*25 Points
13
Kaida
Life in Crestwood City was a strange kind of peaceful. After everything that had happened, I hadn’t expected to find solace in a new place so quickly. But here I was, sitting on the small balcony outside Dahlia’s apartment, sipping tea and watching the world move slowly beneath me. The hum of the city was distant, more of a soothing backdrop than a reminder of the chaos I’d left behind. I gently placed my hand on my stomach, feeling the slight swell that housed the twins. My babies. They were doing just fine, with no complications so far, and my weekly appointments with Doctor Cooper were a comforting routine.
Dahlia had been incredible through all of it. She fussed over me, making sure I ate properly, rested enough, and didn’t let my emotions get the best of me. Her boyfriend, Ben, was equally kind. I was grateful for both of them. It was like I didn’t even need time to heal from the divorce. I hadn’t cried over Kaelen since I left. In truth, it felt like I didn’t need to. I was free now, and I liked it that way. My mind felt lighter without him, and my heart, though a little bruised, wasn’t broken.
But there was something-or rather, someone-that kept creeping into my thoughts lately. Alpha Bastian Darkmoor. Ben worked for him, as the Beta of the Darkmoor pack, and I’d *heard plenty about him since I arrived here. I wasn’t sure why, but there was something about the idea of meeting him that made me uneasy. I had never met him before, but his name seemed to linger in my mind more than I wanted it to.
I hadn’t expected him to care much about me, but according to what I had seen when I first caught his eye, Alpha Bastian had seemed rather… curious about my presence. That made me nervous. What could he possibly want with me? I was just a pregnant, already divorced wolf trying to build a new life. I wasn’t looking for anyone’s attention, least of all that of an Alpha.
“Kaida?” Dahlia’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She walked onto the balcony with an envelope in her hand, a knowing look on her face. “Guess what?”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “What now?”
She grinned, waving the envelope in front of me. “We’ve been invited to a party.”
“A party?” I repeated, trying to suppress the immediate feeling of dread that settled in my stomach. “Dahlia, you know I’m not in the mood for parties right now.”
“Come on, it’s not just any party,” she insisted, sitting down across from me. “It’s Alpha Bastian’s birthday party. Everyone’s going to be there. It’ll be fun!”
1/4
<13
425 Points
At the mention of his name, my heart gave an involuntary jump. Alpha Bastian. I didn’t know much about him other than what I’d overheard from Dahlia and Ben. I had heard he was powerful, commanding, and dangerously handsome. But the idea of meeting him in person made me want to shrink into myself.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said, trying to sound firm. “I’m pregnant, I’m exhausted, and I’m really not in the mood for… that.”
Dahlia’s eyes softened, and she leaned forward, taking my hand in hers. “Kaida, I get it. I do. But you can’t just hide away here forever. You deserve to enjoy yourself, to have a little fun.”
“Fun?” I scoffed. “I’m pregnant with twins, Dahlia. How much fun can I possibly have at an Alpha’s birthday party?”
She laughed. “You’d be surprised. And besides…” Her voice dropped a little, her smile turning a bit more mischievous. “Ben may or may not have told Alpha Bastian about you.”
My stomach tightened. “He what?”
“Don’t freak out,” she said quickly, holding up her hands. “Ben didn’t mean any harm. He just mentioned you in passing-about how you’ve been staying with us, and, well, Alpha Bastian is … interested.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “Interested in what, exactly?”
Dahlia shrugged, but there was a glint in her eyes. “He wants to meet you. He’s curious about the new wolf in his territory.”
I swallowed hard, trying to push down the anxiety rising in my throat. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want attention, least of all from an Alpha who barely knew me.
“I don’t think I’m ready for that,” I said, shaking my head. “I really don’t.”
Dahlia squeezed my hand again. “I know you’re scared, Kaida. But you’re strong. You’ve been through so much already, and look at you-you’re doing great. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, but maybe it’s time to stop hiding.”
Her words hung in the air, and I stared down at my tea, swirling it absentmindedly. Maybe she was right. I had been hiding-hiding from my past, from the divorce, from Kaelen. And maybe even from myself.
But meeting Alpha Bastian? That felt like stepping into something far bigger than I was ready for.
Still, the thought gnawed at me. What harm could it really do to attend one party? I didn’t have to stay long, and I didn’t have to talk to anyone if I didn’t want to. I could just go for
2/4
< 13
425 Points)
Dahlia’s sake, make an appearance, and leave.
I sighed. “Fine,” I muttered. “I’ll go. But if it gets too overwhelming, I’m leaving.”
Dahlia’s face lit up. “Yes! I promise, if you need to leave, I’ll be right there with you. But trust me, you’ll have a good time.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but I forced a small smile and nodded. “We’ll see.”
The night of the party arrived faster than I expected. Dahlia had been fussing over me all afternoon, helping me find a dress that fit comfortably over my growing belly. Eventually, we settled on a simple yet elegant gown, one that made me feel somewhat presentable despite the nerves swirling in my stomach.
As we pulled up to Alpha Bastian’s estate, my heart raced. The place was massive-far more imposing than I had imagined. The grand mansion was lit up with hundreds of lights, and the sound of music and laughter drifted through the night air. Cars were parked everywhere, and people-wolves-were mingling on the front lawn, their voices buzzing with excitement.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. This was just a party. It didn’t mean anything.
“You okay?” Dahlia asked, sensing my tension.
.”Yeah,” I lied. “Just… nervous.”
She smiled reassuringly. “You’ll be fine. Ben’s already inside, and we’ll stick together.”
I nodded, grateful for her support. Together, we made our way inside, where the atmosphere was even more overwhelming. The house was filled with wolves, some of whom I recognized from passing in town, but most were unfamiliar faces. And yet, every one of them seemed to command a certain kind of presence that made me feel small.
As we entered the grand hall, my eyes were immediately drawn to the far end of the room, where Alpha Bastian stood, surrounded by a group of his pack members. He was taller than I had expected, with dark hair that fell just over his eyes and a commanding presence that made it impossible to look away.
He glanced up, and for a moment, our eyes met. My heart skipped a beat.
“There he is,” Dahlia whispered beside me. “Alpha Bastian.”
I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my composure. I could feel his gaze on me, watching, assessing. There was something about him that both intrigued and terrified me, and I couldn’t quite place why.
Before I could say anything, Dahlia pulled me forward. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go say
3/4
:
< 13
hello.”
+25 Points
Every step closer to him made my stomach tighten. What did he want from me? Why was he so interested? I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out. But there was no turning back now. I had agreed to this, and I couldn’t back out, no matter how much I wanted to disappear into the shadows.
As we approached, Alpha Bastian’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Kaida Ashwood,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
I forced a polite smile, though inside, my nerves were buzzing. “Likewise, Alpha Bastian.”
His eyes held mine for a moment longer, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to this meeting than a simple introduction. Something deeper.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
