Never Mistake My Kindness For Weakness Novels & Stories

I understood the allusion perfectly. Then we both knew I was lost. That I was going to work for him anyway. ... Because I was the weakest. And weakness is unforgivable.

“You thought that made you strong? Or that it made us friends? No, it made you weak. Pathetic. A girl who couldn’t stand on her own two feet without someone else holding her up.” I kept my back straight, though every word hurt me more than I ever would let on. "Kindness is not a weakness, Alina. Don't listen to her. She lives because of your kindness, and she knows it. She's just too jealous and twisted to ever admit it. She hates the fact that she feels like she owes you something," my wolf murmured as I held back the wave of emotion that threatened to spill out. Sable leaned in closer, her voice dropping even lower.

"Survival *is* strength. Especially the way you did it—without losing your kindness, without becoming bitter or cruel. Do you know how rare that is?" I didn't know how to respond to that. All my life, I'd been told that omegas were lesser. That our gentleness was weakness, our desire to avoid conflict was cowardice, our preference for peace was naivety. "My mom told me something once," Aiden continued, his thumb stroking along my jaw. "She said the world will try to convince gentle people that they need to harden themselves to survive. But really, staying soft in a hard world—that's the real strength."

"Your mother leads by fear, Adrian. It’s effective, I suppose, if you want a house full of robots. But robots don't care if the house burns down as long as they aren't the ones holding the match. I’d rather have people who actually want to be here." Adrian took a shard from my hand, turning the sharp edge over in his fingers. "Fear is a reliable currency. Kindness is volatile. People take advantage of it. They see it as a crack in the armor." "Only if you’re weak," I countered. I stepped closer to him, brave enough now to look him in the eye without flinching. "I’m not being kind because I’m soft, Adrian. I’m being kind because I remember what it’s like to be the person holding the broken pi

“No kidding. I don't care how long you've known him. I think you're just judging him because of your little feud. I hope one day you'll see past that and know what a wonderful person he is.” I never judge any person basing on what people say but what they do. All of us have both strengths and weaknesses. We have to accept people for who they are and not what people think they are. “A wonderful person? How can you be that stupid? Can you not see that he's being too kind to you?” Did he just call me stupid? I wished I had a knife nearby, I'd stab the stupid son of a...gun. I couldn't insult his mother, a good friend of my mother's. Besides, she had nothing to do with this.

“There’s no karma. We live in a world without rules. The ruthless win.” He pauses, then adds more softly, “I’m not saying it’s wrong to be kind or good. The world needs kindness… just not at the cost of becoming someone’s weakness.” I chew on his words, slowly. They settle heavily in my mind “You’re a wise man,” I admit reluctantly, I can't help being honest. “I know.” “And a cocky one too.” “Tell me something I don’t know.” I smirk, but instead of engaging, I focus on my food. I chug down the last of it, letting the conversation die in the silence that follows.

He cried, his small hand tugging on his pants. He scoffed. "Why should I save her? I don't save people, I kill them! And I'm not kind little boy, I'm ruthless. Kindness is weakness!" He started to move but he just wouldn't let go of his trousers. "Kindness doesn't make you weak, it only means you're a good person. And that you have a big heart!" "I'm not a good person!" He snapped but he didn't seem scared at all. "Deep down, there is goodness in everyone, you just need to find it." How could a little boy know this much?

"But there is no point in helping such doomed creatures. They will never lead fulfilling lives with ailments such as that. You are just being a hopeful idiot." It takes me a while to realize that his remarks have two meanings. I say, "There is nothing wrong with being kind. Maybe you should try it sometime," out of anger before I can stop myself. He snips back, "And why would I do that?" "Kindness is weakness. Kindness is for the weak, so I suppose it makes sense why you practice it."

“Of course. I have to be the biggest dick in any conversation. It’s an unexplainably persistent compulsion I can’t seem to shake.” He was actually making fun of himself. For some reason, that charmed me. I could never stand people who took themselves too seriously. Nodding, I gifted him with a genuine smile. “Well, you fill the role excellently.” He shrugged, unoffended. “People often mistake kindness and compassion for weakness. I don’t want there to be any confusion with me.” I lifted my coffee pot and saluted him. “Then I’m here to assure you, you leave no room for doubt.”

“Act coldly and they'll hate you, but your softness will only make them mock you. At least if they hate you, they'll probably fear you, too. Sometimes showing your strength is better than pretending to be overly kind. Kindness in their world means weakness.” I considered her words and slowly nodded. “I get it,” I mumbled. “Just try to avoid Vera, and it should be all right.” She winked at me before rushing to the walk-in closet to bring my Jimmy Choo stilettos. “Easy for you to say,” I murmured. She snorted, handing me the shoes. “And don't forget to smile. You have a lovely smile, Catherine. Use it, and people will forgive your mistakes.”