Chapter 58 Doubt
Aelira’s POV
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I hesitate, my finger hovering over the screen. Daelor casts a glance my way from the driver’s seat, his silver–gray eyes narrowing slightly.
“Are you planning to take that call?” he asks, his tone deliberately neutral.
Drawing in a deep breath, I press the accept button. “Hello?”
“Where the hell are you?” Alarion’s furious voice booms from the speaker. “I
went to your apartment, and they said you haven’t been there since
yesterday!”
I wince and move the phone slightly away from my ear. “Why is it important
where I am, Alarion?”
“Because Luthen just informed me that you went to Nightshade Pack
territory with Daelor Briarhallow! Is that true? Did you visit his family right
after we filed to sever our mate bond?”
The accusation in his voice causes my wolf to bristle beneath my skin.
Who is he to question my whereabouts when he’s been parading Cyrinne
around for months?
“I no longer owe you any explanations,” I reply coldly. “What are you after?”
There’s a brief pause on the line.
“I have some of your things at the pack house,” Alarion finally responds, his
voice slightly more subdued. “You can come by to collect them whenever
you wish.”
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“I don’t require anything from there.”
“What? But your clothes, your shoes-”
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“Donate them,” I cut him off. “I don’t care what happens to them.”
“Aelira, be reasonable,” he says, genuinely taken aback by, my reaction. “There are items your mother gave you-”
The mention of my mother pierces through me like a knife. “Which items, Alarion? The ones you let Cyrinne sift through when she moved into our home before I had even left?”
“That’s not-”
“I don’t need anything from you,” I assert firmly. “Is there anything else?”
A heavy sigh comes through the phone. “Fine. Do what you want.”
“Goodbye, Alarion.” I hang up before he can reply.
Gazing at the phone in my hand, I frown. Alarion’s behavior strikes me as
odd, even for him. Has he found out about Cyrinne’s pregnancy? Or is this
another tactic to exert control over me?
“Aelira.”
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Daelor’s deep voice pulls me back from my thoughts. I hadn’t realized we
had stopped on the side of the road.
“You really should stop taking his calls,” Daelor says, his silver–gray eyes
locked onto mine with intensity. “Better yet, just block his number entirely.”
I shake my head. “I can’t do that. Not until the mate bond is officially
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severed.”
“Why not?”
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“Because, legally, we’re still bound for another month,” I explain. “If there’s an issue with the severance paperwork or the Registry Office needs to
reach both of us-”
“I can manage that,” he interjects. His powerful Alpha scent suddenly fills the car, bringing a sense of possessiveness with it.
I meet his gaze steadily. “Daelor, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I need to handle this my way.”
He studies me for a long moment, his silver–gray eyes searching mine. The
intensity in his gaze leaves me feeling unexpectedly breathless.
“I’m jealous,” he suddenly declares.
My heart thumps unevenly in my chest. “What?”
“When you interact with him,” he says quietly, yet his tone carries a firm
weight. “I feel jealousy.”
I look at him, momentarily speechless from his unexpected revelation. My
wolf within stirs with curiosity, as though attempting to decipher this
strong Alpha’s motives.
In an instant, Daelor’s demeanor shifts back to a playful nonchalance.
“That was pretty good, wasn’t it?” he remarks with a slight grin. “For our
performance. I should express sentiments like that more frequently when others are present.”
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He restarts the car, smoothly merging back onto the road as I sit there,
attempting to come to terms with the recent events.
“Right,” I say, my words sounding strained to my own ears. “For our
performance.”
A knowing smile flits across Daelor’s face as he casts a sidelong glance at
me before refocusing on the road ahead.
The remainder of our drive to the city unfolds in relative quiet. My thoughts
race, replaying Daelor’s comments while trying to discern if they held any
truth or if they were simply part of our façade.
By the time we arrive at the city’s edge, fatigue completely envelops me.
The events of the past couple of days, coupled with my pregnancy, make it
hard to keep my eyes open.
“Feeling hungry?” Daelor inquires as we navigate through downtown.
I nod drowsily. “A bit.”
“There’s a great spot nearby that has the finest moon–seared steaks in the
city.”
His voice starts to drift away as my eyelids become heavy. The soothing
hum of the engine and the cozy warmth of the heater create a cocoon that
makes resisting sleep impossible.
“Aelira?” His voice is the last thing I hear before darkness envelops me.
I awaken to the sensation of something soft brushing against my cheek.
Still teetering between sleep and wakefulness, I keep my eyes shut,
relishing the gentle touch.
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A familiar fragrance surrounds me–dominant Alpha pheromones blended
with something distinctly belonging to Daelor. The realization that his
fingers are grazing my face sends a shiver coursing through me.
Through my barely open eyelids, I catch a glimpse of him leaning closer,
his silver–gray eyes locked onto my face, displaying an expression I’ve
never encountered before. It’s distinctly different from his usual teasing
demeanor–this is something profound and intense.
In that unguarded instant, the truth strikes me with shocking clarity: Daelor
Briarhallow harbors genuine feelings for me. It’s not just a pretense for our
charade.
All the signs were evident–his willingness to assist with the severance of
my mate bond, the gentle way he tended to my injured hand, and the meals
he prepared that perfectly catered to my pregnant wolf’s cravings.
The warmth of his lingering touch on my cheek sends a wave of comfort through me. My wolf stirs indulgently within, responding to his caress in a
manner that leaves me both confused and scared.
I deliberately shift, pretending to just awaken. Daelor promptly withdraws his hand, leaning back into his own seat.
“Where are we?” I ask, my voice intentionally groggy as I rub my eyes.
“Myrthale Residences,” he responds, his tone casual as though he hadn’t just been touching my face a moment ago. “You dozed off before we could
grab some lunch.”
I glance out the window and recognize the familiar entrance to our
apartment building.
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“I’m sorry,” I say, sitting up straight. “I didn’t realize how exhausted I was.”
“Pregnancy will have that effect,” he replies with such naturalness that I
almost overlook it.
My heart comes to an abrupt halt. “Could you repeat that?”
Daelor’s lips form a subtle smile. “I mentioned that traveling can have that effect on you.”
Could I have misunderstood? Or had he genuinely referenced my pregnancy? I scrutinize his face, but it betrays no emotions.
“I appreciate you driving me home,” I quickly say while reaching for the
door handle.
“Aelira.” His voice halts my movements. “If you require anything, I’m just
across the hall.”
I nod, not trusting my voice, and swiftly exit the car.
Once I enter my apartment, I lean back against the shut door, my heart
racing wildly.
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The realization crashes over me like a tsunami: Daelor Briarhallow harbors
feelings for me. Not the false kind for the sake of our facade, but authentic feelings.
Everything falls into place: his determination to assist me with severing the
mate bond, his frustration with Alarion, and introducing me to his grandmother. These acts were not random gestures; they were well- planned moves aimed at winning me over.
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Yet, a relationship between us stands as an impossibility. It’s not only because of our differing social standings–him as the formidable Alpha King of Nightshade Pack and me as a mere herbalist apprentice–but also
due to the child I bear.
Alarion’s child.
Taking a deep breath, I resolve my course of action. I must dissuade
Daelor’s affections before he voices them outright. This would be the most
compassionate choice for both of us in the long run.
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