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Bastian
As I walked into the estate, the cool air of the evening brushed against my skin, but it did little to ease the tension coiled inside me. I had just dropped Kaida off after her checkup with Dr. Cooper
and I had met with Kaelen at the airport, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and irritation, Kaida
was progressing well, and I liked being around her, but now there was something heavier to deal
with.
As I stepped into the living room, I found my mother, Helena, waiting for me. Her face was a mask of cool elegance, but I could tell from the tight line of her mouth and the way her hands gripped
the armrest that she wasn’t here for a casual chat.
“Bastian,” she greeted me, her voice clipped. “We need to talk.”
I sighed inwardly, already knowing where this conversation was heading. “Mother,” I replied,
stepping further into the room, “I assume this is about Kaida.”
Her eyes flashed with irritation. “Of course it is,” she snapped. “You know I don’t approve of this
relationship. Kaida is divorced, Bastian. Divorced and pregnant with another man’s children. And
that man is Kaelen Darkridge.”
I rubbed a hand over my jaw, feeling the weight of her disapproval. “I’m well aware of Kaida’s past,
Mother. But I’m not complaining about it, am I?”
Helena stood up from her chair, her sharp eyes pinning me down as if I were a child again, making
foolish decisions that she had to correct. “It’s not just about you, Bastian. It’s about our family. It’s
about your reputation as Alpha of Darkmoor. You think the pack will respect you when they find out
you’re playing house with a pregnant woman who’s carrying another Alpha’s children? You’re
risking everything!”
I kept my face neutral, though my patience was wearing thin. My mother had always been driven
by status and appearances, a fierce protector of the family name. But I wasn’t about to let her ruin my plans by meddling where she didn’t understand.
“Mother,” I began, keeping my voice calm despite the urge to snap back, “I’m not as concerned
about my reputation as you are. The pack trusts me because I’ve led them with strength and
integrity. They won’t care who I’m with as long as I continue to protect them.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t be naïve, Bastian. You may be Alpha, but your pack is still full of wolves
who will judge you. They’ll see this relationship as a sign of weakness, a scandal.”
I exhaled slowly. There was no point arguing with her about public perception. Helena was stuck in
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her ways, and nothing I said would change that. So, I took a different approach.
*I don’t need your approval,” I said, meeting her gaze head–on. “but for your peace of mind, I’ll tell you the truth. This thing with Kaida… It’s not what you think.”
She looked at me, confusion flickering in her sharp eyes. “What are you talking about?”
Hleaned back against the wall, crossing my arms. “I’m only with Kaida because I plan to use her. Kaelen Darkridge, her ex–husband, is in Crestwood City right now, honeymooning with his new wife. This whole thing is about revenge, Mother. I want to make him suffer, and Kaida is the perfect tool
to do that.”
Helena’s expression shifted from confusion to something darker. Her lips pressed together, and for a moment, she looked as if she didn’t believe me. But then, slowly, she nodded.
“So, this is all about getting back at Kaelen,” she said, a touch of approval creeping into her voice.
“Exactly,” I replied. “Kaelen’s made his choices, and now it’s time he faces the consequences. I’ll use Kaida to get close to him, to make him realize what he’s lost. It’s the perfect plan.”
Helena tilted her head, regarding me with a calculating gaze. “And Kaida? Does she know about
this?”
“Of course not,” I said dismissively. “Kaida’s too focused on protecting her unborn twins. She doesn’t need to know she’s part of a bigger game. She just needs to believe I care for her.”
Helena’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Well, in that case, I can see why you’re doing this. As long as Kaida is a means to an end, I’ll tolerate her presence. But, Bastian, you’d better be sure you don’t let your feelings cloud your judgment. The last thing we need is for you to get too attached.”
I met her gaze, my face hardening. “Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t lose focus. Kaida is nothing more than a pawn in this.”
Helena nodded, satisfaction creeping into her features. “Good. Then I’ll play along, for now. I’ll be civil to Kaida, but once this is over, you will need to distance yourself from her. Permanently.”
I didn’t respond, though I had no intention of cutting Kaida out of my life just because my mother demanded it. But there was no need to argue that now. For the time being, I had her support, and
that was all I needed.
Helena stepped closer, reaching up to adjust the collar of my shirt, a familiar gesture from when I was younger. “You’ve always been strong, Bastian,” she said softly. “But strength isn’t enough in the political world we live in. You need to be ruthless. And if you’re going to take Kaelen down, you’ll need every weapon at your disposal.”
“I know,” I said, my voice steady. “I won’t let him win.”
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She smiled faintly, brushing a hand down my arm before stepping back. “Then I trust you’ll handle this situation perfectly”
I watched her leave the room, the tension between us slowly dissipating. As much as I hated the
way Helena tried to control every aspect of my life, I couldn’t deny that she was right about one
thing. In this game, there was no room for error.
Kaida was a pawn, a tool for me to use. But even as I told myself that, a small part of me, the part I rarely acknowledged, stirred uncomfortably. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t let my feelings interfere, but it was becoming harder to ignore how much I enjoyed being around her.
Still, I couldn’t afford to lose sight of my goal. Kaelen would suffer, and I would be the one to make
him pay. And if I had to use Kaida to do it, so be it.
With that thought firmly in mind, I pushed away any lingering doubts. The pieces were in motion,
and I was in control. Kaelen wouldn’t know what hit him.
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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.
