CHAPTER FOUR

Nova's POV

"What did you just say?"

Kieran's voice was so quiet that it somehow sounded more threatening than if he had shouted.

I kept my eyes on Ethan, refusing to look at Kieran again. My heart was pounding so hard that I was certain they could both hear it.

"The man standing there is the father of my baby," I repeated, hoping that saying it a second time would make the lie sound more convincing.

Ethan had finally reached us, but judging from the confusion on his face, he had no idea what I had just dragged him into.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked me, his gaze moving briefly between Kieran and me. "It took you so long that I came looking for you."

I swallowed and forced myself to act as though nothing was wrong. "I just needed some fresh air."

Kieran's eyes remained fixed on Ethan. There was something unsettling about the way he looked at him, as though he was trying to understand how the two of us had gone from strangers to whatever he believed we were now.

"What do you mean he's the father?" Kieran finally asked, turning his attention back to me. "Are you telling me this just to hurt me?"

I almost laughed.

"You don't have to believe me," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm not forcing you to."

"You expect me to believe that?" His gaze flickered toward Ethan again. "You were with him while we were still together?"

The accusation in his voice made something inside me tighten.

I didn't want to explain myself to him. He had lost that right the moment he chose to end our bond.

"I don't owe you an explanation."

Before he could respond, I turned toward Ethan. "Let's go back inside."

I took a step, but Ethan caught up beside me. He seemed to understand that I wanted to leave the conversation before it became even more complicated, so he didn't question me in front of Kieran.

Instead, he removed his suit jacket and placed it over my shoulders.

"You must be cold," he said quietly.

I looked up at him, momentarily caught off guard by the gesture. "I'm fine."

"I know. Put it on anyway."

I pulled the jacket closer around myself, and although it was a simple gesture, I could feel Kieran watching us.

Then his voice stopped me.

"I'm sorry, Nova." 

What? Did he just say he was sorry?

Kieran was still standing where we'd left him, his expression difficult to read. There was no anger in his voice this time. No accusation. Just those two words that I had never expected to hear from him.

My chest tightened.

For breaking our bond? For the way he had treated me? For leaving me? Or was he apologizing because he had just discovered I was supposedly carrying another man's child?

I couldn't bring myself to ask.

Ethan glanced at me, then at Kieran. I could tell from his expression that he was just as surprised as I was.

"Let's go," I whispered.

I turned away before Kieran could say anything else, and Ethan followed me back into the hall. We barely made it past the entrance before Ethan leaned closer to me.

"Are you out of your mind?"

I looked at him.

He kept his voice low enough that nobody around us could hear. "You just told Kieran that I'm the father of your baby without even warning me."

"It wasn't planned."

"Clearly." He stared at me in disbelief. "Do you have any idea what you've just done? That man looked like he wanted to tear my head off."

"I panicked."

"You could have said anything."

"I know."

"You could have said you didn't know who the father was."

"Ethan..."

"Or you could have walked away."

"I couldn't." I lowered my voice as I glanced toward the other side of the room. Kieran had returned inside, but his attention was still somewhere in our direction. "He was asking questions I couldn't answer. I didn't know what else to say."

Ethan rubbed his forehead and let out a frustrated breath. "So naturally, you decided to make me the father."

"It just came out."

"Yes, and now I'm the one who has to live with it."

Despite the situation, I almost smiled at his expression.

"I'm sorry."

He stared at me for a few seconds before shaking his head. "You really are going to get me into trouble."

"I know."

"And what exactly do you plan to do now?"

I hesitated.

Across the room, my eyes found Kieran again.

He was standing with Finn, but he wasn't listening to whatever Finn was saying. His hands were resting against his waist, his expression tense as he stared at the floor. A moment later, he dragged one hand through his hair and looked toward me again.

"My legs are beginning to hurt," I murmured, shifting my weight.

Ethan immediately glanced at me. "Then we're leaving soon. Give me a few minutes to finish speaking with the other Alphas."

I nodded.

---

Two Days Later

"This is going to become a long war between the two packs if this continues."

Ethan stood near the window of his office, his expression unusually serious. He had spent the past two days receiving reports from his warriors, and every report seemed worse than the one before it.

I sat quietly across from him, listening.

"You have to leave," he continued. "If Kieran's people find out you're here, they won't spare your life."

I stared at him.

"I've already told you I'm not leaving."

"Nova, this isn't about whether you're willing to leave anymore. It's about what happens if they come looking for you."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Ethan turned toward me. "Why are you making this so difficult?"

"Because I'm tired of running."

I stood from my chair and faced him. "I spent two months hiding in the pack hall because I was afraid someone would recognize me. I came here because I had nowhere else to go, and now you're telling me I should run again because Kieran might come after me?"

"I'm telling you to stay alive."

"And I'm telling you that I'm not leaving."

He stared at me in frustration.

I softened slightly when I saw the concern in his eyes. "Besides, I have you."

His expression changed.

"I trust you to protect me."

Ethan sighed and looked away for a moment. "You really have too much faith in me."

"I trust you more than I trust anyone else right now."

He didn't answer immediately.

Outside the office, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway, followed by the sound of someone calling his name.

Ethan's expression instantly became serious again.

"What now?" he muttered.

The door opened.

One of his warriors stepped inside, breathing heavily.

"Alpha, we have a problem."

Ethan straightened.

"What happened?"

The warrior hesitated before answering.

"They've crossed the eastern border."

My stomach dropped.

Ethan's eyes hardened.

"Who?"

The warrior looked between us.

"Ember Moon."