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22
Lucas
As I drove home, my thoughts were tangled in a knot I couldn’t unravel. What I’d learned about Kaida still weighed heavily on my mind, but it wasn’t the only thing that haunted me. There was something else-a new, unfamiliar ache. A yearning I couldn’t quite explain, but one I knew I couldn’t ignore. It was for Alara.
Since that kiss, everything had changed. The connection between us was undeniable, an electric pull that had gripped me from the moment her lips touched mine. But I had no right to feel this way. She was Kaelen’s wife. Bound to him by fate, by duty, by a promise neither of
them could break.
I turned into the long drive leading up to the estate, my heart heavy. Kaelen was a brother to me in all but blood, and this betrayal-this feeling I couldn’t shake-was a crack in the foundation of that bond. And yet, I couldn’t stop the thoughts that raced through my mind, the memory of Alara’s touch, the warmth of her lips. It was wrong, but that didn’t make it any
less real.
As I pulled up to the house, I saw them. Kaelen and Alara. They were sitting together on the porch, laughing at something-probably some inside joke I wasn’t a part of. My chest tightened. I tried to ignore the pang of jealousy that rose up inside me, the irrational sting of seeing them happy together. This was my fault, not theirs. I shouldn’t have let myself feel this
way.
But I couldn’t deny it any longer. I was falling for her.
Shaking off the thoughts, I stepped out of the car and made my way up the steps. Kaelen spotted me first, his face brightening as he stood.
“Lucas! There you are, we were just talking about you,” he said with a grin. Alara stood too, offering me a smile. That same smile that had been burned into my mind since that kiss. It was warm, welcoming, but I couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes flickered, the tension in
the air between us.
I cleared my throat, trying to push away the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. “Kaelen, can we talk for a minute? There’s something I need to go over with you.”
He glanced at Alara, then nodded. “Sure, let’s go inside.”
I followed him into the house, the scent of home and warmth filling my senses. It didn’t help ease the turmoil in my chest. Once we were in the study, I closed the door behind us and got straight to the point.
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“There’s a business matter we need to address,” I said, keeping my tone professional. “One of the contracts we were working on has hit a snag. The deal with the East Ridge pack is starting to fall through.”
Kaelen’s brow furrowed, the easygoing smile vanishing. “What’s the issue?”
I went on to explain the situation, trying to focus on the matter at hand. But my mind kept drifting back to Alara, to the way she looked at me earlier, the silent tension between us. I wondered if she felt it too-this unbearable weight of something unsaid, something we both knew we shouldn’t be feeling.
Kaelen nodded as I spoke, occasionally asking questions or making suggestions. But even as we discussed the business problem, I could feel the pull of Alara’s presence just beyond the door. I could feel her eyes on me, even if she wasn’t physically there. It was maddening.
Eventually, the conversation wrapped up, and Kaelen stood, clapping me on the shoulder. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Lucas. We’ll get it sorted. I trust you to handle it.”
I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’ll take care of it.”
Kaelen headed for the door, but before he left, he paused, his hand on the knob. “By the way,” he said, glancing back at me, “Alara’s been asking about you. Something about that project you mentioned last time?”
My heart skipped a beat. “Oh, uh, yeah. I’ll touch base with her about it later.”
He gave me a curious look but didn’t push further. “Alright. See you at dinner.”
With that, he left the room, the door closing softly behind him. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, rubbing a hand over my face. The weight of everything-the business, Kaida’s secret, and now this thing with Alara-was starting to become too much.
I needed to clear my head. I needed to stop feeling like this.
I stepped out of the study and into the hallway, only to find myself face-to-face with Alara. She was standing there, her eyes locked on mine. For a moment, neither of us said anything, the tension between us thick as fog.
There were so many words I wanted to say, but none of them would change the situation. None of them would make this any less complicated, any less wrong.
“Alara…” I began, my voice low.
But she shook her head, cutting me off. “It’s fine, Lucas. We don’t need to talk about it.”
The words stung, but I knew she was right. There was nothing to say. Whatever was
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happening between us, it couldn’t go anywhere. Not while she was still Kaelen’s wife. Not while she was bound to him in ways I could never touch.
I nodded, stepping aside to let her pass. She gave me a small, almost sad smile as she walked away, her footsteps fading down the hall.
I stood there for a long moment, staring after her. My heart ached, my mind racing with all the things I wished I could say, all the things I wished could be different. But they weren’t. This was the reality we were stuck in.
And for now, all I could do was keep my distance. Because no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t betray Kaelen like this. I couldn’t cross that line, even though part of me already had.
As the night wore on, I retreated to my room, trying to focus on work, on anything but Alara. But it was no use. The kiss we shared, the connection we both felt, it haunted me, pulling me deeper into a mess I wasn’t sure I could escape.
Kaelen and Alara. I was falling for her, and there was nothing I could do about it.
No matter how much it hurt, I had to bury it. For Kaelen’s sake. For Alara’s sake.
And for mine.
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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.
