AMELIA’S P.O.V

I didn’t realize just how badly my legs were shaking until I got to the car. I had barely reached it when my legs gave out and I had to grip it so as not to hit the ground.


“Shit, are you okay?” Caleb was at my side in an instant but he hesitated to touch me. “Do you need me to call Kaden?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine, I swear, I just- I didn’t know how scary it would be to see him after everything.”

Caleb assessed me warily but said nothing. I slowly sank to the ground not having the energy in me to open the car. Besides, the grass was much softer and it was fresh, the wind was blowing and I could feel the breeze on my face. I didn’t feel caged anymore and I needed to remember that.


“Do you want some water?” he asked and I nodded.

I watched as he reached into the backseat of the car and retrieved a water bottled. It smelled like him so it was obviously his but I couldn’t bring myself to be picky. I just uncapped it and downed the water. My heart was pounding violently inside my chest and I just needed to calm down before Kaden returned.


“I’ll be fine here alone,” I told Caleb who merely snorted and sunk down to the ground in front of me. “You don’t have to stay here.”

“When you went missing, it wasn’t just Kaden who lost you, Amelia. You’re our friend too and it took a toll on all of us. I’m not leaving you here alone, especially not in this condition. I’ll be right here until Kaden returns.”

“Where is Kaden?” I asked. I was surprised he wasn’t here yet. He had been acting like so overprotective recently. I was shocked that he wasn’t barreling over to me right now, especially now that Blake had shown his face.

“He’s making sure that Blake is gone and he doesn’t have any cronies around waiting to do anything stupid. He wants to be here with you, believe me. it took a lot for me to even convince him that it was best if I came after you instead.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I could almost imagine the scene. It definitely wouldn’t have been easy for Kaden to relinquish control, especially where I was concerned but I was proud of him for trying.

As if on cue, I felt a warm nudge at the back of my mind and I dropped my wall. Kaden’s voice filled my head in seconds. “Are you alright? Do you need me to come to you?”

“I’m fine, Kaden,” I assured him. “Just do your job, I’m here with Caleb. No one is going to hurt me.”

“Are you sure?” I just hummed and he sighed. “I want to kill the fucking bastard and I swear I would have if you didn’t ask me not to.”

It shouldn’t have been as heartwarming as it was and yet, I was fawning over that statement. “Just finish up and come to me, okay?”

“Okay.”

I cut off the mind link but kept the link between us open. I knew he would end up checking in at other times and I didn’t want him to worry because he couldn’t get to me.

“That was him, wasn’t it?” Caleb asked and I nodded. “I guessed as much. He has guards around us right now as well.”

I looked around. I couldn’t see the guards and I couldn’t hear them either. “Where are they?”

“They’re keeping a considerable distance,” he explained. “I’ve trained with them so long that I can kind of sense them around. They won’t come near us unless you are in danger. You’re safe, Amelia.”

“Blake did something similar,” I didn’t even realize I had spoken the words until Caleb’s expression darkened. “He kept guards around the cabin. They were far enough that I couldn’t see them but close enough that they would come running if anything happened.”

“Kaden isn’t Blake.”

I smiled softly. “I know that, believe me. I didn’t mean to compare them. It just reminded me of it.”

I bowed my head. I didn’t want them to think I harbored sympathy for Blake or something. It was just hard to pretend like the time I spent with him didn’t exist. Certain things reminded me of it and it didn’t mean I was calling those things inherently bad.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out and his eyes widened in shock. “I found out just before I got here.”

“Is it-” he trailed off and my cheeks burned when I realized what he meant.

“I never had sex with Blake.”

I hated how accusatory my tone came out. I knew people would assume that once they learned of my pregnancy, it was one of the few reasons I didn’t want to announce it just yet.

“I’m sorry for asking, I just- he would feel pain down the bond,” Caleb kept his voice low as he spoke. “Pain that comes when a partner is- I know you wouldn’t cheat on him, I just wanted to know if the bastard forced you.”

“We never had sex,” I repeated not wanting to get into it. “The baby is Kaden’s, you have nothing to worry about.”

“I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s fine, you were looking after your best friend,” I stood to my feet. “I think I’ll get into the car after all.”

“Amelia,” he began but I held up a hand to stop him.

“I don’t blame you, Caleb. You asked the same question that I know everyone else in this pack will ask. I just- I didn’t expect it from you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What happens if it was Blake’s?” I asked and he fell silent. “Would you hate it?”

He didn’t respond, he just stared at me. He opened his mouth to speak but no words would come out. His silence was enough of an answer.

I couldn’t help but scoff. “Thank you for your honesty.”