The Day He Knelt, I Married a Don Novel

---- Chapter 18 Blair's POV Ever since Cassian came into my life, everything started to change. Before, I always felt like something inside me had given way-an emptiness I could never escape. But after he showed up, we'd talk from time to time. Nothing deep, nothing dramatic. Sometimes we didn't talk at all. He'd just sit next to me in silence or stand nearby, like he was quietly keeping me company. We'd shift sometimes, running through the woods in our wolf forms. He was the first person who ever said my wolf looked beautiful.

One day, I found myself absentmindedly brushing a hand over my chest, only to realize that hollow, aching feeling was gone-and I hadn't even noticed when it slipping away. Even my wolf had stopped grieving. That's when it hit me-my loneliness all this time had ---- come from being alone for far too long. We're pack creatures by nature. Even if you crave distance from the madness of the world, solitude creeps in slowly, settling into your bones before you even notice. I'd planned to spend the rest of my life hidden away on that remote little island. No one around. No one to hurt me. But now...

I've changed my mind. It's been months-those people must've forgotten me by now. I "died" once already-there's no need to keep punishing myself just to stay out of sight. So, when Cassian brought it up again-leaving-I didn't say no. "T'm heading out tomorrow too," I told him calmly. "But you don't have to show me around or keep me company. We were just strangers crossing paths. Once we leave this place, let's keep it that way." I paused, looking straight into his serious eyes. "As for saving your life... if you really want to repay me, give mea new identity." Anew name. A clean slate.

A brand new start. ---- He didn't ask questions, just nodded. On the day we left, we stood side by side on the boat. I stared at the island growing smaller and smaller in the distance, and my heart twisted into something I couldn't name. Cassian walked over and draped a jacket over my shoulders. 1 instinctively tried to push it off, but he pressed his hand over mine, keeping it there. "Wind's strong out here. Don't catch a cold," he said. Then he handed me a cup of hot cocoa. I gave him a puzzled look, he smiled and simply pointed at my chest.

"You were frowning and holding your chest yesterday, remember? Drink something warm-it helps." I froze. He noticed that? The pain in my chest wasn't new, it was a lingering injury from the car accident. Cracked ribs that never quite healed right, every time the weather changed, it throbbed. I'd gotten used to it-either endured it or popped a few ---- painkillers when it got bad. When I didn't move, he gently pulled my hand forward and placed the cup in it. The heat seeped into my skin, spreading across my fingers, warming the ache inside me. And just like that, the pain lessened.

My eyes stung. I looked up at him, my voice trembling. "Why are you being so kind to me?" In both packs-my brother's Blood Stone Pack and Christian's Dark Stone Pack-I'd bent over backward trying to earn just a sliver of affection. But all I got in return was coldness. Especially after Carrie came back... It was like I stopped existing. She was right-I was a thief. I'd stolen five years of love that were never meant to be mine. So I ran to this island, convinced I didn't deserve kindness anymore-didn't deserve love, didn't deserve to be remembered. ---- But Cassian...

He hadn't even known me long, and still he noticed the smallest things. And he cared. When he didn't answer, I asked again. "Why are you being so good to me? Is it just because I saved your life? If that's it, then really, you don't have to He raised a hand and gently covered my mouth. His other hand reached up to wipe away the tears I didn't even know had fallen. "Blair," he said softly, firmly, "this isn't a big deal. I'm good to you because you deserve it. And because you were good to me first." "Care... love... They're meant to go both ways. But they don't need to be measured or traded.

You don't have to put them on a scale and weigh them out." And that broke me. I cried. Because no one-not once in my entire life-had ever said something like that to me. I used to think if I tried harder, did more, became better- someone, anyone, would finally see me. But no. I'd been invisible for years. ---- Turns out... Love should never be given to those who don't know how to treasure it. When we docked, Cassian handed me a card. "My personal number.

If you ever need anything, call me." Then he paused, smiled gently, and added, "I'll see you again sometime." I stared at the card in my hand, unsure what he meant. See me again...? What did he mean by that?