when Skys are grey

In every way part 2

Steve's POV

Mornings seem to come a little easier these days. The darkness, once ominous and foreboding, seemed to have moved on and left us with a fresh start. A clean slate. It's what we had all needed, but especially Sky.

She's started eating better and just overall looking healthier. She was getting her strength back little by little and I was so proud of her. She's come so far from the scared, small omega I had first met.

Most importantly, she had me. She had us. No matter what, I'd protect her. I'd do better than last time and make sure no one ever hurt her again. I loved her more than anything else this life had to offer.

She was my mate. My love. The person I get to wake up to every morning. The first beautiful thing I see every day. My sunshine. My life.

Cascading amber hair swirled around her pillow and face, gently framing her still sleeping features. Underneath her closed eyelids were a mixture of forest green and honey, orbiting each other to form the most extravagant eyes I'd ever seen.

"You're starring again?" Her delicate voice drew me out of my thoughts and I focused in on her, watching me with sleepy eyes as she stretched out for a moment only to cuddle back into me.

I chuckled, sighing happily as I kissed her head. "I can't help it. You're just so beautiful." I could see and feel the crimson heat rushing into her cheeks as she hid her smile in my chest

This was the way most of our mornings went. I woke up before her and just laid there, unmoving, just watching her sleep till she woke up. Sometimes, I still couldn't believe she was really mine.

"I love you so much. More than anything." I breathed in deeply, letting her ambrosial scent fill my senses and spark them to life. It made my heart flutter as a swarm of butterflies filled my stomach.

She leaned back a little, offering me a soft smile as she placed a gentle hand on my face, thumbing at my reddened cheeks. "I love you too. More than anything."

Her smile grew as she moved forward, placing her lips on mine. I kissed back immediately, pulling her closer as our mouths danced together, moving on their own audacious accord.

This was really how our mornings started.

My hands moved up and down her sides, memorizing her supple skin under my palms. Excited shivers rippled through her body, pulling a soft sigh from her lips as we broke apart only momentarily to catch our breaths.

Her soft breaths echoed in my ears as I rested my forehead against hers, only having a moment to recover before she pushed her lips up into mine again, this time with more force and vigor.

I returned the action, gently combing my fingers through her abundant curls. She copied the action, tangling her fingers up into my hair, tugging slightly at the platinum ends and sending a shudder of my own throughout my enthusiastic body.

We were slow, but passionate. Still learning the other's body in a breathtaking game of love. We didn't mind taking our time, being in no rush to learn the unique canvas of each other's physic

A pounding on the door caught our attention, ruining the moment and startling me enough to pull a gasp passed my teeth as I turned to the side, Red washing over my eyes for a split second as I sat up. "Yes?"

"Steve." Tony's voice came through clearly from the other side. An odd tone of urgency had me sitting up straighter, giving him my undivided attention. "Tony? What is it?"

There was a small pause and I started getting anxious, wondering if I needed to get up before he started to speak again. "It's hard to explain, um...someone from Sky's old pack he's-he's hurt. In our medway. Markus says we can trust him."

My gaze turned to Sky, watching her body go frigid and her breath hitch. The once warm honey glow of her skin now dulled down, draining from her cheeks and neck.

I put my hand on her leg, gently thumbing at her skin as I took a deep breath. "It'll be okay. I'm going to protect you." I managed to keep my voice even, steadying my heart beat to show her I wasn't lying.

I kissed the side of her head before getting up and slipping on some pants and a shirt. "I'll be right there, Tony. Thanks." I heard the shuffle of feet as he walked away, leaving us alone once again.

"Steve-" Sky was at my side suddenly, grabbing my arm to stop me from leaving. She looked shaken, but behind her glossy eyes, I saw the strength that was building inside her. She wasn't scared, more confused and perplexed.

Her features scrunched up as she uttered out a continuous sigh, gripping my hand on her own fiercely. "There was only one person Markus trusted back then...if it's him and he's hurt-"

I placed my other hand on top of hers, leaning down to kiss her deeply one more time before sighing out, feeling her heartbeat quicken as her thoughts wandered. "Do you want to come with me?"

She looked taken back and stared at me a moment before wordlessly nodding and grabbing one of my sweatshirts, pulling it on over her body.

I grinned, forcefully stopping myself from continuing our earlier actions and reminding myself we had an issue to see to. A very important issue.

Sky's hand slipped into mine, holding tightly as our fingers intertwined, locking safely together. I could feel her strength now. Coursing through her veins like fire. My own only adding to hers as I reassured her that things would be okay.

Through her disarray, I could also feel her anger, her disdain, curiosity and hope all at once. Bubbling up inside her in one big jumbled mess.

"Hey," I turned, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "We've got this. You've got this. Remember, you're not an omega because you're weak." My lip curved up onto a smile as her eyes met mine, holding my gaze intensely.

She nodded, breathing in deeply and hiding it for a few seconds before releasing it as a flash of blue raced across her eyes, dissipating back behind her normal green. "I'm strong. I'm fierce."

My smile widened and I nodded, kissing her forehead before walking with her to the door. I wasn't at all sure what would happen once we walked into the medbay, but I had to trust Markus. He had earned that.

If it was someone they knew and someone they trusted, I'd do everything in my ability as Alpha to protect that wolf too and find out what happened while doing my best to keep the past at bay, back down in the abyss that it belonged to.