Chapter 3

Kael’s POV

The room was suffocating. My father’s words still echoed in my mind, sharp and cruel as a blade. “Finally, I will have a son who isn’t satisfied with being an ordinary Beta.” His disdain for me had always been clear, but this… This was a new low. My gaze fell on the girl before me, the so-called "breeder" he’d dragged into our home like a prized possession. She was trembling, her wide, frightened eyes fixed on the floor, too scared to meet my gaze. Her vulnerability twisted something deep inside me.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to calm down. “Hey,” I said softly, holding out my hand. “Come with me. I won’t hurt you. Trust me.”

She didn’t move at first. Her eyes flickered to my hand and then back to the floor, a silent war waging within her. The hesitation was palpable. I couldn’t blame her, after everything she must have been through, trust wouldn’t come easily.

“It’s okay,” I said, keeping my voice gentle. “I’m not like him. You are safe with me, trust me please”

Finally, she lifted her hand, trembling as her fingers brushed mine. The moment our hands connected, a strange sensation rippled through me, warm, electric, and entirely unexpected. I forced myself to ignore it, focusing instead on leading her down the hall.

“This is your room,” I said, pushing open the door to one of the guest rooms. It wasn’t much, but it was a far cry from whatever hellhole my father had plucked her from. “You can stay here. If you need anything, anything at all just let me know, okay?”

She nodded, still silent, her arms wrapped around herself like a shield. Her silence was unnerving. I wanted to hear her voice, to know more about her beyond the fear that clung to her like a second skin.

“What’s your name?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

For a moment, I thought she wouldn’t answer. Then, in the softest, sweetest voice I'd ever heard, she said, “Amara.”

“Amara.” The name rolled off her tongue like music, and I couldn’t stop myself from repeating it in my head. It suited her, delicate yet strong.

“That’s a beautiful name,” I said, offering her a small smile.

She didn’t smile back, but her eyes softened, just a fraction. Progress.

I noticed her hair, a tangled mess cascading over her shoulders. Without thinking, I stepped closer, reaching out to brush a lock behind her ear. Her breath hitched, and I froze, realizing too late how close we were. Her scent was warm and floral, it filled the space between us, and for a moment, all I could see was her.

The sharp trill of my phone shattered the moment. I jerked back, fumbling for the device in my pocket. The name on the screen made my stomach drop. “Trina.”

“Uhh, Amara,” I said, stepping back. “Settle in. I’ll check on you later.”

She nodded, retreating into herself once more. I hesitated, wanting to say something, anything to reassure her but the incessant ringing forced me to leave.

Once outside, I answered the call, my voice clipped. “Hello?”

“Hello, baby,” Trina’s overly sweet voice cooed on the other end.

I suppressed a groan. “Trina, what’s up?”

There was a beat of silence before she said, “That’s no way to speak to your fiancée, Kael.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Trina, I’m tired. Can you just get to the point?”

Her tone turned icy. “Fine. I was calling to tell you I’ll be coming over tomorrow to spend a few weeks with you.”

“No, Trina,” I started, but she cut me off.

“I already spoke to your father. He said it’s fine. So, I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Kael.”

The line went dead before I could argue. I stared at the phone, a mix of frustration and dread boiling in my chest. Trina wasn’t just entitled, she was manipulative, always finding ways to insert herself into my life.

I stormed to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. Tossing my phone onto the bed, I sank into the mattress, rubbing a hand over my face. “A week of problems ahead,” I muttered to myself.

Despite my irritation, my thoughts drifted back to Amara. Her wide, frightened eyes. The way her voice had sent shivers down my spine. I shouldn’t be thinking about her, not like this. She wasn’t just another girl, she was my father’s twisted obsession.

“No,” I said aloud, shaking my head. “I can’t go there. She’s off-limits.”

But no matter how hard I tried, her image lingered. Her name echoed in my mind, and the memory of her touch sent my heart racing all over again.

With a resigned sigh, I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would take me quickly. But as I drifted off, all I could see was her face, and for the first time in a long time, I felt something I couldn’t quite name. Something dangerous.