Kael’s POV
The paper bag in my hand was still warm.
I’d stopped at that Italian place Aria ntioned once. Months ago. In passing. The one she said made the best lasagna she’d ever tasted but could never afford to order from.
I rembered.
Of course I rembered.
I rembered everything she said. Every offhand comnt. Every small detail she let slip about her life.
Standing in her doorway now, looking at her face, I could see the exact mont she recognized what I was holding.
Her eyes widened slightly. Her lips parted.
"You didn’t have to—"
"I wanted to." The words ca out rougher than I intended.
Because it was true.
I wanted to be here. Wanted to show up at her door with food she loved. Wanted to see that look on her face—surprise mixed with sothing softer. Sothing that made my chest tight.
"I thought you’d be busy." Her voice was careful. Like she was testing the waters. "With the case. The follow-up. All the legal things that happen after a tribunal."
I shrugged. "Damon’s handling it."
"Damon?"
"He’s perfectly capable." I stepped into the apartnt. Set the bag on the counter. "And I decided I’d rather be here."
Her face did that thing. That soft, vulnerable thing that made every protective instinct I had roar to life.
"With you," I added. Quieter. "With you and the girls."
The apartnt looked different.
String lights draped over the bookshelf and windows. Casting everything in warm, golden light. The candle on the coffee table. The carefully arranged throw pillows. The snack plate that looked untouched.
"Mommy made it pretty!" Lina announced from behind . "We all worked really hard! We hung lights and everything!"
I turned.
Two girls stood side by side near the window.
Lina with her usual boundless energy. Practically vibrating with excitent.
And Lilith.
Quieter. More reserved. But watching with those amber eyes that were so much like Finn’s it was jarring.
"It looks good," I said. aning it. "Really good."
Lina bead.
Lilith’s expression didn’t change much. But sothing in her posture relaxed. Just slightly.
I pulled containers from the bag. Lasagna. Garlic bread. That salad Aria always ordered when we went out.
"You rembered." Her voice was soft. Almost wondering.
"Of course I rembered."
She looked at . Really looked at . Like she was seeing sothing new.
Then she smiled.
Small. Genuine. The kind of smile that made everything else fade into background noise.
I wanted to kiss her.
Right there. Right then. In front of the girls and the string lights and the carefully arranged snack plate.
But before I could moveâ€"before I could even think about closing the distance between usâ€"Lina’s voice cut through the mont.
"Today there might not be a place for you to stay, you know!"
I blinked. Turned to look at her.
She was grinning. That mischievous grin that ant she knew exactly what she was saying.
"What?"
"Sophie’s coming!" She announced it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And she’s going to sleep here! For DAYS! Maybe a whole WEEK!"
Aria laughed. Actually laughed.
The sound was bright. Easy. The kind of laugh that didn’t happen often enough.
"She’s right," Aria said. Still smiling. "Sophie will be here any minute. And she’ll probably take the couch. So..." She gestured vaguely. "Lina’s technically correct. There might not be room for you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Might not?"
"Definitely not," Lina corrected. Very serious now. Very matter-of-fact. "Unless you want to sleep on the floor. But the floor is hard. And cold. And not very comfortable."
"I appreciate the warning."
"You’re welco!"
Aria was still smiling. That soft, amused expression that made her whole face light up.
I opened my mouth to respond. To say sothing clever or charming or—
"ARIA!!!"
The shout ca from the hallway.
Loud. Enthusiastic. Full of pure, unfiltered joy.
"BABE!! I’M HERE!!"
Footsteps pounded up the stairs. Fast. Getting closer.
"I’M COMING! DON’T START WITHOUT !"
I turned toward the door.
A figure appeared in the doorway.
Blonde hair pulled into a ssy ponytail. Bright blue eyes. Wearing jeans and an oversized sweater. A duffel bag slung over one shoulder.
She was grinning. That wide, genuine grin of soone who was exactly where they wanted to be.
"ARIA!" She threw her arms wide. "OH MY GOD I MISSED YOU SO—"
She stopped.
Mid-sentence. Mid-gesture. Mid-everything.
Because she’d just noticed .
Standing in the middle of Aria’s living room. Holding an empty takeout bag. Looking very much like I belonged here.
Her expression changed instantly.
The grin disappeared. Replaced by sothing sharp. Assessing.
Her eyes narrowed.
She looked up and down. Slow. Deliberate. Taking in every detail.
The expensive jacket. The carefully styled hair. The way I was standing just a little too close to Aria.
Then her gaze locked onto mine.
And her whole face hardened.
"Bastard Alpha?"
The words ca out flat. Cold. Dripping with barely contained hostility.
She dropped her bag. Planted her feet. Crossed her arms.
"Huh?"
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