Chapter 42: Chapter 42
Kyra’s POV
The musky scent of cedar clung to the halls like a persistent reminder. Kieran had been avoiding me since the night he dragged me back from those kidnappers, his golden eyes cutting through me like I was prey before stalking away. An entire week had passed without a single word. Not a single mind link, no accidental encounters in the house corridors, not even a glance in my direction.
My wolf whined low, torn between gratitude for his protection and frustration at his distance.
"He thinks you fear him," Sylvia murmured, her ears flattening. "We need to fix this."
I knew it was because I had flinched when he reached for me last time—the memory of those kidnappers’ claws and how Kieran shot them was still too fresh. He couldn’t blame me, but I couldn’t help feeling guilty for making him feel that way after he saved me.
With a plan to make it up to him, I went downstairs one afternoon to cook for him.
Ana, the omega maid, nearly dropped her tray when she saw me elbow-deep in raw steak. She looked shocked to see me in the kitchen. She had been bringing my meals every day for the past few days to my bedroom. I had recovered from that nightmare, so there was no reason to lock myself in my room anymore.
"I’ll do the cooking today, Ana."
"But, Miss... Miss Kyra! You should be resting after your injuries—"
I bared my teeth in what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "I want to cook for Kieran."
She immediately bowed her head and stepped back. I smiled at her and asked her to chop some ingredients while I prepared the meat and other necessities for cooking.
"Miss Kyra..." Ana hesitated.
"Hmm?"
"Did you know that Miss Emily has been staying in the guest room?"
I paused at Ana’s words. I slowly looked up at her. "Emily?"
"That she-wolf, Miss Kyra. I think she’s Alpha Kieran’s future mate."
Emily...The blonde she-wolf I had seen waiting on the couch the day I was discharged from the hospital.
Sylvia’s ears flattened. "His mate?"
My knife bit into the cutting board. So he had installed his chosen Luna right under my nose. Typical Alpha nonsense.
"What was she like?" I asked Ana, trying to sound casual.
"She’s bossy, Miss Kyra. She acts like she owns the place, always demanding special treatment," Ana muttered. "She’s also very clingy to Alpha Kieran, even when he barely tolerates her scent and growls at her."
"I don’t care about Emily." The lie burned my tongue. Her scent had been lingering in the halls since my return.
"Chop the onions." I forced a laugh, though my wolf snarled at the intrusion.
This was my father’s house, but he brought his woman here and let her stay? He didn’t even tell me. What kind of stepbrother was he?
After cooking, I prepared the dining table. At exactly 7 p.m., Kieran’s distinctive cedar and musk scent announced his arrival before the door opened. He froze when he saw me by the dining table, his ice-blue eyes glowing in the dim light.
Even when I was angry because he let Emily stay here, I gave him a sweet smile.
"I cooked and prepared dinner," I said, looking him in the eyes.
His gaze darted to Ana, who immediately lowered her eyes in submission. When he finally stepped closer, my pulse spiked—not from fear, but from the way his cedar scent suddenly brought back the memory of that searing kiss, his teeth grazing my lower lip. He slowly walked toward me, and crazy as it sounded, my heart started to race. I held my breath as his breath fanned my cheek, thinking he would touch me or something, but he didn’t. Instead, he walked past me without a word.
My lips parted. Irritation filled me as I turned and watched him. He opened the refrigerator, and just when I was about to growl at him for ignoring me, he walked back toward me and set a pitcher of cold water on the dining table.
He looked me in the eyes as he clenched his jaw. "I know I’m an evil man who doesn’t have any hope left in me. But I don’t need your pity, Kyra."
Sylvia whined at the insult. "Pity? We marinated that meat for three hours!"
My jaw dropped at what he said. "What are you talking about? I just cooked dinner for us. I didn’t say anything."
He still didn’t look away. His eyes remained dark and cold, shocking me even more.
"I’ve been on my own since my mom died. I can cook for myself and feed myself. I don’t need anyone’s help to survive—I hunt, I kill, I take what I need." His knuckles cracked as he flexed his hands. "You were living the high life as your charming Alpha’s Luna while I fought rogues in back alleys just to see another sunrise. Face it, Kyra—you’ll always be the pack’s moon-blessed princess. I’m street trash that clawed his way to the top. We basically belong to two different worlds."
I laughed sarcastically, restraining my anger. "Look... I didn’t do this out of pity or anything. I did this because I want to apologize and to thank you for saving me—"
"There’s no reason to thank me. It’s my job to protect you."
I shook my head in disbelief. "I don’t know what you’re saying. I have no other intention but to cook dinner for you. If you don’t appreciate it, you can just tell me straight to my face. No need to say all this. You didn’t even ask for my permission to let that she-wolf stay here."
"Is Emily bothering you?" he asked coldly.
I frowned.
"She’s not, right? I’m also living here, Kyra. I have the right to invite whoever I want. I also have rules in this house. I don’t need your approval for things that don’t concern you."
My lips parted. I couldn’t say anything anymore because, apart from being speechless by what he said, he also turned his back and walked away.
I gritted my teeth when I heard him call his woman’s name. I angrily sat down and looked at the food I had cooked. He hadn’t even looked at the food or tasted it. He’s so heartless and cold. I hate him!
Sylvia howled in outrage as he turned to leave. "He brings another female into our house? After claiming you’re his to protect?"
"M-Miss Kyra..."
I jumped up so fast the silverware clattered, my forehead creasing as I realized he was about to leave with his woman. The dining hall suddenly felt too small, the air thick with Emily’s cloying jasmine scent, as I angrily marched out.
"I’m moving out soon," I said right after he stepped out of the door.
He paused, while his woman shot me a triumphant smirk before slinking away. I gritted my teeth. What should I expect? He’s a man after all. He only wants to please himself.
"I’m going to move out and you can’t do anything about it because I rule my life too."
Slowly, he faced me.
When he turned, the coldness in his eyes hadn’t disappeared. His ice-blue eyes glowed with barely restrained Alpha power. "No."
That single word vibrated with command, making my chest tighten painfully. "How can I protect you if you leave pack territory... leave this house?"
A bitter laugh tore from my throat. "I’m not asking for your opinion, Alpha."
I deliberately used his rank instead of his name. "I will leave this house and you can’t stop me—"
"Why won’t you listen to me, Kyra? I can’t let you live on your own because it’s dangerous for you outside. I’m risking my own life to save you and you want to put yourself in danger?"
"I didn’t tell you to protect me!"
"But I want to because you’re important to me!"
I balled my fists as I stared into his cold eyes. "You can’t stop me now, Kieran. You know I don’t like being controlled—"
"I survived Nathan’s rejection," I hissed, my nails sharpening into claws. "I’ll survive your overprotectiveness too."
"I SAID IT’S DANGEROUS OUTSIDE—"
The temperature dropped as Kieran’s wolf surged forward. "YOU WILL STAY." Each word was a growl, the Alpha compulsion slamming into me like a physical force.
My knees buckled, but Sylvia howled in defiance. "BEING AROUND YOU IS ALREADY A DANGER. WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE?" I shouted back.
The chandelier rattled with my shout. I didn’t know why I chose those words, but I had no plans to take them back.
For one heartbeat, hurt flashed across Kieran’s face. Then it was gone, replaced by that infuriating cold mask.
He seemed hurt and disappointed, but I didn’t care. I wanted to leave this house and he could never stop me.
"You said it yourself. We belong to different worlds. My world is not here, Kieran. My world is outside yours. I can survive here, but I won’t be happy," I paused and shook my head. "You can’t just manipulate me like this."
I thought he was finally getting my point, but I was wrong. He slowly shook his head and stared at me with a darkened expression. He looked angrier now.
"You better do as you’re told or you will regret it. I already have a lot on my plate, Kyra. Don’t cause any more trouble."
Anger flooded me. I couldn’t believe he still dared to say those words to me even after everything I said. I gave him my reason for wanting to leave, but he was still too cold-hearted.
He turned his back on me and was about to leave, but I grabbed the nearest vase and threw it at the door. It almost hit him, but he didn’t even flinch. He paused by the door and slowly looked at the broken pieces scattered on the floor.
For one terrifying second, his control slipped—his wolf’s power flooding the room until every hair on my arms stood up. Then it vanished as suddenly as it came.
"Try to leave," he said softly, "and I’ll have you guarded 24/7."
"I understand that you’re trying to protect me, but if protecting me means caging me in this miserable life... then I’m better off dead."
"Better caged than dead," he said finally, and walked out.
Sylvia curled into a defensive ball in my mind as I sank to the floor. "He’s right... but so are we."
