Rejected, And Became A Heiress (Cara)

Cara's POV

I wait for Alaric to

say something, yet he seems content to simply stare at me. His expression is blank, revealing nothing of

his thoughts,

I unloaded a lot on him just now. Maybe he needs time to adjust? To let things sink in?

Or maybe he hasn't been listening to me at all.

He can come her, steamrolling his way back into my life, and even talk about how much he wants to be back together with me. But is any of that true? If he cannot listen to me? If I cannot trust him? How can I be partners with someone who won't even talk with me about my concerns?

All of this confirms for me that I've made the right decision, Rushing back to Alaric would be a foolish mistake.

I'm older and wiser now, with children that I'm responsible for. I can't be

reckless now, and I won't be sucked back into a questionable situation again.

"Well,” I say, breaking the ice, because he's still staring at me like he's never really seen me before. "I should be going now."

As I'm trying to decide what to do, Alaric seems to come back to life. He rises from his chair and hurries over toward me.

This forces me to make a decision in a hurry. I leave the full mug on the rack, give a quick, silent apology to the person who has to clean it, and then duck outside.

Alaric catches up to me after a few steps.

"Cara!" he calls for me. He rushes to walk ahead of me and cuts me off.

"Wait. Please!"

For his sake, and for our past, I wait to hear him out. If it's taken him this long to come up with

whatever he wants to say, then it must be important.

I don't want to, I wish I could turn my heart off, but I do still care about him. If nothing but for old times' sake, I can wait a moment longer.

"...Cara, I think I truly love you," But he says.

For the first time since I've known him, he almost sounds... nervous?

That can't

be right. Alaric doesn't get nervous. About anything. I must be imagining it. Wishful thinking, perhaps?

With a sigh, I scold myself.

"I will not fall for him again," I command myself.

"I love you, Cara," he says once more.

"I know you might not believe me," Alaric says. "But truly I love you." He gathers himself with an unsteady breath.

"I'm not asking you to change anything in your life. I know you have commitments and responsibilities now that you did before. But please, please believe I'm very regret for you."

All of my instincts want to say yes; but the hurt I've suffered over the years is still far too real.

I can't be selfish. I need to make the right choices not just for myself but for my children. We are a unit now, me and the twins. I can't just allow anyone to enter the fold of our family. Even if that person is their true father.

"...It's too much," I say.

"I'll wait!" Alaric says.

"You are the one, Cara. The only one for me. I will wait for you for as long as you need."

"It's too much!" I say again.

"...I will do that." Alaric says.

"I have to go," I say.

I walk past him. He doesn't stop me this time.

Instead he just watches as I move around him. As I walk down the street, back to my house, I can feel the weight of his gaze on my back.

I keep walking and don't look back.

Regardless of the emotional turmoil I felt having coffee with Alaric, I have gained much from it. Speaking to him with such confidence and independence helped to alight those qualities in me full time. Now, I feel It affects my work in the best possible ways. My work has never been lacking, but now I come at it with a certainty that drives me. There is no obstacle I cannot overcome.

When I go home and spend time with the kids, even then too, I am confident and stronger than I've been in a while. The three of us -

Mia, Ethan, and myself -

we are going to survive whatever life throws our way. I will personally make sure of it.

In the meantime, we are certain to have fun. My housenoveldrama

is filled with the sound of children's laughter, and that is enough to make my hard workdays worth the effort.

As the days pass, the

collaboration between the Bloody Moon and DarkWood packs slowly comes to a close. Here, near the end means the most work for both packs as we hurry to tie up loose ends and bring things to a satisfactory Everything is soon to culminate in a joint celebration, hosted by members of both packs. I've been avoiding planning this, focusing on other duties,

but I'm running out of time now.

I have no worries that I will

be able to help plan a celebration in time. What worries me is having to see Alaric again. He's maintained distance lately, but at this event, we would be forced to see each other again.

Shaking the thoughts from my head, I return to Eamon's office, having been summoned there.

Eamon sits behind his desk, looking at some paperwork. Seeing me, he places it to the side and focuses on me.

"You called for me?" I ask, ready to attend to whatever duties he deems necessary.

Eamon gets straight to business.

He smiles, "You've done a lot of good work for us since taking on the position of our Beta, Cara...""

"I think it's time that we publically reveal your true identity as Aylon Auburn."