Nn''s gaze flicked to him. “You could say that."


    The silence stretched taut,


    I could feel it the unspoken weight of years between the, the rivalry that had never


    healed. It was more thas old resentment; it was instinct. Two Alphas, both protective, both unwilling to back down


    But where Kieran''s energy bristled-sharp, outward-Ngan''s was quiet, centered, watchful. He wasn''t posturing, He was guarding


    When Jan stirred in the other room, Nn''s head turned instantly toward the sound. Every muscle in his body tensed, the reaction instinctive and raw,


    Kieran noticed too. His jaw clenched. "You don''t trust me with them."


    Nn''s gaze cut back to him. "No."


    The word hung in the air like static.


    My heart pounded. "That''s enough," I said firmly. "Both of you."


    Kieran looked at me then, his expression tight butposed. “Ellie, can I speak to you alone?"


    I hesitated, then nodded. "Of course."


    Nn looked like he wanted to argue, but after a tense moment he nodded once, his voice low. "I''ll wait here."


    I led Kieran into the small sitting room off the kitchen and shut the door behind us.


    For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Kieran said quietly, "Why are you letting him back into your life?"


    I frowned, "He''s their father."


    "He hurt you," Kieran said, his tone sharp. "He''s dangerous. I''ve seen what he''s capable of."


    I folded my arms. "I''ve seen it too. But he''s trying"


    "Trying?" Kieran''s eyes darkened. "You think that changes what he''s done?" "It changes who he is."


    He stared at me for a long time. "You don''t see it, do you?”


    "See what?"


    "The way he looks at you. The way you look at him.”


    My breath caught. "Kieran-"


    He stepped closer, voice low. "He''ll ruin you again, Ellie. And when he does, I won''t be able to save you from it."


    My pulse quickened, but I forced myself to meet his eyes. "I don''t need you to save me."


    Kieran''s jaw worked. For a moment, anger flickered restrained, but real. Then he exhaled and looked away. "I thought you wanted peace. A future for your boys. That''s all I''ve ever wanted for you."


    "I still do," I said softly. "But peace doesn''te from running away from what hurts." When I said it, I knew I wasn''t talking only about him.


    Chester 20


    425 Bonus


    He looked back at me then, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. “Do you


    still n to go through with the marriage?"


    The questionnded like a stone.


    I hesitated, then shook my head. "No."


    Kieran''s face went still. "I see."


    "I''m sorry," I said.


    He smiled faintly, though it didn''t reach his eyes. "Don''t be. You''ve always been honest. It''s one of the things I admired about you."


    For a heartbeat, his gaze softened - then he turned toward the door. "Take care of yourself, Ellie."


    When he left the sitting room, Nn was standing by the front door, the twins'' toys still clutched loosely in one hand.


    Kieran gave him a curt nod as he passed. Nn''s expression didn''t change, but his eyes followed him until the door closed behind him.


    I stood in the doorway, heart pounding, as silence settled over the room.


    Nn looked at me, something fierce andplicated burning behind his gaze. "You okay?"


    I nodded slowly. "I will be."


    He studied me for a long moment, then exhaled softly. "Good."


    His tone surprised me. It wasn''t sarcastic or even forced, he sounded relieved. I stared at him for a long moment, trying to understand his reaction. Was he actually worried about my feelings?


    The tension between us lingered-heavy, unspoken-


    – heavy, unspoken – but underneath it, something else had shifted.


    For the first time, I realized Nn''s protectiveness wasn''t about control. It was instinct. A reflex born from love and fear and the memory of everything he''d lost.


    The revtion shook me to my core. It shifted my understanding of everything that had ever passed between us. Nn''s instincts were sharp and strong. His cold demanor was the mask he worse to hide that. To keep himself from acting on his wolfs impulses.


    He hid behind that icy demeanor to hide how strongly he fell everything.


    It didn''t excuse anything. It didn''t take away the pain he''d caused.


    But it did show me that the man I thought I had known for many years was only one part of the real Nn.


    Maybe it wasn''t toote to get to know the rest of him.


    Support