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Bastian
At work, I was knee-deep in paperwork when Ben came into my office, looking more serious than usual. I glanced up from my desk, recognizing that expression. Something was weighing heavily on his mind, and from the way his brow was furrowed, it wasn’t just about work.
“Bastian,” he said, standing by the door. “Got a minute?”
I motioned for him to come in, setting my pen down and leaning back in my chair. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”
He sat down across from me, a file in his hand, though he didn’t immediately open it. We discussed a few work projects that needed finalizing-a land development in the northern territories, some budget approvals for the new housing units for the pack-but I could tell something else was pressing on him.
When we finished talking shop, Ben glanced around, almost as if checking to make sure no one else was listening. His next words took me by surprise.
“Kaida… she’s pregnant, isn’t she?”
I stared at him for a moment, caught off guard. I hadn’t expected to be talking about Kaida today, much less her pregnancy. After last night’s party, I’d been trying to push thoughts of her to the back of my mind, but they kept creeping in, lingering even when I didn’t want them
“Yeah,” I replied slowly. “I figured that out last night, but I wasn’t sure if it was something she wanted people to know. It just slipped out when she got sick.”
Ben sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s been trying to keep it under wraps. It’s been tough on her.”
I nodded, understanding now why she had reacted so strongly. “I didn’t mean to make her uncomfortable. It just… happened. I was concerned, but I shouldn’t have pried.”
“No,” Ben said, shaking his head. “It’s not your fault. Kaida’s just… she’s been through a lot. You probably noticed she’s not exactly eager to trust anyone.”
He wasn’t wrong. Kaida had a wall up, one that was hard to break through. I’d seen glimpses of her vulnerability, but there was always something holding her back, keeping her at a distance. And I couldn’t blame her. She was pregnant, alone, and clearly carrying more than
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just the weight of her future on her shoulders.
“She’s a good person,” Ben continued, his voice quieter now. “She’s been through hell, but she’s strong. I just wish things were easier for her.”
I couldn’t help but agree. The more I thought about Kaida, the more I realized how much I admired her resilience, even if it was wrapped up in so much pain. She had a quiet strength about her, something that drew me in despite my better judgment.
“I like her,” I admitted, surprising even myself with the words. I hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but it was the truth. There was something about her that lingered in my mind long after I should’ve let it go.
Ben raised an eyebrow but didn’t look shocked. “Can’t say I blame you. Kaida has that effect on people. She’s cool, calm-at least on the outside. But you can tell she’s carrying a lot. I just don’t know if she’s ready to let anyone in.”
I nodded, thinking back to how she’d stormed off last night. “I get the sense she doesn’t want anyone’s pity. She’s been hurt, and I don’t think she’s ready to trust anyone again. Least of all,
me.”
Ben leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It’s not about trust, at least not fully. She’s just trying to survive right now. Everything that happened back at Silverclaw Ridge… it’s
taken a toll on her.”
I frowned, the name of Kaida’s former home hitting me harder than I expected. Silverclaw Ridge. That pack had a reputation, and none of it was good. I’d heard enough stories over the years to know that their Alpha, Kaelen Darkridge, was as ruthless as he was powerful.
“So she’s from Silverclaw Ridge,” I said slowly, piecing things together. “What exactly happened there?”
Ben hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “It’s not my place to tell you everything, but I think you deserve to know the basics. Kaida was married to Alpha Kaelen.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Kaida had been married to that bastard? I leaned back in my chair, trying to process the information.
“She’s divorced now, obviously,” Ben continued, his voice steady. “But things were… complicated. Kaelen didn’t treat her right. He never did. And when she found out she was pregnant, instead of standing by her, he served her divorce papers.”
I clenched my fists, anger bubbling up inside me. Kaelen Darkridge had discarded her, just
like that? After everything she had probably endured with him? It made me sick to think about
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“That piece of s**t,” I muttered under my breath.
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“Yeah,” Ben agreed, his voice hard. “Kaida doesn’t talk about it much, but I know it’s been rough. And now she’s here, trying to start over, but she’s still carrying all that pain.”
I shook my head, a mix of anger and frustration swirling inside me. Kaida deserved better than what that Alpha had done to her. She deserved peace, support-someone who wouldn’t abandon her when things got tough. And yet, here I was, another Alpha in her life, another potential complication she didn’t need.
But even knowing that, I couldn’t shake the feelings that had taken root in me. I didn’t just admire Kaida; I was drawn to her in a way that I couldn’t explain. The more I learned about her, the more I wanted to protect her, to be the one person she didn’t have to guard herself against.
After work hours, Kaida was still on my mind. It was distracting, making it hard to focus on anything else. Even as Ben and I drove home, my thoughts kept drifting back to her.
We dropped Dahlia off first, and before she stepped out of the car, I couldn’t hold back the question that had been gnawing at me since the conversation with Ben.
“Dahlia,” I said, stopping her just as she reached for the door handle. “I have to ask-who’s responsible for Kaida’s pregnancy?”
Dahlia froze, her hand hovering over the door. She didn’t turn to look at me, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. For a moment, I thought she might not answer, that she’d brush me off and tell me it wasn’t my business.
But then she sighed and turned back, meeting my gaze with a conflicted expression. Bastian, I don’t think I should…”
“I’m not trying to pry,” I said quickly, trying to reassure her. “I just… I want to understand. I swear, I mean no harm.”
Dahlia stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing whether or not she could trust me with the truth. Finally, she let out another sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly.
“It’s Alpha Kaelen Darkridge,” she said quietly. “He’s the father.”
The name hit me like a blow to the chest. Kaelen. That bastard was the one who had put Kaida through all of this, and now she was carrying his children? It made my blood boil to think of everything she must have endured because of him.
Dahlia opened the door and stepped out of the car, leaving me reeling from the revelation. I stared out the windshield, my mind racing.
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Kaida was carrying Kaelen’s children. And yet, here she was, in my pack, trying to rebuild her life away from him.
I knew one thing for sure-no matter what, I wasn’t going to let Kaelen or anyone else hurt her again.
Kaida deserved better, and I would do everything in my power to make sure she got 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.
