Chapter 23 Kaelen’s Suspicion 2

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Kaelen’s Suspicion 2

Talia’s POV

He had suspected me once before.

I was sure the first time he started to suspect me was in Cresswood. That night in the bathroom, when I had taken off the charm for just a moment so I could feel like myself again. I remember that I thought I heard something—a sound, or someone’s breath.

’What if it was him? What if he saw my real face and said nothing?’ The thought made my stomach turn.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. My legs were weak, and my hands were shaking.

I touched my necklace. The glamour charm was still there, still working, and still hiding me.

But I did not think it was hiding me well enough. Or at least, not from him.

That night, Kaelen came back earlier than usual.

I was sitting on the bed, staring at the wall, and I did not hear him come in. I just looked up, and he was there.

He set the tray on the desk containing bread, soup, and water. The same as every night.

"Eat," he said, as he walked to the bed.

I walked to the desk and sat down. I picked up the bread and took a bite even though I was not hungry, but I did not argue.

Kaelen sat on the edge of the bed, and he watched me eat.

"You have been avoiding me," he said.

I looked up but I did not meet his eyes. "I have not."

"You have. Every time I get close, you pull away or become afraid. Every time I ask a question, you change the subject, and every time I look at you, you look at the floor. You do not want to be alone with me." He tilted his head. "Is that it? You do not want to be alone with me."

My face burned. "That is not true."

"Then why?"

I set the bread down, and my hands were shaking.

"Because you look at me like you are trying to figure me out, or like I am a suspect you need to investigate," I said.

His eyes widened just a little. I had never seen him look surprised before, even though it lasted only a second before his face went hard again. But I saw it.

I saw his face change, and for just a moment, he was not the Alpha. He was just a man who did not know what to say.

He was quiet for a long moment. Then he stood up and walked to the window, with his back to me.

"Everyone has secrets," he said. "I am not asking you to tell me yours."

"Then what are you asking?" I said.

He turned around, and his gray eyes were soft. Just a little.

"I am asking you to stop running from me," he said.

My heart stopped.

"I am not running," I said.

"You are. I do not know what you are hiding, but I will find out," he replied, and walked toward me.

He stopped in front of me. "I am not your enemy, Talia."

I stared at him, and my throat was tight.

"I do not know what you are," I whispered.

He was quiet for a moment, then he reached out and touched my chin. His fingers were warm, and he lifted my face so I had to look at him.

"Then stay," he said. "And find out."

He let go and walked to his blanket on the floor. He picked it up, laid it down, and stepped into the bathroom to shower.

I stood there frozen for a long time, with my heart pounding and my face burning. Then I climbed into bed and lay down.

Soon after, Kaelen walked out of the bathroom in a see-through shirt and combat shorts.

His muscles were visible and brightly toned, and my throat went dry. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep when he stepped out of the bathroom fully into the room.

I remained still as the fire crackled, and the room became warmer. But I could not stop thinking about his words.

’I am not your enemy.’

’Then stay, and find out.’

I did not know what he wanted from me, and I did not know why he cared. I also did not know why he looked at me like I was something worth protecting.

But I knew one thing.

He was not going to stop, and neither was I.

I opened my eyes just a bit and saw that he had laid down on his blanket, and his breathing had evened out. But I still did not move, because I was not sure if he had really fallen asleep or he was pretending.

I closed my eyes, let out a soft deep breath, and let sleep take me.

But sleep did not come fast.

I lay there, listening to him breathe in, out, in, and out. The sound was steady, and calm, and I matched my breath to his. Slowly, my heart stopped racing, and my hands stopped shaking. Maybe that was what he meant.

Maybe staying was not about being brave, maybe it was just about breathing together.