Chapter 52 Get The Wrong Idea
Kaelen's POV
"Of course, Alpha," Thomas said. "And if someone comes to the door?"
"Turn them away," I said flatly. "I don't care who it is. Miss Sterling is not to be disturbed."
I settled into the armchair across from the sofa with a book I'd been meaning to read, but found myself unable to focus on the words. Instead, my gaze kept drifting back to Elara, watching the gentle rise and fall of her breathing, the way her fingers curled slightly against the cushion beneath her cheek.
Fenris was practically purring in my mind, satisfied and content in a way I'd never felt him before. Having Elara here, in my space, surrounded by my scent and sleeping peacefully under my protection felt fundamentally right in a way I couldn't fully explain.
I'd been sitting there for perhaps an hour when I heard the front door open, followed by the click of heels on the hardwood floor. I was on my feet instantly, moving to intercept whoever had dared to ignore my instructions before they could reach the living room.
Aurora Winters rounded the corner just as I stepped into the hallway, her face lighting up with a smile that died the moment she saw my expression. Her gaze flicked past me to where she could just see the edge of the sofa, and I watched her face go rigid as she spotted Elara's sleeping form.
"Kaelen," Aurora started, her voice taking on that sweet, familiar tone that grated on my nerves. "I'm so sorry to bother you this late. Damian asked me to come get Elara. He was worried when she didn't come home for dinner and thought she might be here."
"Elara is resting," I said flatly, positioning myself directly between her and the living room entrance, blocking her view of Elara completely. "She was exhausted after our run and fell asleep. I wasn't going to wake her."
Aurora's smile faltered, something sharp flashing in her eyes before she smoothed it away. "Oh, I see. Well, it's getting quite late now. I'm sure Damian would feel better if she came home. You know how protective he is of his sister."
"Then Damian can call me himself if he's concerned," I said, my voice cold.
Her face went pale, then flushed with what looked like embarrassment. "I was just trying to help. We're all family, aren't we? I thought—"
"You thought wrong," I interrupted, my patience wearing dangerously thin. "If Damian wants to check on his sister's whereabouts, he has my direct number. He doesn't need to send someone else to my private residence."
"But I just wanted to—" Aurora tried again, her voice taking on a pleading quality.
"Miss Winters," I said, deliberately using her formal name to emphasize the distance between us. "I don't appreciate you using Damian's name as an excuse to enter my home uninvited. If his sister's whereabouts truly concerned him, he would have contacted me directly."
Aurora's eyes widened, something flickering across her features that might have been hurt or calculation. "I was just trying to help, Kaelen. I thought since you and Damian are close, it wouldn't be—"
"Alpha Thorne," I corrected sharply, cutting off whatever presumption she was about to make. "You may address me as Alpha Thorne, Miss Winters. And my relationship with Damian doesn't extend to you having free access to my private residence."
Her face went white, then red, emotions flickering across her features too quickly to track. "Fine," she said, her voice tight with suppressed emotion.
I watched her leave, waiting until I heard the front door close behind her before I allowed myself to relax. Thomas appeared from wherever he'd been discreetly waiting, his expression carefully blank.
"Shall I add Miss Winters to the list of people not to admit without your express permission, Alpha?" he asked.
"Yes," I said shortly.
Thomas nodded and disappeared again, leaving me alone in the hallway. I returned to the living room, checking to make sure the confrontation hadn't woken Elara. She was still sleeping peacefully, undisturbed by the drama that had played out just meters away.
Elara's POV
I woke slowly to the sound of voices in the hallway, consciousness returning in gradual waves as I became aware of my surroundings.
Aurora's voice drifted in. Then Kaelen's voice, cold and sharp. When I finally heard the front door close and footsteps retreating, I waited another few moments before allowing my eyes to open fully.
I sat up slowly, taking in my surroundings with clearer awareness now. Someone had draped a soft blanket over me while I slept, and embarrassment flooded through me as I realized I'd actually passed out on Kaelen's sofa like some kind of exhausted child.
I folded the blanket carefully and stood, my muscles protesting slightly from the extended run earlier. I needed to leave before I made this situation any more awkward than it already was.
I was halfway to the front door when I nearly collided with Kaelen coming from the opposite direction. He caught my arms to steady me, his hands warm through the fabric of my shirt.
"Leaving so soon?" he asked, amusement threading through his voice. "I was just coming to see if you wanted something to drink. Hot milk, perhaps?"
I shook my head, trying to ignore the way my pulse jumped at his proximity. "I should get home. I didn't mean to fall asleep on your sofa. I'm sorry for—"
"Don't apologize," Kaelen cut me off gently. "You needed the rest. Though I should mention, Aurora stopped by while you were sleeping."
I met his gaze directly, keeping my expression neutral. "I heard some of it. She said Damian sent her to get me?"
Kaelen's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "She claimed that, yes. I doubt it was true. I sent her away and made it clear she doesn't have free access to my home."
Something warm unfurled in my chest at his words, satisfaction mixing with relief. "Good. I didn't want to go home with her anyway."
Kaelen's eyebrows rose slightly, genuine appreciation flickering across his features. "Honest as always. I like that about you, Elara. Too many people hide what they really think behind false courtesy."
"Life's too short for games," I said, meeting his gaze directly. "If I don't like someone, I'm not going to pretend otherwise."
"A philosophy I can respect," Kaelen said, his expression softening.
We stood there for a moment, the air between us charged with something I couldn't quite name. Finally, Kaelen stepped back and gestured toward the door.
"Let me walk you home," he said. "It's getting late and I'd prefer to know you arrived safely."
I wanted to argue, to insist I could get home on my own, but the genuine concern in his voice made me swallow the protest. "Alright. Thank you."
The walk back to the Sterling mansion was quiet but comfortable, our footsteps falling into an easy rhythm on the sidewalk. The distance between our properties was short, barely ten minutes on foot. There was something peaceful about walking beside Kaelen in the growing darkness, the cool evening air carrying the scent of pine and earth.
We reached the front steps of the Sterling mansion and Kaelen paused at the bottom, his dark eyes meeting mine in the dim light from the porch.
"Thank you for walking me home," I said quietly.
Kaelen's lips curved into a slight smile. "Anytime. Get some rest, Elara."
I watched him turn and head back down the path before pushing open the front door. The moment I stepped into the foyer, I nearly collided with Aurora, who was just coming through the entrance from the side hallway, slightly out of breath as if she'd been hurrying.
Her eyes widened when she saw me, then narrowed as she took in my appearance. "Well, well," Aurora said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Out quite late, aren't we? It's not good for a young woman's reputation to be seen coming home at this hour, especially with a man walking her to the door."
I stopped and turned to face her fully, too tired and too irritated to play nice. "Funny you should mention that, Aurora. I heard you stopped by Kaelen's villa earlier. How did that go for you?"
Aurora's face went rigid, her smile freezing into something brittle and sharp. "I don't know what you mean. I was just being helpful, checking to see if you were ready to come home."
"Really?" I asked, keeping my voice light and casual. "Because from what I heard, he told you to call him Alpha Thorne from now on. That doesn't sound like someone who appreciated your help."
The color drained from Aurora's face, then rushed back in an angry flush. "You were awake? You were listening?"
"Hard not to when you were practically shouting in the hallway," I said, enjoying the way she flinched at my words. "Seems like you have trouble understanding boundaries, Aurora. He made it pretty clear you weren't welcome."
"How dare you—" Aurora started, her voice rising.
"Everything alright out here?" Damian's voice cut through the tension as he appeared in the doorway from the living room, his gaze moving between us with obvious concern.
Aurora's expression shifted instantly, the anger melting into hurt vulnerability so quickly it was almost impressive. "I was just concerned about Elara's reputation," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Coming home so late with a man walking her to the door, people might get the wrong idea."
"I think Elara can manage her own reputation," Damian said mildly, but there was steel underneath the pleasant tone. "It's late. We should all get some rest."
Aurora shot me one more venomous look before turning and disappearing up the stairs. Damian lingered in the doorway, his gaze searching my face with brotherly concern.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
"Fine," I said, suddenly exhausted all over again. "Just tired."
"Get some rest," Damian said. "And Elara? Don't let Aurora get under your skin."
I nodded and headed up the stairs to my room on leaden feet. All I wanted was to collapse into bed and sleep for about twelve hours straight.
But when I finally reached my room and pulled out my phone to set an alarm, I found a new message waiting for me.
Kaelen: [Fenris had a great time today. He's been insufferably smug ever since we got back. And my kitchen is open to you anytime you want a meal. Just let me know what you're craving and I'll make sure it's ready. Sleep well, Elara.]
I stared at the messages for a long moment, warmth spreading through my chest despite my exhaustion.
My fingers moved across the screen almost without conscious thought: [Thank you for today. Goodnight, Kaelen.]