Aria's POV
It was another usual night in my tiny apartment. My room was dark and quiet as usual. I sat on the bed and leaned close to my son who was curled up under his warm blanket. I hummed gently as I caressed his hair slowly brushing a loose strand from his forehead.
"My handsome boy, try to get some sleep okay baby?" I whispered, pressing my lips on to his cheeks.
I was about singing him a lullaby when I heard a knock on the door.
I furrowed my brows "who could that possibly be by this time of the night, it's so late" I muttered as I cautiously moved over to the window.
I peeked through the curtain and there he was standing at the porch dressed in a plain dark sweater both hands deep into his pocket.
"Kian? Why is he here?" Not to be ungrateful but every time he came around I felt the ground shift under me in many ways I couldn't understand.
I puffed counting to 3 and finally opened the door
"Kian?"
He smiled at me, a smile that gave an easy, tired smile.
"Hey Aria, I was on patrol nearby and I thought I'd stop by on my way back. Unless… it's a crime now to see you?" He chuckled.
His attempt at charming me made my stomach sink instead of laugh. I exhaled and spread my hands directing him into my apartment.
"No. Come in."
He stepped inside with a quiet confidence, the same confidence Kael had, his presence filled up my tiny apartment like he belonged here.
Suddenly Drey's voice, sleepy and soft, drifted from behind me. "Uncle Kian?"
I turned, surprised to see that he was still awake. He stumbled out of his bed, rubbing his eyes.
"Ayy, just who I wanted to see, my boy, how're you? I couldn't visit my favorite little man empty-handed," Kian said, crouching down and handing Drey a small wooden wolf carved by hand. "Look at him. Fierce, right? Just like you."
Drey smiled so hard and hugged him, clinging to Kian's neck for a moment longer than usual.
"Alright, Drey," I said gently, "it's bedtime, sweetie. Come on, let me put you to sleep."
"Let me do it please, it would be a privilege to put this handsome wolf to sleep" Kian offered, already standing with Drey in his arms.
I watched, unsure but I nodded anyway. There was something about the way he held him… careful, soft tender.
He hummed a soft lullaby, a lullaby I once heard Kael hum by chance and rocked Drey with the kind of calm that shouldn't have fit him.
It made my chest ache.
The way he looked at my son, the calm and eas of it made me have mixed feelings
"He looks so natural with him."
"Why does he reminded me of Kael, I know he's his twin but still"
"This is how Kael should have been with his son… if he hadn't abandoned us for my sister"
When Drey finally slept off, Kian carried him gently to his bed, pulled the blanket up to his chin, and kissed the top of his head.
I stayed by the kitchen counter, gripping the edge with my fingers trying to hold myself together.
"Tea?" I asked stuttering, though I didn't know when that slipped out of my mouth.
He nodded, and I made two cups. We sat at the counter me at one end, him at the other with a good amount of space between us. Let's not forget about the silence that came with it too.
He stirred his tea slowly, the spoon clinking against the cup, over and over again.
I stared at him for a long moment before asking "What's wrong?"
He looked at me with no expression on his face, just a sharp daunting look.
"Aria Do you feel what I feel?"
I paused looking at him, unsure of what he meant even though a part of me knew what he might be talking about.
"huh?" I swallowed my tea instead of drinking it softly.
He leaned closer, slightly. "Answer me, Aria. Do you?"
I shifted back, hand still around the cup. "Um Feel what?"
Kian let out a breath, smirking like he already knew I was trying to pretend not to understand what he meant.
He leaned back spreading his legs apart.
"You still love him. Right?"
My fingers tightened around the cup.
"No need to lie baby girl, Your silence says enough," he said, softly. "You still love Kael. Even after everything he did to you."
I looked at him with tears about to gather my eyes, I didn't speak. Because he was right. And I hated the fact that he was right.
"Really? After all he did to you?" he pressed.
The words echoed inside me, and for a moment I zoned out. Memories of Kael holding me, kissing me, whispering things he never meant especially that word "My Favorite", The way he pleased me every night, thrusting into me like I was the only woman on earth who could satisfy him, The cold and cruel look in his eyes the day he left me….everything began to play in my head until Kian's voice pulled me back.
"Aria. Look at me."
I stuttered slowly looking at him.
"There's something between us and I know you feel it too. You can't keep living in Kael's shadow forever. You have to move on."
I set the cup down carefully. "There's nothing between us, Kian. Nothing really. And I have indeed moved on but I bore Kael's child. I can't forget him, even if I wanted to. His son looks exactly like him, I'm bound to remember him for my entire life"
He leaned in again, slower this time but with his voice low.
"Then let me give you something real. Let me show you the truth." His eyes darkened, "Do you want to know why he kept you in his room for days? Why he suddenly wanted you?"
My heart skipped a beat listening to him.
"What do you mean?" I muttered
"Do you really want to know… why Kael used you like that?"