Missed Opportunity (Part 1)
Kane’s POV
I never planned on falling in love with her. That wasn’t supposed to be part of the
equation.
I sat in my prison cell, staring at the cold wall, thoughts racing through my mind. In my original plan, it was simple–make her fall in love with me, eliminate her, and the Alpha position of our Pack would be mine. I’d worked too damn hard to deserve it, and this plan wouldn’t be harder than anything else I’d done. Except reality turned out to be the complete opposite.
Thea had crashed through all my defenses. She wasn’t someone I could neatly compartmentalize. She had this quality that made it impossible to ignore her, impossible to stay rational. She was the kind of woman who made me want to be a better man.
I remembered the exact moment I realized I’d fallen for her. I’d postponed my plan to kill her, using the excuse that I needed “more information.” But then that fucking hunter lost contact with me, and by the time I heard from him again, he’d already taken her. I tried to fix things, but it was too late. The damage was done, and I knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. So instead of running, I went to see her, desperate to hold onto the little time I knew we had left. The truth is, even if Sebastian hadn’t shown up, I couldn’t have pulled that trigger when facing her. Still, I had no one to blame but myself for how things turned out.
When her heart broke, mine shattered right along with it. I’d destroyed any future we might have had, all because of greed. If she never forgave me, I’d understand.
“Kincaid, you have a visitor,” a prison guard said outside my cell.
Since my sentencing, I’d refused to see anyone, especially Seraphina and Maximus. These incredibly forgiving adoptive parents had taken in a child with no blood relation, given me dignity, given me their family name. And how had I repaid them? By trying to kill their biological daughter. My wolf howled in agony at the thought. I couldn’t understand why they’d still want to see me or be near me. If I were them, I wouldn’t be so forgiving.
“I don’t want to see anyone,” I said softly, my voice hoarse.
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Missed Opportunity (Part 1)
The guard didn’t move. “They said this time is different. You’d better see them.”
I hesitated, then eventually nodded, extending my hands for the cuffs. Despite being new here, nobody dared mess with me. Partly because I was a badass, and partly because my Alpha bloodline made even the guards cautious.
The handcuffs were specially designed to weaken both me and my wolf–standard procedure for inmates like us.
As I approached the visitation room door, I already knew who was sitting inside. The scent of meadow sage and wild mint, just like the day I first saw her and saved her.
I froze at the doorway. The one person I’d hoped would visit was sitting in the farthest corner. Thea’s head was bowed, and she looked paler and more fragile than before. But there was some strange glow surrounding her, making her shine in this dull room.
I walked slowly toward her like I was sleepwalking, unable to believe she was really here.
“Thea?” I choked out as I sat down across from her.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I wanted to memorize every detail. This might be the last
time I’d see her, as she was probably here seeking closure. Most women wanted that
before moving on.
“I’m not sure why I came, or if you even care, but there’s something you need to know,” she began, her voice small and controlled.
Her fingers fidgeted nervously on the table, a habit she had when anxious. I used to find it cute; now it only broke my heart.
“Anything, Thea,” I said, fighting the urge to grab her hand.
She took a deep breath and finally raised her head to look directly into my eyes. “I’m
pregnant.”
Missed Opportunity (Part 2)
Kane’s POV
My world stopped spinning. “What?” I barely managed to get the word out.
“I’m pregnant,‘ she repeated. “I found out a week ago and had it confirmed. I’m about three months along.”
My wolf suddenly became agitated, pushing against the edges of my consciousness, almost breaking through the silver handcuffs‘ restrictions. My child, my pup, growing
inside her.
Three months. Right when we’d had that one time without protection. Emotions exploded in my chest–a mix of pride, joy, sadness, and despair that nearly suffocated me. I couldn’t believe I was going to be a father. Thea and I had created life together. I still remembered how her body felt against mine. Making love to her had felt like I’d fucking reached
heaven.
I was truly honored that she was carrying my child. I couldn’t have chosen a better mother for my baby.
Just as this thought flashed through my mind, another painful realization crashed in.
“So you’re planning to…?” I couldn’t finish the question.
“Keep it,” she answered almost immediately, a flash of determination in her eyes. “I admit, when I found out, I was in a bad mental state and had some dark thoughts, but this is my final decision. This is my child, regardless.”
I exhaled in relief. If she’d told me she didn’t want my child, I don’t know what I would
have done.
“Why are you telling me?” I asked quietly. She had every reason to keep this from me after what happened between us.
“This child deserves to know who their father is,” she said, looking me straight in the eyes. “I want to know if you want to be part of the child’s life.”
I clenched my jaw, conflicted. I wanted to shout “yes,” to declare I’d do anything for this
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Missed Opportunity (Part 2)
pup. But the reality was that I’d be here for at least twenty years. The child would already be an adult by the time I got out.
“No,” I finally said, the word feeling like it was being ripped from my heart.
She was silent for a moment, then picked up her bag to leave. I lowered my head, but she quickly turned back.
“Why?” she demanded. “Is it because you were just using me?”
“What can I offer him or her? By the time I get out of prison, I’ll have missed all their important moments. I can’t be what a real father should be. Besides, they wouldn’t want a criminal father who tried to kill their mother. They’d hate me.”
Thea’s eyes widened slightly. “Is that what you really think?”
“This child doesn’t need to know their father is a monster who was willing to kill for power,” I said bitterly. “They’ll be better off pretending I never existed.”
This time she was silent for a long time, and I thought she understood and agreed, but she shook her head slightly. “You’re their father, Kane, whether you’re in prison or not. That doesn’t change. Wolf children need to know their bloodline, and this child should know their father, even if you’ve done terrible things. I can bring the child to visit you… if you want. You can be involved. You don’t have to miss anything. With your presence, your
child will love you.”
I stared at her in shock. Of all the responses I’d expected, this wasn’t one of them.
“Why?” I almost growled. “Why would you do that? After what I did to you?”
“Not for you,” she said calmly. “For this child. I know what it’s like to grow up without a father, even if that father is an asshole.”
I was speechless. Her kindness caught me off guard once again. I knew about her past, how the Sterling family had neglected and rejected her. She didn’t want her child to experience the same pain, even if it meant facing the person who hurt her. She truly was an incredible woman, and I couldn’t understand how Sebastian had resisted falling in love with her during their seven–year marriage.
“Thank you,” I said softly.
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Missed Opportunity (Part 2)
“I’m just doing what’s right for our child.”
I wanted to tell her more, to tell her what was really in my heart. Maybe this was my last
chance.
“Thea, I care about you,” I mustered the courage to say. “My original plan was just to use you, but at some point, everything changed. I… fell in love with you. It’s not an excuse, and it doesn’t make up for what I did, but it’s the truth.”
Her expression became unreadable. “You say you love me?”
“Deeper than I ever imagined,” I admitted quietly. “I never planned on falling for anyone,
especially not you. But you made it happen.”
A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes. “It’s too late, Kane. Maybe for a moment, I loved you too. But that person wasn’t really you–just a character you created.”
Each word stabbed my heart like a blade. “I know…”
“No, you don’t. I had imagined a future with you, so real and bright. My feelings for you were just beginning to bloom. I was ready to give you my whole heart. And you destroyed everything.” Her voice grew quieter, and I could hear her breathing.
I nearly broke down at her words. I knew she liked me and enjoyed our time together. But I didn’t know she’d developed real feelings for me. She was on her way to falling in love
with me.
This realization was killing me, destroying me from the inside. I’d lost everything because of my stupidity. Because of my foolishness, I couldn’t be a permanent father to my child. Because of my foolishness, I’d missed the chance to have this amazing woman by my side.
“I should go,” she stood up, opening her bag and placing something in front of me. “I’ll let you know about the next ultrasound. Meanwhile, you can keep this.”
It was a copy of an ultrasound scan, and I quickly understood what I was looking at. I’d never been an emotional person, but tears immediately filled my eyes.
“Wait,” I said, standing up as well.
She stopped and turned to face me. I slowly walked toward her until we were just inches
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Missed Opportunity (Part 2)
apart. I could feel her breath softly brushing my cheek.
“May 1?” I asked softly, gesturing toward her face.
She hesitated, then nodded slightly.
I carefully reached out and gently gripped her wrist. She looked at me without pulling away. I gazed into her amber eyes and slowly leaned in. I wanted to kiss her lips, to feel that hope of forgiveness once more. But at the last moment, I changed direction and placed my lips softly on the corner of her mouth.
This was my punishment to myself. I knew I no longer deserved to kiss her lips. I also knew I’d lost my chance to start over with her.
This gentle, regretful kiss was our final goodbye.
