Chapter 13 Chapter 13

Chapter 13 Chapter 13
MIRA

I woke to sunlight streaming through the window and the smell of fresh coffee. For a moment, I forgot where I was. Then everything came rushing back—the attack, the kidnapping, Kade's confession.

I want you to stay with me.

I sat up carefully, testing my body for pain. I was sore, bruised, but nothing serious. The baby fluttered, and I smiled. We'd both survived.

There was a note on the bedside table in strong, angular handwriting.

Had to handle pack business. Nina will bring you breakfast. Don't even think about leaving that bed. - K

Bossy. But also kind of sweet.

A knock at the door, and Nina entered with a tray loaded with food. "Morning, sunshine. How are you feeling?"

"Surprisingly okay. How's your shoulder?"

She shrugged with her good arm. "I've had worse. Plus, I got shot protecting the future heir. That's got to earn me some serious points with the Alpha."

I laughed. "You were protecting me, not the baby."

"Same thing in his eyes." She set the tray across my lap. "Eat. Doctor's orders."

I looked at the spread—eggs, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice. "This is enough for three people."

"You're eating for two. Plus, you haven't had a proper meal since yesterday morning."

She had a point. I dug in, realizing I was starving.

"So," Nina said, settling into the chair Kade had occupied last night. "Want to talk about what happened between you and the Alpha after I left?"

"Nothing happened."

"He stayed in your room all night. I checked."

"How did you—"

"I'm the head of household staff. I know everything that happens in this pack house." She grinned. "Including the fact that our big, scary Alpha has completely fallen for you."

"Nina—"

"Don't 'Nina' me. I saw how he looked when he thought you'd been taken. I've never seen him that afraid. And I've known Kade for ten years."

I pushed eggs around on my plate. "It's complicated."

"Love usually is."

"Nobody said anything about love. He wants me to stay. That's different."

"Is it?" Nina leaned forward. "Mira, Kade doesn't do relationships. Ever. He keeps everyone at arm's length. The fact that he's letting you in at all is huge."

"Why doesn't he do relationships?"

Nina's expression grew serious. "That's his story to tell, not mine. But let's just say he's got his reasons. Trust issues, mostly. And something from his past that made him shut down emotionally."

I thought about what Kade had said about never feeling attracted to anyone. About how touch usually disgusted him.

"Whatever it is," I said quietly, "I'm not going to push. If he wants to tell me, he will."

"Good. Because pushing Kade just makes him retreat." Nina stood up. "Finish your breakfast. Dr. Hayes wants to check on you in an hour."

After she left, I tried to eat more but couldn't. My mind kept circling back to Kade, to Derek, to everything that had happened.

Derek had tried to sell me. The thought still made me feel sick.

I'd loved him once, or thought I had. Felt the mate bond pull between us. But he'd looked at me and seen only a liability. Someone to be used and discarded.

Kade looked at me and saw... what? A responsibility? The mother of his child? Or something more?

I want you to stay with me.

The words kept echoing in my head.

Dr. Hayes arrived precisely an hour later, all business. She examined me thoroughly, checked the baby's heartbeat, asked a million questions about pain and discomfort.

"You're healing well," she said finally. "But I want you to take it easy for a few more days. No heavy lifting, no stress."

"Define stress."

She gave me a look. "You know what I mean. And yes, that includes worrying about pack politics and Alpha drama."

"Kind of hard to avoid when I'm right in the middle of it."

"Try anyway. Your baby needs you healthy and calm."

After she left, I did try to relax. I read one of the books from the library, losing myself in ancient wolf legends. But I couldn't focus. Every sound made me jump, convinced the rogues were back.

I was being ridiculous. The pack house was secure. Kade had doubled the guards. I was safe.

But safe didn't mean calm.

Around noon, there was a sharp knock at the door.

"Come in," I called.

A woman I'd never seen before entered. She was older, maybe fifty, with sharp features and expensive clothes. Power radiated from her like heat.

"So you're the one causing all this trouble," she said without preamble.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm Eleanor, Kade's mother. And we need to talk."

I struggled to sit up straighter. Kade's mother. Of course. I should have expected this.

"It's nice to meet you," I said carefully.

"Is it?" She studied me with cold gray eyes. "My son has made you untouchable. Fought a battle that cost us five good warriors. All for a wolfless woman carrying a child that may or may not be his."

"The baby is his."

"So you say. But you'll forgive me if I require proof. There are tests that can be done."

"Then do them. I have nothing to hide."

Eleanor's expression didn't change. "You're either very brave or very stupid. I haven't decided which."

"Maybe both."

She almost smiled. Almost. "I've done research on you. Found out about Derek Silverpine. About the rejection. About how you ended up in Kade's bed."

"That's none of your business."

"Everything that affects my son is my business. I'm the former Luna of this pack. I gave up my position when my mate died, but I still have influence. And I will use that influence to protect Kade from making a mistake."

"I'm not a mistake."

"Aren't you? You've been here less than a month and already you've brought war to our doorstep. Derek's making moves against us. The pack council is asking questions. And my son, who has spent his entire life avoiding emotional entanglements, is suddenly acting like a lovesick fool."

Her words stung, but I kept my voice steady. "Kade makes his own decisions. If he wants me here, that's his choice."

"Is it? Or have you manipulated him? Used his protective instincts against him? Maybe even used your pregnancy to trap him?"

"I never wanted to trap anyone. I didn't even know I was pregnant until I was already here."

"How convenient."

I'd had enough. "Look, I understand you're worried about your son. But I'm not the enemy here. Derek is. He's the one who tried to sell me to rogues. He's the one who brought this war to your doorstep, not me."

"Because of you. Because you exist. If you'd never come here—"

"Then Kade wouldn't have an heir on the way. Isn't that what Alphas are supposed to want? A child to continue their bloodline?"

Eleanor's eyes flashed. "Don't presume to tell me what Alphas want. I've been in this world longer than you've been alive."

"Then maybe you should know better than to judge me without getting to know me first."

We stared at each other, neither backing down.

Finally, Eleanor spoke. "You've got more spine than I expected. Good. You'll need it if you're going to survive in this world."

"Is that your way of saying you approve?"

"It's my way of saying I'll be watching you. One wrong move, one sign that you're using my son, and I will end this. Understood?"

"Crystal clear."

She turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Kade's father was a good man. Strong, honorable. But he died protecting this pack, and it broke something in Kade. Made him cold. Closed off." She looked back at me. "If you really care about him, if this isn't just about security and safety, then maybe you can fix what's broken. Maybe."

She left before I could respond.

I sat there, processing what just happened. Kade's mother had basically threatened me and given me her blessing in the same conversation.

Typical Alpha family dynamics, I supposed.

A few hours later, Kade finally appeared. He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes.

"Rough day?" I asked.

"You could say that." He sat heavily in the chair. "My mother visited you."

"How did you—"

"She told me. Said you held your ground. She respects that."

"She threatened to end this if I hurt you."

"That sounds like her." He rubbed his face. "I'm sorry. She shouldn't have confronted you like that, especially while you're recovering."

"It's fine. I understand why she's protective."

"Still. It wasn't appropriate."

We sat in silence for a moment. I could see tension in every line of his body.

"What happened today?" I asked. "And don't say 'pack business.' I can tell it's more than that."

He was quiet for so long I thought he wouldn't answer. Then he said, "I made some moves against Derek. Set things in motion that can't be undone."

"What kind of moves?"

"The kind that will destroy his life the way he tried to destroy yours."

His voice was cold, almost emotionless. It should have scared me. Instead, I felt a strange sense of safety. This man would burn down the world to protect me.

"Kade—"

"I know what you're going to say. That revenge doesn't solve anything. That it makes me as bad as him. But I don't care." He looked at me, and his eyes were fierce. "He tried to sell you to someone who would have tortured you. Who would have killed you eventually. I can't let that go unpunished."

"I'm not going to lecture you about morality. I just want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

He stood up and walked to the window. "I've been Alpha for eight years. In that time, I've made hard decisions. Sent wolves to their deaths. Executed criminals. Done things that keep me up at night. But this is different."

"How?"

"Because it's personal. Because for the first time in my life, I'm not acting as Alpha. I'm acting as..." He trailed off.

"As what?"

He turned to face me. "As a man who cares about you more than he should."

My heart skipped a beat. "Kade—"

"I know it's too soon. I know you're not ready for this. But I need you to understand—what I feel for you isn't just about the baby. It's about you. The way you stand up for yourself. The way you refuse to be broken by what Derek did. The way you make me feel like maybe I'm not as damaged as I thought."

I didn't know what to say. Every word felt inadequate.

"You don't have to say anything," he continued. "I just needed you to know. Needed you to understand why I'm going after Derek so hard. It's not just justice. It's..." He struggled for the words. "It's me trying to give you something. Peace of mind. Safety. The knowledge that he can never hurt you again."

"I appreciate that. Really. But I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't lose yourself in revenge. Don't become the monster you're fighting against."

He crossed back to me and knelt beside the bed, taking my hand. "I promise. I'll be careful. I'll be smart. But I won't back down. Not from this."

"Okay," I whispered. "I trust you."

Something shifted in his expression. "You do?"

"Yeah. I mean, you're intense and a little scary sometimes. But you've never lied to me. You've kept me safe even when it cost you. So yeah, I trust you."

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "Thank you."

We stayed like that for a moment, his hand holding mine, something unspoken passing between us.

Then his phone buzzed. He checked it and swore softly.

"What is it?"

"Jax. He needs me. There's been a development with Derek."

"Go. I'll be fine."

He stood reluctantly. "I'll be back later. Try to get some rest."

After he left, I lay back on the bed, my mind racing.

Kade cared about me. Really cared about me. Not just as the mother of his child, but as a person.

The thought was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

I placed my hand on my stomach. "Your father's falling for me," I whispered to the baby. "And I think I might be falling for him too. Which is crazy, right? After everything with Derek, I should be more careful. Should protect my heart better."

The baby fluttered in response.

"Yeah, I know. Love doesn't work that way. It just happens whether you're ready or not."

I closed my eyes, trying to imagine a future here. With Kade. With the pack. A real home, for the first time in my life.

It was almost too perfect. Which meant something was bound to go wrong.

I just hoped that when it did, we'd be strong enough to survive it.