Lucas
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$25 Points
The day had started like any other. I was on my way to the hospital for a routine visit- checking on the packs, making sure our allies were in good health. But when I pulled into the parking lot, something stopped me cold.
Kaida Ashwood. She was standing outside the hospital, a bag in her hand, looking… different. There was something in the way she held herself, the way she moved.
But what caught my attention even more was the man standing beside her-none other than Alpha Bastian Darkmoor.
I wasn’t close to Kaida, not like Kaelen had been, but everyone knew the story. She had disappeared from Silverclaw Ridge after the divorce. Kaelen was furious, but he hadn’t exactly gone out of his way to bring her back. It had been a mess, but now… seeing her with Bastian? That wasn’t a good sign.
My instincts flared, something wasn’t right. Kaida was someone who kept to herself, especially after everything that had happened. So why was she here? And why with Bastian of all people?
I watched as they spoke quietly, their interaction seemed calm but… personal. They didn’t notice me as they slipped into Bastian’s sleek black car. It drove off slowly, heading toward the highway, and my gut twisted.
I couldn’t let it go.
Once they were gone, I headed inside the hospital. I knew Doctor Cooper, a man known for his discretion, but also his loyalty to the patients who trusted him. If Kaida was here, he’d know why. And maybe, just maybe, I’d be able to figure out what the hell was going on.
I found him in his office, hunched over some files.
“Lucas,” he greeted, looking up. “What brings you here?”
“I saw Kaida,” I said without preamble, crossing my arms as I stood in front of his desk. “She left with Bastian Darkmoor. What’s going on?”
Doctor Cooper’s face shifted, a flicker of something crossing his features-was it guilt? Or maybe it was hesitation. Either way, it was enough to tell me there was more going on than I’d realized.
“Lucas, I can’t discuss other patients with you,” he said, his tone cautious but firm. “You know
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that.”
+25 Points
I leaned in, not willing to back down. “Cooper, this isn’t about just any patient. Kaida used to be part of Silverclaw Ridge. She’s got history here, and if something’s happening with her, it could affect more than just her. I’m not here to stir up trouble. I’m here because I’m
concerned.”
Cooper sighed, running a hand through his thinning hair. “It’s not that simple.”
“Then make it simple,” I urged. “What’s going on with her? Why is she here, and why is
Bastian involved?”
The doctor’s hesitation lasted only a moment longer before he gave in. “She’s pregnant,” he
said, his voice low. “Twins.”
I felt the floor drop out from under me. “Twins?” I repeated, trying to make sense of it. Kaida… pregnant? With twins? The timeline didn’t add up, but then again, she’d been gone for a while. And Kaelen-did he know?
Cooper must have read the confusion on my face because he continued, “It’s complicated, Lucas. Kaida has PCOS, and this pregnancy… it’s a miracle in its own right. But it’s also risky. She’s been coming here for private checkups to avoid anyone finding out.”
The weight of his words sank in, and I realized what this meant. Kaida was carrying twins, but she was hiding it. Hiding it from Kaelen. Hiding it from everyone. And now Bastian was
involved.
“You’re telling me no one knows?” I asked, still trying to process the situation.
Doctor Cooper shook his head. “No one but myself and Kaida. And now, you.”
I couldn’t believe it. Kaelen, the alpha of Silverclaw Ridge, had no idea his ex-wife was pregnant with his children. And for some reason, she didn’t want him to know. “Why hasn’t she told him?”
Cooper’s gaze hardened. “Kaida has her reasons. She left Silverclaw Ridge for a reason, Lucas. It’s not my place to tell you what those reasons are, but I will say this-she’s trying to protect her children.”
I frowned, my mind spinning with possibilities. “And what about Bastian? What does he have to do with all of this?”
“That, I can’t say,” Cooper admitted. “But he’s been helping her. He brought her here today. He seems… protective of her.”
Protective. I didn’t like the sound of that. Bastian wasn’t exactly known for being a guardian
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425 Points?
angel, and if he was getting involved with Kaida, there was more at play than simple concern.
“Does he know about the twins?” I asked, already dreading the answer.
Cooper nodded, “He knows. But he’s keeping it quiet. I think he understands the danger if Kaelen were to find out.”
A cold realization washed over me. Kaida’s secret was one that could start a war if it ever got out. Kaelen was powerful, yes, but Bastian was no lightweight either. And now, the two were locked in a silent battle over something Kaelen didn’t even know existed.
“What about the risks?” I asked, needing to know more. “How serious is this pregnancy?”
“It’s high-risk,” Cooper said, his voice heavy with concern. “But so far, she’s stable. I’m keeping a close eye on her, but I’m worried about the stress she’s under. Especially if she keeps trying to hide this.”
I clenched my jaw, the weight of what I’d learned settling over me like a dark cloud. Kaida was in the middle of a dangerous game, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. If Kaelen found out… I didn’t want to think about what might happen.
But I couldn’t betray her trust either. Kaida had made her decision to leave, to keep this secret. And I had to respect that.
“Don’t worry,” I finally said, my voice steady. “I won’t say a word to anyone. This stays between us.”
Cooper looked relieved, but there was still a shadow of worry in his eyes. “Thank Kaida needs people she can trust right now.”
you,
Lucas.
I nodded, though my mind was still racing. Trust. That was a fragile thing, especially in a world where alliances shifted like sand. But if Kaida was putting her faith in Bastian, I had to wonder… what was his endgame?
As I left the hospital, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated. Kaida’s pregnancy was a secret that could tear everything apart if it came to light. And now, I was a part of it.
But more than that, I had questions. Why was Bastian so invested in Kaida? Was it genuine concern, or was he playing a deeper game? And what would happen if Kaelen ever found out the truth?
One thing was certain-I wasn’t going to let Kaida face this alone. No matter what happened next, I would keep her secret. But I’d also be watching. Because in a world like ours, secrets had a way of surfacing. And when they did, the fallout could be devastating.
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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.
