CHAPTER 17: FALLING FOR YOU
1191 Words
KIARA'S POV
I sat quietly on the edge of the bed, my fingers absentmindedly tracing circles over my stomach as the twins moved beneath my hand. Their movements had become stronger over the past few days, almost as though they knew when I was worried.
And I was worried.
Not about the coven.
Not about the visions.
Not even about the strange voices Kael and I had heard.
No.
My thoughts were on him.
Kael.
The Alpha who, only weeks ago, had been cold and distant.
The Alpha who never seemed interested in having a mate.
The Alpha who barely tolerated anyone getting too close to him.
And now?
He fussed over me.
He insisted on carrying me whenever I felt tired.
He barely slept because he worried about me.
He spoke to my babies every night.
He kissed my forehead every morning.
He held me when nightmares woke me.
And whenever fear took over, he promised me that nothing would happen to us.
Why?
Why had he suddenly changed?
Why had he accepted not just me
But the babies too?
A small smile formed on my lips.
Not that I hated it.
In fact, I loved it.
Perhaps too much.
Because every time he smiled at me…
Every time he held me…
Every time he looked at our children with wonder in his eyes…
My heart betrayed me.
I was falling for him.
Hard.
And that terrified me.
Because I had already seen him die once.
The memory of the vision made my chest tighten.
I couldn't lose him.
Not after everything.
Not when he had become my home.
The bedroom door opened.
And as if the Moon Goddess herself had heard my thoughts, Kael walked in.
He smiled the moment he saw me.
"There you are."
His smile softened.
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
I smiled.
"I'm literally in our room."
He chuckled.
"Still counts."
He walked over and sat beside me.
Immediately, one hand moved protectively to my stomach.
His face brightened.
"Good evening, little troublemakers."
Kick.
Kick.
Kael grinned proudly.
"See? They love me."
I laughed.
"They kicked me all day."
"Because they're impatient."
He bent down and kissed my stomach.
"Daddy's here now."
Another kick.
His eyes widened.
"See?"
I laughed harder.
"They definitely have you wrapped around their fingers already."
"They're my babies. Of course they do."
His smile made my heart ache.
I stared at him.
Really stared.
And suddenly, I asked quietly,
"Why?"
He blinked.
"Why what?"
"Why are you like this?"
He frowned.
"Like what?"
"This."
I gestured between us.
"You."
"The babies."
"The way you protect us."
His expression softened.
"I don't understand."
I swallowed.
"Kael, when we first met, you didn't even want this."
His eyes lowered.
"You barely spoke to me."
"You barely acknowledged the babies."
"So why?"
My voice softened.
"Why did you suddenly become so… good to us?"
He became silent.
For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer.
Then a small smile appeared on his lips.
"You really want to know?"
I nodded.
He leaned back against the bed and sighed.
"When I was little, I thought my father was ridiculous."
I blinked.
"Your father?"
He chuckled.
"Yeah."
"He was a terrifying Alpha."
"Everyone feared him."
"But around my mother…"
His smile softened.
"He became someone else."
I listened quietly.
"He worshipped her."
"He protected her."
"He spoiled her."
"And when I was born…"
His eyes filled with warmth.
"He loved me more than anything."
"He would spend hours playing with me."
"He taught me everything."
"He made me feel safe."
His smile turned nostalgic.
"I remember once my mother got sick."
"I couldn't have been more than six."
"My father canceled meetings, ignored everyone and stayed by her side for days."
I smiled.
"He loved her."
"More than life."
Kael nodded.
"He still does."
"He once told me something I'll never forget."
His voice became quieter.
"'A real man protects the woman who carries his children. She gives him life, so he gives her everything in return.'"
Tears filled my eyes.
"He said that?"
Kael nodded.
"And I promised myself that one day…"
"When I found the mother of my children…"
"I'd love her."
"I'd protect her."
"I'd cherish her."
"No matter what."
My eyes widened.
"Even if you didn't love her?"
He laughed softly.
"I never said that."
I frowned.
"Then what are you saying?"
His golden eyes met mine.
And suddenly…
He looked nervous.
Actually nervous.
Which shocked me.
Because Kael feared nothing.
Yet somehow…
He looked terrified.
"Kael?"
He smiled awkwardly.
"The truth is…"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I didn't expect any of this."
"You."
"The babies."
"The bond."
"None of it."
I held my breath.
"But somewhere along the way…"
His eyes softened.
"You started smiling at me."
"You trusted me."
"You cared about me."
"And then these little monsters started kicking every time I touched your stomach."
I laughed through my tears.
"And before I knew it…"
His voice lowered.
"I was ruined."
"What?"
His smile became gentle.
"I fell for you, Kiara."
My breath caught.
"I fell hard."
His eyes locked onto mine.
"I don't know when."
"I don't know how."
"But I know I love hearing your laugh."
"I love how stubborn you are."
"I love how you always put others before yourself."
"I love how much you love our children."
"I love waking up beside you."
"And I already can't imagine my life without you."
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
He looked worried.
"Don't cry."
"You hate it when I cry."
"I do."
He quickly wiped away my tears.
"But why are you crying?"
I laughed softly.
"Because you're stupid."
His eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
I laughed again.
"You waited this long to tell me?"
He blinked.
"Wait”
And before he could finish…
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His entire body froze.
"Kiara?"
I buried my face in his shoulder.
"I'm stupid too."
His heartbeat quickened.
"What?"
"I fell for you too."
Silence.
Complete silence.
"What?"
I smiled.
"I love you too, Kael."
His eyes widened.
"You do?"
I nodded.
"I think I have for a while."
For a moment, he simply stared.
And then…
Not his usual smile.
Not his Alpha smile.
Not his dangerous smile.
No.
This one was pure happiness.
And it was beautiful.
"You have no idea how happy you just made me."
He cupped my face lovingly.
Then he kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
I smiled through my tears.
"I love you too."
Suddenly…
Kick!
Kael looked down.
Kick!
Another kick.
And another.
He burst out laughing.
"The twins approve."
I giggled.
"They definitely do."
He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me against his chest.
And for the first time since waking up from my visions…
For the first time since fear entered our lives…
I felt peace.
Safe.
Loved.
Happy.
Neither of us noticed the shadow standing outside our door.
Watching.
Listening.
And smiling.
Chloe quietly stepped away from the room.
A strange look crossed her face.
And under her breath, she whispered softly,
"Enjoy this happiness while you still can."
- Writer
