Free Web NovelChapter 122: Chapter 122
Kyra’s POV
"More! More!" Snow squealed, her face bright with joy as she pointed at the basketball hoop.
I smiled and put more tokens in the machine. The sound of tickets falling mixed with Snow’s giggles, warming my heart. Nathan carried her on his shoulders, her little legs dangling against his chest as she tried to shoot the ball. I stood beside them, collecting balls and handing them to her.
"You’re getting better, little pup," Nathan encouraged her, bouncing slightly to make her laugh. The sound of his voice was so tender and patient with her.
"Higher, Nathan! I need to be higher!" Snow demanded, and without hesitation, he adjusted her on his shoulders, his large hands securely holding her legs.
"Like this, princess?" he asked. My heart ached watching him with our daughter, not knowing she was his.
Snow missed every shot, but her giggles filled the air. I hadn’t seen her this happy in ages. Nathan’s stern Alpha mask had vanished, replaced by pure joy that lit up his entire face.
"Did you see, Mommy? I almost got it in!" Snow called out to me, and I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"I did, baby. You’re amazing."
Nathan looked at me over Snow’s excited chatter. Something warm passed between us, the same connection I’d been avoiding for five years.
After the arcade, we went to dinner. Snow was getting tired, her excitement fading. Her eyes kept closing as she ate.
"Someone needs bed," Nathan said softly, watching her with such care that my heart hurt.
I hadn’t brought my car, so I accepted Nathan’s offer to drive us home. Snow was already falling asleep in her chair, but that wasn’t the only reason. Watching them together all day, I had made a decision. It was time to tell Nathan the truth about Snow. The thought scared me, but I couldn’t keep hiding it anymore. Tomorrow was Phoebe’s birthday party. If I told him tonight, I could bring Snow and introduce her to her grandparents properly.
"You okay?" Nathan asked at a red light, watching my face.
I looked back at Snow, fast asleep now, breathing softly. Then I studied Nathan’s strong jaw and intense eyes that could lead a pack but went gentle when he looked at Snow. "Can we talk later?"
He licked his lip, hesitating. After a hard swallow, he nodded slowly. "Yeah... sure."
I nodded and looked out the window, my heart hammering. Sylvia whined inside me. How would I start? What would he say? Would he hate me for hiding this? My hands were sweating.
At my building, my nerves got worse. Nathan parked and I watched him gently lift Snow, holding her against his chest so naturally it made my throat tight. I grabbed her dropped toy and quietly closed the door.
"I’ll carry her up," Nathan whispered, careful not to wake her.
I nodded. "Yeah. Let’s talk upstairs."
I followed a few steps behind, staring at his broad back. My hands were sweaty, my mind racing. What if he gets angry? What if he takes Snow from me? What if he never forgives me?
The more I thought, the more scared I became. In the elevator, heavy silence filled the space except for Snow’s soft breathing.
"We can talk tomorrow if you’re tired," Nathan said quietly.
I looked up and found him watching me. "It’s okay. I’m not that tired."
"Sure?" he asked, like he wanted to delay our talk. I could see he was nervous too. Did he think I was going to tell him to stay away after today?
I swallowed hard. Between us, I was definitely more scared.
At my door, I quickly punched in the code. Nathan looked away, giving me privacy. That small gesture made me smile despite everything.
Inside, he carried Snow upstairs to her room. While he tucked her in, I made coffee in the kitchen, my hands shaking slightly. I sat at the counter, trying to figure out how to start this conversation. Nothing sounded right.
Nathan took almost ten minutes to come back down. When he appeared, he was watching my face. He sat across from me.
"Sorry. She woke up and I had to get her back to sleep."
I nodded, touched by how gentle he was with her. "Thanks. I made you coffee."
He pulled the cup closer, his tongue pushing against his cheek. I remembered that nervous habit. He wouldn’t look at me, which made me more anxious. Here I was about to tell him Snow was his daughter, and he probably thought I was going to reject him.
"Nathan..."
"Kyra..."
Our gazes locked as we spoke simultaneously.
"You go first..." he almost whispered before sipping his coffee.
I chewed my bottom lip for a few seconds, gathering my courage. "Thanks for today..."
It wasn’t what I wanted to say, but it was a start. He looked at me, his eyes softening.
"Are you mad that I crashed your day out?"
"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "It’s not that, Nathan. I’m glad you came. You made Snow so happy."
Finally, he smiled. "So... we’re still good?"
I pressed my lips together and nodded. "Yes. There’s... something else I want to tell you."
He nodded, visibly relaxing. The uneasiness in his eyes faded as he waited for me to continue.
"Nathan, it’s about Snow—" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
My words were cut off by the loud ringing of my phone. Afraid it would wake Snow, I quickly grabbed it and excused myself. I stood and walked toward the sink as I answered the call from an unfamiliar number.
"Hello?"
"Kyra... did you miss your dear brother? I’ve missed you terribly."
My blood went cold. That sickeningly smooth voice had haunted my nightmares for years. My hands shook and the phone slipped, hitting the floor. Nathan was beside me instantly, worry on his face as he caught my trembling hands.
"Kyra, what’s wrong?" Nathan caressed my cheek, forcing me to look at him.
I could barely breathe. My mind raced with terrifying possibilities. How had Kieran found me? How did he get my number? What if he knew about Snow? My daughter, my innocent daughter who had never known the darkness that existed in her uncle. The thought of Kieran anywhere near Snow made me physically ill.
"Kyra, look at me." Nathan held my face when I tried to look away. "What’s wrong? Tell me, please..."
I swallowed hard. "It’s... it’s Kieran."
Nathan’s jaw clenched. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. I closed my eyes, fighting the panic.
I could still hear Kieran’s voice. "I love you, Kyra. I’ll always be watching you."
The obsession in his tone frightened me. I thought he was gone, maybe dead. But he was still out there, still fixated on me.
