My Ex Husband The Alpha His Brother The Rogue novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Laila

“Don’t mistake me for him.” Kael says finally, settling into the chair across from me. “I don’t play house”

He says this and yet he just warmed me up and draped his coat around my shoulders.

He says this and yet he’s tucked Liam in twice even though he was already tucked in.

The contradiction that is Kacl…I should be used to it by now. But somehow, my heart still constricts in a numb ache.

Torn between hating him like he wants me to, and the unwanted feelings he stirs… it’s the worst place to be in.

The silence between us grows heavy. My eyes are fixed on Liam, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.

It calms me in ways nothing else has or will.

Distracts my mind from the only other path it might stray on…

It keeps my mind from replaying the sound of Kael’s pleasured groans, the feel of his hands all over me. The burn of every breath I drew.

And how much I hate him for it. Because the reality is, I hate myself more.

For letting things get more complicated than they already were.

“Laila.”

The voice breaks the fragile silence.

My head snaps up. It’s Cameron.

He stands in the doorway, the morning light spilling all around him. The expression on his face is unreadable but his eyes reflect a pained look as they meet mine.

My stomach drops.

He looks…better now. The physical signs of his allergy are all gone.

His shirt is crisp and white. His gaze is steady.

But his eyes? They tell another story. They slide over me, lingering too long at the base of my throat where Kael had left his mark.

The faintest brand, barely visible. But I know Cameron sees it.

My skin feels exposed and prickles beneath his gaze.

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Kael shifts in his chair but he doesn’t stand. His lips tilt into a lazy, dangerous smile. “You’re up early, Car”

Wanting for something? Or someone?

Cameron frowns slightly. Someone has to make sure the summit is still running.” Cameron replies smoothly. His gaze shifts between us. “Seems the two of you managed well enough.”

Kael smirks, his tone slow but sharp. “We did.”

“Lails… Cameron returns his attention to me, “I’m sorry.”

“I know that doesn’t make it up. But I swear I’ll make it up to you. I just want you to know I would never let you get hurt.” He speaks like Kael isn’t sitting right there.

Like my safety is his responsibility.

“Cam… you’re overstepping.” Kael points out in a dark, deathly cold tone.

“Overstep?” Cameron asks, “That’s not a boundary for you to enforce, Kael. Laila is her own person.”

“If she didn’t want to hear me out, she wouldn’t.”

Why the hell is he dragging me into this?

The air tightens like a noose around my neck.

My pulse hammers uneasily, so loud, I swear both men can hear it. I force my voice to be steady.

“The storm was worse than expected. We found shelter until it passed.” I interrupt the rising tension. “I’m unhurt, so let’s not bring it up anymore.”

Maybe those weren’t the right words to say because Cameron’s lips tilt, but it’s not a smile. His eyes say everything he doesn’t.

Doubt… suspicion…possession.

All the things he has no rights to. But when have the Blackwoods ever cared about rights?

The world has always been underneath their thumb. And everyone in it…me included.

The silence stretches until I’m tempted to scream.

Finally, Cameron looks at Kael, his tone clipped. “The summit’s in two days. Max wants us to review the delegation from the Northern packs.”

Kael lounges back, unbothered. “Of course.”

They carry on with a conversation about logistics and other neutral topics. It’s polite enough on the surface.

But the undertone is sharp. Cameron’s eyes keep flickering to me. Kael? He’s staring openly, blatantly, like he

wants Cameron to see.

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Chrapher 70

to bow that he doesarted to conceal his thoughs like Cameron has to

I am suffly Burraveen firm, hest rowling under my skin. The tension is palpable enough to be cut through by a

them,

“Commun. I strups. I thank you should both take this elsewhere I don’t want Liam to be raned?

Boch, narn thin the attention to the soundly sleeping toddler.

“You’re nga” Cameron says first, He cried for hours asking for you, and I couldn’t find a way to parify him so I took him to play in my room. if you don’t mind

I believe I fired him out, he needs his rest?

My heart constricts.

I don’t dare glance over to see Kael’s expression. Nothing gets to him as much as Liam with Cameron.

And I can’t lie, it has an effect on me as well.

1.Thank you I murmur quietly, unsure of what else to say.

“Don’t thank me Cameron shakes his head. He passes me a small smile and then heads for the door.

As he leaves, the silence that follows is worse than the tension from a moment ago.

Karl’s eyes settle on me, darkened with possession.

Thank you?” He asks in a low growl, “For what? Leaving you behind?”

Karl, just stop. I grumble beneath my breath, “He had his reasons.”

“Reasons… Kael murmurs, his eyes grow even darker. “Or are you just blind to all his wrongs?”

Do I need to remind you who you belong to? I thought I did…last night.”

My breath trembles.

I rise quickly, heading to the bathroom and shutting the door behind me, I lean against it, exhaling a slow breath.

“You can’t run from me, Laila.” Kael’s voice reaches me. “You and I… we’re irrecoverably damned.”

And Gods, he’s right!

I thought the night in the cabin was the storm.

But standing here, in this lake house, with my past and present colliding, I realize the true storm hasn’t even begun yet.

I have to get away from the Blackwood brothers. It’s the only way to truly protect my son.

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