Chapter 17 Second Chance
Kai
Waking up felt like clawing out of a thick. fog, and each breath dragged me toward the surface. The pain was sharp and biting but tolerable enough. I blinked against the overhead lights and felt disoriented until I saw Nevea. She was sitting beside me, her face pale, eyes rimmed with exhaustion and concern, but she was here. She never
left.
“You‘ re awake,” she whispered, her voice raw and strained from more than just fatigue.
I tried to respond, but my throat was dry, and my voice barely came out.
“Nevea…”
Her hand trembled as she reached for
mine. The touch of her soft and warm
fingers pulled me into the present.
Memories of the rogue attack came rushing
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back, and I winced. I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my chest, forcing me back down.
“Stay still, idiot. You‘ re still healing,” Nevea scolded, though her tone was gentle.
A weak smile tugged at my lips despite the pain.
“I’m sorry…”
She shook her head quickly, cutting me off.
“No, Kai. You don’t get to apologize. Not yet,” she began, her grip tightening around my hand.
“There’s too much we need to talk about. And I’m too tired to argue with you right now.”
I didn’t need her to say more. I knew exactly what she meant.
“Nevea…
My voice was rough, but I pushed through.
“I know it’s been hell for you. Watching
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Chapter 17 Second Chance
me with Claire, getting neglected, and thinking I’ve been choosing her over you.”
Her eyes met mine. The hurt was still raw, but she stayed quiet and waited for me to explain.
“I need you to understand. It was never about love nor about me choosing her.”
Her brow furrowed with confusion, but I squeezed her hand to finish what I had to
say.
“Claire‘ s mom… she saved my
mother‘ s life once. There was a rogue attack on our pack before I was born, and Claire’s mom threw herself in front of my mother. She died saving her. And my father… he never forgot that. His last order before he died was to keep Claire safe.”
Nevea’s face softened, but I could still see the pain. I had kept this from her because I thought it would prevent her from jealousy.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” I
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regrettably admit it.
“I thought honoring my father’s last command was the right thing to do, and it was my duty to look after her.”
“But it didn’t feel right, did it?” Neveal asked, and it hit me hard.
“No, it didn’t,” I answered, shaking my
head.
“Claire took advantage of it. She manipulated me and made me feel like I owed her more than I did. She knew exactly how to get my attention and make me feel guilty for not being there for her. I was too blind to see it because she
reminded me of what her mother did for
my mom.
Nevea looked away; her jaw tight as she tried to hold back tears.
“You let me think you had feelings for her, Kai. You let me stand there, thinking I didn’t matter. That she was more
important.”
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“I’m so sorry. I thought keeping it to myself was the right thing. I thought I was protecting you by not telling you, but I realize I’ve been a fool. Nevea, you‘ ve never been second. You‘ ve always been first. Always.”
Her eyes met mine again and a tear fell from her eye.
“It didn’t feel like that when you canceled our mating ceremony for her.”
The guilt crashed over me.
“I made a mistake. I thought Claire needed me. She faked the injury, and I fell for it. I canceled the ceremony because I thought it was my duty as Alpha. But I was wrong. Claire manipulated me.”
Nevea‘ s grip on my hand tightened, and her knuckles went white.
“I knew it. I knew she was faking it, and you didn’t believe me.”
“I didn’t see it then, but I see it now.
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She’s not who I thought Claire was. She twisted everything…my father’s order, my sense of duty… but it was never about love, Nevea, I don’t love her. I never did. Maybe I did have a crush on her before, but it was just a crush during my teenage
years.
Her lips trembled, but she held herself together as she glanced at our joined
hands.
“And now? What happens with Claire?”
“I’ve already handled it,” I said, my
voice firm.
“She’s not part of my life anymore, not in the way she was. I’ll keep her safe because that’s my responsibility, but that’s it. She’ll never come between us again.”
A part of me waited and braced for Nevea to say she didn’t believe me. But slowly, I watched her relax but doubt remained.
“I need you to believe me when I say that I
Chapter 17 Second Chance
love you, Nevea. I’ve always loved you. And I’ve been an idiot for not showing it, for letting Claire come between us. I thought being Alpha meant living up to everyone’s expectations, but I’m done with that. I just want you. Us.”
Her eyes softened, and she leaned in closer, resting her forehead against mine.
“I want that too, Kai. But no more secrets. No more walls. You have to let me in.”
“I promise. No more walls.”
For the first time, the heaviness between us lifted.
“So… no more Claire?”
“No more Claire,” I confirmed with a smile.
“Only you. Only us.”
She smiled the kind that reached her eyes and made everything feel right again. I loved that smile of her.
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“You‘ re stuck with me, you know that?”
she teased.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
We remained like that for a moment.
“I want us to finish what we started,”
Nevea broke the silence.
I frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“Our mating ceremony. No more interruptions. No more excuses. We‘ re doing this. You and me, forever.”
“Absolutely,” I responded with a grin.
