Elena POV
Wow. I knew Derick had told he had rejected his mate, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would be Ashley. The sa Ashley who had caused such a rift between Kane and . It was like the world had decided to shrink just to throw this ss in my face. A small, cruel world indeed.
As I stood there, trying to process the whirlwind of revelations, anger bubbled in my chest. How could I have been so blind? So foolish? I had trusted Derick, believed in the promises he whispered when we were younger. He’d told I was his world, that he couldn’t wait to build a life with .
But now, the truth hit like a slap. He hadn’t wanted —Elena. He’d wanted what I ca with. Being the daughter of an alpha wasn’t just a title; it was a ticket to power. If we had stayed together, if I had been naive enough to let him, he would’ve used to take over my father’s pack. Every sweet word—it was all manipulation. He’d played , and I fell for it.
I clenched my fists at the thought, my nails digging into my palms. The anger was a welco distraction from the ache of betrayal. How could I have let myself be made into such a fool?
But before I could drown further in my spiraling thoughts, a warmth enveloped . Kane. His strong arms wrapped around , pulling into his chest. My cheek pressed against the solid wall of muscle, and I couldn’t help but inhale deeply, his scent grounding . The storm inside slowed to a murmur as I felt the sparks flicker wherever his hands touched my skin.
It was unnerving how quickly his presence could settle . I’d spent so long trying to keep him at arm’s length, to shield myself from the bond we shared. Yet here I was, engulfed in him, finding comfort in his embrace as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Are you okay?" His voice was low, soothing, yet tinged with worry. He pulled back just enough to look at , his golden eyes searching mine for answers.
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if it was true. "I’m just... processing."
Kane’s expression softened, and he brushed a strand of hair from my face. The gesture was so gentle, so unlike the fierce alpha I’d thought him to be. "You don’t have to do it alone," he murmured. "Not anymore."
Those words pierced through , breaking down the walls I’d so carefully constructed. He wasn’t just saying them to win over; he ant them. Kane had proven ti and again that he wasn’t going to give up on , no matter how much I pushed him away.
"I just..." I struggled to find the words. "I feel so stupid. I didn’t see it. I let him manipulate , and I—"
"Stop," Kane interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. He cupped my face, forcing to et his gaze. "You’re not stupid. He’s the one who was blind, Elena. Blind to how amazing you are. And as far as I’m concerned, he’s nothing but a bad mory now."
His words sent a shiver through —not from fear, but from sothing deeper. Sothing I wasn’t ready to na.
I looked away, biting my lip. "It’s not that easy, Kane. He... he was my first love. And finding out that it was all a lie—"
"—hurts," Kane finished for . He stepped even closer, his body practically shielding from the world. "I get it. I do. But you’re more than what he tried to make you believe. And you don’t have to face him, or this, alone."
I didn’t know what to say. Part of wanted to argue, to push him away like I always did when he got too close. But another part of —the part that was tired of fighting, tired of holding everything in—wanted to believe him.
"I don’t know how to let this go," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper.
"You don’t have to figure it out today," Kane said. "Just... trust . Let help you."
I looked up at him, searching his face for any sign of hesitation or deceit. There was none. Only sincerity. Only Kane.
Before I could stop myself, I nodded. "Okay."
His lips curved into a small smile, and for a mont, the tension between us faded. He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, and my heart skipped a beat. The sparks danced between us again, stronger this ti, and I knew there was no escaping them.
As Kane pulled closer, I allowed myself a mont to breathe. A mont to trust that maybe, just maybe, this bond could be sothing good. Sothing real.
"Why don’t we finish where we left off?" Kane said softly, his deep voice grounding amidst the whirlwind of emotions. Before I could fully comprehend his words, he guided back to the kitchen to the chair in the dining area where he had been eating, sat down, and effortlessly pulled onto his lap.
My breath hitched as he reached for his spoon and resud eating like it was the most natural thing in the world. I squird slightly, trying to get up, but his arm tightened around , keeping firmly in place.
"You know, about this morning... what we talked about," he began, his voice calm but laced with a trace of heat.
I nodded, though my mind was elsewhere—distracted by where his hand rested on my waist and the tingling sparks it sent coursing through my body.
"I want to show you sothing else," he continued, his golden eyes eting mine. "Sothing that doesn’t involve any pain... to take your mind off the incident with your ex."
His suggestion caught off guard. My heart fluttered as his words sank in. I didn’t know how to respond. Was I curious? Yes. Did I want to try whatever it was he had in mind? Absolutely. Was I scared? A little.
He chuckled softly, the sound low and almost sinful. "Relax, love. I’m not going to eat you—at least not yet."
I gasped, heat rushing to my cheeks at his boldness. He smirked, clearly enjoying the effect he had on . Slowly, he released from his hold, and I assud that ant I could move. But as soon as I tried to stand, his hand shot out to grab mine.
"Not so fast," he said, his voice thick with amusent.
Before I could protest, Kane effortlessly picked up and set on the table. The cool surface against my legs made shiver, though the warmth of his presence was enough to keep from feeling the chill for long.
"Rember, no peeking, no touching. Okay?" His voice was firm yet teasing, making my pulse race.
I nodded, though my curiosity and nerves battled within . Kane reached into his pocket and pulled out his tie, holding it up for to see. "May I?" he asked, his tone softer now.
I swallowed hard but nodded again, the idea of being blindfolded both thrilling and nerve-wracking. "Yes," I whispered.
"Good girl," he murmured, and I felt a flutter of warmth at his words.
Gently, he tied the soft fabric over my eyes, blocking out all light. Without my sight, every other sense seed heightened. I could hear the faint clink of his plate as he picked it up, the sound of his footsteps as he moved across the room.
"I’m going to clean my plate," he said casually, "and then I’ll be back. Don’t move. And no peeking."
I nodded again, my voice seemingly lost. But this ti, Kane’s warm hand cupped my chin, tilting my face upward. His touch was unexpected, and a sudden thrill coursed through .
"From now on, use words, love," he said, his voice low and commanding.
"Yes," I managed to reply, my voice shaky and barely above a whisper.
Kane leaned in, and before I could prepare myself, his lips captured mine in a kiss. It was soft at first, teasing, but it quickly deepened, making forget where I was or why I was even hesitant in the first place.
Just as I was about to raise my arms to wrap them around his neck, he pulled away abruptly, leaving breathless and yearning for more.
"Rember, love—no touching," he said hoarsely, his voice laced with desire.
My lips tingled from the kiss, and I could barely form a coherent thought. "Okay," I said, my voice barely recognizable, a throaty whisper filled with anticipation.
He chuckled again, the sound vibrating through the air between us. "Good girl."
As I sat there, blindfolded and waiting, every nerve in my body felt alive. The air around seed charged, and my heart raced with both excitent and anticipation. What was Kane planning?
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