mark, and to my chest, leaving love bites all over my skin. He moves lower and lower, and is about to pull down my shorts when he looks up at me, asking permission.

"Don't stop." I moan, and he moves up to kiss me sweetly.

"I love you." He whispers, before moving back down, and making me his.