Kamrynn’s POV
I clenched my jaw.
“Kamrynn,” he pleaded, his voice raw. “Please.”
I swallowed hard, my heart thudding painfully against my ribs. “… Astor,” I finally muttered. “And Arabella.”
Calvin’s breath hitched. His lips parted slightly as he repeated their names under his breath, tasting them.
“Astor. Arabella.”
A soft, broken smile crossed his lips.
“They’re such beautiful names. Thank you,” he whispered, his voice raw. “For giving birth to my children.”
I scoffed, my fingers curling into fists. “Don’t thank me.”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, his jaw tightening, but then his face crumpled. “Kamrynn,” he breathed, stepping closer. “Please.”
I stiffened, my body pressing harder against the cold wall behind me, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.
“I need to be in their lives,” he continued, his voice thick with emotion. “I have to be. You don’t understand what this means to me. I-I thought they were gone. I thought I lost everything. I thought I lost you.”
His words hit a nerve, but I refused to let them sink in. I glared at him, my jaw locked tight. “You did lose me.”
His breath hitched, his entire body flinching as if I had physically struck him. But instead of backing away, he stepped closer, his hands trembling at his sides.
“I know,” he whispered. “I know, and I accept that. I know I don’t deserve a damn thing from you, Kamrynn. I know I’ve hurt you in ways that can never be undone. But don’t make them suffer because of me. Please-please don’t do that.”
I tried to push past him, to shove him aside, but he blocked me, his scent thickening in the air, wrapping around me in a suffocating hold.
It was cloying now, overpowering, as if he was unconsciously releasing his Alpha pheromones, as if he was trying to stake a claim.
I bristled, my stomach twisting in revulsion. “You’re trying to scent me,” I accused, glaring at him. “What kind of twisted game are you playing?”
His brows knitted together, genuine confusion flashing in his eyes. “What? No-I wouldn’t-”
But his scent flared again, seeping into my skin, curling in my lungs, tickling at my senses in a way that made my head swim.
I inhaled sharply, suddenly feeling lightheaded.
A strange heat crawled over my skin, my limbs buzzing, my head growing heavy, almost drunk on the air between us.
What the hell was happening?
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push through the strange fog clouding my thoughts.
It was his scent. It was too close.
“Kamrynn.” Calvin’s voice cracked, his desperation seeping into every syllable. “I know you hate me. I know I don’t deserve another chance. I know I don’t deserve to be in their lives. But please. Don’t shut me out. Don’t take them away from me.”
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to focus. “You took everything from me, Calvin.”
“I know,” he rasped, his voice breaking. “And I will never forgive myself for it. But, Kamrynn-they’re my children too!”
I scoffed. “You don’t get to claim them now.”
His face contorted in pain. “Please,” he whispered again, his head bowing slightly, as if he was on the verge of collapsing. “Please, I-I don’t care what you do to me. I don’t care if you hate me for the rest of your life. Punish me. Hurt me. Make me suffer in every way imaginable. But don’t take them away from me.”
His voice cracked again, and something about it made my stomach tighten.
I had seen Calvin angry.
I had seen him violent.
I had seen him cruel.
But I had never seen him like this.
Broken.
He took a deep, shaky breath, running a trembling hand through his hair. “You know that I lost my father when I was young, you also lost your parents too . We both know what that feels like growing up without both parents, how much it hurts. I swore-swore to myself that if I ever had children, I would never let them grow up without a father.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself not to let his words sink in.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me,” he continued, his voice quieter now, more raw. “I’m not asking you to take me back. I’m not asking you to give me a place in your life.”
He swallowed hard, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made it hard to breathe.
“I’m begging you, Kamrynn,” he whispered. “Just let me be in theirs.”
I opened my mouth, ready to tell him no, to tell him that he didn’t deserve anything from me but his scent invaded my senses.
I gasped, a strange heat crawling over my skin.
Something was wrong.
His scent tickled my nerve endings, sending a wave of hazy warmth through me. My body swayed slightly, my head spinning.
I knew this scent.
But never like this.
It was too much.
Too close.
My hands pressed against his chest, shoving weakly. “Stop,” I whispered, my voice breathless.
He didn’t move. “Kamrynn, please-”
His scent intensified, wrapping around me, sinking into my very bones.
Then it happened.
Something shifted.
A deep, primal force snapped into place.
I gasped, my eyes widening as a sudden wave of heat rolled over me, my heart slamming against my ribs.
Calvin froze.
His pupils dilated, his breath hitching.
And I felt it.
Like an invisible thread pulling tight. Like a puzzle piece clicking into place.
Like the universe locking something in.
NO.
I shoved him back, horror crawling up my spine.
Calvin blinked, stunned. “Kamrynn-”
I stumbled away, shaking my head violently. “No.” My voice was shaking. “No, no, no-”
I saw it in his eyes.
The realization.
The same truth I had just felt.
“Kamrynn,” he whispered, taking a hesitant step forward.
His expression wasn’t horror.
It was awe.
Intrigue.
Because we both knew exactly what had just happened.
The mate bond.
It had snapped into place.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to tear it apart.
I wanted to rip the Moon goddess’ cruel joke from my very soul.
But all I could do was stand there, staring at him.
At my mate.
At the man who had once been my greatest love.
And my greatest nightmare…