Chapter 82 Everything
CADE
I woke up before her.
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The sun hadn’t fully risen yet; only a soft silver light poured in from the window, touching her skin like it worshipped her.
She lay against me, her hair sprawled across the pillow, her lashes dark against her cheeks.
Arden.
I didn’t know what I had done in this life to deserve waking up beside her, but I knew one thing for certain: I never wanted to lose this.
I brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, careful not to disturb her. Her breathing was soft and steady, and her bare shoulder rose gently with each inhale.
She wasn’t mine by bond. We didn’t glow under the Moon Goddess‘ seal or feel the pull that defined fate.
But it didn’t matter.
Because everything within me told me she was mine.
I’d never met my mate, and I probably never would.
And if the Moon Goddess was listening–if she ever paid attention to people like me–then I prayed she would make Arden my mate too.
Because aside from Honey’s justice and betterment, I’d never wanted anything more in this world.
As she stirred quietly beside me, my heart thumped a little faster.
Her eyes fluttered open, hazy and still drunk with sleep.
“Morning,” I murmured softly.
She smiled–a smile that made my chest race. “Hi.”
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Even after everything, she was still beautiful. Even with messy hair, a tired smile, and the warmth of sleep still clinging to her skin–she was breathtaking.
She leaned up to kiss me gently. I cupped her face and deepened the kiss just a little, unable to help myself.
“What time is it?” she whispered against my lips.
“Still early,” I replied. “We’ll have a slow morning.”
“Mmmh.” She curled against my chest, her arms wrapping around my
waist.
We remained quiet for a while, listening to the soft rustle of the trees outside and the occasional chirp of birds.
“Do you still have more questions?” I eventually asked, stroking her hair gently.
I wanted her to know everything. I didn’t want to hide a single thing anymore.
She paused, her expression thoughtful. “How are you now?”
I smiled faintly, pressing my lips to her forehead. “Better now that I’m with you.”
She didn’t reply but held me tighter.
Then, a moment later, she asked, “What about your real family? Is the faction… not suspicious?”
I let out a quiet breath. That question had always loomed somewhere. I knew it would come.
Only a select few people knew the truth.
“When Honey’s family took me in, they made it public that I was a sickly child who had only just recovered from long treatment. That’s why I hadn’t grown up with them in the beginning.”
I glanced down at Arden. She was listening, her eyes locked onto mine, full of nothing but
acceptance.
“My stepmom is black; my stepdad is white. So, I guess it checked out for most faction members.”
Her hand slid up my chest gently, grounding me.
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“I don’t have true Alpha blood,” I admitted. “At least, not the kind this pack would expect. But they said I had some. Somewhere in my real mom’s line.”
So I trained hard–harder than anyone else.
I had to prove that I could carry what Honey was supposed to inherit.
“Will people find out?” she finally asked.
I gave a small shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe.
Only time will tell. But for now, I want to take care of everything else first: Honey, the pack, my role–before I even think about worrying for myself.”
There was a brief moment of silence before Arden cupped my face and said firmly, “Then I’ll be the one to worry for you.”
My heart stilled.
She looked at me like I was worth everything.
I smiled again, unable to find the words to explain what was happening to me. My chest felt light.
She bit her lip softly, that subtle hesitation that always made me sit up and take notice. She was deep in thought, and when Arden overthought things, it usually meant she was about to drop something heavy. I let her speak, gently brushing her hair behind her ear while she looked down, appearing ashamed of whatever revelation was swirling in her mind.
But I was all ears. I always would be for her.
“I know what you mean,” she murmured. “About not belonging.”
Her fingers curled slightly into my chest.
“I’ve never felt like I belonged either. Not with my family or in my pack.” She paused and let out a bitter chuckle. “Kieran–he hates me. He always has. Lucian… well, he’s the golden boy. He acts like I don’t even exist half the time. My dad… he’s just there. He doesn’t do anything. And my mom? She always has something to say–always undermining me. Like I’m a stain that ruined her perfect bloodline.”
I sat up a bit straighter, tightening my hold on her with every word she uttered. It pained me to hear her say these things. It hurt even more to know that she had been carrying this
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burden all alone.
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“I feel like I don’t have a place anywhere,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly. “Even if they say my parents are assigned as Delta, and technically I have some standing, it doesn’t feel that way. Not with Lucian set to inherit everything. The pack doesn’t even respect me. I was just… another body.”
She looked up at me, her gaze intense and searching. “So like every other desperate teenager trying to prove themselves, I told myself I’d make it to Elite. Maybe then they’d be proud of me. Maybe I’d earn something. But it’s not what it seems. And now, honestly? I don’t even know why I wanted it so badly. It felt like it was all for nothing.”
She paused, her expression softening as she met my eyes. “Until I met you.”
My heart kicked against my ribs, a rush of emotions flooding through me as I gazed into her
eyes.
I couldn’t help but grin, cupping her face in my hands. “Why are you this cute?”
“Cade-”
“No, really,” I insisted, my tone serious now.
“Did you even hear anything you just said?” she replied, a hint of exasperation creeping into her voice.
I chuckled gently, leaning down to kiss her softly. “Honestly, I don’t care about what they think of you. I care about you. That’s it.”
She smiled, and for a brief moment, I thought that was going to be the end of it.
But then she whispered, “There’s one more thing.”
I tensed slightly, curiosity and apprehension mingling within me.
Arden looked directly at me. “Jaxon is my mate.”
My eyes narrowed at her admission. I couldn’t say I was completely surprised–I had sensed something in the way Jaxon looked at her. But hearing her confirm it still sent a strange feeling through me.
My arms reflexively drew her closer, a protective instinct bubbling to the surface, feeling like someone might try to snatch her away if I didn’t hold her tight enough.
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“But,” she said quickly, “it’s not what it looks like.”
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I met her gaze again, searching for the truth in her
eyes.
“He rejected me, Cade,” she confessed. “Before I came to Elite. I’ve accepted it. I’ve moved past it. He cheated on me with Sienna.” Her voice cracked for just a moment, but she pressed on. “Even when we were together, it never felt like this.”
I exhaled, processing her words, but she kept going.
“What I feel for you… it’s so much more. Ten times more. A hundred, maybe. Even without a bond.”
I stared at her, my heart racing against my chest, and leaned in to kiss her once more- longer this time, deeper, sealing my vow with her.
“I believe you,” I murmured against her lips.
We held each other for a moment, breathing slowly, wrapped in warmth and safety.
“There’s also another thing I want to ask of you.”
My heart swelled at her openness, thrilled that she was inviting me into her world with these requests.
“Tell me,” I replied softly, a smile playing at my lips. “I’ll fulfill your wishes, babe.”
Yet, I had no way of anticipating her next request.
“The United Factions,” she began..
“I want to come with you.”
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