15
Kaida
It was Dahlia’s voice that stirred me from my restless sleep, her soft words pulling me out of the haze. My eyes fluttered open, and I blinked against the light pouring through the curtains. The puffiness under my eyes made it clear I had cried myself to sleep, but I didn’t remember doing so. I only remembered the overwhelming emotions from last night-the anger, the embarrassment, and the fear that my carefully built walls had started to crumble.
“Kaida,” Dahlia said gently, sitting on the edge of my bed. “Bastian told me what happened last night.”
I groaned inwardly, wishing I could bury myself under the covers and avoid the conversation altogether. The last thing I wanted to do was relive the moment when I’d snapped at him. I had felt justified in my anger then, but now, in the cold light of day, I knew I’d overreacted. Bastian hadn’t been mocking me; he had been concerned. But the idea of anyone knowing about my pregnancy had hit too close to home.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I mumbled, turning my head away from Dahlia. My voice was hoarse, a reflection of the emotional turmoil that had consumed me.
“Kaida,” Dahlia pressed, her tone soft but firm. “I know you’re upset, but you can’t avoid this. Bastian wasn’t trying to hurt you. He asked about your pregnancy because he cares.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to fight the surge of emotion that threatened to rise again. “I know,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I overreacted. I just-” I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “It’s hard. I’m trying to keep everything together, and I feel like I’m losing control.”
Dahlia placed a comforting hand on my arm. “I understand. You’ve been through so much, and I can’t imagine how difficult it is to keep all of this to yourself. But Bastian isn’t the enemy, Kaida. He was just worried about you.”
I sighed deeply, the weight of her words settling over me. Dahlia was right. I had lashed out at Bastian for no reason other than my own fear. And if I was being honest with myself, I knew I needed to apologize.
“I need to apologize to him,” I said finally, sitting up in bed. My heart clenched at the thought of facing Bastian after the way I had stormed off last night, but it was the right thing to do. He hadn’t deserved my anger.
Dahlia nodded in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I think that’s a good idea. Bastian’s actually downstairs in the garage.”
1/4
< 15
My eyes widened in surprise. “He’s here?”
+25 Points
“Yeah,” Dahlia said. “He wasn’t sure if he should come up, so he’s waiting in his car. He didn’t want to make things worse by intruding.”
I felt a pang of guilt at that. Bastian had shown nothing but kindness to me, and here I was, making him feel like he was unwelcome. I pushed the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed, determined to fix things. I had to set this right, even if it meant swallowing my pride.
“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll go talk to him.”
Dahlia gave me an encouraging smile and stood up. “You’ll feel better after you do.”
I wasn’t sure if that was true, but I knew I had to try.
When I reached the garage, my nerves had kicked into full gear. My stomach twisted with a mix of anxiety and regret as I saw Bastian’s sleek black car parked near the entrance. Ben was standing outside, leaning against the car casually. When he saw me approaching, he straightened up and gave me a warm smile.
“Morning, Kaida,” he greeted.
“Morning, Ben,” I replied, managing a small smile in return. Ben had always been kind to me, and in that moment, I was grateful for his presence. It made the daunting task of facing Bastian a little less terrifying.
Ben nodded toward the car. “Bastian’s inside. He’s been waiting for you.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. “Thanks, Ben.”
With that, I walked over to the passenger side of the car, hesitating for only a moment before opening the door and slipping inside. Bastian was sitting in the driver’s seat, his hands resting on the steering wheel, but he turned to face me the moment I settled in.
His eyes met mine, and I saw no anger or judgment there, only calm patience. That made it easier, but I still felt the weight of what I had to say pressing down on me.
“Bastian,” I began, my voice steady despite the nerves swirling in my chest. “I’m sorry for how I acted last night. I overreacted, and you didn’t deserve that.”
Bastian’s expression softened, and he shook his head slightly. “Kaida, you don’t have to apologize. I get it. I shouldn’t have asked such a personal question. It was inappropriate, and I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that.”
“No,” I insisted, shaking my head. “You were just trying to help. I just… it’s hard for me to talk
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::.
15
+25 Points
about my pregnancy. It’s not something I’m ready to share with everyone, and when you asked, I felt like I was losing control. But that’s on me, not you.”
Bastian nodded slowly, his gaze understanding. “I respect that. Your life, your decisions. I won’t pry any further.”
Relief washed over me at his words, and I felt the tension that had been building inside me start to fade. He wasn’t going to push, and that made all the difference.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice soft. “I appreciate that.”
For a moment, there was silence between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt like a mutual understanding had been reached, a truce of sorts. Bastian leaned back in his seat, and I allowed myself to relax as well.
“You don’t owe anyone an explanation, Kaida,” he said after a moment. “But if you ever feel like talking, I’m here. No judgment, no pressure.”
I looked at him, surprised by the offer. It was rare for someone in his position-an Alpha, someone with immense power and influence-to extend that kind of understanding. But Bastian didn’t seem like the others I had known. He was different.
“Thanks,” I said quietly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
As I sat there, I realized that despite my initial reservations, I had started to see Bastian in a different light. He wasn’t the dangerous man I had feared. He was someone who, against all odds, had shown me kindness when I least expected it.
But even with that realization, I knew I needed to keep my distance. I couldn’t afford to let anyone too close-not now, not while I was trying to rebuild my life and protect my babies.
With a deep breath, I looked out the window and made a silent promise to myself. I would stay strong, for me and for my children. And I wouldn’t let anyone, not even someone as kind as Bastian, derail the plans I had set in motion.
“I should go,” I said, turning back to Bastian. “But thank you. For understanding.”
Bastian smiled, a genuine warmth in his expression. “Anytime, Kaida. Take care of yourself.”
I nodded, then opened the car door and stepped out, feeling a strange mix,of emotions. As I walked back to the apartment, I couldn’t shake the thought that maybe, just maybe, I had found an unexpected ally in Bastian Darkmoor.
But I wasn’t ready to trust that fully-not yet.
3/4
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.
