Chapter 69 Kaelen’s new respect 2

Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Kaelen’s new respect 2

Talia’s POV

"You did that to Vivienne. I have been trying to figure out how Vivienne was drunk or drugged, then I remembered you carried the glass of wine she gave you while you were going to the bathroom. Did you switch the glass?" he asked.

I nodded, because I had no energy to deny it. "Yes, I did."

"How did you do that alone?" he asked.

I looked at him. "I did not do it alone. I had help. And I did nothing to Vivienne. She did it to herself."

He was quiet for a moment, and his gray eyes moved across my face.

"Why did you not tell me?" he asked. "About your stepmother, and your stepsister. About the way they treated you, and the way your father neglected you."

My throat tightened. "I did not want to talk about it," I said. "Not yet."

He nodded, but he did not push. Then his lip curled into something almost like a smile.

"You are different," he said.

I looked at him. "Different how?"

"When I first met you, you were scared. You flinched every time someone got too close to you. You kept your head down, and you avoided eye contact," he said.

"I was trying to survive," I replied.

"I know." He stepped closer. "But tonight, you did not flinch. You did not look away. You stood up to her, and you fought back."

"I had help with everything," I said honestly.

"You had help," he agreed. "But you were the one who switched the glasses. You were the one who stayed calm. And you were the one who did not break."

I did not know what to say, so I kept quiet.

"I underestimated you," he said. "I will not make that mistake again." He walked to the window and looked out at the dark valley.

"Get some rest," he said. "Tomorrow, we leave."

I watched his broad and strong back. "Kaelen," I called.

He turned.

"Thank you for all you did today," I said.

He just nodded, then he walked to the other side of the room and started undressing for bed. After removing his trousers, he was left with his boxer briefs, then he wore a light sleeveless shirt and climbed into bed.

I looked at the bed, then at him.

"Are you sleeping on the bed?" I asked.

"Yes, I am," he said.

"With me?" I asked, eyes wide.

"Do you have a problem with that?" he asked, staring at me.

I opened my mouth, closed it, and opened it again. "No," I said.

He walked to the other side of the bed where I was standing, and pulled back the covers. "Then get in."

I climbed into the bed and lay down. The sheets were soft, and the pillows smelled like pine and cold air.

Kaelen climbed in on the other side, and I felt the bed dip under his weight.

My heart was pounding, and my hands were shaking, because I had never shared a bed with anyone before.

He turned off the lamp, and the room went dark.

"Goodnight, Talia," he said.

"Goodnight," I whispered.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling, and listening to him breathe.

Minutes passed, then hours, and eventually, my eyes grew heavy. I closed them, and I fell asleep.

Morning came quickly as light streamed through the window. I blinked and sat up.

Kaelen was already awake, and he was sitting on the edge of the bed, with his back to me.

"Time to go," he said. "We leave for Blackmoor Valley shortly."

I nodded.

We dressed in silence, and we walked out of the room together.

The hallway was quiet now as most wolves had already left, and servants were cleaning the empty rooms.

Kaelen took my hand, and I did not pull away as we walked out of Mooncrest Hall together.

The morning air was cold and sharp. Cars and carts lined the entrance, with wolves loading their belongings, and servants rushing back and forth.

Kaelen led me to his car, then he opened the back door. "Get in," he said.

I nodded and climbed in. I expected him to close the door and walk around to the front passenger seat, but he did not.

He slid into the seat beside me.

I stared at him. "You are sitting back here?"

"Yes," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

He looked at me. "Because I want to."

Jax climbed into the front passenger seat, Silas was already in the driver’s seat, and Cain sat in the very back, with his eyes closed.

No one spoke, and the car started moving.

As we traveled back, Kaelen’s shoulder pressed against mine, and his hand rested on the seat between us, with his fingers inches from mine.

I did not move my hand away, and neither did he.

The journey back was just as long as when we were going to Mooncrest Hall. But this time, everything felt different, especially between me and Kaelen.

I fell asleep halfway through the journey, and I woke up to Kaelen trying to carry me out of the car, as we had arrived at Blackmoor Valley.

"What are you trying to do?" I asked in surprise.

"We have arrived, and I did not want to wake you up. So I want to carry you to our room," he said.

Jax was smiling brightly behind him, Silas was nowhere in sight, and Cain just stood ahead with his constant cold expression.

"Thank you, but I am awake now, and I will walk," I said, and quickly stepped out of the car.

Servants were offloading trucks, and I looked around for Piper, but I could not see her. I was not worried, because I knew she would be with Nora.

Kaelen took my hand. "Let’s go and get some rest for now. We will be having dinner at the gathering halls with grandfather tonight."

I nodded, and walked with him towards our room.