Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Kaeleen's POV

The weight of Astrid's words settled heavily on my shoulders. I had promised her space, time to heal and process, but the waiting was going to be agonizing. I wanted to protect her, to claim her, to show her the depth of my feelings, but I knew I had to respect her boundaries.

As I stood there, lost in thought, Alex approached, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He had undoubtedly been watching our conversation, and I braced myself for his inevitable teasing.

"Remember that bet we talked about this morning?" Alex asked, a grin spreading across his face.

I nodded, a faint smile tugging at my lips. The bet, a ridiculous competition among the pack members to see who would be the first to properly greet Astrid, seemed like a distant memory now, overshadowed by the complexities of my feelings for her.

"Well," Alex continued, his eyes sparkling with amusement, "I entered. Or rather, Rebecca did. Guess who won?"