Chapter 102
“Lyra, I know what you are trying to do,” Conor says, his voice low so only I can hear. “But your time away has been dreadful for Alpha Kessler.”
He continues, “I haven’t seen him scared all his life the way he was while you were kidnapped. He was terrified, and I can’t imagine what would become of him if he lost you.”
His words sink in, revealing a side of Alpha Kessler I hadn’t considered. I can’t deny the depth of his feelings despite the pain and hurt he caused me.
I look at him, shocked.
He nods his head in affirmation.
“But seeing him this close to having lost you made me realize that you two are meant to be together,” Conor continues.
I ponder on what he said, but something in my head keeps telling me it was all a lie. That he is a devious, scheming liar. That he can’t be trusted.
The doubt bites at me, clouding my thoughts with suspicion. As I struggle to shake off the lingering feeling of distrust, unable to fully believe that Alpha Kessler’s feelings are genuine.
I am conflicted about who to trust. My mind goes to the tape I heard about what he said, and I shake my head.
I can’t give him a definite answer if I believe what he said about Kessler or the one that my gut feeling was telling me that he is.
I should know him better because he was my mate, and we had encountered many times that he had said demeaning words to me, so hearing it from the tape wasn’t a big deal.
The battle rages. I was torn between my desire to trust Conor and the lingering doubts about Alpha Kessler’s true intentions.
“Give him a chance and call me whenever you want to talk. I’ll be here in just a jiffy like I am today,” Conor says with a reassuring smile.
I can imagine the decision you made him make by calling me, which I know wasn’t pleasant for him. Knowing he can provide the comfort you crave to get from me, Conor said with a wink.
I smile at him and say, “I’ve heard you and will try to make things right.” I am grateful for Conor’s offer of support.
I know deep down what I have in mind to do.
Alpha Kessler comes closer to me, and I can feel the conflict within him. Should he come closer or not? I give a blank stare, one that doesn’t give out my true emotions.
But deep down, I’m breaking from whatever turmoil is swirling through my mind about what I thought I felt for him.
“The pack doctor said you can be discharged,” he says, moving closer and holding onto me, helping me up so we can leave. I allow him to assist me, knowing that for now, I need to focus on getting through the present moment.
I wanted to whine and say I wanted to go with Conor, but I kept quiet instead. Alpha Kessler guides me until he opens the door to his room.
I stop in my tracks, not wanting to go inside with him, wondering why he is guiding me to his room and not mine.
His eyes are pleading as he says, “Please come in.” I shrug and reluctantly enter.
Once I walk in, I stand by the door with my arms folded. But he comes closer, urging me to come closer. I do as I sit on one of the couches, still wary of his intentions despite the pleading look in his eyes.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
As he sits on the bed next to me, I take in his features and realize that he looks tired and worn out. Dark bags under his eyes suggest he hasn’t gotten enough rest.
Despite his exhaustion, he still looks dangerously handsome, and I wonder if I will be able to keep up with our proximity without losing myself in him. The pull of attraction is undeniable, but I remind myself of the stormy history between us.
“Lee,” he called out, and my face snapped to him. I wondered when he started calling me Lee. The way it rolled out of his lips made me feel a rush of desire, my clit tingling with arousal. Why does he still have this effect on me?
“He’s manipulating you, don’t fall for him,” the voice came again in my head, seemingly bringing me out of the daze that seemed to consume me.
“I know I haven’t been the best to you. I have hurt you more than I have shown you love, and if it’s for me to pay for the shit I’ve put you through, I know I will fucking pay for the rest of my life.”
His words cut through the haze of desire, reminding me of the pain and betrayal I’ve experienced at his hands. I know I can’t let myself fall for his manipulative charms again.
“I’ve pushed you away several times,” he continues, his voice heavy with regret. “But I see the reluctance in your eyes to let go of me. The fear of not being a party to bringing down our labor of many years of the pack in vain made you stay away.”
“So many things happened between Annie, the pack, and me, and I wouldn’t want to bore you with details until you are fully recovered.”
The mention of Annie’s name makes my eyes snap up to him. She was no fan of Alpha Kessler again, she said mean words about Kessler.
Whatever might have happened between Kessler and Annie must be something huge. I didn’t want to wrap my head around it because I just wanted to focus on being fine again so I could reach out to Jack on what he wanted, and I was ready.
“Annie fooled us all,” Kessler continues. “That child isn’t mine, Lee. Can you imagine she manipulated me and chose to pin the pregnancy on me?”
Can you see he is manipulating? Didn’t Annie say he denied her pregnancy? Now you can confirm it from what he said.
The pieces of the puzzle leave me feeling numb, uncertain of who to trust and where to turn for answers.
I am speechless but manage to find my words and ask, “Didn’t you sleep together?” It’s heavy for me to say, but I want to confirm the level he can go to be manipulative.
He looks at me, conflicted, and doesn’t want to answer the question. But he forces himself and says, “Yes, we did. But…”
I raise my hand in the air, stopping him from saying anything further.
He comes closer to me, holding my hand. “Lee, please, for the love and safety of our baby, stay here. Jack is still out there, biding his time to get you.”
The safety of our child is paramount. I nod slowly, acknowledging the gravity of his words and the need to prioritize our baby’s well-being above all else.
“And I won’t forgive myself if anything happens to you, not the baby. Please don’t try to go anywhere without going with a bodyguard.”
I looked into his eyes, wondering if he meant everything he had said. I see sincerity in his eyes, and for the first time in months that I have known Alpha Kessler, I see fear in his eyes.
He is scared, and this is the first time that I fear what might happen in the future.