He replayed the kiss over and over in his mind as another violent wave rolled through his stomach. His body lurched forward, and he gripped the edge of the marble planter with white knuckles before retching again.
Nothing came out, only bitter saliva.
He hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday. Every waking moment had been spent watching over Eloise, making sure her breathing stayed steady and that the poison hadn’t spread again. There was nothing left in his stomach to throw up, yet his body kept trying anyway.
When the nausea finally eased, Kaden slid down the wall until he was sitting on the cold marble floor. He tipped his head back against it and stared blankly through the tall hallway window.
The rain had stopped.
Dark clouds were beginning to part, revealing patches of moonlight that spilled across the soaked gardens outside. Water dripped lazily from the branches while the scent of wet earth drifted through the cracked window.
He drew in a slow breath. Then another. Neither helped.
"What is wrong with me...?" he muttered hoarsely, dragging both hands through his damp hair.
His emotions were a complete mess. Deep down, he already knew the answer. He simply refused to accept it.
The mate bond. It was affecting him far more than he had ever imagined. He couldn’t even kiss Eloise anymore. This wasn’t the first time.
Before, there had only been hesitation. A strange discomfort he could brush aside and blame on exhaustion.
Tonight...
Tonight had been different. The moment their lips met, something inside him had revolted. His entire body had rejected it. Kaden slowly wiped the back of his hand across his mouth as though he could erase the lingering sensation.
A hollow laugh escaped him. It echoed through the empty corridor before dying just as quickly. "You are truly pathetic, Kaden," he murmured bitterly.
His eyes slipped shut. "Maybe..." His voice was barely above a whisper. "...maybe this is for the best."
The words tasted like defeat. "This bond was always a curse."
**********
Morning arrived quietly.
The storm had disappeared completely, leaving behind bright blue skies washed clean by the night’s rain. Golden sunlight filtered through glittering droplets still clinging to the leaves outside, making the gardens sparkle beneath the early morning light.
The Alpha Manor had returned to life.
Somewhere outside, the distant hum of a lawn mower rolled across the grounds while maids moved busily through the corridors, carrying trays, linens and fresh flowers. Soft conversations drifted through the open windows, replacing the oppressive silence that had settled over the estate the previous day.
Curled beneath the blankets, Yuki buried her face deeper into Killian’s pillow. It smelled exactly like him. Warm cedar, pine and a faint trace of expensive cologne.
Somehow, it made her wolf purr contentedly. She hadn’t slept this peacefully since arriving at Ravencourt. Time slipped by unnoticed.
It was already past nine when the soft scrape of curtain rings sliding across the rail stirred her awake. Bright sunlight spilled into the room.
She groaned dramatically before rolling onto her other side and burying her face beneath the blanket. "Close the curtains..." she mumbled sleepily.
Someone clicked their tongue. A deep, familiar voice answered instead. "Don’t you have school?" Yuki froze when she heard his voice. "You already missed yesterday."
Her sleepy brain caught up with reality. She recognised Killian’s voice. She blinked several times before slowly peeking over the blanket.
He stood before the large mirror, fastening the cufflinks of a perfectly tailored grey suit. His blonde hair had been styled neatly once again, every strand exactly where it belonged.
Yesterday’s relaxed man in a T-shirt and football shorts had completely vanished. The cold, composed CEO had returned.
For a moment, she wondered if everything that had happened last night had simply been a fever dream. "Do you always wake up this grumpy?" she asked, still rubbing sleep from her eyes.
Killian paused midway through spraying his cologne. "Grumpy?" he repeated, lifting one brow.
A quiet snort escaped him. "Get your lazy bum off my bed." He placed the bottle back onto the dresser before straightening his sleeves.
"And shower before you leave." His gaze flicked briefly towards the oversized shirt hanging off her shoulder. "I doubt you’d appreciate the rumours if the staff saw you wandering around wearing my clothes."
Yuki frowned as she reluctantly sat upright, stretching until her back cracked. "How did you even get clothes for me?"
Her eyes landed on the neatly folded outfit waiting on the armchair. There were trousers, a blouse and even underwear. Her face slowly changed. "...You didn’t go through my luggage, did you?"
The horrifying possibility made her shudder.
"I ordered them last night," Killian answered casually.
She blinked.
He ordered them?
Sliding off the bed, she picked up the clothes one piece at a time. Every single item fit her size exactly. She looked back at him suspiciously.
"How do you know my measurements?" Without missing a beat, Killian adjusted his watch.
"Let’s just say," he replied smoothly, "I have excellent instincts."
Yuki stared at him. "That sounds incredibly suspicious."
The corner of his mouth almost twitched. Almost. Then another thought struck her.
"My clothes from yesterday, where are they...?" She turned around. "Killian, what about..."
The room was already empty. He had disappeared without another word. She sighed dramatically.
"There he goes again..."
Shaking her head, she gathered the fresh clothes before heading towards the bathroom. Even his bathroom looked exactly like him. It had an elegant, minimalist style. Everything had its place.
White marble stretched from floor to ceiling, accented by black stone and brushed gold fixtures that caught the morning light. The shower enclosure was framed with clear glass, while deep navy towels sat perfectly folded on heated racks. Shelves of dark walnut wood held only a handful of expensive toiletries arranged with almost obsessive precision. Nothing was excessive, yet every detail quietly whispered wealth.
Even the décor wasn’t gold-coloured.
It was real gold. Subtle enough not to feel flashy, yet impossible to mistake for anything less.
Yuki stepped beneath the warm shower. The scent of his shampoo and body wash wrapped around her almost immediately. Cedar, pine and a hint of bergamot.
She secretly liked it. She would never admit that out loud. By the time she finished showering, blow-dried her hair and borrowed a little of his skincare, her wolf felt unusually content.
Getting dressed only made her roll her eyes. The outfit screamed Killian. Loose, tailored brown trousers paired with a champagne silk blouse that fit her surprisingly well. It was simple, elegant and corporate. Exactly his taste.
After one final glance around the room, she stepped outside. Several maids stopped dead in the corridor. Every pair of eyes landed on her.
Then slowly drifted towards the bedroom she’d just walked out of. Yuki pretended not to notice.
She simply walked past them with her chin held high and headed straight for the dining room.
*********
The grand doors opened, and the conversation stopped immediately. All three Ravencourt brothers sat around the long dining table.
Eloise was there too.
She still looked pale, wrapped in a light cardigan while Kieran patiently fed her breakfast one spoonful at a time.
The instant Yuki entered, every head turned towards her. Without warning, Eloise pushed herself up from her chair.
Ignoring Kieran’s attempt to stop her, she hurried across the room as quickly as her weakened body allowed.
Then...
She dropped to her knees. Tears spilled down her cheeks almost instantly. Yuki froze, stunned by the scene. "Eloise...?"
Before she could react, Eloise grabbed both of her hands tightly. "I’m so sorry," she sobbed, her shoulders shaking. "I’m sorry about yesterday. I never meant to hurt you."
The entire dining room fell into stunned silence. Eloise looked up at her through tear-filled eyes.
"And..." Her voice broke again. "...thank you."
Yuki frowned. "For agreeing to reject them." She tightened her grip around Yuki’s hands. "I’ll speak to my father and Alpha today."
Her lips trembled into a grateful smile despite the tears. "We’ll arrange the ceremony as soon as possible."
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