Nova
Warmth
It wrapped around me like a second skin.Heavy, slow… comforting.
My eyes fluttered open. Light from the sunrise spilled through the wide windows, catching on his skin.
It made him look almost golden.
Kain actually came here. I guess he never made it to his room. He was beside me, arms around my waist, body pressed to mine, every inch of him radiating heat.
He was wrapped around me..
Every nerve in me loosened, unraveled. I had never felt this calm before.
Never this… safe.
I shut my eyes again, drinking it in. I didn't want to move. Didn't want to break the moment, didn't want him to wake up and shift back into the cold, unreadable Alpha I met again last night. I didn't want to feel his arms leave me.
Didn't want to be alone… again.
His chest rose and fell against my back. Steady. Quiet. His breath—slow, even. And for the first time, the chaos in my mind was gone. The fears of being left behind, of being unwanted, of everything being temporary—gone.
But this could be temporary.
It probably was.
It felt reckless—dangerous—to feel this safe. To trust him this easily when I barely knew him.
Was this what Cami always went on about? The bond?
That instant click? That unnatural trust?
The way his soft snores soothed every part of me?
The way my vulnerability didn't feel like a weakness in his arms?
This was too good.
Too good to be true.
His scent clung to me, and for a moment I forgot that I didn't belong here.
I forgot Marcus's words.
Kain stirred behind me. His breathing shifted, uneven now. I felt him rise a little.His voice was rough, deepened by sleep.
"You're awake?"
I felt him watching me. My lips twitched. I tried not to smile, but gave up and opened my eyes.
"Yes," I murmured, meeting his gaze.
"You look good in the morning," he said, still staring.
The sunlight hit his face. His amber eyes appeared golden.
I felt warmth rush to my cheeks and slapped his chest lightly. "Shut up."
"I'm just being honest. Your eyes…" He smiled fully now. "They're beautiful."
For a second he looked Younger. Softer. Not the Alpha. Just… Kain.
"Thanks," I whispered, my hands lifting to cradle his face. "You know…" I hesitated, words dragging. "The way you barely spoke to me last night… I didn't expect you to come here."
I regretted the words the second they left my mouth.
"Yeah… I had a lot on my mind." His smile faltered.
There it was—the shift.
I knew it wouldn't last. It never does.
His face went back to neutral. Not cold. Not angry. Just… tired.
"Speaking of, I gotta talk to some council members before the meeting." He stood, grabbing the shirt draped over the chair.
"Okay," I said, nodding, forcing a small smile.
He looked at me again, like he didn't want to go.Or maybe I just wanted to believe that.
He gave me a faint smile, the kind that never reached his eyes.
Then he left and I was alone… again.
**************
I had nothing to do.No one to talk to.
I tried texting Cami—no response. She was probably at work by now.
So I stayed in the room.
Still wearing his jacket. Still clinging to it like it meant something.
They'd brought clothes for me to wear I guess Kain got tired of seeing me in lingerie and his jacket.
But I still wore his suit jacket on the clothes. It felt like a piece of him. A piece of safety.
The food sat cold on the table. I had barely touched it.
I couldn't.
Not when my stomach was twisted with thoughts of Kain. Of this place. Of the marriage.
Of everything honestly…
Kain said it wasn't going to hold—the wedding—but how could I believe that?
How could I believe I was worth any of this? How could I convince myself that everything was fine without his presence.
Marcus said I would bring nothing but trouble. And maybe he was right.
The moment Kain left, the doubts came rushing back. Flooding every quiet space in the room.
But still I couldn't stay hidden forever.
The whispers were probably already flying around, I couldn't come face to face with the Omegas that worked here. They probably already knew.
I checked the time. Way past noon. I didn't know if it was curiosity or desperation, but eventually, it won over the fear.
I needed air. I needed to clear my head and deep down I wanted to see if they would treat me differently now that I was here.
I left the room, Kain's jacket still wrapped around me like a shield.
I didn't need it—it was warm enough, and I had clothes on now—but it made me feel like I belonged.
Like the rumors were true.
Like I was his.
Or maybe I just needed protection— the safety. His scent was fading, but still there. Barely.
But still enough.
The halls were empty. That was a surprise.
A good one.
I wandered toward the courtyard. I hadn't been here in years.
Not since I was a kid.
Back when I thought the pack meant unity.
Back when I didn't know better.
It didn't feel magical now. Just… hollow.
Then I noticed the cars.
One after the other pulling into the driveway—sleek, powerful, expensive.
The Council.
That's why the halls were empty.
Curiosity tugged at me. I followed the quiet hum of movement until I reached a set of large double doors on the other side of the pack house.
This must be the meeting Kain mentioned.
I was still peering toward the doors when I heard the sharp click of heels behind me. Fast. Precise.
Then a voice.
"Wow… not even a full day, and you're already crossing lines."
I turned.
She stood there like a slap to the face—beautiful, poised, deadly.
A living warning sign.
"You really don't know your place, omega."