Chapter 18
Chapter 18 A Truce
Third Person POV
Finished
Kade woke up in the middle of the night feeling uneasy. He got out of bed and padded towards his door, pulling it open. It was in the middle of the night, so the hallway was dark and quiet. The only light was the faint glow beneath his father’s bedroom door.
It was strange for his father to be awake at this hour. Then again, his father hadn’t exactly been himself lately.
When Kade slowly made his way towards his father’s bedroom door, he saw that it was cracked open. He poked his head in and saw that his father was standing in the middle of the room,
staring at himself in the mirror while holding a gun.
“Dad?” Kade asked, alerting his father to his presence.
He turned, his eyes almost void of emotion, and it sent an icy chill down Kade’s spine. His father was usually so fun-loving and happy… it was strange to see him like this. However, Kade had noticed a decline in his mood for the last couple of weeks…. but the worst of it was tonight.
He barely even looked like himself.
“You should be in bed,” his dad said, his voice slurred slightly, and Kade noticed the liquor bottles left everywhere.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Kade said, looking back up at his father. “Dad, are you okay p>
“Son… let me tell you something,” his father said, turning to face him fully. “Having a mate ruins lives. They take a man and turn him into this. Your mother left me for the Eastern Pack Alpha. She didn’t want us, so she went and got herself a new family. Don’t believe me? Go there yourself and see p>
He swayed on his feet and let out a belch, showing how intoxicated he truly was. Kade could smell the alcohol from where he stood.
“You can’t trust them,” he continued. “You can only trust yourself. Do yourself a favor… and don’t make the same mistakes I did p>
Then, he raised the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
Kade screamed at the same time as his uncle, Roland, ran down the hallway, screaming his name. Everything happened so fast after that; Roland was demanding that Kade leave while he dealt with his father’s body.
15:56 Mon, Oct 26 M
Chapter 18 A Truce
Finished
Kade woke up with a start, his heart pounding and his breathing heavy. He looked around his room… his basic room. He fell back onto his bed and covered his eyes with his arm.
This wasn’t the first time he had dreamt about the past; he was only 5 when his father took his life. It wasn’t a day he could ever forget; it was also when he found out about his mother’s affair. After his uncle Roland forced him to leave while he dealt with the body, Kade del exactly what his father told him to do.
He went straight to the Eastern territory. When he got close enough, he could easily scent his mother, and he followed that trail. She was at the Alpha’s home and having dinner with the family. They looked so happy together, and Caleb was there, beaming at Kade’s mother like she was his own mother.
It broke something inside of Kade that day, and from that day on, he told himself he never wanted to find his mate.
It remains true to this day, and he has those nightmares every night to remind him of that.
These nightmares were part of the reason why he didn’t do sleepovers. No woman would wand to deal with Kade when he’s having a nightmare… plus it wasn’t safe for them. It was better if he just slept alone.
His mouth watered when he smelled bacon cooking in the kitchen. It wasn’t often that Lana made bacon; she always said it was better to start the day off on a healthier note and made Kade eat something with fruit and veggies in it.
He got out of bed, not bothering to put a shirt on, as he walked out of his room and down the hallway until he reached the kitchen.
Lana was there, dancing to an upbeat song she was playing off her phone. It was Saturday, so Lana was still wearing her pajamas, which were only a long T-shirt, showing her slender legs.
Kade leaned against the archway that led into the shared living space, his arms folded across his chest as he watched her.
She was indeed a sight.
He would be lying if he said she wasn’t gorgeous. She was short and spunky… she had a stubborn mouth, and she was a bit in over her head… but she was something else. She was uniquely her, and that was incredibly rare to find in a woman.
Kade would know because he’s been with a lot of women.
He noticed that Lana had all her notebooks and textbooks sprawled across the coffee table in the shared living space. Telling from her upbeat attitude this morning, Kade guessed she’s been awake for a while… studying.
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Chapter 18 A Truce
It proved that she was smart and driven… she was determined to become a healer.
Finished
Kade wondered, not for the first time, why the Moon Goddess would pair her with someone like Caleb.
Lana nearly shrieked when she turned and saw Kade watching her. She moved to cover herself, feeling self-conscious in what she was wearing, which meant she either forgot how little clothing she was wearing… or she meant to change before Kade woke up.
“Were you standing there long?” She asked, her cheeks reddening.
Kade searched her face with his eyes for a moment, and then he lifted one shoulder.
“I just got here,” he lied. “Are you cooking bacon p>
He pushed off the archway and walked closer to her. She swallowed as her eyes dropped to his chest and then his abs. Kade watched her throat move and the corner of his lips curved.
“Uh… yeah,” she said, pulling her eyes away and sucking her bottom lip into her mouth. “I wanted to say I’m sorry… so I made apology bacon p>
He blinked, caught off guard.
“Wait, what?” He asked, looking from her to the bacon, and then back to her.
“Apology bacon,” she said again. “You helped me out with Caleb, and I repaid you by being awful to you. I shouldn’t have said what I said p>
Kade felt something soften inside him. Nobody has ever made him apology bacon before… nobody has ever cared enough. He was about to ask if that meant she accepts his offer, but she put her hand up to stop him.
“It doesn’t mean I want to be yours or anything,” she told him, averting her eyes. “It just means that maybe we can learn to get along. I mean… in a few weeks, I’ll be moving out of here anyway. Which we agreed is the best option for us. So, why don’t we call it a truce until we are out of each other’s hair p>
He raised his brows.
Lana didn’t wait for him to reply before she went back to cooking and plating the food.
“A truce?” He finally asked after the long silence.
She glanced at him as she handed him the plate.
“Yes,” she replied, biting her lower lip again. “Would that be okay? If we just got along p>
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15:56 Mon, Oct 26 TMW.
Chapter 18 A Truce
Finished
He stared at her face for a moment longer realizing that beneath the upbeat attitude she had a few minutes ago… she looked tired. It made him think about all the books on the table.
“How long have you been awake for?” He asked, changing the subject. The concern in his own voice surprised him.
She blinked.
“A few hours,” she said, glancing at the clock.. “I have a test on Monday that I was studying for
He frowned.
“It’s Saturday. You should have slept in p>
“Not all of us can afford to take a break from our studies,” she told him, walking to the table. “You didn’t answer my question. Can we have a truce p>
She was serious… she wanted a truce with him. He never had to work this hard to get a girl before, and he felt a bit dejected. But whenever she was around, Skoll felt like he was about to spark to life at any moment.
It was a refreshing feeling that he didn’t want to go away. He knew that to be around Lana and figure out why she made his wolf surge, he had to play by her rules, but also he knew he could have a little fun with this, and plus… Lana really needs to learn to loosen up a bit.
It was Saturday, and she was waking up early to study. That was no longer going to do.
“Fine,” he said, his lips curving into a crooked smile. “I’ll forgive you, and we can have a truce… but only if you let me take you somewhere today p>
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15:56 Mon, Oct 26 TM •
Accidental Roommate Of The Campus Alpha
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.