Chapter 26
Lily POV
The woman was tall and willowy easily fitting with Kai like they were two peas in a pod.
Her cascading dark hair and legs that seemed to go on forever moved with the grace of a runway model. Her dress, a slinky red mini-gown with a fur coat covering her delicate shoulders left little to the imagination – it clung to every one of her curves.
I felt as if all the air had been sucked out of my lungs. It was a strange feeling that I couldn’t understand, couldn’t even name. I knew Kia was out of my league – had always known it from the first day, really – but seeing him with this goddess of a woman drove the point home with the most brutal clarity I’ve ever had.
Celeste, noticing my sudden silence, followed my gaze. “Oh, shit,” she muttered, quickly pulling the car over to the side of the road.
“Lily? Hey, are you okay?” Celeste’s voice seemed to come from far away as I struggled to tear my eyes away from the scene unfolding before me.
I watched as Kai opened the door of the car for his companion, his hand resting on the small of her back in a gesture that spoke of intimacy and familiarity. The woman laughed at something he said and Kai smiled.
He has never smiled at anything I said.
“I’m fine,” I managed to choke out, even as I felt my eyes begin to burn with unshed tears. “I just… I didn’t expect to see him here p>
What is wrong with me? I quizzed myself. Why do I care about making Kai smile? What was I even saying?
Celeste reached over and squeezed my hand. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I should have known… Kai likes to frequent this area. I didn’t think we’d run into him tonight p>
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I managed to say removing my hand from hers. “He’s not married to me… He’s the Alpha and he has the right to go anywhere he wants to. Whoever he wants to be with. It doesn’t really concern me. It shouldn’t in the first place,” I rattled like a broken record.
Just before he closed the door, he happened to glance up his eyes meeting mine across the street. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. I saw a flicker of recognition cross his face followed quickly by something that looked almost like guilt. But then, the moment passed, and Kai was sliding into the driver’s seat, the engine of his expensive car purring to life.
I watched as his car pulled away from the curb and sped away.
“Do you want to go home?” Celeste asked gently.
I shouldn’t be feeling like this. This wasn’t right.
“No!” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to push aside the strange ache in my chest. I thought about Jake’s easy smile, about the groups of laughing students on the sidewalk, about the promise of a new beginning that this city held for me.
“No, I don’t want to go home. Can we… can we get something to eat? I want to try one of those cafes you mentioned p>
“Awesome, I know just the place p>
As Celeste’s car merged back into traffic, the inexplicable tightness in my chest didn’t disappear. It was as if an invisible hand had reached inside my ribcage and was squeezing my heart, leaving me breathless and confused. I tried to shake off the feeling but it clung to me.
“Well, looks like Kai was having quite the night out,” Celeste commented, her tone deliberately casual as she navigated through the bustling streets. I could feel her eyes on me.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod. “They… they seemed perfect together,” I managed to say, the words tasting bitter on my tongue p>
Celeste must have noticed that I didn’t want to talk about it because she stopped talking. Until we arrived at a cosy-looking café she had mentioned earlier.
“Here we are,” Celeste announced. “This place has the best mac and cheese that will make you forget even your name p>
I mustered a small smile, grateful for her attempt to lift my spirits. As we entered the café, the warm aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering spices swirled into my nostrils. I felt the pain in my chest ebbing away slowly.
I and Celeste settled into a quiet booth and soon Celeste was chatting to me about her own college experiences, painting vivid pictures of late-night study sessions, impromptu road trips, and friendships. My mood began to lift and the weight on my chest finally eased.
By the time we finished our meal and had dessert, I had forgotten about Kai and his woman. The drive home was filled with a comfortable silence, broken occasionally by Celeste pointing out landmarks. I found myself looking forward to exploring the city more.
As we pulled up to the house, I turned to Celeste with a genuine smile. “Thank you for today,” I said softly. “For everything p>
She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Anytime dear. That’s what family’s for right p>
Later that night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the events of the night replayed in my mind like a film reel stuck on repeat. Try as I might, I couldn’t shake the image of Kai and the beautiful woman emerging from the restaurant, looking like they belonged on the cover of a glossy magazine.
The tightness in my chest returned with a vengeance, and I found myself tossing and turning, unable to find a comfortable position. I couldn’t understand why I was reacting this way. It wasn’t as if I and Kai had ever been more than acquaintances.
He had always been kind to me as an Alpha should to his subject but there had never been any hint of romantic interest on his part and why should they be?
For one we had a few years between us and I was not his type. I was not even thinking in that direction – never did until tonight.
So why did seeing him with someone else feel like a punch to my gut? Like he’s been stolen from me? Jealous – that was the word. I was jealous that he was with another woman.
I think all these kindnesses were beginning to make me grow bold… because why on earth should I be jealous?
I tried to reason with myself, listing all the logical reasons why I shouldn’t care about Kai’s love life. He was older, more experienced, and clearly moving in social circles far removed from my own. We were practically from different worlds.
I was 18 for moon’s sake. Kai probably sees me as nothing more than his sister.
And yet p>
The memory of his brief glance in my direction, that fleeting moment of recognition, played a loop in my mind. Had I imagined the guilt in his eyes? Was I reading too much meaning into it?
I decided to think about Jake and his teasing, hoping it would take my mind off Kai but even as I entertained the fantasy, Kai’s face would intrude, bringing with it a fresh wave of confusion and longing.
Frustrated with my inability to control my thoughts, I buried my face in my pillow, willing sleep to come and save me from this emotional turmoil.
It wasn’t until the digital display finally ticked over to midnight that I felt my eyelids grow heavy. Still, the last thoughts I had in my mind before drifting off to sleep were of p>
Kai!