Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo did not come to see me in the night. After the woman\u2019s arrival.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I ended up sleeping, feeling a little disappointed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the morning, I hadn\u2019t meant to wander.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0e41\u0e25\u00a0<\/p>\n
EZ 55 voucherz\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d been heading toward the council chamber to tell Theo breakfast was getting cold \u2013 nothing more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But voices stopped me just around the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One sharp. One is soft. Too soft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s low growl carried through the door. \u201cYou should leave.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then came the woman\u2019s voice. smooth and venom-sweet. \u201cYou always did hate facing the truth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heartbeat thudded in my ears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A few seconds later, the door opened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A woman stepped out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tall, elegant, with shiny dark hair catching my gaze even though I didn\u2019t intend to look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She gives off the kind of confidence only danger wears well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She smelled faintly of roses and wine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our eyes met.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stopped right in front of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scan me up and down. Then smiled, curved slowly and knowing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must be the lucky stray,\u201d she murmured, still looking at me like I was beneath her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe, she\u2019s right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then brushed past me as though I were invisible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood frozen, staring after her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, something crashed the sound of glass shattering against the wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:25 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
My fingers tightened in my palm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t go in. Not yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
(64)D\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I just stood there, hearing Theo\u2019s ragged exhale and my own pulse hammering like it wanted out of my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For some reason, my wolf stirred restless, uneasy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I finally turned to leave, Maliya was waiting at the end of the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes flicked toward the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRough time for the Alpha?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to smile, but it didn\u2019t reach my eyes. \u201cSeems like it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t mind her,\u201d Maliya said quietly. \u201cElara\u2019s always been troubled. The kind that thinks she can still bite what she\u2019s already lost.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest ached in a way I couldn\u2019t explain. \u201cShe looked like someone used to winning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya looked behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we should leave, Kaia\u201d she muttered. \u201cThe Alpha is in a bad mood. I\u2019m afraid he won\u2019t like us here\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, right?\u201d I faked a smile. \u201cYou should go back first. I have something to take care of\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I moved through the pack house quietly, the scent of hot pie and honey thick in the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya had gone ahead to the kitchen, but I didn\u2019t go back yet. I wasn\u2019t ready to face everyone yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Afraid the woman would be at the breakfast table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the new member of the pack, I\u2019m mandated to eat with everyone in the pack dining hall for a few days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two omegas stood near the open doorway of the garden, their voices low but sharp enough for a wolf to overhear them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you hear the woman from Alpha Theo\u2019s past is back\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,right? I thought she left for good after\u2026.Well,you know\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently, she\u2019s not ready to fully give up yet\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their words hit harder than they should have.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My steps faltered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t move. I couldn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A laugh, small and cruel, followed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:25 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would she come back now of all time\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think it has something to do with Alpha Theo and that stray girl, Kaia?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe Kaia\u2019s arrival threatens her. She\u2019s here to remind everyone who\u2019s in charge\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stray girl must feel really out of place. It doesn\u2019t look like she belongs here\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
They chatted and walked away while I stood there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s this Elara? And what\u2019s going on with her and Theo?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood there for a long time, the weight of it pressing on my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For some reason, I felt a lump in my chest thinking of whatever is going on with Elara and Theo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She seems to have a deep relationship with him. The pack too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My wolf stirred uneasily, a low hum of emotion oozing from her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t listen to them,\u201d my wolf murmured.\u201dThey are wrong\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I didn\u2019t listen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest wells up with anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had no reason to feel so angry but I know I am very angry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had to let it all out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, I ran to the training grounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo brought me here to show me around one time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I head straight to the punching bag once I arrive there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The wolf in charge looked at me weirdly but I didn\u2019t mind. Didn\u2019t ask questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I begin punching the bag.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My first hit hurts. It seems my body forgot how to be a warrior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I continued beating the punching bag.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s smug face came into my mind as I punched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I continued punching and punching while my chest heaved with intense pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSlow down, Kaia. You\u2019ll get hurt\u201d My wolf, Tamara worries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:25 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
It feels good to hear her speak. My heart warmed up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I didn\u2019t stop, I shrugged and kept punching the bag.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My palms were raw from the training bags, but I kept striking anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harder. Faster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like I could punch the feelings out of my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I heard footsteps approaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t turn. I didn\u2019t need to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only one person walked like that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stopped a few feet behind me, silent at first, watching my movements.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo asked. \u201cKaia\u2026 can we talk?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t pause. I didn\u2019t even bother to look at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia I breathlessly asked \u201cWhy? Is Elara not available?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo must have blinked, taken aback.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia, that\u2019s not\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I groaned. \u201cGo talk to her. She\u2019s better company. Higher rank. Makes more sense, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice was clipped, cold but my hands were trembling slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hoped he didn\u2019t notice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, he wouldn\u2019t miss a chance to notice everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo stepped closer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia. Stop\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t commanding. He was pleading,\u00a0<\/p>\n
I finally turned, breathing hard, cheeks flushed from training and emotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you here, Theo? I\u2019m nothing to you.\u201d I clutched my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His jaw tightened. \u201cDon\u2019t say that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Z64)\u00a0<\/p>\n
7 55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:25 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
164\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d I snapped. \u201cIt\u2019s true. I\u2019m a stray. A guest. Someone you gave a room to because you pitied me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice cracked, and I hated that it did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He opened his mouth, but I cut him off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd don\u2019t pretend you care. Ten hours, Theo. Ten. And you didn\u2019t even check on me. Not once.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words hung between us, heavier than I expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo stared at me like I had just confessed something earth-shifting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia\u2026\u201d He stepped closer, softer now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wanted me to check on you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath hitched and I looked away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At anything but his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cForget it. Just\u2026 go back to Elara.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo exhaled sharply, like the words physically hit him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he said quietly. I\u2019m right where I want to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned away, grabbing my headscarf\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo stepped in front of me instinctively, blocking the path.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia, just wait. Let me explain.\u201d Theo said, staring at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lifted my chin, not letting any emotion slip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cExplain what? That your past came knocking and you opened the door?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He flinched, and for a moment something raw flickered in his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I didn\u2019t give him a chance to recover.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTheo, we don\u2019t owe each other anything. You don\u2019t have to report to me.\u201d I barked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My emotions were rising rapidly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo said. \u201cThat\u2019s not\u2026Kaia, you\u2019re twisting this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laughed once, not amused, just exhausted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I\u2019m accepting reality. Something you should try once in a while.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:25 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
He reached for my arm gently, fingers brushing my sleeve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes pleading. \u201cKaia\u2026 please.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I heard him say \u201cplease\u201d I froze for half a second. just half.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No Alpha talked that softly. No Alpha said please.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Which only made everything worse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped back, breaking his touch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t do that. Don\u2019t sound like you care. It\u2019s confusing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s breath caught.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cConfusing for who?\u201d he asked, almost quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat tightened, but my face didn\u2019t betray it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me,\u201d I said. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t want to be confused.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I brushed past him before he could block me again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He moved too, letting me go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was already walking away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice echoed across the training grounds, frustrated, helpless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t turn around. Didn\u2019t look back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I did, I\u2019m afraid I might have stayed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I couldn\u2019t afford that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
E55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 30 Chapter 30\u00a0 \u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0 Theo did not come to see me in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27275\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}