Chapter 11: The Aftermath

We didn't stay for the cake cutting. Honestly, watching Liam and Chloe feed each other frosting would have made me vomit all over my expensive dress.

Killian swept me out of the Grand Hall as effortlessly as he had brought me in. The valet brought his car around—a sleek, matte black beast that roared like a predator in the quiet night.

As soon as the car door closed, shutting out the noise and the prying eyes, I slumped back against the leather seat.

"Tired?" Killian asked, glancing at me as he steered the car onto the main road leading back to the Forbidden Wing.

"Exhausted," I admitted, closing my eyes. "My adrenaline crashed. Now I just feel... drained."

"It is to be expected," Killian said, his voice low and rumbling. "You used a lot of energy tonight. And the pup takes its share."

I rested my hand on my stomach. It was still flat, but I could feel the strange, humming warmth inside. It was hungrier now.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit me. The car turned a corner, and my stomach lurched violently.

"Stop," I gasped, sitting up straight. "Killian, stop the car."

He didn't ask why. He didn't hesitate. He slammed on the brakes and pulled over onto the grassy shoulder of the road instantly.

Before I could even fumble with the door handle, he was there. He yanked my door open, unbuckled my seatbelt, and helped me lean out.

I dry heaved onto the grass, my body shaking. Nothing came up—I hadn't eaten since the soup—but the nausea was blinding.

A large, warm hand rubbed my back in slow, soothing circles. With his other hand, he held my hair back, keeping the long strands away from my face.

"Breathe, Elena," he murmured. "Deep breaths. I've got you."

It lasted for a few minutes, but it felt like hours. When the spasms finally stopped, I leaned back against the seat, weak and trembling.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, wiping my mouth with a tissue he handed me. "That was... unglamorous."

Killian chuckled softly. "You think I care about glamour? I've seen men gutted on battlefields. A little morning sickness won't scare me away."

He reached into the backseat and pulled out a bottle of water. He cracked the seal and handed it to me.

"Rinse and drink. You're dehydrated."

I did as he said, the cool water soothing my burning throat.

"Is it always going to be like this?" I asked, looking up at him. The moonlight cast shadows on his sharp features, softening the scar on his face.

"The first trimester is the hardest," he said, brushing a stray tear from my cheek with his thumb. "Especially with a Royal pup. It demands power. If you are weak, it will drain you dry."

"Great," I muttered. "So I'm being eaten from the inside out."

"No," Killian said firmly. He leaned in, his forehead resting against mine. "Because I will feed you. I will give you my strength. You will not wither, Elena. I won't let you."

His scent—cedar, rain, and raw power—enveloped me. Strange as it sounded, I felt the nausea recede, replaced by that calming warmth again. Being close to him... it really did help.

He lifted me up then, not letting me walk back to the passenger seat. He carried me around the car and settled me into his lap in the driver's seat.

"Killian, we can't drive like this," I protested weakly, though I snuggled closer into his chest.

"We aren't driving yet," he said. "We're waiting until your color comes back."

We sat there in the silence of the forest for a long time. My head rested on his shoulder, his arms wrapped securely around me.

"Why do you hate them so much?" I asked quietly, breaking the silence. "Liam. My father. The pack."

Killian stiffened slightly, but he didn't push me away.

"Because they are sheep pretending to be wolves," he said, his voice laced with old bitterness. "They value politics over power. Image over loyalty. They exiled me because I was too strong, too uncontrollable. They feared I would take the Alpha title by force."

He looked down at me, his blue eyes intense.

"I never wanted the title, Elena. I just wanted to be left alone."

"And now?" I asked.

His grip tightened on me.

"Now," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "Now I have something to protect. And if they come for us... I will show them why they were right to fear me."

My heart skipped a beat.

I closed my eyes, listening to the steady, powerful beat of his heart.

Us. He said us.

For a girl who had been rejected by everyone she ever loved, that single word was the most dangerous thing of all.

It made me want to trust him.