Matilda's POV
A dull ache throbbed in my head as I slowly regained consciousness. My body felt heavy, weak, as if I had been drained of all my strength.
The air around me was different cold, unfamiliar. The scent of damp stone and burning wood filled my nose, but beneath it was something else.
A scent I hated.
Kade.
Panic surged through me as I blinked, my vision adjusting to the dimly lit room. I was lying on a bed, soft furs beneath me, but I felt no comfort only dread.
Then I heard his voice.
"I was beginning to think you'd never wake up."
I turned my head sharply.
Kade.
He sat beside the bed, his sharp eyes watching me with an unsettling intensity. But unlike before, his expression wasn't cruel. It was. soft.
"I'm glad you're awake, Matilda." His voice was calm, almost gentle.
I flinched as he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. I wanted to move away, but my body was still sluggish.
"Don't be afraid," he said smoothly. "I won't hurt you."
I swallowed hard. "P-Please," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "Let me go."
He sighed, shaking his head. "I can't do that."
Tears burned my eyes. "Marco—he—he'll come for me."
"I know," Kade said simply, as if he wasn't concerned at all. "But until then, I want you to understand something."
His fingers traced over my wrist, lingering there. "I've wanted you from the moment I saw you," he murmured. "I knew you weren't mine, that the bond didn't exist between us. But I loved you anyway."
I stiffened.
"Fate was cruel," he continued, his gaze darkening. "It gave you to him. But now… things have changed."
I shook my head, choking on my fear. "No. Nothing has changed."
A slow smirk curled his lips. "Hasn't it?"
His eyes dropped to my stomach. My hands flew there instinctively, protectively.
"I heard the whispers," he said softly. "The great Lycan King's mate is pregnant." He tilted his head. "Do you know what that means, Matilda?"
I stayed silent, my heart hammering.
"It means," he continued, "that you were truly meant to be his. Only mates can conceive."
His fingers curled into a fist. For the first time, I saw anger flash across his face—anger at the truth he couldn't change.
But then it was gone, replaced with something else.
"Still," he sighed, "I'm happy about it."
I stiffened.
His smile was almost fond. "If you were not already carrying his child, I would have made you mine. But now, there's no need to worry about that, is there?"
A shudder ran through me.
His meaning was clear. He didn't care that the baby was Marco's.
I gripped the sheets, my voice shaking. "Kade, please. Don't do this."
He leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. "I won't force you, Matilda. But you will see I can take care of you. Of the child. We can be happy."
Tears slipped down my cheeks. "No," I whispered. "I don't belong to you."
His smile faded.
For the first time, a flicker of frustration crossed his face. His hand tightened briefly around my wrist before he let go.
"You will," he said, standing. "In time."
I watched helplessly as he turned away, walking toward the door.
"I suggest you rest," he said without looking back. "It'll be easier that way."
The door shut behind him with a heavy thud.
I gasped, finally able to breathe, clutching my stomach as silent sobs wracked my body.
Marco… please, find me.
I didn't know how long I lay there, curled into myself, fear wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket. My hands trembled as they rested on my stomach, my mind spinning with everything Kade had said.
He loved me? No. That wasn't love. It was obsession.
He didn't care that Marco was my mate. He didn't care that I could never love him. He was happy that I was pregnant because it meant he wouldn't have to force himself on me—he already had the one thing he wanted.
Control.
A shiver ran down my spine.
I had to get out of here.
Forcing myself to sit up, I took in my surroundings. The room was small, the walls made of stone. A fireplace crackled in the corner, casting flickering shadows across the space. There was only one door—locked, no doubt and a small window too high for me to reach.
My heart pounded. Think, Matilda. Think.
The only way out of here was through him.
I clenched my fists. I couldn't just sit here and wait for Marco to find me. What if he never did? What if Kade had taken me far enough that no one could track me?
No. I refused to believe that. Marco would come.
But I wasn't going to sit back and do nothing.
Taking a deep breath, I stood, my legs shaking slightly. I forced myself to move to the door, pressing my ear against it.
Silence.
But that didn't mean no one was there.
I had to be smart. I had to be careful.
For my sake.
For my baby's.
I swallowed hard, determination settling deep in my bones.
The door creaked open, and I tensed.
Kade stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm soup filled the air, but my stomach twisted with unease.
"I brought you something to eat," he said softly, placing the tray on the small table beside the bed. "You need to keep your strength up… for the baby."
I looked away, refusing to acknowledge him.
He sighed. "Matilda, please. You haven't eaten since you woke up."
I clenched my fists. "I'm not hungry."
Kade sat on the edge of the bed, too close for comfort. "I know you don't trust me," he murmured, his voice unusually gentle. "But you need to eat. At least for the child."
My heart pounded as I finally turned to look at him. His expression was sincere, almost desperate. But I knew better than to trust his kindness.
A thought struck me, sharp and sudden.
"What if it's poisoned?" I whispered, my voice cold.
Kade's eyes widened slightly, as if the accusation had genuinely shocked him. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the spoon, scooped up some soup, and brought it to his lips.
He swallowed.
"I would never do that to you, Matilda," he said firmly. "I may not be your mate, but I love you. And I would never harm our child."
Our child.
The way he said it made my skin crawl.
That baby wasn't his. It was Marco's.
I stared at him, searching for any sign of deceit, but he simply placed the spoon back in the bowl and pushed the tray toward me.
"Please," he murmured. "Eat."
I hesitated.