Run Away from My alpha a thousand times

He pulled her towards him pressing himself into her tiny body.

The tension was electrifying.

Kaiden didn't say another word.

Not when Lucia pressed her palm to his chest, not when her breath hitched under his touch, not even when her lips parted like she wanted to curse him or kiss him.

It was like time stopped.

Lucia stood in front of him, cheeks flushed, eyes defiant but burning with something deeper than anger. Deeper than pain.

Need.

And he couldn't take it anymore.

Kaiden closed the distance between them in one swift step, his hand cradling the back of her neck as his mouth descended on hers.

The kiss wasn't soft.

It was fire and storm and desperation. It was him baring everything he couldn't say in words. His regret. His rage. His craving. His fear of losing her again.

Lucia gasped against his lips, and Kaiden growled low in his throat, his hand tightening around her waist. He wanted to claim her. Mark her. Drown in her.

She kissed him back.

Harder.

Hungry.

Their bodies slammed against the wall of his office. Kaiden's control snapped like dry twigs under pressure. He pressed her close, one hand threading through her hair, the other splayed possessively against the curve of her lower back.

For one perfect, chaotic moment—there was nothing but them.

Until she pulled away.

Breathing hard. Eyes wide.

Her lips were swollen. Her chest rose and fell erratically. "I… I have to go."

Kaiden's heart hammered, but he didn't chase her this time.

He just stood there, watching the only woman who could make him feel like both a king and a monster in the same breath… walk out the door.

Lucia didn't stop moving until she got to her room.

Her lips still tingled. Her body still buzzed with the aftershock of what just happened.

But her thoughts…

Her thoughts were a mess.

She paced back and forth for a few minutes, trying to shake the heat crawling over her skin. Kaiden's scent clung to her like a promise she wasn't sure she could keep.

Everything was so confusing. He kissed her like he loved her but he hadn't said the words and she did not want to hear the words.

She hated how her body still responded to him.

She hated even more how her heart did too.

She loves Will.

Lucia avoided Kaiden for the rest of the day and it was time to go home.

At that point, Lucia mentally agreed to his proposition, she could not be in close proximity with him.

The ride home was awkward as they both said nothing to each other.

As soon as the car stopped at the house,

Lucia ran into the house to her room.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, pulled out her phone, and stared at Will's last message.

Are you okay? I'm still nearby if you want to talk.

Her thumb hovered.

Then she typed:

Can we meet? Just to talk.

Seconds later, a reply came.

Of course. The park near the East Side, our spot. I'll be there in 20.

Lucia slipped out of the mansion with her hoodie pulled low over her head and sunglasses shielding her face. No one stopped her, the maids were likely already asleep, and Kaiden…

She has not seen him since they hit back from work and she did not attend dinner, she had it in her room.

Well, he hadn't come after her.

The night air was cool against her flushed skin. Her heart beat faster the closer she got to the park.

The familiar figure was already there, sitting on a bench beneath the shadow of a large oak tree.

Will stood as soon as he saw her. "Hey."

"Hi," she said quietly.

He didn't hug her.

He just looked at her, like trying to figure out what she needed from him.

"You look tired," he said.

"I feel worse."

They sat side by side, a few inches of space between them, silence stretching.

"How have you been" Will said after a while. "

Lucia took a look at him"I'm fine but shook up."

He frowned. "I'm sorry there was nothing I could do earlier."

"You were there when I needed you," she said, glancing at him. "Thank you for that."

Another quiet pause.

"You know I'd still do anything for you, right?"

Lucia's breath caught.

Will shifted, finally turning to face her fully. "I know I messed up. I wasn't always present. I ignored you when I shouldn't have. But I never stopped caring. Never stopped loving you."

"Will…"

"I mean it," he said, eyes sharp with emotion. "You're the one that got away, Lucia. Even now being near you again it feels right."

Lucia didn't know what to say. Her throat tightened.

Will reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "What happened to you?

She understood what he meant, the cheating and the marriage

Lucia swallowed. "It's… complicated."

"I can handle complicated."

"No, you can't," she whispered. "Not this."

"Try me."

She stared down at her hands. Her voice came out soft. "I'm pregnant."

Will froze.

"What?"

She looked up at him. "I'm pregnant, Will."

His face paled. His breath stuttered. "Is it…?"

She shook her head. "It's not yours."

Will sat back slowly. His expression cracked confusion, heartbreak, disbelief all flashing across his face at once.

"The time I cheated and it was not intentional, and I'm very sorry ," she said quickly.

"I found out after. Everything happened so fast and I was confused and scared"

"You're pregnant with his baby."

Lucia bit her lip. "Yes."

He ran a hand over his face. "Lucia, I… I don't even know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything."

"I do," he said harshly. "Because I still care about you. Because part of me hoped we could try again. But now…"

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Will stood, pacing. "He did this to you? Kaiden?"

She nodded.

"Is that why you're still with him?"

Lucia hesitated. "I don't know why I'm still with him."

Will turned to face her again. "Do you love him?"

Her throat closed.

"I don't," she whispered.

Will walked back to her slowly. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Do you still love me?"

Lucia stared at him.

And in the quiet dark, with the world around them asleep, Will leaned in.

Close.

Too close.

His lips hovered over hers, just inches away. Waiting.

Lucia's heart thundered.

For a second, she leaned forward.

Then she stopped.

Pulled back.

"I can't."

Will's face twisted. "Why not?"

"Because… I don't know what to do. And it wouldn't be fair to you."

He stepped back, pain clear in his eyes.

Lucia stood too. "I should go."

Will nodded. "Do you want me to walk you back?"

She shook her head. "No. I'll be fine."

He watched her go, but didn't follow.

And as Lucia walked back into the shadows of the night, she realized something:

No matter how much she wanted to run back to safety…

She was already too deep in the storm.