Chapter 420: Refusal

THIRD-PERSON POV

Only twenty minutes remained before the full moon when Kaden arrived at the medical facility with Rebecca in his arms.

The facility was unusually quiet, although the air was filled with the unmistakable scent of she-wolves approaching their heat. Every unmated female who had come to receive suppressants had already been taken to a private room, and the doors had been secured to prevent anyone from wandering through the corridors once the full moon reached its peak.

Kaden could perceive their pheromones, but none affected him the way Rebecca’s did. Her scent was becoming thicker and sweeter with every passing minute. It clung to his skin where her body pressed against him. The fact that she had her face buried against his neck only made it worse. Every soft breath she took against his throat sent heat straight to his cock.

"Kaden..." Rebecca whispered, tightening her arms around him.

"I’m here."

"It hurts."

"I know, sweetheart. We’re almost there."

He quickened his steps, concerned by how badly her condition had deteriorated. Rebecca’s body was burning against his chest. Every few seconds she shifted restlessly in his arms, rubbing her thighs together as if trying to ease the deep ache between her legs. He could smell how wet she was becoming. His wolf was restless and hungry.

She’s suffering. Do something!

That’s why we’re here, Kaden replied through clenched teeth, fighting the urge to lower his head and bury his face in her neck.

As he approached the reception area, he spotted Logan standing beside one of the healers. Logan immediately hurried toward him.

"Kaden!"

"Is everything ready?" Kaden demanded.

"Yes. I made sure they prepared a private room for Rebecca, just as you ordered. It’s away from the other patients, so no one will disturb her."

"Good. Take me there."

Logan immediately led them down a long corridor while the healer followed closely behind. Rebecca stirred in Kaden’s arms and raised her head slightly.

"Where... where are we?"

"At the facility."

Her expression immediately changed. "The facility?"

"Yes. You’re going to receive the suppressants, and you’ll feel better."

Rebecca shook her head weakly. "No..." The word came out almost like a moan. She pressed her face back against his chest and inhaled deeply, breathing him in like she needed his scent to survive.

Kaden sighed in frustration and kept following Logan.

They eventually stopped outside a room at the far end of the corridor.

"This is it," Logan announced, opening the door.

The room was spacious and comfortably furnished, with a large bed, a private bathroom, and everything Rebecca might need during the night. Unlike the other rooms in the facility, this one had been reserved exclusively for her at Kaden’s request.

Kaden stepped inside and approached the bed.

"Rebecca, I’m going to put you down."

She immediately tightened her arms around his neck. "No."

He paused. "What do you mean, no?"

"Don’t leave me." Her voice trembled. She rubbed her cheek against his throat, leaving a soft, damp trail of her breath on his skin.

"I’m not leaving you. I just want you to lie down."

She shook her head. "Kaden, please..."

He exchanged a brief glance with Logan before sitting on the edge of the bed with Rebecca still in his arms. Her heat was rolling off her in waves. Every time she shifted, the soft pressure of her body against his lap made his cock harden further.

"Alright. I’m here. Now, can you please calm down?"

Rebecca nodded faintly, although she made no attempt to release him. Kaden was about to speak again when the healer stepped forward, carrying a small medical tray containing a syringe and a vial of suppressant.

"Your Majesty, the injection is ready."

Kaden looked up. "Will it work immediately?"

"Not immediately, Your Majesty, but it should begin relieving her symptoms within a few minutes. Once the medication takes effect, her body temperature and the intensity of her heat should gradually return to normal."

"Good. Administer it."

The moment the healer approached, Rebecca raised her head.

"No!"

Everyone stopped. Kaden frowned.

"Rebecca, what are you doing?"

"I said I don’t want it."

"Rebecca, you’re barely able to sit upright."

"I know, but I don’t want the injection." Her eyes were glassy with heat and something deeper. She clung to him like she would fall apart if he let go.

The healer hesitated and looked toward Kaden.

"Your Majesty..."

"Give us a moment," Kaden instructed.

Rebecca looked around the room before turning toward Logan.

"Can everyone please leave? I want to speak to Kaden alone."

Kaden studied her for a moment before nodding toward Logan. "Wait outside."

"Alright."

The healer placed the medical tray on the bedside table, and both of them left the room. Once the door closed, Kaden turned his attention back to Rebecca.

"Alright. We’re alone. Now tell me why you’re refusing the suppressant."

Rebecca slowly loosened her arms around his neck and stared at him for several seconds before whispering, "Because I don’t want it."

Kaden exhaled. "Rebecca, we’ve already established that."

"I want you instead."

He froze, staring at her in disbelief.

Rebecca swallowed, her cheeks flushing. "You heard me."

"Rebecca..."

"I know how this sounds," she interrupted. "I know I probably sound shameless, asking you to sleep with me after everything that happened yesterday. But I can’t help it, Kaden. I want you."

He clenched his jaw. "Rebecca, please."

"Why?" she demanded, her eyes beginning to glisten. "Why do you keep rejecting me? Is being with me really that terrible?"

His expression changed immediately. "Don’t say that."

"Then tell me what the problem is!"

Kaden took a deep breath. "The problem isn’t that I don’t want you."

"Then what is it?"

He hesitated, looking away briefly before returning his gaze to her. Rebecca stared at him, waiting impatiently for an answer.

"Kaden?"

"The problem is that I think I’m falling in love with you again."

Rebecca went completely still. For several seconds, she simply stared at him, unable to believe what she had just heard.

"What?"

Kaden swallowed. "I said I think I’m falling in love with you again."

Her lips parted in disbelief. "Kaden..."

"I know," he interrupted quietly. "Believe me, I know how complicated that sounds. You have Melvin, and I have Rola. Our situation is already difficult enough without bringing feelings into it. But I can’t keep pretending that what I feel for you is nothing more than physical attraction."

Rebecca remained silent, and Kaden continued.

"I don’t know exactly when it happened. Perhaps it started when we began spending time together again. Perhaps my feelings never completely disappeared. All I know is that somewhere along the way, I started falling for you again."

He gave a humorless laugh.

"And the worst part is that I tried fighting it. I kept telling myself that you were my former mate, that we had both moved on, and that whatever was happening between us couldn’t possibly mean anything. But I was wrong."

Rebecca’s heart began beating faster. She had never expected to hear those words from him. For days, she had convinced herself that the attraction between them was purely physical. She wanted Kaden, and she knew he wanted her, but she had never seriously considered the possibility that he might have developed feelings for her again.

And now he was sitting in front of her, confessing that he was falling in love with her.

She didn’t know what to say.

"Rebecca," Kaden continued, "I’m not telling you this because I expect you to return my feelings. I’m not asking you to break off your engagement or make any promises to me."

He gently took her hand.

"I just want you to understand why I refused you yesterday. It wasn’t because I didn’t want you. Goddess knows how badly I did."

His voice lowered.

"But I couldn’t bear the thought of being someone you only turned to whenever you needed physical satisfaction. Not when my feelings for you were becoming stronger every day."

Rebecca lowered her eyes. "Kaden, I..."

"You don’t have to say anything," he assured her. "I know you don’t feel the same way, and I’m not going to pressure you. I only wanted you to know the truth."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Rebecca was still trying to process his confession when another wave of heat suddenly swept through her body.

"Ah!"

She doubled over, clutching her stomach. Kaden immediately reached for her, alarmed by the painful groan that escaped her lips.

"Rebecca!"

She grabbed his arm, trembling. "It hurts..."

His expression darkened. "That’s enough. You need the suppressant."

He reached for the medical tray and picked up the injection.

"Rebecca, let me give you this."

She shook her head. "No."

"Sweetheart, please. You’re suffering."

Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked at him.

"Kaden, can I ask you something?"

He stopped. "What is it?"

"Do you really think I only want you because I’m in heat?"

Kaden hesitated. "Rebecca..."

"Because I wanted you yesterday, too. And the day before that. Even when I wasn’t in heat, I still wanted to be close to you."

His expression changed. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"I don’t know!" she admitted, her voice trembling. "I don’t understand what I’m feeling anymore. I thought it was just physical attraction, but lately, I keep thinking about you even when you’re not around."

She swallowed hard before continuing.

"And when you pushed me away yesterday, it hurt. Not because I needed someone to satisfy me, but because it was you. Because I wanted you to want me."

Kaden went completely still, watching as Rebecca wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I’m not saying I’m in love with you. I don’t even know what this is yet. But I think about you more than I should. I get jealous when I see you talking to Rola over the phone, and sometimes, when you’re not around, I find myself wishing you were."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"So please don’t tell me that everything I feel for you is just because of the full moon."

Kaden slowly lowered the injection. For the first time, he began to wonder whether Rebecca’s feelings for him were deeper than either of them had realized.

"Rebecca..."

"I’m not saying I love you," she continued. "I’m not even sure what I’m feeling. I just want you to stop treating me like I’m making a mistake every time I reach for you."

He stared at her, unable to find the right words.

"You said you’re falling in love with me again," she whispered. "Well, I don’t know if I’m in love with you, but I know that I want you. And I know I wanted you long before this heat started."

Kaden’s chest tightened.

"Rebecca, I believe you."

She blinked. "You do?"

"Yes. But I also know that you’re not feeling well right now, and I don’t want us making decisions that either of us might regret tomorrow."

Her expression fell. "So you’re rejecting me again?"

"No." He gently cupped her cheek. "I’m asking you to let me take care of you first."

Rebecca looked at him for several seconds before lowering her gaze. Another uncomfortable sensation swept through her body, and she closed her eyes, struggling to endure it.

"Kaden..."

"I’m here."

"Can you please take me out of here?"