Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Kaia\u2013.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rushed back to my room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shut the door to my room and exhaled shakily, finally letting my shoulders drop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heartbeat was still annoyingly fast \u2013 not from the training, but from him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A soft knock sounded a few seconds later.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I groaned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf that\u2019s Theo, I swear-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hear Maliya say. \u201cRelax, it\u2019s me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I opened the door, and Maliya slipped inside with her usual warm smile, carrying a tray with tea and those little honey pastries she always brings from the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her smiling face almost calmed me down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya commented. \u201cYou look like your soul stepped out of your body. Twice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I dropped onto the bed face-first. \u201cThanks for reminding me I look like shit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey. That\u2019s not what I meant\u275e Maliya said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya sat beside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t have to say it. I know I look like shit right now\u201d I muttered, groaning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My body hurts a little.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya asked \u201cWanna talk or wanna pretend everything\u2019s fine until it explodes?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaliya\u2026 I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m doing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya looked at me with a weird face.\u201dThat\u2019s new. You usually pretend you know exactly what you\u2019re doing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I flipped over, my hair a mess, and my face looked tired.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t even come check on me yesterday. Ten hours. Ten. After everything that happened. That ceremony, that woman showing up. Nothing. Not a text. Not a knock. Nothing.\u201d I vented out,almost yelling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya\u2019s expression shifted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:25 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not pity, understanding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya stuttered. \u201cAbout that\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hesitated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slowly sat up. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya sighed. \u201cAlpha Theo did come. Last night.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cWhat? No, he didn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did. I saw him. He came to your hallway around midnight\u201d Maliya insisted. \u201cI ram into him when I was returning the tray. I told him you fell asleep already\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe stood there for a long time. It looked like he didn\u2019t know whether to knock or break the door down. After I told him you were resting\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach dipped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya continued gently. \u201cHe was pacing. Running his hand through his hair like a crazy person. I think he wanted to talk to you but\u2026 something held him back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest tightened. Irritation, confusion, and that stupid spark of hope all mixing together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t he just knock?\u201d I asked, stupidly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya answered. \u201cMaybe because I told him, you were sleeping. He didn\u2019t want to disturb your rest perhaps.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe could have still come to see me. He always does that\u201d I muttered,feeling offended.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya then replied softer \u201cOr maybe he didn\u2019t know what to say yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rubbed my forehead, overwhelmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026This is too much. Everything\u2019s too much. I shouldn\u2019t even care. I\u2019m just someone he took pity on. I\u2019m not anything.\u201d I say\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya gave me a look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re more than you think. And he obviously cares more than he admits.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaliya\u2026 I\u2019m scared. Every time I start to trust someone, it goes wrong. I don\u2019t know if I can survive that again.\u201d I say softly,my voice almost breaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya took my hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen let him prove it. Or walk away before he does.\u201d Maliya suggested.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tue,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
A small smile appeared on her face as she nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust don\u2019t lie to yourself in the process.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at the wall. My heart is messy with different thoughts, and my mind is even messier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And for the first time since I left my old pack, I didn\u2019t know which choice hurt less.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Theo\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I clenched my jaw until it hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Walking down the hallway my mind is muddled up with the thoughts of Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hates me. She won\u2019t even talk to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped into the hallway, needing air, space. something to keep me from breaking something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when I noticed the light in Kaia\u2019s room was still on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And the pull. Gods, that pull-dragged me straight to it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Through the half-open door, I saw her by the window, hair spilling down her back, she looked unreal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a heartbeat, I just watched her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sat by the window again, knees drawn up slightly, staring at the courtyard below.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood near the doorway at first, unsure if getting closer would push her away or pull her back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tapped lightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door opened a crack. She looked pale, thoughtful, as if her thoughts had carried her miles away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re still awake,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCouldn\u2019t sleep.\u201d Her voice was soft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated, then. \u201cCan I come in?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A moment. Then she nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been avoiding me,\u201d I said quietly when I stepped into her room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My fingers tightened. \u201cI haven\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you have.\u201d My voice was low, steady. \u201cI notice things, Kaia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She exhaled sharply, almost a laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:25 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s there to avoid? I\u2019m just a stray you helped. That\u2019s all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That hit deeper than she knew.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped closer. \u201cYou\u2019re not just anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour pack thinks otherwise.\u201d she retorts\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t decide what I think.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia swallowed hard, eyes dropping to her hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not fair to you, Theo. They\u2019re questioning you because of me. You are in a difficult position because of me. I don\u2019t want to be the reason your leadership gets challenged.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heartbeat kicked up. \u201cKaia, you\u2019re not-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she cut me off. \u201cAnd then there\u2019s Elara.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence. Heavy, thick.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo inhaled sharply. \u201cSo that\u2019s what this is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw her,\u201d Kaia whispered. \u201cIn your hallway. Looking like she belonged here. Like I was the intruder.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She chuckled a little. \u201cMaybe, it\u2019s true.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I clenched my fists at my sides. \u201cElara doesn\u2019t mean anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia lifted her eyes. fragile, uncertain, hurting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t expect me to believe that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped closer, slower this time, until I stood right before her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care what she wants. I care about you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her breath hitched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not your anything, Theo,\u201d she said, voice trembling. \u201cI don\u2019t even know why you\u2019re explaining your actions to me\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou deserve to know what\u2019s happening. Especially when it interrupts a very special day in your life.\u201d I said. \u201cKaia. You don\u2019t have to worry about Elara, I won\u2019t let her be a pain in your throat\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs if\u2026\u201d Kais looked at me and stopped midway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I watched her rise from the bed, blowing her face as if needing to breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:25 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going outside,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease\u2026 I need a minute.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
64)\u00a0<\/p>\n
E55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTheo, I\u2019m not avoiding nor am I mad at you. There is no reason for me to be\u201d She looked at me. \u201cSo, let\u2019s not talk about this\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
And she slipped past me, leaving only the faint scent of hers behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared after her, jaw tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not losing her too,\u201d I muttered to Stash. \u201cNot again. Not to fear. Not to the damn council\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\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 31 Chapter 31\u00a0 \u2013Kaia\u2013.\u00a0 I rushed back to my room.\u00a0 :\u00a0 I shut […]<\/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-27276","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\/27276","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=27276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27276\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}