Chapter 35 False Assumptions

Two hours later, Alpha Killian stepped out of his office, his fountain pen still in hand.

"That’s enough for tonight."

Eira closed her folder. She had already finished the report, but she did not argue.

"Understood."

Lila shut her laptop and reached for her bag.

"You’re going back to Mrs. Thorne’s, right? I can drive you."

Alpha Killian gave his sister a flat look.

"How many speeding tickets did you get last year?"

"That is private information."

"Seven."

"Two of them were unfair."

"I’ll drive her," Alpha Killian said.

Lila went still. Her gaze moved from Alpha Killian to Eira, then back to her brother. A slow smile spread across her face.

The silence became awkward.

Eira cleared her throat. "Thank you, but I can call a ride."

"The car is already downstairs," Alpha Killian said. His tone made it clear that the matter was settled.

Lila picked up her bag, still smiling. "Great. We can all go together."

--

A black SUV waited outside Sterling Tower. The driver opened the rear door, and Eira climbed in.

Alpha Killian sat beside her while Lila took the front passenger seat.

Eira had just reached for her seat belt when another car cut into their lane. The driver swerved to avoid it.

The sudden turn threw her sideways.

Alpha Killian caught her around the waist and pulled her against his chest. Her palm landed over his heart, and her lips brushed the edge of his jaw.

They both froze.

His arm remained around her. Beneath her hand, his heart gave one hard beat.

Eira lifted her head, bringing her mouth dangerously close to his. Alpha Killian’s gaze dropped to her lips.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice lower than usual.

"No."

For another second, neither of them moved.

Then Alpha Killian released her.

Eira quickly sat up and fastened her seat belt. Heat rushed into her cheeks as she shifted as close to the window as possible.

"Take it easy," Alpha Killian told the driver.

"My apologies, Alpha."

"It wasn’t his fault," Eira said. "That car cut him off."

Alpha Killian glanced at her. "I know."

His tone made it clear that her safety mattered more than who was at fault.

He opened his folder and returned to work.

Eira turned toward the window, keeping as much space between them as she could. Still, she could feel the memory of his hand at her waist and the rough brush of his jaw against her lips.

Fast reflexes. That was all.

After several minutes, the awkward angle made her neck ache. She rubbed the sore spot beneath her ear.

The pages beside her stopped turning.

Alpha Killian looked at the narrow space she had forced herself into, then closed his folder.

"Pull over."

Once the SUV stopped safely at the curb, he got out and opened the front passenger door.

"Switch with me," he told Lila.

Lila looked from her brother to Eira’s flushed face.

"Why?"

"Move."

She climbed out slowly, studying her brother as if he had suddenly grown a second head. Alpha Killian waited until she was seated beside Eira before taking the front passenger seat.

The SUV started moving again.

Eira looked at the broad line of Alpha Killian’s shoulders above the seat. He had not asked if she was uncomfortable. He had not explained himself at all.

Maybe he wanted more light to read. Maybe he needed to speak to the driver.

Either reason made sense.

Lila leaned closer. "He gave up his seat for you."

"He probably wanted more room to work."

"No, he didn’t."

"How would you know?"

"Because Killian never sits up front when there’s a driver. He says it makes people think he works security."

The SUV stopped outside the Thorne estate twenty minutes later.

Eira stepped out and closed the rear door. Before walking away, she leaned toward the open front window.

"Thank you for the ride, Alpha Killian."

Alpha Killian looked up from the report. For a moment, his eyes held hers.

"Making sure my staff gets home safely is part of the job."

The answer was professional. His gaze was not.

Eira felt that strange warmth again, but dismissed it as simple gratitude.

"Then you take your job very seriously."

"I take everything seriously, Miss Crawford."

"I’ve noticed."

The corner of his mouth moved, almost forming a smile.

"Good night, Eira."

It was the first time he had used her first name.

She paused, though she could not have said why.

"Good night, Alpha Killian."

Something shifted in his eyes, but it disappeared before she could understand it.

Eira straightened and stepped back from the SUV.

The moment the car began moving, Lila leaned between the front seats.

"Wow. Very professional."

Alpha Killian opened the report again. "What are you talking about?"

"The personal ride home. The long look. Calling her Eira."

"Sit back."

Lila lowered her voice in a terrible imitation of him. "’I take everything seriously, Miss Crawford.’" She pressed a hand to her chest. "Very smooth. Very subtle."

Alpha Killian pressed the button for the privacy screen.

"Oh, come on," Lila said as the divider began to rise. "You know I’m right."

Her laughter followed until the glass sealed off the rear cabin.

Alpha Killian looked into the side mirror.

Eira was still standing beneath the porch light. She watched the SUV leave, one hand resting on the strap of her bag.

Maybe she was only waiting to wave to Lila.

Alpha Killian watched until the car reached the end of the drive and Eira finally turned toward the house.

Then he lowered his eyes to the report.

Three blocks later, he was still on the same page.

--

At eight thirty Saturday morning, Eira met Rachel at a café near the family center.

Rachel wore jeans, a soft sweater, and the nervous smile of someone still worried the offer might be too good to be true.

"I brought the transfer confirmation," Rachel said, sliding her phone across the table. "The program changed the registration to my name."

Eira checked the screen. Everything looked correct.

"Here are the access badges and course guides."

She handed Rachel the welcome packet she had collected from the apartment.

Rachel looked inside, then quickly closed it. "Are you sure about the price? I can pay more."

"We already agreed."

"But this package is worth thousands."

"Then use what you saved for something the baby will need."

Rachel’s eyes softened. "Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet. You have two classes today and two tomorrow."

They completed the final transfer form together.

Rachel left for the family center, and Eira finished her coffee.

After leaving the café, Eira headed to a salon near the shopping district. Mrs. Thorne had given her a gown for the expo, and Eira wanted to choose a hairstyle that matched it.

She could have gone somewhere quick and cheap.

But the gown had been a thoughtful gift. Treating it like an afterthought felt wrong.

Eira entered Westbridge Galleria and stepped onto the escalator.

As it carried her toward the second floor, movement inside the jewelry boutique below caught her eye.

Serena stood in front of a mirror, a diamond bracelet around her wrist.

Alpha Sebastian was beside her.

He had one hand in his pocket and the other resting lightly against Serena’s back. When she turned toward him, his face softened into the warm smile Eira had once believed belonged only to her.

Eira did not need to hear the conversation.

She had seen enough.

Alpha Sebastian believed his wife was spending the morning learning how to build a family with him.

Meanwhile, he was buying jewelry for the woman he actually wanted.

Before the escalator carried her out of view, Eira took out her phone and snapped one clear photo through the boutique’s open entrance.

Neither Alpha Sebastian nor Serena looked up.

Good.

For years, Alpha Sebastian had expected her to protect his reputation while he did whatever he wanted. She was done keeping his secrets for him.

At the top of the escalator, Eira sent the picture to Susan.

Eira: Please add this to the file.