I woke up to warmth. For a brief, fragile moment, I thought it was a dream.
A familiar weight rested behind me, an arm draped loosely over my waist, pulling me into a body I knew far too well. The scent of cedarwood and musk wrapped around me, steady and unmistakable. Alpha Cain.
My breath caught, but I didn’t move.
I kept my eyes closed, as if pretending long enough might make everything go back to the way it used to be. Back when waking up beside him meant something. Back when his presence felt like safety instead of suffocation.
“Stephanie… Luna…” His voice was low, still thick with sleep as his lips brushed lightly against my shoulder.
My body stiffened despite myself. He didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he did, and simply didn’t care.
“I came back late,” he murmured, his hand sliding slightly over my arm in a slow, absentminded gesture. “You were already asleep.”
I said nothing.
“I’m sorry about last night,” he continued, his tone softening as if that alone could undo everything. “I had too much to drink. You know how it gets.”
His fingers traced lazy patterns against my skin, the kind of touch that used to make my heart race. Now, it only made me feel cold.
“You should understand,” he went on, his voice taking on a casual edge that made something twist painfully in my chest. “Men… especially Alphas like me, we have needs.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.
“And you’re pregnant,” he added, as if that explained everything. “I didn’t want to push you. It wouldn’t be good for your health.”
His arm tightened slightly around me, pulling me closer.
“So I just… let off steam somewhere else.”
There it was. Said so easily. So casually. As if he was doing me a favor. As if I should be grateful.
My fingers curled slightly against the sheets, gripping the fabric just to keep myself grounded.
He always did this. Came back like nothing happened. Spoke like nothing was wrong. Like I was too blind, too naïve to see the truth right in front of me. Like I was a fool.
“Say something,” Alpha Cain murmured, pressing a light kiss against my shoulder.
I forced myself to breathe.
“It’s fine,” I said quietly.
The words tasted like ash in my mouth. But they were expected. They were what he wanted to hear. And just like that, the tension in his body eased.
“That’s my good girl,” he said, satisfaction lacing his voice.
Something inside me cracked.