Not just anyone, It was you.

Amara's POV

As the first light of dawn crept into the room, Caden stirred, his fevered breaths softening into something steadier. I stayed by his side, watching the tension slowly ease from his face. He looked so peaceful, so vulnerable. It was a side of him I rarely saw, and it tugged at something deep inside me.

I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead, my fingers lingering for a moment longer than they should have. My wolf purred softly in the back of my mind, her warmth washing over me.

He needs us, Amara. Just like we need him.

I pushed the thought aside, my heart too tangled with confusion to process it. Caden had always been a storm—a whirlwind of emotions he tried to keep hidden. But last night, his walls had cracked, letting me see the raw, unfiltered truth beneath.

“Amara?” His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

I blinked, startled. His eyes were open now, slightly glazed but far more focused than they had been hours ago.

“You’re awake,” I said softly, my heart skipping a beat. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got run over by a truck,” he murmured, a faint, wry smile tugging at his lips.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, the sound light and almost foreign after the heavy night we’d had. “Well, you did have a fever high enough to boil water. You’re lucky I checked on you.”

His smile faded slightly, replaced by something more serious. “You didn’t have to do that,” he said, his gaze locking onto mine. “You could’ve just… left me.”

I shook my head, my throat tightening. “I could never do that, Caden. You know that.”

His eyes softened, his usual guarded expression giving way to something warmer, something more vulnerable. “You’re always looking out for everyone,” he said quietly. “Even when no one deserves it.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling in my chest. “It’s not about who deserves it, Caden. It’s about the people I care about.”

For a moment, the room fell silent, the unspoken tension between us hanging in the air.

“Amara…” he began, his voice hesitant.

“Don’t,” I interrupted, my heart racing. “You don’t have to say anything right now. Just focus on getting better.”

He reached out suddenly, his hand closing over mine. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine, and my wolf stirred, her contentment radiating through me.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For staying. For… everything.”

I nodded, unable to find the right words to respond.

As the sunlight continued to filter into the room, I realized that things between us had shifted. His confession from the night before lingered in the back of my mind, a constant reminder that there was more to our connection than either of us had been willing to admit.

And as I sat there, his hand still wrapped around mine, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was ready to face whatever came next.

---

The days that followed were a strange blur of tension and unspoken words. Caden had recovered quickly, his usual self-assured demeanor slipping back into place as if nothing had happened. But I couldn’t forget.

I couldn’t forget the rawness in his voice, the weight of his confession, or the way he’d looked at me as if I was the only thing tethering him to the world.

And I couldn’t forget how my wolf had purred at his touch, how every fiber of my being had yearned to stay by his side.

It was late afternoon when the house grew quiet again, the triplets busy with training or school, leaving me alone in the living room. I was curled up on the couch, a book in my lap, though I hadn’t turned a page in over twenty minutes. My thoughts were consumed by Caden, by the subtle shifts in the way he acted around me lately—more careful, more watchful.

A soft knock at the doorway pulled me from my reverie. I glanced up and found him standing there, his hand braced against the frame, his expression unreadable.

“Hey,” he said, his voice softer than usual.

“Hey,” I replied, sitting up straighter. “Feeling better?”

He nodded, stepping into the room. “Yeah. Thanks to you.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me, Caden,” I said, forcing a small smile. “It’s what anyone would’ve done.”

He shook his head, his eyes darkening. “No, Amara. Not just anyone. It was you.”

The intensity in his voice sent my pulse racing. He walked closer, stopping a few feet away from me, his hands shoved into his pockets like he was holding himself back.

“Why do you do that?” he asked suddenly, his gaze locking onto mine.

“Do what?”

“Downplay everything you do. Everything you are.”

His words hit me like a jolt, and I looked away, unsure how to respond.

“Caden, I don’t—”

“Stop,” he said, cutting me off. “I need to say this, Amara. I need you to hear me.”

I swallowed hard, my hands gripping the edge of the couch as I forced myself to meet his gaze.

“I’ve spent so long trying to ignore what I feel for you,” he admitted, his voice low and raw. “Trying to convince myself that I could just… bury it. That it was better for both of us if I stayed away. But I can’t anymore.”

My breath hitched, my wolf practically howling in my mind, urging me to say something. But I was frozen, caught in the storm of his confession.

“You’re in my head, Amara,” he continued, stepping closer until he was standing right in front of me. “Every moment of every day, you’re there. And it’s driving me insane, not knowing if you feel the same way.”

My heart pounded in my chest, my hands trembling as I stared up at him. His vulnerability, his raw honesty, was like a wave crashing over me, and I wasn’t sure I could withstand it.

“I—” I started, but the words caught in my throat.

He knelt in front of me, his hands reaching out to take mine. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through me, and I couldn’t look away from the intensity in his eyes.

“I’m not asking for anything,” he said softly, his voice trembling. “I just need to know. Do you feel it too? This pull between us?”

My wolf howled in my mind, her answer clear even if mine wasn’t. Tears pricked at my eyes as I finally found my voice.

“Yes,” I whispered, the word barely audible. “I feel it too.”

The relief that washed over his face was palpable, his shoulders sagging slightly as if a weight had been lifted. He cupped my face gently, his thumbs brushing away the tears that spilled over.

“I’m sorry it took me so long,” he murmured, his forehead pressing against mine. “I’m sorry for everything.”

I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch, my wolf purring in contentment. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “You’re here now.”

“Caden!”

The sharp, thunderous voice shattered the fragile bubble around us, making me flinch. My heart lurched as I turned to the doorway and saw Ryder standing there, his shoulders stiff, his fists clenched at his sides. His piercing gaze was locked on Caden, but it was the raw betrayal in his eyes that made my breath hitch.

His jaw was tight, his chest rising and falling with barely controlled anger. But it wasn’t just fury—it was something deeper. Hurt.