Kaida
Kaelen’s voice echoed in my ears, the sound of it sending a shockwave through my entire body.
“Kaida.”
I froze, unable to believe what I was hearing. Slowly, I turned around, my heart pounding in my chest as I came face–to–face with Kaelen Darkridge. His presence felt like a physical blow, and for
a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
His eyes were locked on my face at first, intense and searching, as if trying to confirm that it was really me standing in front of him. But then his gaze dropped. I saw the exact moment he noticed. His eyes widened in disbelief as they fixed on my baby bump, now impossible to hide in the bikini l was wearing.
For a second, neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what he would say.
Before Kaelen could open his mouth, Bastian was already stepping between us, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
“What are you doing here, Kaelen?” Bastian’s tone was sharp, a subtle warning beneath his words. He stood protectively in front of me, shielding me from Kaelen’s stare.
Kaelen looked at Bastian, his expression hardening as he straightened up, clearly ready to respond, but before he could, another voice interrupted him.
Alara.
She appeared beside Kaelen, her hand resting on his arm. The sight of her standing so close to him, the way she so casually touched him, made something inside me twist painfully. I felt a surge of irritation and anger rise within me, and before I knew what I was doing, I turned on my heel and walked away, tears stinging my eyes.
I didn’t want to cry in front of him. I didn’t want to show him how much it still hurt–how much he still had the power to hurt me.
“Kaida!” I heard Bastian call after me, and within moments, he was by my side. I kept walking, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore only amplifying the chaotic storm of emotions inside me.
“Kaida, wait!” Bastian’s hand gently grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. I turned to face him, blinking back the tears that had already started to blur my vision.
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“Bastian, I can’t do this.” My voice trembled, and I could feel the cracks forming in the composure I had fought so hard to maintain. “Kaelen… he knows. He saw my-” I placed a protective hand over my belly, my heart squeezing painfully.
Bastian’s expression softened, his usual air of control replaced with genuine concern. “I know, Kaida. I know this isn’t easy, but you can’t let him get to you like this.”
I shook my head, the panic rising in my chest. “You don’t understand. Now that he knows I’m pregnant… what if he comes for the twins? What if he tries to take them from me?”
Bastian’s jaw tightened. He took a step closer, his voice lowering to a steady, reassuring tone.” Kaida, listen to me. I won’t let that happen. You’re safe here with me. Kaelen doesn’t have any claim over you or your children anymore. Not after everything he’s done.”
I wanted to believe him, I really did. But the fear that Kaelen would somehow take my children from me was gnawing at my insides. He had discarded me once, abandoned me when I needed him most, and yet part of me still feared his influence, his power as an alpha.
“But what if he tries?” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of the ocean. “What if he decides that now, because I’m carrying his children, he can just waltz back into my life and-”
“He won’t,” Bastian interrupted firmly, his hand squeezing mine. “I’ll make sure of it. Kaelen has no
right to interfere with your life anymore. And I will protect you, Kaida. I swear it.”
I looked up at him, searching his eyes for any trace of uncertainty, but there was none. Bastian had
always been steadfast, always there when I needed him. He had stood by me through this entire
mess, even when I felt like my world was falling apart.
I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. “Okay,” I whispered. “Okay, I trust you.”
But even as I said the words, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was looming on the horizon. Kaelen knowing about my pregnancy–it changed everything. I had kept the truth hidden for so long, thinking I could move forward without him ever knowing. But now, it was out in the open, and I had no idea what Kaelen would do with that information.
Bastian, sensing my lingering fear, wrapped an arm around my shoulders and began leading me back to our spot on the beach. “Let’s get out of here,” he said quietly. “You don’t need to be around them. We can go somewhere else, anywhere you want.”
I nodded again, grateful for his support. But my thoughts were still spinning, caught in a whirlwind of emotions I didn’t know how to untangle.
Just as we were about to leave the beach, I glanced back over my shoulder. Kaelen and Alara were still standing where we had left them, locked in what looked like a tense conversation. Alara’s
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expression was unreadable, but Kaelen… his eyes were still on me, watching me, even as I walked
away.
My heart clenched painfully in my chest, and I quickly turned away before he could see the tears
threatening to fall again.
I wasn’t going to let him see me like this. Not again.
Bastian helped me into the car, his presence grounding me as I tried to calm the storm of emotions raging inside. As we drove away from the beach, I leaned my head against the window, the cool glass soothing against my overheated skin.
I knew I had to stay strong. I had to protect myself and my twins. And if that meant keeping Kaelen at a distance, then so be it.
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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.
