Chapter 19: Unspoken Care

Chapter 19 : Unspoken Care

Her POV

I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers twisted in my lap, my stomach hollow with worry. The soft moonlight fell through the window, painting silver lines across the floor, but it did nothing to lighten the weight pressing down on me.

If I leave… where exactly would I go? I whispered to myself, my voice shaking. I am pregnant. I can’t leave. I have nowhere to go. No one will help me. The warriors are watching me, just as the Alpha said. If I step outside, I will be seen.

I swallowed hard. I don’t know anyone. Not here. Not outside. I have no family, no friends, no allies. What do I do?

My thoughts ran in circles. Would I wander around, hopeless and exposed? No. That’s too dangerous. I need a plan. I need a way to survive… a way to protect the life growing inside me. But I can’t tell Ronan. No. He would escalate it. He would tell Calyra. And Calyra… I don’t want to even think about what she would do. I will not be used as a scapegoat.

After all, Ronan would later marry Calyra. I can’t meddle between them, no matter what.

I pressed my hands to my face and let the tears fall. I don’t have anyone. I am completely alone.

And then there was a knock. My heart jumped.

I froze, my chest tightening. My mind raced. Who could it be? I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. But the knock came again—gentle, controlled, unmistakable.

The door opened slowly, and my heart stopped.

Ronan. He stepped in, his presence filling the room like a shadow. His eyes scanned me, sharp and commanding, but there was something softer there—something I had never fully allowed myself to notice before.

He closed the door behind him and sat down, not too close, but not far either. His gaze never left me.

“Are you… alright?” His voice was calm, but there was an edge of concern I hadn’t heard in a long time.

I forced a smile. Weak. Trembling. “Yes,” I whispered. My voice sounded small even to me.

He tilted his head slightly. “Why don’t you come out to the living room anymore?”

I hesitated, swallowing hard. “I… I need more rest.”

He nodded slowly, as if he understood more than I said. “You shouldn’t feel humiliated, Maltida,” he said quietly. “Whatever has happened, you don’t deserve to carry it alone. I can help you.”

I looked down at my hands, ashamed. His words should have comforted me, but they only made my stomach tighten. What if Calyra comes in while he helps me? What if she sees us together, even in this… in this innocent care? I can’t allow that.

He continued, his voice softer now, almost a whisper, “Do you want me to… massage you? It might help your body relax.”

My heart jumped. Massage… yes, I need it. But what if Calyra comes? My mind screamed. I couldn’t answer. I swallowed hard and stayed silent.

Ronan’s eyes narrowed—not with anger, but with patience and understanding. He reached across the small space between us, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. I froze. I wanted to pull away, to shrink into myself—but something in his touch held me. Something warm and steady, unlike anything I had felt before.

He didn’t push. He just guided me gently. “Come,” he said quietly. “Lie down. Let me help.”

I hesitated, my mind screaming at me to resist. But I was too tired. Too weak. Too alone. Slowly, I allowed him to guide me, laying me down on the soft bed. My hands pressed to my stomach instinctively, the baby moving faintly inside me. I swallowed hard, biting my lip, trying not to cry.

He knelt beside me, his hands warm, strong, but careful. He didn’t rush. He didn’t touch me in a way that felt wrong. He simply began to massage my shoulders, his thumbs working gently into the knots of tension I didn’t realize I had carried for days.

I closed my eyes. The tension in my body began to loosen—just a little—but the emotions inside me were heavier than ever. I wanted to speak, to tell him everything, to beg for help… but the words were stuck, trapped behind fear, shame, and uncertainty.

He leaned closer, his voice low, almost a murmur. “It’s alright, Maltida. You’re not alone. Not while I’m here.”

The words hit me like a wave. Not love. Not yet. But… care. Protection. Something I hadn’t felt since coming to this pack. My lips trembled, and a small tear escaped my eye. I pressed my hand to my face, trying to hide it, but he didn’t look away. He didn’t judge. He simply continued to massage, letting me feel safe in silence.

I felt the heat in my chest, a strange mix of fear, shame, and… gratitude. My stomach made a soft rumble—I had barely eaten since the news of Calyra’s return. I pressed my hands over it, embarrassed, but he didn’t pull away. He only adjusted, his hands gentle, steadying me, comforting me.

“Relax,” he murmured, almost to himself. “You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not tonight. Not ever.”

And for the first time, I allowed myself to believe—even if just a little—that maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t completely alone.

I felt his hands move slowly from my shoulders down my arms, easing the tension I had carried in silence. The warmth of his body, the strength beneath his careful touch, made my chest tighten—not with desire, not with love… but with relief, and a sense of protection I hadn’t known I could feel.

Minutes passed. Maybe hours. I don’t know. I let the tears slide freely now, no longer trying to fight them. He didn’t speak, only worked silently, patiently, holding me in that quiet space between fear and comfort.

Finally, my body began to feel lighter. My shoulders were looser, my stomach calmer, my heart slightly less heavy. I blinked, taking a shaky breath, and dared to glance at him.

Ronan sat quietly beside me, watching, waiting, his expression unreadable. But I knew… he was here. And for now, that was enough.

The room was silent except for the faint rustle of the blanket and the soft sound of my breathing. For the first time in days, I felt a little… safe.

Not loved. Not wanted. But… protected. And in that moment, even that small comfort felt like a miracle.