Kaelen
I woke up with a start, my head still resting on the cool surface of my office desk. My body ached from the awkward position I’d fallen asleep in, and when I lifted my face, I realized I’d left a small
damp patch of sweat on the papers beneath me. It was suffocatingly hot in the room, and I cursed under my breath, realizing I’d forgotten to turn on the air conditioner last night.
Great.
My clothes clung to me, damp with sweat, and I felt gross and sluggish as I pushed myself to my
feet. I needed to get home. I glanced at the clock on the wall–it was already late morning. I’d
promised Alara that I’d take her out to dinner last night, but work had gotten in the way, and in the
end, I’d sent Lucas in my place.
It had been a bad idea, an absurd one even, but I didn’t have a choice at the time. I could only hope
she wasn’t too upset about it.
I quickly grabbed a fresh shirt from my drawer, changing into it before heading out of my office. My mind raced with thoughts of how to explain myself to Alara. She wasn’t one to hold grudges, but this wasn’t just any missed dinner. I’d been distant lately, caught up in business and other responsibilities, and I hadn’t been paying enough attention to her.
The drive home felt longer than usual, my mind full of concerns about how the conversation would
I needed to make it up to her, needed to prove that she was still my priority, even with
everything going on.
- go.
When I finally arrived, I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside the house. Alara was sitting in the living room, her feet tucked under her on the couch, a book resting in her lap. Her gaze shifted to me as soon as I walked in, and for a split second, l’expected the worst–anger, disappointment, maybe even hurt.
But to my surprise, she wasn’t angry. In fact, she greeted me with a small smile, though her expression was tinged with concern.
“You’re home,” she said softly, setting her book aside. “How was work?”
I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that she wasn’t upset. I walked over to her, running a hand through my damp hair. “It was… chaotic, to say the least. I’m sorry about last night, Alara. I know I promised I’d take you out, but things got so hectic, and I had to send Lucas in my place.”
Alara’s brow furrowed slightly as she looked up at me. “I was surprised when Lucas showed up, honestly. It felt a little… strange.”
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I could hear the underlying tension in her voice, but she wasn’t angry, just concerned, I sat down beside her, taking her hand in mine. “I know it was a poor decision. I didn’t mean for it to happen, and I’m sorry for putting you in that position. I should have been there,”
She squeezed my hand gently, her eyes softening, “It’s okay, Kaelen. I understand you’ve been busy, but… just try to communicate with me next time, okay?”
“I will,” I promised, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “I’ll do better, I swear”
Alara smiled at that, her hand still warm in mine. “You’re forgiven. But you do owe me a real dinner
date.”
I chuckled, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “Consider it done. I’ll make it up to you tonight. We can stay in, just the two of us. I’ll cook, and we’ll spend the evening together.”
“That sounds perfect,” she said, her smile widening,
For the first time in what felt like weeks, I felt a sense of calm. I’d been so consumed by work and everything else that I’d neglected the one person who mattered most to me. Alara had been nothing but patient, and I owed her for that.
We spent the rest of the day together, relaxing in the comfort of our home. I made us a simple dinner–nothing fancy, just something we could enjoy together–and for the first time in a while, I felt like I could breathe. Alara and I talked over dinner, about everything and nothing at all. It was easy, comfortable, and it reminded me of why I’d fallen for her in the first place.
But even as I sat there, laughing with her, there was a nagging thought in the back of my mind that
I couldn’t shake.
Lucas.
I’d sent him to take her out last night, and something about that decision still bothered me. I trusted Lucas, of course–I’d known him for years, and he was one of my most loyal and capable Betas. But the idea of him spending time alone with Alara, taking her out in my place, left a sour
taste in my mouth.
Was it just guilt? Or was it something more?
I tried to push the thought aside as Alara reached across the table to take my hand again, her smile lighting up the room. She was here with me now, and that was what mattered. I couldn’t afford to let my insecurities get in the way of our relationship.
After dinner, we curled up on the couch together, her head resting on my shoulder as we watched a movie. It was peaceful, and for the first time in days, I felt like I was truly present with her.
But even as I held her, my mind kept drifting back to Lucas. Something about last night felt off, but
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I didn’t have the energy to dwell on it. Not tonight. Tonight was about Alara and making things
right between us.
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As the evening wore on and Alara eventually fell asleep beside me, I found myself staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t quiet.
Lucas had always been by my side, loyal to a fault. But recently, I’d noticed subtle changes in him- hesitations, glances that lingered a little too long. I’d dismissed them at first, chalking it up to stress or exhaustion, but now… I wasn’t so sure.
And then there was Alara. She hadn’t seemed angry about last night, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different. I trusted her completely, but I couldn’t help wondering if maybe, just maybe, sending Lucas had been a bigger mistake than I realized.
I sighed softly, running a hand through my hair as I tried to quiet my thoughts. This was ridiculous. I was overthinking everything. Lucas was my Beta, and Alara was my wife. There was nothing more
to it.
But as I sat there in the quiet darkness, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d opened a door I couldn’t easily close. And no matter how much I tried to ignore it, the thought of Lucas and Alara together lingered in the back of my mind, refusing to let go.
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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.
