BLAIR’S POV
It felt like the sitting room was suddenly shrinking and then it began to spin. The furniture, the TV and even my mother blurred into nothing as I stared at him. That face. No. No. No. This could not be happening. I tried to swallow but it felt harder than anything. I couldn’t even breathe properly and I was sure everyone could hear my heart beating so loudly. Why was it him? I pinched myself, desperate to wake up from my dream. I must still be sleeping because this could not be my reality. The pain I felt in my hand after I pinched myself made me realize that this was real. I was here, with my mother and the boy I lost my virginity to. Last night, he had kissed me, and we had sex. And now, he was standing there, about to be introduced as my new step-brother. My lips opened to talk but no sounds came out. I looked like a fool, my mouth opening and closing out of shock. Immediately, I looked away, biting down on the insides of my lips. There was no way this was happening to me. Oh, my Goddess, I thought, taking a step back. What have I done? What kind of chaos have I brought into my life? “Kade, this is Blair, my daughter.” My mom’s voice cut through my thoughts. She smiled, completely oblivious to the horror I was feeling inside. “Blair, this is Kade, Robert’s son.” I couldn’t breathe and her introduction was making everything worse. I had slept with my stepbrother! I lost my virginity to him. It was better to die than for me to keep standing here. Kade took a step forward and I slowly looked up at him, his expression unreadable as he extended a hand toward me. “It’s nice to meet you, Blair.” Nice to meet me? Was he kidding? My fingers twitched as I hesitantly placed my hand in his, and the second our skin touched, the memories I couldn’t recall came flashing back. I suddenly remembered his hands on my body last night. I remembered his lips on mine and the way he made me feel things I’d never felt before. I gasped, withdrawing my hand instantly like he had burned me with a hot iron. I barely registered myself mumbling a response. I wasn’t even sure if words had actually left my mouth because my ears were ringing too loudly. Meanwhile, Kade looked completely unaffected. Calm. Like he didn’t even recognize me. Like we hadn’t just slept together. What the hell was going on? My head snapped toward my mom as she smiled. “We have something to share with you both.” Oh Goddess. Let it be that he was not moving in with us anymore. Let it be that I didn’t have to see him again. “Robert and I decided that I should officially move to his pack,” she announced. “I know it’s sudden, but it’s best for us.” My stomach dropped and goosebumps immediately masked my skin. She was moving? Would they leave with him? I could only blink, and when I finally found my voice, I decided to ask. “When are you leaving?” I asked, my voice coming out smaller than I intended. “Tomorrow.” Tomorrow?! My heart skipped. She said it so casually, like she wasn’t about to pack up and possibly leave me alone with the stepbrother I’d just unknowingly slept with. “You and Kade will join us during breaks,” she added. That didn’t make me feel any better. Robert nodded in agreement. “I’m sure the arrangement is not so inconvenient, is it?” I forced myself to shake my head, but inside, I was screaming. I was fucked. As if the situation couldn’t get worse, my mom turned to me with an almost pleading look. “Blair, honey, I was thinking… maybe you and Kade could be roommates for a while. He’s still having issues with accommodations, and it might take some time to get it sorted.” My mouth fell open. Roommates? With Kade? The same guy I was just naked with last night? Before I could speak, Kade shifted beside me, clearing his throat. “Actually, I can stay here. I have a car, and this place isn’t so far from school.” Yes. Perfect. Do that, I thought. Stay away from me. I couldn’t possibly be roommates with him. But his father waved a dismissive hand. “No. Staying with Blair is better. She can help you adjust.” He said. No, please. Kade’s jaw ticked. “I can adjust just fine on my own. I don’t need to move in with her.” “It’s not up for debate,” Robert snapped and the room fell silent. It was obvious they had talked about him moving in with me and that was why he was in a bad mood last night. Oh, he had even told me about it. I was the step-sister he was supposed to babysit. How couldn’t I have pieced together the details? How could I have not suspected? “Blair, just accommodate him for at least a month until we get everything settled.” Robert said, snapping me out of my thoughts. I stared at him, wondering what to say. Could I say no? What would be my reason? My mother would be unhappy and it would look like I didn’t want them together. But then, there was Kade. This was a hard decision to make. One month. That’s all it would take. But could I do it? Could I really live with my stepbrother, the guy I’d slept with, the guy I found so utterly irresistible?Blair’s POVImmediately the car stopped moving, my heart jumped. I glanced at Kade with wide eyes. Even though his gaze was fixed outside, he was still holding my hand tight.King Jerald threw a glance at us before stepping out of the vehicle. One of his men came around and pulled the back door open. “Out!” He barked.Kade finally looked at me. He gave me a reassuring nod before stepping out first. I followed weakly because my legs were shaking from the long ride. We were surrounded immediately by armed men who carried weapons and were ready to fire. We were in King Carlton’s estate. I counted at least a dozen men, and those were the ones I could see. Even if we tried to escape, it would be impossible to get out unscathed."Move," one barked, pushing me forward.Kade caught my hand as they shoved us toward the estate, glaring in warning at the man who had pushed me. He kept glancing at me and I could see how much he was trying to keep his rage together.He looked helpless this momen
Blair’s POVI zipped up a small bag and looked around the room one more time. For a moment, I stood still, just taking everything around me in. Even though we had only spent a few days here, the cabin felt like home in a way I hadn’t expected. I placed a hand on my belly, gently staring down at it. Everything still felt surreal. But it was now time to go back home. The thought filled me with a mix of hope and anxiety.Kade’s arms suddenly slid around my waist and I leaned into him as he rested his chin on my shoulder.“They’ll be here soon,” he murmured quietly.I nodded slowly. “I can’t believe this is really happening. I mean… we’re actually going back.”His grip around me tightened slightly. “Yeah. It’s time we go back home.”I turned to face him, my hands settling on his chest. “I just… I’m nervous. What if they haven’t really changed their mind? What if we’re walking into another fight?”Kade brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes staring into mine. “Then we’ll fight.
Blair’s POV I stared at the test strip in my hand and my fingers trembled at the sight of the clear double lines that had appeared. “I’m pregnant,” I whispered to myself, still trying to comprehend it all. A quiet gasp escaped my lips as I clutched my lower stomach, like I could suddenly feel something there. The feeling was both overwhelming and somehow… terrifying. My heart was beating so loudly. I didn’t move. I just stood there, frozen with the stick still in my shaking hand. My head felt light and full at the same time. The result was really positive. Oh goddess. My legs almost gave way and I sat on the edge of the tub, staring blankly at the test. My mind was racing, spinning in every direction. A baby? Why now? I looked up. A part of me wanted to cry, another wanted to laugh, and a third, maybe the loudest of all, just wanted to run to my mom. How was she going to take the news? Her baby was going to have a baby? I pressed my hand on my forehead, trying to make se
Blair’s POVI stared at the test strip in my hand and my fingers trembled at the sight of the clear double lines that had appeared.“I’m pregnant,” I whispered to myself, still trying to comprehend it all.A quiet gasp escaped my lips as I clutched my lower stomach, like I could suddenly feel something there. The feeling was both overwhelming and somehow… terrifying. My heart was beating so loudly. I didn’t move. I just stood there, frozen with the stick still in my shaking hand. My head felt light and full at the same time.The result was really positive.Oh goddess.My legs almost gave way and I sat on the edge of the tub, staring blankly at the test. My mind was racing, spinning in every direction. A baby? Why now?I looked up. A part of me wanted to cry, another wanted to laugh, and a third, maybe the loudest of all, just wanted to run to my mom.How was she going to take the news? Her baby was going to have a baby?I pressed my hand on my forehead, trying to make sense out of e
Kade’s POVBlair was still asleep when I came in with breakfast, curled under the covers like she was trying to disappear into them. I gently set the tray on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to wake her too abruptly.Leaning down, I brushed my lips against the curve of her back. “Blair,” I whispered, keeping my voice low. “Time to wake up, baby.”She stirred slowly, her brows knitting even before her eyes opened. When she did blink up at me, something felt off immediately. Her skin looked pale and her lips were dry. I reached for her cheek without thinking, pressing my palm against her forehead. Her skin was a little too warm. “Are you okay?” I asked, searching her eyes. “You don’t look well.”She sat up a little but winced and held her stomach. “I… I think I feel sick,” she admitted in a small voice.My chest tightened. “Shit. Is it the food? The water? Maybe your body’s reacting to the weather here or—”“No, no, don’t panic,” she cut in, managing a faint s
Third Person POV“How is he?” King Carlton asked as the doctor stepped out of the private recovery room, the heavy door clicking shut behind him.The doctor’s face was drawn with seriousness. “The sepsis nearly killed him,” he informed King Carlton, wiping his hands on a cloth. “But he’ll recover. I’ll make sure of it.”Carlton gave a stiff nod, his hands clasped behind his back. “Good. Do whatever it takes, Doc. I don’t care how expensive the treatment is or how long it takes. Just get my son back on his feet.”The doctor nodded solemnly. “Yes, Your Majesty.”As he turned to leave, his steps slowed. He clearly had something more to say. He hesitated before glancing over his shoulder.“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” he said carefully. “But… Why tell the world that your son is dead? He’s very much alive.”Carlton’s face shifted in an instant. Whatever humanity had been there just moments before disappeared. His gaze turned cold and his jaw tightened.“That,” he said slowly, “is none of you