Chapter Ten — Lyra’s POV

My whole body locked instinctively the second the words left his mouth. The first thought that slammed into me was, how did he find out? Only two people knew—Isolde and the witch, Salome. Isolde had six years to tell Kaine that I carried his child in me when I fled the pack, six years to betray me, but she didn’t. That left only Salome. Her dislike for me was unmistakable from the moment we first met, and without a shred of doubt, I knew she was the one who must have told him.

But right now, it didn’t matter who divulged my secret. Kaine had found out, and the fragile silver of doubt I saw in his eyes disappeared as my reaction confirmed everything.

He released my arm, staggering backward as if my reaction had physically knocked him off balance. The shock on his face was raw, a mixture of disbelief and hurt.

“You—you lied to me,” his voice cracked, as though the words were too heavy, too painful to utter. “You lied to me about my son, Lyra.”

“Kaine…” I stepped forward, reaching out for him, but he jerked away, wedging a hand between us like he needed distance to process what I had just confirmed. His fists clenched and unclenched, as if he was trying to contain his rage.

“I—I’m sorry,” I stammered, my throat dry. My heart raced like it wanted to tear free from my chest, but he didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just stared.

He sucked in a shaky breath. “Six years…” The words were quiet, almost like a whisper, but the fury brewing beneath them was unmistakable. “You’ve had my son for six years and didn’t say a thing?”

I opened my mouth to speak, trying to say something, anything that could probably ease his brewing rage, but words wouldn’t come out. I could barely think, barely even breathe properly. Tears clouded my eyes. The enormity of my silence just hung in the air between us.

“Were you ever going to tell me?” His voice was hoarse, laced with disbelief and pain.

I remained silent.

“Were you ever going to tell me, Lyra?” He shouted furiously, a deep growl emanating from his chest.

I flinched at the force of his voice. I wanted to lie, to give him some hope that I would have—that I planned to. But the truth was, the thought of telling him had never once crossed my mind. Sure, I imagined what it would be like for Leo to know his father, and for us to live like a family, but I’d never really envisioned the moment when I would confess to Kaine that I’d had kept his son from him for six years because I had no intention of ever telling him. Guilt washed over me as my gaze dropped to the ground. I whispered, the words so small yet heavy. “No.”

“No?” His sharp inhale cut through the air like a blade. “You were just going to let me live the rest of my life without knowing I have a son?!”

Tears clouded my vision. “Y–you don’t un—understand—”

“Understand what?” he roared. “What is there to understand, Lyra?”

The harshness in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, but it was the heartbreak beneath it that cut me the deepest. “Kaine, please…keep your voice down. I don’t want Leo to find out like this.”

He scoffed incredulously. “You didn’t tell him? You didn’t even tell our son that his father is still alive?”

“I—I…” Words failed me.

“His first words, his first step, birthdays, scraped knees, laughter—you stole that from me.” His voice cracked, and tears shimmered in his eyes. “How could you? How could you let me miss everything?”

The hurt in his voice was unmistakable, and in that moment, I felt like the worst person in the world for hearing him state the obvious. “I didn’t have a choice, Kaine.”

“There’s always a choice, Lyra,” he said bitterly. “And you took that choice from Leo. From both of us.”

“What was I supposed to do?” I whisper-yelled in frustration, the tears now flowing freely from my eyes. “I found out I was pregnant on the worst night of my life. You had just rejected me. Do you think I was thrilled about being a mother? I was alone, heartbroken, and terrified. It was a necessary choice, Kaine,” I whimpered. “I wasn’t thinking about how it would affect you or even myself. All I knew was I wanted to keep my child. You’d made it clear that you didn’t want me, and the last thing I wanted was to tie you to me through our baby.”

My chest heaved with the weight of everything I’d carried for so long as the words rushed out. I didn’t like to think about that night, much less talk about it, because that was the beginning of the most horrific year of my life. The memories hit me like a tidal wave. I ended up recounting how shattered I’d felt that night, how I’d wanted to escape my pain only to receive the biggest shock of my life—I was pregnant with his child. I explained how I had no choice but to flee. I couldn’t bear the thought of terminating my child because that was the reality I was faced with. Though I left out the part of my capture. That was a pain I wasn’t yet ready to relive. Not now. Not ever.

Kaine had kept his head down during my emotional outburst, but when I finally finished, he lifted it and I noticed his gaze had shifted. The fury that had darkened his eyes moments before had faded, replaced by something softer—pity, and perhaps regret.

I shook my head vigorously, biting my lips to suppress a sob. “No, no, Kaine. Don’t look at me like that. I don’t want your pity.” I wanted him to see my strength, not my vulnerability. His sympathy felt suffocating, so I averted my gaze. “I’m not asking for your remorse. I just need you to understand.”

“I did this to you, Lyra.” His voice was wracked with emotion. In all the years I’d known him, I’d never seen him this vulnerable. “How could I…” he trailed off, and in an instant, he was holding my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “God, I’m sorry, Lyra. I’m sorry for betraying you, I’m sorry for making you feel like you didn’t have a choice. I’m sorry for all the things you went through and for never being there for you… for our son. The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt you.”

“Then why did you?” I asked the question that had haunted me since the day he rejected me. “Why did you reject me, Kaine?”

The air between us cackled with emotions we had buried for too long, but before he could answer the question, the door flew open and Maddy rushed outside frantically as she said in a panic. “Leo!” she gasped, her face pale. “He’s—something’s happening around him!”

Fear surged through me. Without any words, Kaine and I bolted into the house, heading for Leo’s room. When we got to the room, Leo was thrashing in bed, his little body convulsing violently as though unseen forces were tearing him apart from within. His eyes flickered open, glowing faintly gold with a strange and otherworldly glow. Panic seized my heart as I rushed to his side, kneeling beside him, stroking his hair, whispering soothing words that barely masked my fear. As soon as I touched him, the thrashing stopped, and his body stilled. I had longed for the day Leo would show his first signs of wolf, but this…this was something else. Confusion clouded my mind, and fear swelled within me as I struggled to make sense of it. It wasn’t until Leo’s erratic breathing stopped that I felt Kaine’s hand on my shoulder, his other hand resting gently on Leo’s forehead. He tried to comfort me with a reassuring smile, but I could see the concern in his eyes. He felt the same fear that gripped me.

*****

I sat in the living room in a fog from the emotional exhaustion and turmoil I’d felt tonight. My hands trembled as I reached for the glass of water on the coffee table—Kaine had brought it for me after the long hour we spent by Leo’s side. I had already sent Maddy home with her pay. I was so fixated on the flickering candlelight in the living room that I didn’t even notice when the electricity returned. It wasn’t until he gently tapped my shoulder that I realized the living room was bright with light.

“Are you okay, Lyra?” Kaine asked softly, worry in his voice.

I blinked back into awareness and shook my head. “Thank you for fixing the lights,” I muttered. I thought I would have to call the town’s electrician, but Kaine had handled it, sparing me the trouble and expense.

I completely forgot the glass of water was on my lap, and as I stood up absentmindedly, it slipped from my grasp, crashing to the floor and shattering into sharp pieces. The sound jolted me out of my haze, but it also sent my already fragile emotions spiraling. Avoiding Kaine’s gaze, I knelt down to gather the broken pieces.

“What are you doing, Lyra? You’ll cut yourself,” Kaine said, reaching to pull me away, but I stayed stubbornly in place.

“It’s fine. I can handle—ow!” A shard of glass sliced my finger and I flinched as pain shot through me.

“I told you not to worry about the glass, Lyra,” Kaine said, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Come on.” He gently guided me to the kitchen, turned on the tap and held my hand under the cool water.

We stood in silence as the water washed away the blood.

“You’re healing slowly,” he observed, and I withdrew my hands from his instantly, avoiding his eyes.

“It doesn’t matter, it’s healed.”

“Is it?”

He caught my arm and pulled me back towards him, our bodies colliding as I pressed against him. Then he pried my hands open, revealing the cut that had yet to fully heal.

“That’s not normal, Lyra,” Kaine whispered, his voice low and filled with concern. He stood too close to me, his eyes piercing mine, searching for answers. But I couldn't give him the answers he wanted, I couldn’t tell him the reason for this. We’d just unraveled so many pent-up emotions and lies, and I felt like it was enough for one night. I was already an emotional wreck after everything that happened, I didn’t want to feel any pain anymore.

The world around us blurred as we stood there, lost in each other’s eyes, our hands intertwined. Kaine’s expression was gentle, his eyes reflecting an emotion I recognized—need.

“There’s no apology that could take back the terrible things I’ve done to you, Lyra,” he said, his voice soft and raspy, filled with a familiar tenderness that now seemed too dangerous for me to embrace. “But I am truly sorry for hurting you, for breaking your trust, and for betraying you. If you’ll let me, I want to be a part of Leo’s life just as much as I want to be in yours. I cannot undo the past, but I promise you this time, I’m going to protect you and our son.”

God, how I wanted to believe those words. They felt so sincere, so real. But a heavy weight of doubt always lingered in the back of my mind, reminding of the scars from our past.

I could only stare into those blue eyes that locked onto mine with an intensity that drew me in, swirling me in memories of the past—of love, of betrayal, of pain. It held me like a force I couldn’t resist, even as all the nerves in my body screamed at me to keep up that barrier between us. My heart raced, pounding against my chest so rapidly, I was sure he could hear it. The air around us charged with a tension that made my skin tingle.

In that moment of reckless abandon, Kaine leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. The world around me seemed to come to a standstill, and for the first time in years, I felt the flutter of butterflies in my chest, the thrill of being alive.

His lips moved slowly at first, tentative, as if he was afraid I might pull away. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. The warmth of his mouth spread through me, every inch of my body aching for more. It had been six years since anyone had touched me, six years since I had allowed anyone this close. The feel of his lips and the taste of him was like I was drowning in something I’d missed for so long, something I'd denied myself.

A small desperate sound escaped my throat, betraying the need I’d buried inside for far too long. But just as the kiss deepened, Kaine pulled away.

“Wh—why did you stop?” I asked breathlessly, almost pleading.

His eyes darkened with desire, and without a word, his hand gripped my waist, lifting me effortlessly off my feet. His lips crashed onto mine again, this time with a fierce urgency, as if he was making up for the time we’d lost, for every touch denied. The raw, sexual chemistry between us sparked like wildfire. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and my fingers tangled in his hair as I responded with an equal amount of fervency, my entire body ragged with need. Kaine’s grip moved to my neck, tilting it back to trail kisses down my skin.

If I’d harbored any shred of doubt, it disappeared the moment he recaptured my mouth and moaned into the kiss, the sound low and guttural, utterly intoxicating. He started to move, and although I couldn’t see where he was leading me, I guessed it was my bedroom. The feel of my back against the soft bed confirmed my thoughts. Kaine settled on top of me, careful not to press me down with his weight. I could feel the bulge of his erection which fueled my own desire, but he seemed to be treading with caution. I didn’t want that, not now.

Tugging at the hem of his shirt, I attempted to take it off, but he caught my wrist and broke the kiss. His eyes burned with unrestrained desire, yet he asked, “Are you certain, Lyra? I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”

I didn’t think. I just nodded my head and answered. “I’m certain, Kaine.”

With that, he began to move like a hungry wolf. In one quick movement, he lifted me off the bed, balancing me on top of him. Our kiss transformed into a dance of passion that transcended any coordination. He kissed me like his very life depended on it, and I struggled to keep up with his hunger and desperation.

From my mouth, he moved down my temple, trailing kisses. I arched into him, moaning softly as he nipped my nape. That seemed to further ignite the need coursing through him as he removed my top and unhooked my bra, all within seconds. I trembled under his gaze, watching his hooded eyes take in my bare chest. A wave of shyness washed over me, but that feeling faded as quickly as it came when he latched onto my left nipple. A wanton cry of pleasure threatened to escape my lips, but I stifled a moan, aware that Leo was just in the other room. Kaine gently bit down and flicked his tongue over my nipple, and before I realized it, he rolled on top of me, his mouth not leaving my skin. He worked his hands down to my pants, unzipping and pulling them off without hesitation, discarding my panties in the process.

Kaine sat up to devour my nudity with his eyes. I felt completely exposed, and not just physically. He seemed to freeze up for a moment, and I took the opportunity to sit up and unbuckle his belt. Together, we removed his pants and briefs. When his shaft came into view, I gasped. I’d almost forgotten how big he was.

He positioned himself between my legs, and wild with anticipation, I closed my eyes. But nothing happened. I opened my eyes to find him gazing down at me.

“Don’t close your eyes, Lyra,” Kaine whispered. “I want to watch as I take you.”

He kissed me once more before pushing inside me, filling me with one deep, penetrating stroke.

“Fuck, Lyra,” he grunted.

I let out a stifled cry of pleasure, unshed tears of pure ecstasy threatening to spill from my eyes. This feeling was wholesome, immeasurable. I was consumed by Kaine, physically and emotionally. I didn’t realize that a tear had fallen from my eyes until he brushed it with his finger. He captured my lips again, this time in a slow, passionate rhythm, and when he pulled back, he whispered, “Can I move?”

All I needed to do was nod. And never breaking gaze, he lifted his weight from me, then plunged into me again, easing in and pulling out, pushing deeper with each stroke.

After my body started to relax and loosen, Kaine began to thrust into me, harder and faster, our bodies slapping against each other. My fingers dug into the skin of his back as he lifted my thighs to allow him to sink even deeper.

My orgasm began to build, muscles pulsating around him. “Kaine…” I moaned his name, and he seemed to lose it. He increased his pace, and that feeling pushed me to the edge. Sobbing his name, I rode the long blissful wave of orgasm with Kaine whispering in my ear, telling me how good it felt to be inside of me, how my body belonged to him, and how hard he was going to come. Within moments, he followed, groaning out as his release filled me.

He collapsed on top of me, panting heavily. As he caught his breath, I traced my fingers along his back, feeling the tension slowly leave his body. We lay in silence, the room filled with the soft sound of our breathing.

Kaine finally lifted his head, his eyes locking onto mine with a warmth that sent a thrill through me. He cupped my cheeks, and kissed me deeply, slow and sweet. Then he rolled onto his back, and pulled me into a cuddle, running a hand along my bare back. I nestled against him, relishing the soothing feel of this moment.

“Can I stay the night?” he whispered into my hair.

A wave of sleepiness washed over me, and I nodded, wishing to savor this moment a little longer before it slipped away. Before I drifted off to sleep, I heard Kaine’s voice, low and sincere, as he murmured, “I love you, Lyra. Too damn much.”