chapter four
1088 Words
Leah's POV
“You’re getting better at this, you know,” I said softly, watching Alex as he concentrated on tying the laces of his tiny shoes. His brow furrowed in intense focus, his small fingers fumbling with the knot.
“Not really,” he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.
I crouched beside him. “Hey, it’s okay. Let me show you again.”
“No!” he snapped, yanking his shoe away. “I want to do it myself!”
I held up my hands in surrender. “Alright. I’ll wait.”
To my surprise, he didn’t storm off or throw the shoe like he might have days ago. Instead, he took a deep breath, his little chest rising and falling, and tried again. This time, he managed to form a loop and pull the laces tight.
He looked up at me, his face cautiously hopeful. “Did I do it?”
I smiled, nodding. “You did it. Perfectly.”
His lips twitched into the faintest smile before he quickly looked away, as if showing too much emotion might betray him.
“Good job, Alex,” I said warmly.
He stood, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
***
Later, as we walked back to the packhouse, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. Alex had barely spoken to anyone since I arrived, but today was different. He’d let me in, even if just a little.
When we reached the house, Lila was waiting at the door, her eyes wide. “He let you help him?” she asked, glancing between me and Alex as though she couldn’t believe her eyes.
I nodded. “Small steps,” I said, smiling.
Lila shook her head in amazement. “I’ve never seen him like this with anyone but his mother. You’re working miracles, Leah.”
I didn’t know about miracles, but hearing those words warmed something in me. Maybe I was making a difference here after all.
***
That evening, I sat in the garden, savoring the quiet after a long day. The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
“Do you always sit out here alone?”
I startled at the deep voice, turning to see Killian standing a few feet away. He held two cups, one of which he extended toward me.
“I didn’t hear you coming,” I said, accepting the cup.
He smirked, taking a seat beside me on the bench. “That’s the point.”
We sat in silence for a moment, the air between us heavy but not uncomfortable. I took a sip of the tea he’d brought-mint, calming and warm.
“You’ve done well with Alex,” Killian said finally, his voice low. “Better than I expected.”
I glanced at him, unsure if that was a compliment or an insult. “He’s a good kid,” I said. “He just needs someone to believe in him.”
Killian’s jaw tightened, his gaze distant. “His mother used to say the same thing.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I stayed quiet.
He turned to me then, his piercing eyes locking with mine. “Thank you, Leah. For what you’re doing. For him.”
My heart fluttered at the sincerity in his tone. “I’m just doing what I can,” I said softly.
The way he looked at me made my breath catch. There was something unspoken in his gaze, something raw and vulnerable. And then, without warning, he leaned closer, his face mere inches from mine.
Time seemed to stop. His scent-woodsy and masculine-overwhelmed me, and I could feel the heat radiating from him. My heart pounded in my chest as his eyes dropped to my lips.
I couldn’t breathe. Was he about to-
A sharp knock on the door shattered the moment. Killian pulled back instantly, his expression unreadable.
“Come in,” he barked, his voice hard once more.
The Beta stepped in, his face tense. “Alpha, we have a guest.”
Killian stood, his shoulders stiff. “Who?”
The Beta hesitated. “Kael. Beta of the Crescent Pack. He’s here for… alliance negotiations.”
My blood ran cold.
Kael.
***
I stayed in the shadows as Killian greeted Kael in the pack’s grand hall. Kael looked the same-broad-shouldered, confident, his black hair slicked back as always. His dark eyes swept the room, sharp and calculating.
“What brings you here, Kael?” Killian asked, his tone polite but guarded.
“Just business,” Kael said smoothly, his smile not reaching his eyes. “I thought it was time our packs explored a closer partnership.”
Killian didn’t respond immediately, his gaze assessing. “We’ll discuss this tomorrow. Lila will show you to your quarters.”
As Lila stepped forward, Kael’s eyes flicked past Killian-and landed on me.
I froze, my heart pounding. His gaze darkened, his smile vanishing.
***
Later that night, I couldn’t sleep. Kael’s presence unsettled me in a way I couldn’t explain. Part of me wanted to confront him, to demand answers. Why was he here? What did he want?
I slipped out of my room, hoping the cool night air would calm my racing thoughts. But as I reached the garden, a shadow emerged from the trees.
“Leah.”
I spun around, and there he was-Kael.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice trembling.
He stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “I could ask you the same thing.”
“This is none of your business,” I said, backing away.
“Oh, but it is,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t belong here, Leah. You never did.”
Anger flared in me. “You don’t get to decide that.”
He smirked, his eyes glinting with something dark. “You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into. These people… Killian… they’re not what they seem.”
My heart raced. “What are you talking about?”
Kael stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You can’t trust him, Leah. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re safe here.”
The warning in his tone sent chills down my spine. Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone with more questions than answers.
What did Kael mean? And why did his warning feel like more than just a threat?
- Writer
