Chapter 41 Elara's POV
I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and the smell of food.
For a moment, I was disoriented. Then the memories from last night came flooding back. Seeing Kaden shirtless. The bite mark on his neck remembering everything told him I couldn't forgive him.
I sat up slowly, my hand going instinctively to my stomach, the baby our baby. The one reminder of that night that I couldn't escape even if I wanted to.
A knock on the door made me jump.
"Come in." I called, expecting Kara or one of the guards.
The door opened and Kaden walked in carrying a tray. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, his hair slightly messy, his clothes wrinkled like he had slept in them. If he'd slept at all.
"Good morning," He said quietly.
"I brought breakfast. I thought... I thought maybe we could eat together."
I stared at him. "You brought me breakfast?"
"Yes, the kitchen made your favorites. Or what I think are your favorites based on what Kara told me you like."
He set the tray on the table near the window. "Scrambled eggs toast fresh fruit orange juice."
It did smell good and I was hungry. The baby seemed to demand food constantly now.
"You can leave it and go," I said.
"I would like to stay if that is alright."
"Kaden-"
"Please just for breakfast then I will leave you alone for the rest of the day if that's what you want."
I wanted to say no and wanted to tell him to get out and leave me alone. But something in his eyes stopped me. A desperate hope that looked like it might shatter if I rejected him again.
"Fine," I said. "But you sit over there. Not close to me."
He nodded and took the chair across from me at the table. I sat down and started eating, deliberately not looking at him.
The food was good, really good. I ate in silence, aware of his eyes on me the entire time.
"How are you feeling?" He asked finally. "After last night."
"Terribly confused and angry." I took a sip of juice. "How do you think I'm feeling?"
"I don't know why I asked."
I set down my fork and finally looked at him. "What do you want, Kaden?"
"I want a chance to make this right."
"You keep saying that but you never say how."
He leaned forward, his hands clasped together on the table. "I know I can't undo what I did. I know the rejection will always be there between us.”
“But I want to try. I want to prove to you that I'm not the same person who pushed you away."
"You are only saying this because I'm pregnant."
"No." His voice was firm.
"I'm saying this because I was wrong because I made the worst mistake of my life and I can't live with myself if I don't at least try to fix it."
"And what if I don't want you to fix it? What if I just want you to leave me alone?"
Pain flashed across his face. "Then I will respect that. But Elara, please give me just one chance to show you I've changed. That I can be the mate you deserve."
I looked at him for a long moment at the exhaustion in his eyes at the desperation. At the genuine regret.
"I will think about it." I said finally.
"Really?"
"I said I will think about it, I'm not promising anything. But I will consider giving you a chance to prove yourself."
Relief flooded his expression. "Thank you. That's all I'm asking for."
We finished breakfast in silence. It wasn't comfortable, but it wasn't hostile either. Just two people sitting together, trying to figure out how to exist in the same space.
When we were done, Kaden cleared the dishes.
"I need to go to the hospital today," I said. "Damian wanted to do another check-up on the baby."
"I'll drive you."
"I can have a guard-"
"Please let me drive you."
I sighed. "Fine."
The drive to the hospital was quiet. Kaden kept glancing at me like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. I stared out the window, watching the pack lands roll by.
When we arrived, he walked me to the entrance.
"I'll pick you up whenever you're ready," he said. "Just call."
I nodded and went inside without looking back.
Damian was waiting in his office. He smiled when he saw me.
"How are you feeling today?"
"Complicated," I said honestly.
He laughed. "Fair enough, let's check on the baby and make sure everything is progressing well."
The examination took about thirty minutes. Damian checked my vitals, did an ultrasound, measured my belly, and asked about symptoms.
"Everything looks perfect," he said. "The baby is growing right on schedule. My heartbeat is strong. The lunar pulse is stable."
"That's good."
"It's more than good. It's remarkable."
He helped me sit up. "How are you doing emotionally? With everything that's happened?"
I considered lying saying I was fine but this was Damian. He had been there for me since the beginning.
"I remembered," I said quietly. "Last night. I remembered everything about the rejection."
Damian's expression shifted to concern. "How are you handling it?"
"I don't know if I'm angry I'm hurt. But I also..." I stopped, unsure how to put it into words.
"I also see how much he is suffering and how much he regrets it. And I don't know what to do with that."
"You don't have to do anything with it right now, give yourself time to process."
"He asked me to give him a chance to let him prove that he has changed."
"And what did you say?"
"That I would think about it." I looked at Damian. "Was that a mistake?"
"Only you can answer that. But Elara, whatever you decide, make sure it's for you. Not for him, not for the baby, not for you."
We talked for another hour. About the pregnancy, about my memories, about everything and nothing. It felt normal. Like I had a friend who actually cared about me.
"I should probably get going," I said finally. "Kaden said he would pick me up when I was ready."
"Okay but come by anytime. My door is always open."
I hugged him, something I had started doing recently and headed for the exit.
I was almost to the door when I heard a voice behind me.
"Elara."
I froze.
That voice I knew was that voice I turned around slowly.
Selena stood in the hallway, flanked by two guards who didn't look like pack members. She was dressed in expensive clothes, her hair and makeup perfect despite everything she had been through.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach.
"I came to see you, we need to talk."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"Well, I have plenty to say to you." She took a step closer and I immediately backed away. "