Free Web NovelChapter 80: Chapter 80
Kyra’s POV
"Kyra..."
A familiar scent of mint filled my senses before I even opened my eyes—the unmistakable aroma of my former mate. A soft hand caressed my cheek, and a gentle voice woke me from my deep sleep. When I opened my eyes, Nathan’s brown eyes greeted me, glowing faintly in the dim cabin light.
"Wake up. We’re here."
That woke me completely. I looked around and realized we were still on the private yacht.
"Where did you bring me?" My voice came out hoarse from sleep and grief.
"To my safehouse villa. It’s warded against tracking spells and scent markers."
That shocked me. Why did he bring me here, and more importantly, why was he helping me? I understood if he still considered me his best friend, but this wasn’t right. He was getting mated. Helping me like this would only cause misunderstanding between him and his intended Luna.
"Don’t look at me like I’ve grown a second head, Kyra." He looked away, his jaw tightening the way it always did when he was avoiding difficult truths. "You know why I’m doing this."
He pulled himself up and carried my bag. The muscles in his arms flexed beneath his shirt. He offered his hand, but I stood without accepting his help, ignoring how my legs trembled from more than just exhaustion. The broken mate bond between us still ached like an open wound.
My legs were still weak, and my heart still ached because of what happened to my dad. If Kieran was responsible for my father’s death, I’d tear his throat out with my bare teeth, consequences be damned. I didn’t care if I’d once loved him. Hurting my dad and attempting to hurt my pup was on a different level. I would never—could never—forgive him.
A black SUV with tinted windows waited at the private dock. Nathan opened the passenger door and looked at me. Without a word, I slipped inside.
He’d brought me to a different country instead of our home territory. He was doing this to save me from Kieran, and as much as I wanted to avoid him because of our past, I had no choice but to endure his presence and accept his help. The bitter irony wasn’t lost on me—running from one Alpha straight into the arms of another.
"Are you the one who paid Emily to help me?" I asked, staring straight ahead as the engine roared to life.
I remembered Emily’s words—someone had paid her to assist me. If it was Nathan, even through my confusion and lingering anger, I owed him a debt that could never be repaid.
"I just honored the vows I made to protect you," he said quietly, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel until the leather creaked. "I failed you once. I won’t fail you again."
Sylvia whined softly at his words. "Protector."
"Thank you," I whispered, the words tasting strange after so much bitterness between us.
I felt his gaze on me for a heartbeat too long. He didn’t speak, but I knew he was shocked by my calm acceptance. The Kyra he remembered would have snarled and spat curses by now. But grief had hollowed me out, leaving no energy for our usual battles. I needed his help, and that painful truth settled between us.
The villa emerged from the jungle like a mirage—all sleek lines and floor-to-ceiling windows, designed for a wolf who valued sightlines. Nathan opened my door before retrieving my bag.
I stared at the two-story house, its architecture eerily similar to our old house. "This is private property, so we won’t have neighbors," he explained. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Why bring me here? I could stay at a hotel, Nathan." Even as I said it, I knew the answer—no hotel could guarantee protection from a determined Alpha like Kieran.
A low growl rumbled in Nathan’s chest before he spoke. "This is the least I can do, Kyra." His brown eyes darkened with remorse. "I know you can’t forgive me, and I’m not here seeking absolution. But I won’t rest until I know you’re safe."
I met his gaze with empty eyes, the kind of hollow stare only a wolf who’s lost their Alpha parent could understand. "Are you staying or leaving?"
His scent spiked with something bitter—hurt, maybe, or frustration. "Do you want me to go?" The question came out rougher than intended, his wolf close to the surface.
I turned toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the moonlit jungle. "This is your territory. Your call."
"Then I’m staying."
I hated how my wolf instantly relaxed at his words, admitting I still carried a torch for him. But having an Alpha at my back, even a disgraced one, soothed instincts I couldn’t outrun.
We crossed the threshold in silence. Nathan stopped me with a hand on my elbow while I stared at the pool that mirrored the starry sky, so like the one we’d built at our old house.
"Moon Goddess," Sylvia whispered. He remembered.
"I ordered from a shifter-run delivery service. Should be here soon." His nose wrinkled at some distant scent only his Alpha senses could detect. "Want to shower first or eat?"
"I need to see a pack doctor." My hands cradled the swell of my belly, where tiny kicks answered my touch. I didn’t need to look up to feel his gaze burning into me.
His growl this time was pure protectiveness. "I’ll have Dr. Bennett come here. You’re in no state to travel." The unspoken addition hung between us—not with Kieran’s hunters prowling every supernatural clinic within three territories.
I nodded, too drained to argue. The pup’s safety trumped my pride. Sinking onto the couch, the silence between us grew thick enough to choke on. After ten agonizing minutes of listening to his restless pacing, Nathan vanished outside, returning with takeout.
"Come eat," he ordered, all Alpha again despite himself.
I followed him to the dining hall. The dining table was good for only four people. He pulled a chair for me, and I sat there silently. He prepared the food while I just watched him.
Everything in this house, and about him, reminded me of how we were in the past. This brought back memories, and it somehow helped me feel comfortable, because, even if I admitted it or not, with Nathan, I was always comfortable. I think the fact that we’d been best friends before helped. We were friends before we got married, and that was one of the things I didn’t regret.
"I’m going to make them pay," I announced around a mouthful. I wasn’t telling him to help me; I just wanted him to know that I wouldn’t stay here forever. Once I was strong enough and my pup was grown, I’d go back and get back at Amanda and Kieran.
His brown eyes and the emotions within them were so familiar. He still cared, his eyes confessed.
"I won’t stop you, but for now, you have to delay your plans of revenge because you’re going to give birth soon. I will stay with you until then. And once you don’t need me anymore, I’ll leave you alone."
