23 Chapter 23 RUINED EVERYTHING
I had to remind him of ours. Of what we could have built. Of what we could still build.
Celeste had come back for me. She’d offered forgiveness, love, a second chance. And I’d practically rejected her. Not just in words but in every choice I made tonight.
I had let her cry herself to sleep while I chased after a woman who wanted nothing to do with me-the woman I’d used to hurt her in the first place.
When his hand slid beneath my robe, the embers of my love for him that I thought Pd already buried seemed to flare dangerously, aching to-
With an annoyed huff, I tied my robe, and when the towel wrapped around my head fell to the floor, releasing my damp hair around my shoulders, I didn’t bother to pick it up.
The shower had washed away the sweat, but not the frustration. Lavender ointment tingled on my bruised knuckles as I towel-dried my hair, the scent doing little to calm my racing thoughts.
His guilty silence was answer enough.
“Get out, Kieran,” I repeated, firmer. “Some nightmares aren’t worth reliving.”
I could still feel the hunger gnawing at my gut, demanding more. That scared me more than anything.
I stepped forward, tension buzzing beneath my skin. “And?”
Ethan’s call should’ve snapped me back to reality. To Celeste. She was hurting. She’d left my house in pieces, and instead of going to her… I’d gone to Sera.
A small smile tugged at my lips. Lucian had stayed late under the guise of reviewing my training schedules, but we both knew the truth-he’d been giving me space to process while silently ensuring I wasn’t alone. No prying questions. No false platitudes. Just steady presence, the way one might guard a wounded packmate.
And as I lay there, tangled up in him, I made a silent vow:
“Where is he?” he growled.
23 Chapter 23 RUINED EVERYTHING
He didn’t respond.
I blinked back tears that weren’t hard to summon. “I thought… maybe I’d lost you. Maybe
you didn’t want me.”
The blanket shifted slightly, and a hand rested on my shoulder. I stirred, slowly, deliberately, and blinked like I’d just woken.
My phone buzzed on the sink counter.
Exasperation flowed through me, and I held back the urge to scream in his face. Had he followed us home? What the fuck was he playing at?
It wasn’t.
“What-?” I barely got the word out before he spoke.
“Ethan, hi.” Another curse. “She’s crying?” A sigh. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to. I’ll make it right, I swear.’
The guilt punched me square in the chest.
It was Ethan. Attached to the message was a photo of Celeste. She was asleep on Ethan’s couch, curled up under a throw blanket, her makeup smudged, tear stains visible on her cheeks. Her face soft, exhausted. Fragile.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the cold wood of Sera’s door. The contrast between the heat of the kiss and the cold sinking into my bones made everything feel sharper. Too real.
“Did you fight with her?” I asked, and my voice came out colder than I expected. “With Celeste?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Did you really need me to lie to him for you?”
“He needs a reminder,” I said softly. “Of what we are. Of who’s always been there.”
And if Daniel was the strongest thread still tying Kieran to Sera…
“I’m sorry, Celeste,” he said, kneeling beside the couch. “I should never have let you leave like that.”
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23 Chapter 23 RUINED EVERYTHING
But this… this was nothing like that.
The kiss still lingered on my lips, burned through my flesh, imprinted on my fucking soul.
I didn’t say anything more. I didn’t need to.
I stood on Sera’s porch long after the door slammed in my face, the echo of it sharp and
final in the night air.
I could still taste her on my lips. Still remember the way her breath caught when I touched
her.
All I knew was that I’d hurt two women-one who loved me and one I couldn’t deem to
let go of.
But I’d learned enough over the past ten years.
“I wasn’t thinking,” he said, stepping toward me. “I just―”
And the worst part?
Kieran didn’t answer right away. His expression flickered-confusion, regret, unsatiated
hunger.
What if I’d ruined everything with Sera with that kiss?
“It’s not a lie,” I said, pouting slightly. “If anything, it’s a glaring truth he needs to see.”
I typed back: Thank you, Lucian. For everything you do.
He was breathing heavily, his gaze unfocused, his entire body trembling.
I frowned. “What?”
But I knew it was not right. I should remind him. “K-Kieran, we shouldn’t—”
Ethan looked up from his phone and gave me a long-suffering sigh. “Yeah. I sent it.”
“No, Sera, it’s not like that—”
Then, a phone rang-shrill and jarring-shattering the moment like glass on concrete.
I let myself breathe slower, shallow, like I was still asleep.
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23 Chapter 23 RUINED EVERYTHING
I wouldn’t let Sera come between us again. Not with her dramatics. Not with her
schemes. Not with their stupid fucking history.
I wasn’t even sure who I wanted to be forgiven by.
My heart gave a small, fluttering leap as I spun around and moved quickly down the hall. I slipped beneath the blanket on the couch. I turned to face the backrest, eyes fluttering shut, body curled perfectly still.
He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
It was a mistake. It had to be.
My body went rigid, frozen by sheer disbelief.
Kieran.
What if I’d ruined everything with Celeste for good this time?
“Have you sent it?” I asked, arms crossed as I leaned against the kitchen doorway.
He rolled his eyes. “That’s probably him. Happy?”
I didn’t know who I was right now. I couldn’t fathom what fucked-up part of me was making all these damning decisions.
What the hell was I doing?
He hesitated. “Because she’s the mother of his son. And she’s been through two attacks now. It would be strange if he wasn’t concerned.”
The failed training drills. That wretched garden confrontation. The way Kieran’s gaze had burned through me like I was the one betraying him.
I’d find a way to unravel it.
And not just any kiss-the kiss. The first real one-full of heat and desire and everything I hadn’t allowed myself to feel.
“Kieran?” My voice cracked softly. “What are you doing here?”
He was here. That was what mattered.
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23 Chapter 23 RUINED EVERYTHING
He hesitated, hunger still dark in his gaze. I didn’t care.
Kieran tore himself away from me as if I’d burned him, and still, I couldn’t move. I stared at him, breathless, eyes wide, brain short-circuited.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket and walked away from the house, the pavement crunching under my shoes.
His brows furrowed with guilt. “No. I just-I wasn’t thinking. I messed up.”
I exhaled a deep sigh. I should stop thinking of that annoying Kieran. We were divorced. He shouldn’t crash through my life like a hurricane anymore.
Some paths, once broken, should never be retraced.
Ethan rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You know Kieran has only ever loved you. You don’t need to compete with Sera.”
Ethan opened his mouth, probably to defend her, but just then, the doorbell rang.
Then his mouth crashed onto mine.
Then he hung up.
It was sudden. Consuming. A wildfire of need that threatened to devour me whole. His lips collided with mine like a tidal wave held back too long. Desperate. Heated. Possessive-like I belonged to him.
“Kieran-“I gasped between searing kisses, fingers twisting in his shirt as the heat radiating from his beastly muscles threatened to melt my resolve. The way he looked at me, damn, sent liquid fire through my veins.
“Kieran, what the fuck?”
He stepped closer, his presence flooding the threshold. “Where. Is. Lucian?”
“He knows you’re upset. You didn’t need to drag me into this.”
My brain screamed that we were divorced, that this needed to stop-but my body arched into his touch, trembling. Ten years as his wife, and never once did he want me like this. And this time, I could feel it was not just for need.
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“Are you out of your mind?” The words tore from me raw. “What am I to you? A convenient distraction? A stand-in?”
I nodded slowly, then gave him a fragile smile. “At least you’re here.”
Kieran swore softly and shoved his hand in his pocket. He turned away from me as he
answered it.
“Your… phone,” I whispered, unable to think beyond the ringing-around us, in my head.
CELESTE’S POV
“Oh my God,” I stumbled back, clutching the fallen robe to my chest as humiliation burned up my neck. I couldn’t believe I’d almost repeated history.
However, the animal suddenly fiercely banging against my door did not get the memo.
“Sera-”
His tongue violently opened my lips, claiming. His broad hands gripped my hips onto his firm body, my robe slipping from one shoulder under his rough handling. His gaze darkened at the exposed skin.
SERAPHINA’S POV
I scoffed. “Or maybe it’s an act. Did you ever think about that? Maybe she’s playing the victim, soaking up attention while pretending to be scared. She just can’t stand me winning.”
Something was wrong with me.
My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket, foolishly hoping it was Sera telling me to come back.
I padded barefoot into the hallway, muttering angrily to myself. I swear, whoever was on the other end was going to-
Kieran leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me. I melted into his embrace, laying my head against his chest, listening to the quiet, steady beat of his heart.
Outside, the stars twinkled. At that moment, I just wanted to let the peace claim me.
23 Chapter 23 RUINED EVERYTHING
“Are you out of your mind?” The words tore from me raw. “What am I to you? A
convenient distraction? A stand-in?”
I nodded slowly, then gave him a fragile smile. “At least you’re here.”
Kieran swore softly and shoved his hand in his pocket. He turned away from me as he
answered it.
“Your… phone,” I whispered, unable to think beyond the ringing-around us, in
my
head.
CELESTE’S POV
0475
“Oh my God,” I stumbled back, clutching the fallen robe to my chest as humiliation burned up my neck. I couldn’t believe I’d almost repeated history.
However, the animal suddenly fiercely banging against my door did not get the memo.
“Sera-
11
His tongue violently opened my lips, claiming. His broad hands gripped my hips onto his firm body, my robe slipping from one shoulder under his rough handling. His gaze darkened at the exposed skin.
SERAPHINA’S POV
I scoffed. “Or maybe it’s an act. Did you ever think about that? Maybe she’s playing the victim, soaking up attention while pretending to be scared. She just can’t stand me winning.”
Something was wrong with me.
My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket, foolishly hoping it was Sera telling me to come back.
I padded barefoot into the hallway, muttering angrily to myself. I swear, whoever was on the other end was going to-
Kieran leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me. I melted into his embrace, laying my head against his chest, listening to the quiet, steady beat of his heart.
Outside, the stars twinkled. At that moment, I just wanted to let the peace claim me.
23 Chapter 23 RUINED EVERYTHING
Another possessive growl vibrated against my lips as he swallowed my protest with a deeper kiss, his hands locking around my hips like living shackles.
I scoffed. Ethan was always so quick to act like he was above it all, but he was the furthest thing from perfect.
Kieran had never kissed me before, but I’d imagined it a million times. In my fantasies, it would be sweet, soft, loving. He’d take me into his arms, and we’d just sink into it-the kind of kiss love songs were written about.
I’d kissed Sera.
My breaths came out ragged and sharp, adrenaline racing through my whole body.
Because I am Celeste Lockwood, and I was born to win.
I blinked, taking in Kieran. He filled my doorway like a tornado made flesh-jaw tight, eyes stormy. His chest heaved like he’d run here.
“What the hell was that?” I whispered, my voice a thin rasp.
***
“Get out!” I snapped, heart pounding. “You have no fucking right to do this to me!”
I could hear Ethan opening the door, low voices murmuring. The soft pad of footsteps approached, heavier now.
I couldn’t push him away. I was too stunned, too caught off guard to think, let alone move. My heart pounded against my ribs, my breath caught somewhere in my throat, trapped between longing and shock.
I stood there, breathing hard, one hand on the doorknob, the other pressed against my pounding heart.
“You just what?” My voice cracked. “Thought you could kiss your problems away? On me?”
KIERAN’S POV
***
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23 Chapter 23 RUINED EVERYTHING
My lips curled bitterly. “Then why does he care so much about her all of a sudden?”
Lucian: Left the protein shakes in your fridge. Don’t overdo it tomorrow.
I sat up slowly, rubbing at my eyes. “I get it. I know you’ve been under a lot of pressure with everything going on.”
When he didn’t move fast enough, I shoved him back, and he stumbled back out. The door hit his shoulder as I slammed it shut and turned the lock.
But then why did it feel so goddamn right?
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