Chapter 110

Cara’s POV

Alaric walks me to the door, and then I usher the kids inside, feeling better when they are no longer out in the open. Then, Alaric looks at me, not like he expects anything from me, but more that he is worried to leave me on my own.

Is it the fear he saw in me that makes him want to stay?

“I’m not in any kind of hurry to get back,” he offers.

Lightly, I shake my head. “I’m not ready to do this.”

“Do what?” he asks. “Have a nice dinner between friends?”

“That’s not all you want from me and we both know it.”

“I want to be near you, Cara. Whatever that looks like. That’s what love is, wanting to be nearer the person you care about.”

He doesn’t have to tell me that. I know exactly what love is, and for a long time I suffered, putting my personal feelings on hold so that I could stay near Alaric. I thought for so long that he would come around and want to be the mate I knew could be. The one our mate bond told us was right for us.

He did not feel the same way then.

Now that he’s changed, I’m not sure I’m ready to allow myself to be that vulnerable again.

Especially with the kids watching. Ethan seems particularly sensitive to how Alaric makes me feel. I’m not sure that I want to present Alaric to them as a friend or as someone I am dating until I am fully convinced Alaric’s feelings for me are genuine, and that he’s not going to hurt me again.

“Goodnight, Alaric,” I tell him now.

He seems disappointed, but not surprised. “Good night, Cara.”

He continues to stay there as I slowly open the door, not once moving until it is fully closed behind me.

Alaric’s POV

Having walked with Cara, I can see now why Eamon was concerned. There is definitely something going on with Cara. He’s jumpy and frightened. When she thought she felt something behind us…

I didn’t feel what she felt, but I wasn’t sure that was enough to discount whatever it was. If the malice had been directed at her, not me, I might not have been attuned to it, even while doing my best effort to stretch out my senses.

I also suspect now that Eamon did not give me the full story.

Is Cara in some actual real danger?

I think about calling Eamon to try to shake the truth loose from him, but if he withheld things from me in our past conversation, I doubt he’d be more inclined to share them now.

At least, I can find comfort in the knowledge that Eamon trusts me with his sister, enough to encourage me to escort her home when she is in a frightened, vulnerable state like this.

Knowing how she is feeling, I’m hesitant to leave her door. Even with her safely inside, I feel as if I should patrol or something, just to be sure.

Maybe I will. Just once or twice. Not all night, though, in case she looks out the window and sees me. I do not want to frighten her further.

Likely, no one is after her. She could just need the illusion of safety to help her find calm strength. She is under a tremendous amount of pressure now that her secret is out.

Decided, I start my patrol around her house, keeping an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious. I stretch out my senses, feeling for anyone malicious or odd.

After two laps, I don’t see or sense anything out of the ordinary. Satisfied, I start my walk back toward the hotel, derailing only once to grab takeout.

Cara’s POV

As the night continues, I don’t feel any more strange feelings. Perhaps it is the comfort of home, but I finally can feel myself relaxing after being wound up for so long. Or it could be that my faking strength for the sake of the children has finally transitioned into real, actual strength.

When it gets to be nighttime, I take the kids up to their rooms, where after changing into their pajamas and brushing their teeth, settle into their beds for sleep. I tuck them in and read them a bedtime story one at a time, starting with Mia and then heading into Ethan’s room.

Ethan, on the cusp of sleep, asks me, “Do you like him, Mommy?”

“Who, honey?” I ask.

“Uncle Alaric…”

“Would it upset you if I did?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Should I be nicer to him?”

“That’s up to you,” I tell him, not wanting to invalidate his feelings. “Has he done anything to make you mad at him?”

“No…” Ethan says with a yawn. “But he wants to steal you away…”

Gently I brush my fingers through Ethan’s hair. “That’s never going to happen,” I tell him. “Me, you, and Mia are together for life. And that will never change…” Not even if we eventually add someone new to our trio family.

I don’t say that part aloud, unsure yet if that’s even something I want. Ethan wouldn’t hear it anyway, though, because with his eyes closed, he’s already asleep.

With the kids resting soundly, I head back downstairs. These are the only few minutes I have to myself all day. While I love my children deeply, and like my work, it’s nice to still have a few minutes every day to collect myself.

Perhaps I should meditate again? If I reach out to Lucy, she might reach back this time.

I’ve been suspicious that perhaps the uncomfortable feelings I’ve felt today haven’t been my own nerves making my imagination overactive. I might be wrong, but it could be that Lucy is still trying to protect me, even from her stasis.

I don’t know if that makes things better or worse. I’d love for Lucy to wake up soon. But that would mean that what’s stalking me is very real and very dangerous.

For the sake of my children, I’d rather the feelings just be some paranoia from lack of sleep or too much pressure.

Moving to the living room, I start to move the pillows around, making the space more comfortable for my meditation.

Yet, just before I can sit down, there’s a knock on the front door.

The clock on the wall reads 8. That’s not too late for visitors. It could be one of my brothers stopping by. There’s no reason for me to feel like every single one of the hairs on my arms just decided to rise on end.

The person knocks again.

It’s rude, if this is just a normal caller, to keep them waiting out there in the dark.

Gathering my courage, I step out of the living room and walk into the foyer.

“Hello?” I call through the door. “Who is it?”

There is no answer.

I pause, my hand on the lock.

If no one answers, then I should just turn around and forget it. Maybe I should call one of my brothers and have him come over.

I’m about to do just that when someone knocks on the door for a third time.

“Hello?” I call once more.

“Cara?” This time the response is instant. I recognize the voice but it takes a minute. It’s not one overly familiar to me. “I’m sorry, is it too late to visit?”

Oh. That’s Noel.

Unlocking the door, I pull it open, to be immediately greeted with the biggest bouquet of flowers I’ve ever seen. A vase is filled to the brim with lilies and daisies and sunflowers. Noel has to tilt his head to be seen around it.

I look to the left and the right, peering up and down the street to either side of them. He looks too.

“How many times did you knock?” I ask him.

“Just once,” Noel replies, confused.

Fear rises within me once again.