Chapter 117 ENOUGH REASON TO LEAVE YOU
(Adam's POV)
I blinked slowly as my eyes opened, and for a moment, everything felt distant. Soft. Like I was floating somewhere between sleep and waking.
Then I felt the warmth of a hand wrapped around mine.
My eyes focused properly, and I realized I was sitting upright on the bed, my back supported by pillows. My body felt heavy, like it didn’t fully belong to me yet. My head throbbed faintly.
Kael was kneeling beside the bed, holding my hand.
I stared at him for a few seconds before speaking, my voice dry.
“Why do you like being on your knees so much?”
His head lifted slightly, like my voice pulled him out of whatever place he was lost in.
“I don’t like it,” he said quietly. “I don’t know why I do it around you so much.”
I let out a soft breath, somewhere between a scoff and a sigh.
“Speaking so gently after you tried to kill me for wanting to walk out on you.”
His grip on my hand tightened instantly.
“No,” he said quickly. “I didn’t try to kill you. I didn’t know the barrier could knock you out.”
I looked away from him.
“Well, take off your barrier,” I muttered. “I need to leave.”
“Baby, you’re not still on that,” he said, his voice breaking slightly. “Please don’t go anywhere.”
My chest tightened.
“What do you mean still on that?” I snapped, turning to look at him. “What part of my pain seems so unserious to you?”
“That’s not what I mean,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
His eyes searched mine, desperate.
“I didn’t know about your father,” he continued softly. “Or my father killing yours. I swear, I don’t know any of it. I wouldn’t know something like that and keep it from you.”
I held his gaze… and it hurt. Because nothing in his eyes looked like a lie.
Not even a flicker.
But I still said, “Why should I believe you?”
His voice dropped lower, almost like a whisper.
“I swear on my entire being.”
I swallowed.
Even if I wanted to believe him… even if every part of me leaned toward him…
I shook my head slightly.
“Even if I believe you,” I said, my voice quieter now, “there’s still a reason to leave you.”
His face changed immediately.
“What?” he asked, panic slipping through. “No… why? Please.”
I looked down at my hands.
“I’m dying in your hands,” I said.
Silence.
“Even unintentionally,” I added softly. “Your presence is killing me.”
His breath hitched.
“Vance told you that too?” he asked, almost pleading. “Don’t believe him, please—”
“But it’s true,” I cut in.
I looked back at him.
“I’ve been sick. Weak. I get nosebleeds. I faint every now and then. What healthy person goes through all that?”
He shook his head again, more desperately this time.
“We’ll deal with it,” he said. “You’ll be alright. Please stop saying you’re leaving.”
“I want to,” I whispered. “I need to.” My throat tightened. “I need answers. And I’m going to find them.”
“I’ll find answers for you,” he said quickly. “But please don’t leave me. I swear, I’m not harming you. I’d never.”
“Kael—”
“Think about our pup,” he cut in suddenly.
I swallowed.
His hand moved slightly, like he wanted to reach for my stomach but held himself back.
“You have my heir… my honour… the security of my position as a leader… inside of you,” he said, his voice shaking. “And more importantly…” His eyes softened. “You have my heart.”
My chest tightened painfully.
“I’d fall into a bottomless pit if you leave,” he whispered. “I’d be miserable. My life would be over.”
His grip on my hand tightened again.
“Please don’t take away the solid ground I stand on.”
I let out a shaky breath.
“You’re so good with words,” I said softly. “It hurts my heart.”
And it really did. Because every word felt real.
But—
“I really want to go home,” I whispered. “I want to find my home… where I belong.”
“I know,” he said immediately. “I understand.”
He leaned closer.
“I’ll help you find it. But not now. Please. Let’s wait a little longer. Focus on your health. Let’s wait until you give birth to our pup. Then we can go wherever you want.”
I shook my head. “I can’t wait that long.”My voice trembled. “I can’t… I just can’t.”
I pulled my hand slightly, but he held on tighter.
“And this is about me,” I added. “Not you. I don’t need you to help me or come with me.”
His face fell.
“So you’ve made up your mind?” he asked quietly. “You want to leave me?”
His voice cracked.
And then—
His eyes filled with tears.
My chest clenched.
His hands started shaking as he held mine tighter.
“Please,” he whispered.
“Kael, please don’t cry,” I said quickly, my voice softer now.
But he shook his head.
“Please don’t leave me,” he said again.
The tears slipped down his face.
“I’ll do anything you want if you stay,” he continued. “Please stay for our pup. Stay for me. Please choose me.”
I didn’t even realize when my hand moved, until I felt my fingers in his hair… gently patting.
“You’re an Alpha,” I murmured weakly. “Why are you crying like a baby?”
He leaned forward suddenly, resting his head on my lap.
“I don’t want to lose you,” he said, his voice muffled against me. “I can’t lose you.”
My chest tightened again.
“I love you,” he continued. “Above my pride, my dignity— above anything else, you come first.”
His fingers tightened around my clothes.
“I’d do anything for you,” he said. “And all you have to do… is stay with me.”
I stared down at him.
Helpless.
“If you leave,” he continued, “what’s left of our bond will completely vanish. You already have someone else’s mark on you instead of mine. The familiarity with my scent is what’s keeping you bound to me,” he added softly. “Please don’t cut it off.”
I swallowed.
“No,” I said quietly. “It’s not the bond.” My fingers stilled in his hair. “There’s no bond between us.”
He went still.
“I met my wolf,” I said.
His head lifted instantly.
“You met your wolf?” he asked.
I nodded slowly. “Yes.”
My voice felt distant again.
“I’m not connected to him… but he was there. Conscious.”
I looked away.
“He was present when Vance marked me.”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“And?” he asked carefully.
I hesitated.
Then said it.
“He thinks Vance is his mate.”
Silence. Heavy silence.
“He doesn’t know you,” I finished softly.
Kael stared at me like the world had just cracked open under his feet.
“That is really bad,” he muttered.
He stood up suddenly, pacing a step.
“I have to do something about it. I have to—oh moon… this is bad.”
Before I could say anything—
A loud thud echoed from the sitting area.
We both paused.
Kael looked toward the door immediately.
“I’ll go check,” he said, gently patting my lap before stepping away.
But I was already moving.
I followed him out.
My body still felt weak, but it didn't stop me.
When we got to the sitting area, I saw Mira.
On the floor.
She was pushing herself up, looking slightly dazed.
I let out a small breath.
“It’s really nice to see I’m not the only one who got knocked down by that damn thing,” I muttered to myself.
She adjusted her dress quickly and straightened.
“Alpha,” she said, bowing slightly. “Someone you might not want to see is outside.”
Kael frowned. “Who is it?”
“He keeps saying he’s not here for you,” she added carefully.
Kael’s eyes narrowed, already impatient. “Who?”
Mira hesitated for a second.
“Vance.”
My heart dropped.
“And he’s saying he’s here for Archie,” she continued. “I’m not sure who he’s referring to, but he’s refused to sit or leave.”
Silence filled the room for a long second.
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“Ignore him,” he said coldly. “But have guards watch him till he leaves.”
Mira bowed.
“Yes, Alpha.”
She turned and left, closing the door behind her.
The moment she was gone, I whispered, “Vance is here.”
Kael turned to look at me. And the look in his eyes was fear and plea. Like he's begging me to not think about Vance.