Chapter 28 Suspicion.
CATHERINE
As I turned, Kane’s intense gaze pinned me in place, as he stood by the doorway.
"What’s going on in here?" He repeated, with his tone edged with suspicion.
My mind basically spun. I opened my mouth, fumbling for a response that wouldn’t deepen the tension but also wouldn’t betray the unsettled feeling Damon had left behind.
Damon stepped in before I could gather my thoughts.
"I was just checking up on Catherine,” he said smoothly but guarded, “since I was passing by."
Kane’s eyes narrowed, flicking from Damon to me and back again.
"Is that really what happened?"
The weight of Kane’s stare was enough to make me swallow nervously, but I quickly nodded, forcing my voice to remain steady.
"Yes, that's all it was. Damon was just being nice."
The air was thick, and I had no idea if Kane believed me. Did he know how long Damon had been in here? Or had he overheard anything? I felt my face grow warm, unable to tell if his suspicion was justified or if I was just imagining the tension in the room.
Damon broke the silence with an unreadable gaze as he nodded and took a step back.
"Of course, Alpha." He inclined his head in a low bow, the gesture formal and respectful, but his lips were drawn in a tight line.
With one last glance at me, he slipped past Kane and out of the room, leaving us alone.
Kane’s gaze remained fixed on me, piercing as ever, as the door clicked shut.
"So just being nice, was he?"
I shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny. “Yes, that’s all. He just stopped by.”
I exhaled and the tension in the room melted away only to be replaced by an entirely different tension as I looked at Kane.
He was staring at me with an intensity that made me shift under his gaze.
“So, why are you here, Kane?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended.
Kane’s blue eyes softened, and for a brief moment, I saw something vulnerable there.
"I couldn’t sleep," he admitted, almost reluctantly. "I wanted to see you."
A soft blush crept up my cheeks at his confession. I quickly tried to shake it off, though, not wanting him to see how much his words affected me. But before I could respond, he reached out, his warm hand encircling mine, pulling me gently but firmly toward the door.
“Kane, where are we going?” I tried to sound annoyed, but a hint of excitement slipped into my tone as I followed him.
“It’s a surprise,” he replied with a mischievous smirk, in a low enticing tone. He glanced back at me, and before I could ask more questions, he brought his arm up, covering my eyes. “No peeking.”
His touch was warm against my face, and I felt the gentle pressure of his arm as he led me down the hallway.
My curiosity burned. The scent of sea air hit me first, and I began to piece together where we might be, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise, so I kept silent. Finally, after a few moments, we came to a stop.
“You ready?” Kane’s asked, standing right beside my ear, a low whisper that sent a thrill through me.
“Yes,” I breathed, unable to keep the smile off my face.
He slowly pulled his arm away, and as my vision cleared, I blinked, then gasped. We were standing on a beautiful cruise ship and the water below us shimmered under the moonlight. The gentle sound of waves lapping against the hull was soothing, adding to the enchantment of the scene.
“Oh, my... Kane!” I spun to face him, grinning as pure joy bubbled up in me. “I can’t believe this! You really did all this?”
He looked pleased with his usual stoic expression melting into a genuine smile.
"I figured you’d enjoy it."
“Enjoy it?” I let out a small laugh, unable to contain my excitement. “This is perfect. I’ve never been on a ship like this before. You really surprised me.”
His smile widened at my reaction, and I could see the pride in his eyes.
"I’m glad. Seeing you happy makes it worth it. You can come here whenever you want, Cathy."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's one of my many assets." He replied.
I took a few steps, letting the gentle sway of the ship rock me, and took in the surroundings. It was beautiful, almost surreal.
I turned back to him, feeling a warmth in my chest that I couldn’t quite explain.
"Thank you, Kane. This is more than I could have imagined. When you mentioned the surprise, I thought it was some else."
Kane walked closer, his gaze unwavering as he watched me. “I'm glad you loved it, Catherine.”
I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks again, but this time I didn’t look away. Instead, I let myself enjoy the moment.
We strolled along the deck and the gentle night breeze playing with my hair, I found myself relaxing, letting my guard down with Kane in a way I hadn’t before. He seemed more at ease, too, as he listened to me talk about my life before all this.
“So, you never had any pets?” he asked, a bit surprised when we got to that topic.
I shook my head, smiling.
“No, not really. My sister was terrified of animals, even the tiny ones. But I always wanted a puppy.” I laughed, remembering how I’d begged for one when I was younger, though it had never happened.
Kane chuckled, his blue eyes glinting in the moonlight.
“A puppy, huh? Can’t say I expected that.”
I nudged him playfully. “What? I don’t seem like the puppy type?”
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“You? With a hyper little dog following you around? You’d probably spoil it too much.”
I gasped in mock offense. “Spoil it? I would be the best dog owner! And besides, a puppy would make life so much more fun.”
Kane laughed, a deep, genuine sound that seemed to surprise him as much as it did me. I found myself smiling wider, feeling strangely comfortable with him.
“So, if you could have any puppy, what kind would you want?” he asked, genuinely curious.
“Hmm,” I thought for a moment. “Probably a big, fluffy one. Maybe a husky or a golden retriever. They’re so adorable.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I can see that. Something energetic and loyal sounds fitting.”
“Oh, and what would you get?” I teased, tilting my head to see his reaction.
He shrugged, his smirk returning.
“I’m more of a wolf guy myself.” He gave me a mischievous look, clearly amused by his own joke.
I rolled my eyes, laughing.
“Of course you are.” But as I looked at him, my laughter softened, and a comfortable silence fell between us. The night felt almost magical, the ship, the stars, and Kane by my side.
After a moment, he broke the silence.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Catherine.” His voice was thoughtful.
“What do you mean?” I asked, curious.
He just shrugged, that mysterious smile playing on his lips. “Nothing. Just thinking.”
The way he said it left me wondering, but I didn’t push further.