CHAPTER 118: CHAPTER 118 MIDNIGHT CONFESSION

Caroline’s POV

I woke up confused in the dark room. A small lamp glowed across the room, making shadows on walls. As my eyes got used to the light, I saw I was in Ryan’s office. Through the window, it was dark outside, night had come while I was asleep. The last thing I remembered was sitting at my desk that morning, fighting a strong sleepiness that made me pass out.

I moved a little and felt a warm hand on my ankle. I knew that touch before I even saw him. My feet were on his leg, and I could feel Rory waking up inside me at his touch. I rubbed my eyes, trying to see better in the dim light, and looked at him as he softly touched my feet.

"You’re awake, my love," Draven said,"How are you feeling?"

"Kind of strange," I admitted,"What time is it? I don’t remember coming here to lie down."

"It’s eleven at night," he said with a soft smile. "Rose made you some special tea to calm you down, and she put in lots of herbs. Said your wolf needed good rest." His fingers kept rubbing gently. "I found you asleep at your desk and brought you here to Ryan’s couch. Thought you wouldn’t want to wake up in my office."

"Definitely not." I pulled my feet from his lap and sat up, trying to stand, but my body felt very heavy.

"Easy now," he cautioned,."healing tea works strong, it takes time for your body to fully wake."

"Those flowers..." The memory came back, making my chest hurt.

"I’ve taken care of it," he said,"But I need to talk to you. Can we do that?"

I nodded slowly. "Alright. What do you want to talk about?" I couldn’t run forever. Since I’d stayed working at Thorne Enterprises, seeing him was bound to happen.

"First, I want you to eat," he said, handing me a box of Chinese food and chopsticks from the table.

"I want to wash my face first."

"Sure, use Ryan’s bathroom. Here’s your purse."

In the bathroom, I squinted when I turned on the light. My mirror showed how bad I looked, messy clothes, puffy eyes from crying, messy hair. I used the bathroom, put cold water on my face, brushed my teeth with my travel kit, and tried to fix my hair and clothes.

When I came back, the office lights were on, showing Draven sitting with his arms on his knees and his head in his hands. He looked very sad. I put my purse on a chair and sat by him, smelling his nice scent of cedarwood and musk.

Draven raised his head and looked into my eyes. He looked as bad as me, dark circles, red eyes, messy hair. He’d taken off his jacket and tie, rolled up his sleeves, and opened some buttons. He leaned back on the couch and gave me a sad smile that hurt my heart. Even looking so tired, he was still the most handsome man I’d ever seen.

"Better?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Then let’s eat and talk afterward."

We ate quietly together, and when we finished, he gave me a box of sweet bananas for dessert, which we shared. After cleaning up the empty boxes, he sat next to me, one knee on the couch as he turned to face me.

"Caroline," he began softly, "I know Howard and his daughter are hurting you. They’re making threats about more than your job or name." His jaw got tight. "So I made a deal with them through my lawyer. I offered everything, my land, my money, even control of the pack business, if they would leave you alone forever, but they said no."

"And their condition was for you to accept this mating ceremony," I said flatly.

"Yes," he admitted, sounding hurt. "I said yes because I couldn’t find another way, and I can’t risk your life. They threatened to kill you, Caroline. Your death would be my fault, and I," his voice shook, "I can’t lose you. Not like that. Not ever."

I felt tears coming. "Draven..."

"The thought of them hurting you..." His eyes turned violet for a moment, Alaric showing his anger. "I went to their house this morning. I took back those funeral flowers and told them if they hurt you, there will be no ceremony. No pup. Nothing. Blood for blood, by the old ways."

"They won’t stop," I whispered. "As long as I’m here, they’ll think I’m a threat."

"They will stop," he growled. "If they want to live and get what they want from me."

"I don’t know if I can stay here," I said, my voice shaking. "Watching you mate with her..."

"Caroline," he took my hands in his, "if you say so, I’ll destroy that whole family. My wolf hates the idea of being with her."

"You can’t do that," I said, pulling my hands away. "I know what pack duty means. That child, if she’s really carrying your pup, would be the next Alpha. You can’t ignore that duty."

I looked away, feeling my heart break again. "Alpha bloodlines are holy. The pup must come first."

"I know," he said sadly, rubbing his hands over his face. His duty as Alpha felt heavy between us.

"I’m going home," I said, standing and getting my purse. "And I think you should rest too. We both need to think clearly."

"Can I take you?"

"Better not. Ryan got a pack driver to help me. He should be waiting."

"He is.Can I at least walk you to the car?"

"Of course."

We left the office quietly and walked through the empty building to the garage where a car waited. When the driver opened the door, Draven suddenly pulled me close and kissed me hard. His kiss felt strong and wanting, our mouths meeting with need as our hearts beat together. His arms held my waist as mine went around his neck, my fingers in his hair.

Before letting go, he softly bit my lip, then put his head against mine with a deep breath. His eyes closed like he was trying to remember how it felt to hold me.

"My my love," he whispered.

I slowly left his arms and got in the car, my heart breaking as we drove away. Another night of crying waited for me, even after Rose’s healing tea. Nothing could fix this kind of hurt.