Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama

Selene POV

I tried to sound casual, masking the anxiety thrumming in my chest. "I just woke up," I said, gesturing to the glass on the bedside table. "I was thirsty. Thought I’d get some water."

Noah nodded, though his eyes lingered on me longer than usual as if searching for something he couldn’t quite place. He closed the door behind him and walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed. His expression softened, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "I was hoping you’d still be asleep," he admitted quietly. "I wanted to cuddle with you. It still feels like a dream that you’re here."

I managed a small smile, the guilt of Kragen’s presence still lingering in my mind. I touched his arm gently. "I’m here, Noah. You don’t have to worry."

For a moment, we sat in a comfortable silence, the weight of the past few days settling between us. But then Noah’s expression shifted, something unspoken lingering in his eyes. He took a deep breath as if bracing himself for what he was about to say.

"There’s something I need to tell you," Noah began, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He looked down at his hands, fidgeting slightly as he gathered his thoughts. "I’ve been keeping something from you, and I don’t want to hide it anymore."

My heart skipped a beat, my mind immediately racing with possibilities. The vulnerability in his voice was unsettling, a side of Noah I rarely saw. I nodded, urging him to continue, even as a part of me dreaded whatever he was about to confess.

Noah looked up, his eyes meeting mine with a mix of fear and determination. "I thought... I thought I was doing the right thing by protecting you, by keeping you safe from everything. But in doing that, I made decisions without you, and I should have been honest from the start."

I swallowed, my gaze never leaving his. I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, the anticipation of whatever truth he was about to reveal. "Noah," I said softly, reaching out to take his hand. "Whatever it is, we’ll face it together."

Noah squeezed my hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the turmoil in his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice cracking slightly. "I just hope... I hope you can forgive me."

The room fell silent again, the air thick with unspoken fears and the promise of revelations yet to come. I squeezed his hand back, bracing myself for whatever confession was waiting on the other side of this quiet, fragile moment.