THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN FLAME.

Talia's POV

Ahhh....

The sound dragged me out of sleep.

It was faint at first, like it belonged to a dream. I almost turned over, almost sank back into darkness.

Then I heard it again.

A groan.

No... a cry.

My heart skipped as I opened my eyes.

The room was dark, lit only by moonlight slipping through the curtains. For a moment, everything was still.

Then I saw him.

Ramon.

He was lying beside me, his body tense, his brows drawn together like he was in pain. His lips parted as another sound left his throat...low, broken.

"No, no." He cried out

"Please."

Tears streaked down his face.

My chest tightened.

His eyes were closed, but his expression looked tortured, like he was trapped somewhere far away and couldn't escape.

"What...?" I whispered.

I didn't know what to do.

Should I wake him?

Would that make it worse?

Another groan tore from him, louder this time, his chest rising sharply like he couldn't breathe properly.

That decided it.

I couldn't just lie there.

I turned toward him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling him gently against me. My hands moved to his face, wiping away the tears, my thumbs brushing his cheeks.

"Hey," I whispered softly. "It's okay. You're okay."

He didn't wake.

But his hands moved instantly, gripping me like I was the only solid thing in the world.

His fingers dug into my back, desperate, trembling.

"It's okay," I whispered again, over and over. "Let it go. You're safe."

I shushed him gently, rocking him without thinking, my heart pounding.

What could make Alpha Ramon like this?

What could torment Alpha Ramon like this?

This man who ruled with fear and control... what could possibly torment him in his sleep?

Slowly, so slowly, his breathing began to steady.

Then his eyes opened.

They locked onto mine.

For a second, he looked disoriented. Lost.

Then recognition settled in.

"Talia..." he murmured.

His voice was rough, like it had been dragged through fire.

"You're awake," I said softly.

He nodded once. His chest was still rising fast, but his eyes were clear now. Awake and present.

Whatever was haunting him, seems to let go of him now.

"You were dreaming," I said. "You looked... scared."

His jaw tightened.

"I wasn't scared," he said automatically.

I didn't argue.

I just looked at him.

His hands were still holding me, like he hadn't realized he hadn't let go.

He looked vulnerable, not the arrogant man I know.

"You were crying," I said quietly.

That made him freeze.

Slowly, he released me and sat up, turning his face away like he didn't want me to see him anymore.

"How long?" he asked.

"Long enough," I replied.

Silence filled the space between us.

I gathered my courage and drew closer to him. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about."

The answer was instant.

I nodded. "Okay."

That surprised him.

He glanced at me. "You're not going to push?"

"That's unlike you. Taking no for an answer."

I shook my head. "Not if you don't want me to."

Another pause.

Then he exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand down his face.

"I'm here whenever you want to talk", I said very softly.

"The memories still burns like it was yesterday," he said very slowly with pain in his voice.

My heart clenched. "What memories?"

He hesitated.

"The dead," he finally said.

I swallowed.

"The people I couldn't save. The ones I watched as they got killed. The ones who trusted me."

His voice was steady, but there was something broken underneath it.

"They come back every night," he continued. "In different faces. Different screams."

I reached for his hand without thinking.

He didn't pull away.

"You're not a monster," I said.

He laughed softly, bitterly. "You don't know that."

"I know what I saw tonight," I said. "A man who's hurting."

He looked at me then. Really looked at me.

"You shouldn't have seen this side of me," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because alphas don't get the luxury of falling apart."

I squeezed his hand. "Then maybe that's why it happens when you're asleep."

Something shifted in his expression.

He leaned forward until his forehead rested against mine.

"You calm the noise," he said quietly. "When you touch me... it stops."

My breath caught.

"I'm glad I could help," I whispered.

"I know," he said. "That's why it's dangerous."

Dangerous.

The word echoed between us.

"I won't tell anyone," I promised.

"I know," he replied.

We stayed like that for a long moment, breathing the same air.

Then he lay back down, turning slightly toward me.

"Stay," he said softly.

I didn't hesitate.

I curled beside him, and this time, he slept.

Peacefully.

But as I stared into the darkness, one thought refused to leave me.

Whatever haunted Ramon wasn't just his past.

It was something he carried alone.

And somehow...

I was already part of it.