Chapter 17 Chapter 17
ALINA
I woke up after a while with my body feeling heavy and sluggish. I blinked a few times, trying to focus on my surroundings. The room was dimly lit, and I felt the weight of something pulling on my arms. I looked down and saw that I was hooked up to several IV drips. I could even see a bag of blood hanging on one of the drips, and the other one was just clear liquid. I felt weak, my head throbbing with a dull ache. A wave of nausea rolled over me, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep it down.
Everything felt wrong, my body felt too heavy and the energy felt too strange. I tried to sit up, but my arms felt like lead. I closed my eyes for a moment as I tried to regain myself back but nothing was working. My brain felt too sluggish and slow. In the end, I just kept my eyes shut. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and I heard footsteps. I turned my head slowly and saw Kai stepping into the room. My entire body tensed, my pulse quickening. He was carrying a bowl and the smell of savoury chicken soup filled the air. My stomach growled loudly at the scent and I just then realised how desperately hungry I felt.
Kai noticed, his lips twitching in a small smile. "Alina. How are you feeling?" He asked.
I pressed my lips together, feeling the dryness in my mouth. "Good," I muttered, my voice croaking as I spoke. I looked away from him, remembering what had happened between us earlier and why I was even in this situation to begin with. I felt angry, but did not have enough energy to show it. After what happened, the decision had been set. I refused to live with him any longer now that he knew that I was carrying his baby. I wanted to keep it a secret, but obviously, that did not happen.
I was sure he noticed that I was thinking of what had happened because a look of regret passed on his face, "I'm sorry about what happened, Alina. I know I've hurt you and you might not want to forgive me for that, but if you give me a chance, I am going to make you think differently. And if you don't want me in the baby's life, then I won't be. I just want you and the baby to have a good life, a safe life."
His words caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting him to say that. For a moment, my heart softened, a tiny flicker of relief. At least he wouldn't force me into something I didn't want, something that would only bring more pain. "Thank you," I whispered, barely able to speak the words.
Kai nodded, his dark hair falling into his eyes, making him look almost vulnerable. "I brought you some chicken soup," he said, lifting the bowl slightly. "You need to eat. The doctor said you and the baby are in danger. You need your strength."
I felt a pang of guilt grip my chest at his words, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach. I had been selfishly wallowing in my heartbreak that I did not eat, putting the child in danger. It made me wonder if I was even capable of having the baby alone because I did not even trust my choices anymore. Something would have happened to the baby and there would be no one to blame for it but myself. I looked at the chicken bowl, and I decided that I didn't want to accept anything from him.
"I do not want to eat." I told him. The IV was for nourishment, so I was sure the baby had enough of it by now. As I looked away, I felt my body betraying me as hunger gnawed at my insides.
Kai seemed to sense my hesitation. He scooped a spoonful of soup, holding it out toward me. "Please," he murmured, his voice almost pleading. "Just eat a little. For the baby."
I stared at the spoon, then back at him. His grey eyes were sincere, almost desperate. I sighed, turning my head slightly. "Fine," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "But just a little."
He moved closer, gently pressing the spoon to my lips. I opened my mouth reluctantly, tasting the hot tasty broth. It was the most delicious thing I had tasted in weeks. I couldn't help but take another sip, and then another. The soup warmed me from the inside out, soothing the ache in my stomach. How did I go this long without food? I was used to being starved back at my pack by Beck, but it was never for this long. I would eventually beg or steal some food to eat.
Kai watched me carefully, his face softening with relief as I ate and looked like I was enjoying every last of it, "Good," he whispered, almost to himself. "That's good."
After a few more spoonfuls, I turned my head away, feeling my energy start to drain. "That's enough," I mumbled, my voice thick with exhaustion.
He nodded, setting the bowl aside. "Thank you," he said quietly, as if I had done him some great favor. He took a cloth and gently wiped the corners of my mouth, his touch careful and soft. I flinched slightly, surprised by the tenderness of the gesture.
I watched him closely, my eyes tracing the sharp lines of his jaw, and the way his dark hair fell messily over his forehead. I remember the first time I saw him. How peculiar I thought his grey eyes were. I have never seen someone with grey eyes before. They looked intimidating, but somehow when he was looking at me with them right now, they looked soft.
I looked away when I felt something stir in the pit of my stomach. I felt him leave closer, and before I knew what was happening, he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. My breath caught in my throat, my heart skipping a beat. His lips were warm against my skin, and I felt a strange sensation roll through me again. I looked at him, lips parted, confused about the feeling I just had.
He pulled back, his face inches from mine, his expression unreadable. "Rest, Alina," he whispered, his voice gentle. "You need to regain your strength."
I blinked, still trying to process what had just happened, my thoughts swirling in confusion. I watched him as he stood up, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. Then, without another word, he turned and left the room, the door clicking softly shut behind him. I lay back against the pillows, my mind racing. I couldn't shake the feeling of his lips on my skin, the way his eyes made me feel. I felt a strange flutter in my stomach, something that felt suspiciously like longing.
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. No, I told myself firmly. I can't feel this. I can't let him get to me again. But it was hard to ignore the way my heart had quickened, the way my body had reacted to his touch. I closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep, to escape the confusion that was torturing me inside. But even with my eyes closed, his face lingered behind my eyelids his dark hair, his intense grey eyes, the look of regret, and something else I couldn't quite place.
And for the first time, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, there was more to Kai than I had ever allowed myself to see. But I pushed the thought away, telling myself it was nothing, just a fleeting moment of weakness. I couldn't let myself feel anything for him, not now, not ever. I couldn't afford to. I had to protect myself, protect my baby. For all I knew, this was just yet another ploy he was acting so he will have me stay back and he will have his heir.
I turned on my side, sprawling out my hand that was attached to the IVs, and pulling the blankets up to my chin with my free hands, then closed my eyes. But even as I drifted off to sleep, his face was the last thing I saw, and I couldn't help but wonder, why all of this had to be confusing. I knew I was done with him. I did not want to be with him, and yet my body reacted this way to him. Maybe it was only normal. The mate bond had not completely faded, but it would soon be the minute I got better and found my way out of Seven Isles, as far away as I could get from Malakai Ravenscroft.