Page 59 of Owned By the Hvrok

He felt her curl inward.

He held her tighter.

And slowly… she began to settle.

The tremors dulled.

Her breathing steadied.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, relief, perhaps, or contentment. He didn’t know what it was exactly, didn’t know what human sounds meant—yet.

But she wasbetterthan before.

She wasn’t warm yet, but the worst of the cold was retreating.

Good.

He inhaled softly behind the mask.

And there it was again.

Her scent.

It clung to her like a second skin: warm now, a little spiced from the lingering adrenaline, but still uniquely hers. Something floral. Something human. Something that was beginning to etch itself into the memory centers of his brain like a hunting mark.

He should’ve adjusted his filter mode to block it.

But he hadn’t, because on some level… hewantedit.

He wantedmoreof it.

He closed his eyes, just for a second, and let the scent curl through his senses like intoxicating smoke. A strange feeling tightened low in his gut, where discipline warred with something more primal.

It would be easy.

A simple command, and the helmet would retract.

He could look at her. Smell her fully.Knowher.

But...

What if he lost control? She was so fragile, and he could easily break her.

He opened his eyes.

No.Not now.

He had to be logical.

Had to keep the barrier.

Because if he removed the helmet and let the full flood of her scent hit him, he wasn’t certain he’d be able to stop himself.

And if he hurt her…

He couldn’t.

Hewouldn’t.

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