Chapter 443
Chapter 443:
The heavy front door clicked open. Instantly, the air was flooded with the thick, intoxicating scent of ancient cedar. But tonight, it was laced with the bright, thrumming energy of absolute victory. Kain had destroyed the Sterling empire for me, and he was coming home to celebrate.
“Adelina?” His deep voice echoed down the hall.
He appeared in the doorway of the master suite, holding a pristine white box from my favorite French patisserie. The moment his golden eyes landed on my overnight bag, his victorious scent froze, curdling into sharp, heavy confusion.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his brow furrowing.
“I’m sleeping in the guest suite,” I said, zipping the leather bag shut with a sharp, final pull. “I’m under a lot of stress. I need to be alone p>
Kain set the pastry box on the dresser, his massive frame tensing. His Lycan was instantly agitated by the physical distance I was creating. “Talk to me, my Queen,” he murmured, stepping into my space. He reached out, his large, scarred hand moving to cup my cheek.
The moment his fingertips brushed my skin, I violently swatted his hand away.
It was a visceral reaction, as if I had been burned by a branding iron. Kain flinched, his golden eyes widening in profound shock. The rejection struck him like a physical blow.
“Don’t,” I whispered, my voice a flat, emotionless void. I looked up at him, forcing my shattered heart to harden into ice. “Your past is invading my life, Kain. A woman tied to your history is actively trying to humiliate me, and I refuse to be a stand-in or a casualty in whatever unresolved dynamic you have left behind p>
His jaw clenched, the muscles ticking as a dark, wounded fury began to bleed into his aura. “I burned a dynasty to the ground for you today. I destroyed them to protect you p>
“This isn’t about trust, Kain. It’s about respect,” I countered coldly, picking up my bag. “Handle your ghosts. Do not let them into our home. Until you do, I need space p>
W𝖾 uр𝗱𝖺t𝘦 𝗲𝘃еr𝗒 𝗐𝘦𝖾𝗸 oո
I didn’t wait for his response. I walked past him through the suffocating silence, crossed the hall, stepped into the guest suite, and pushed the heavy door shut. The deadbolt slid into place with a sharp, echoing click.
I leaned my back against the cold wood and slid down until I hit the floor. I pulled my knees to my chest, my wild roses and storm scent souring with unshed tears.
Outside in the hallway, the silence shattered.
A suppressed, beastly roar tore from Kain’s throat, vibrating through the floorboards. It was followed by the deafening crack of a massive fist smashing into the drywall. Then came the sound of the white pastry box being violently hurled to the floor, the delicate desserts inside reduced to ruined mush.
I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart aching for the pain I was causing him, but my pride refused to yield.
A tense, heavy silence followed. Then I heard the low, vibrating hum of Kain’s voice — he had opened a Mind-Link. I couldn’t hear the other side, likely Carter Shaw, his Beta’s voice of reason, but I could hear Kain’s frustrated, snarling responses.