My Convicted Wife is My Mate (Bella and Kane) novel Chapter 35

chapter 29-2
Her words hit harder than she realized. It felt like she was reminding me of everything I’d lost

I sighed inwardly. I’d hoped to handle this privately, to let Justin down gently, without making him uncomfortable. But Shay clearly had other plans.

Justin’s face turned a deep shade of red. He fumbled for words, staring at the floor. He was obviously embarrassed by her comment about his car. I mean, who wouldn’t be? That was so uncalled for.

I turned to her calmly, even though my chest was burning with anger. “I think that’s your dream, Shay. You’re the one who only cares about material things. Or maybe I’m wrong…” I tilted my head slightly. “Maybe you just go home with anyone who asks you.”

Her mouth fell open, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “You…you…”

I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction. I simply turned back to Justin.

“Thank you for the offer,” I said softly. “You’re very kind, but I live nearby. I’m used to walking home.”

He nodded awkwardly. His cheeks were still flushed, but I gave him a genuine smile before stepping out of the break room. I didn’t want a scene. I’d had enough of those to last me a lifetime.

I made my way home. I stopped by the market. I picked out some small decorations for the cabin that I could afford. I wanted the cabin to look more like a home. It needed a bit of colour.

After that, I picked up a small sirloin, a few fresh vegetables, and potatoes. It had been years since I’d cooked, not in prison, and not when I was with Damien. His pack had servants for everything.

But now… now I found myself remembering old recipes my grandfather used to make. The kitchen had always been our safe place.

And tonight, I wanted to cook for someone again.

By the time I reached home, it was dark. The cabin was quiet. I changed into something more comfortable and started preparing dinner. The sound of sizzling meat, the smell of roasted vegetables - it filled the small space with warmth.

Cooking felt different now. Before, food was just… fuel. Something to keep me going. But Kane appreciated it. He noticed things. He noticed the seasoning, the tenderness, the care. And knowing that made me take more time with every dish.

As I plated the steaks, I heard the familiar sound of the door unlocking.

“You’re back” I said with a smile.

When I looked up, Kane was already taking off his coat. He hung it neatly, removed his shoes, then came to stand beside me at the sink to wash his hands.

The air shifted.

His nearness always did something strange to me, something I didn’t want to admit. My heart sped up. My pulse raced in my throat. I tried to keep my breathing even as his shoulder brushed lightly against mine.

His scent hit me hard. I missed my wolf in moments like this. With her, I’d have felt the full force of it. But even now, stripped of that part of me, Kane’s presence stirred something inside me.

Did he feel it too? With how casual he looked, I doubted.

I didn’t dare ask. We had our roles as brother and sister. I told myself that was enough.

He dried his hands and glanced at me. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” I said automatically.

His deep eyes met mine. A hint of gold-green flashed in them. It felt like his wolf was rising close to the surface.

“I thought I warned you not to lie to me,” he said quietly.

A wave of power rolled through the room. It wasn’t aggressive. It was just commanding, firm, the kind of presence that demanded truth. It slid across my skin. It hit me like a small forcefield.

“Kane…” I breathed. I was shocked. “I felt that.”

His eyes widened a bit.. He must have felt it too. How was that possible? I had no wolf anymore. There was no blood bond, no shared lineage between us. And yet, somehow, his energy reached me.

I forced a smile to brush it off. “Sit,” I said softly. “Dinner’s ready.”

He didn’t argue. Kane never wasted words when silence would do.

I loaded a generous portion of sirloin, roasted vegetables, and potatoes onto his plate. He thanked me before digging in.

The silence between us wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable. It was the kind of quiet that feels full instead of empty. It was nice having him back.

“You were busy with jobs these last few days,” I said, trying to keep the conversation light. “That’s good, right?”

His lips twitched. “Yes. Busy.”

“What about you?” His voice was quiet now, but there was an edge underit. “Do you like him?”

I set my fork down slowly, looking at him. “If he finds out I’ve been to prison, he’ll stay away from me. So it doesn’t matter whether I like him or not.”

Kane’s jaw tightened. He looked angry “Is there something wrong with you being in prison before? If he truly likes you, he shouldn’t care.”

I laughed. “Oh, I’m not so sure. People always say things like that until it’s real. Love isn’t as pure as the movies make it out to be.”

He didn’t look convinced. “What if he does accept it? Would you like him then?”

I hesitated. Was I even capable of love anymore? Or trust?

“If someone could accept me, knowing everything…” I trailed off. “Maybe. I suppose.”

Kane didn’t look pleased. His expression darkened. I could see the hint of his wolf flashing briefly behind his eyes.

“Would you like him?” he pressed again. He seemed persistent of knowing the answer.

I thought about it. About what I really wanted. I already knew the answer.

“No,” I said finally. “I’d treat him like any other colleague.”

He studied me for a long moment with that cold unreadable expression of his.

Then, unexpectedly, he asked, “Do you like me?”

That made me smile. I looked with him.

“Yes,” I said softly. “I like you.”

His lips curved a bit. It wasn’t a smile but it would do.

“Good,” he said simply. “Because I like you too.”