The Waterfall Confession

First Person POV.

My eyes widened in utmost, paralyzing surprise. I sat frozen on the wooden park bench, the cool outdoor breeze washing over my skin as I tried to process the massive confession that just dropped from his lips. *He likes me?* I replayed the words in my head, searching for a hidden punchline or a cruel misunderstanding. I gazed dumbfounded into his warm brown eyes for what felt like endless minutes. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

"Excuse me?" I finally voiced out. My vocal cords felt incredibly tight, barely managing to push the words past my lips.

Caspian did not flinch or look away. He maintained steady eye contact, leaning in slightly to close the distance. He confidently repeated that he liked me in a different, romantic way.

The raw sincerity shining in his gaze scared the living daylights out of me. Nobody had ever confessed their feelings to me. I was Gia. The invisible, abused omega of the pack. I spent my entire life blending into the background, taking hits, cleaning floors, and enduring endless ridicule. I couldn't comprehend how a beautifully sculptured, powerful male like him could be genuinely interested in me.

I dropped my gaze, looking down at my own lap. I was acutely aware of the gigantic bump in my belly. My pregnant state was a glaring, physical reminder of Kael—the mate who claimed me, used me, and then mercilessly abandoned me.

"We aren't even mates," I quickly reminded him, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and deep-seated insecurity.

Caspian let out a small sigh. He shifted his body, turning to face me head-on. He reached out and gently took both of my hands in his. His palms were large, warm, and rough with calluses. He guided my hands upward, holding them tightly against his hard, steady chest. Beneath the fabric of his shirt, I felt the strong, rhythmic thumping of his heart.

"I know that we aren't mates, Gia," Caspian acknowledged softly. "But I haven't felt this way about anybody in the last four years. Not since Nadine died."

He squeezed my hands comfortingly, grounding me in the present moment. "Look, I know this is sudden. We have only known each other for a short period of time. But I don't hide my feelings. I see something I want, and I go for it."

He held my gaze, refusing to let me pull away from the intensity of the moment. "I can't promise that being with me will feel exactly like being with a true mate. I know the bond is unique. But I am willing to try my best. Making you happy is all I want to do."

His expression hardened with a fierce, protective edge. "And I swear to you, I will never do what your mate did. I will never let you go without a fight."

His passionate words hit me like a physical blow. Thick tears immediately flooded my eyes, blurring my vision. My chest ached with a sudden pressure. My brain screamed at me to be logical, to accept this incredible man sitting right in front of me. But my heavily scarred heart made me hesitate deeply. Kael was my undoing. He ruined my trust and shattered my self-worth. He left a barren, bleeding hole in my chest. Could another man truly fill that void?

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. I needed to be brutally honest.

"I don't know, Caspian," I confessed, my voice barely a whisper. "If I agree to this relationship, I would feel as though I was just using you to heal my brokenness. I don't want to do that to you."

Caspian remained unbothered by my admission. Instead of pulling away, he inched closer on the bench.

"I admire your honesty, Gia," he said, a genuine softness returning to his features. "I really do. But you know what? If being with me helps you heal, I am ten times more willing to go through with it."

My breath hitched. Did a male with a heart this impossibly kind actually exist? His words wrapped around my battered soul, offering a safe harbor I never thought I deserved. He gave me a breathtaking smile that made my pulse race, but my nerves still clawed at my insides. I needed clarity. I needed to be sure I wasn't just grabbing onto the nearest lifeline.

I gently retracted my hands from his chest, placing them back on my lap. My fingers fiddled with the hem of my shirt. "Can I please have some time to process and think about it?" I asked nervously.

His smile wavered slightly at the delay. A brief flash of disappointment crossed his features, but he masked it quickly. His lips formed a tight line before he warmly agreed, granting me all the time in the world.

A comfortable silence settled over us. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, deeply grateful he wasn't pressuring me into a corner.

Shortly after this heavy conversation, Caspian stood up. The serious energy dissipated, replaced by a sudden excitement. He reached out, offering me his hand.

"Where are we going?" I asked, giving him a skeptical look.

"I want to show you something," he smiled, wiggling his fingers to urge me on. "A secret place."

I placed my hand in his, and he effortlessly pulled me to my feet. He kept his fingers intertwined with mine as he excitedly pulled me toward the dense tree line at the edge of the park.

"I'm sorry if I'm acting eager," he tossed over his shoulder, picking up his pace. "I've just never shown anyone this before."

He strode forward with long, eager steps. I tried to keep up, but my short legs and heavy pregnant body simply couldn't match his eager, long-strided pace. I huffed, my breath coming out in short pants as the weight of my belly strained my lower back. I dragged behind him, the distance between us stretching.

"Caspian, wait," I panted.

He stopped dead in his tracks and spun around. When he saw me struggling to catch my breath, his face laced with sudden guilt. He ran a hand through his messy blond hair, his brow furrowing.

"Goddess, Gia, I am so sorry," he muttered, stepping back toward me. "I was being inconsiderate. I shouldn't have let my excitement get the best of me."

"It's fine," I shrugged, offering a small pout. "You don't have to apologize for everything. But I am not a china doll."

Amusement danced in his eyes. He stepped right into my personal space. Before I could process his next move, he hooked one arm behind my knees and wrapped the other securely around my waist.

I gasped in surprise as my feet left the ground. He effortlessly scooped me up into his strong arms, cradling me against his chest. The baby bump fit perfectly between us, unbothered by his careful hold.

"You are my china doll," he smirked.

I couldn't help the blush that spread across my cheeks. "That was so cheesy," I giggled.

Despite my protest, I snuggled deeply into his comforting warmth. I rested my head against his shoulder, letting him carry my heavy weight. As he carried me through the woods, the canopy of leaves blocking out the harsh afternoon sun, I momentarily forgot everything else. I forgot my painful past. I forgot that my knight in shining armor was also an Alpha. He possessed the same dominant nature as my actual mate, but he was just a thousand times better.

The sound of rushing water echoed through the trees before the scenery broke open. Caspian stepped out of the tree line and brought us to a breathtaking, high cliff.

My breath caught in my throat. We faced a beautiful, rushing waterfall that cascaded down the rocky surface into a crystal-clear pool below. The entire area was completely surrounded by vibrant greenery. Colorful butterflies and unique insects fluttered through the misty air, dancing around the blooming flora.

"This is beautiful," I murmured in awe.

He set me down on my feet gently, making sure I had my balance before stepping back. But he kept one of my hands firmly in his grasp.

I walked closer to a blooming bush near the edge of the cliff, mesmerized by the deep red petals. I leaned forward to pick one up.

"I'll do it," Caspian offered smoothly.

He reached past me and snapped the stem of a perfect red blossom. He turned back to me, holding the flower delicately between his fingers.

"A beautiful rose for a beautiful girl," he murmured, his voice low and raspy.

My cheeks burned red hot. A thousand butterflies fluttered frantically in my stomach, making me feel incredibly giddy and cherished. Nobody ever called me beautiful. I took the rose from his hand, lifting it to my nose to inhale the sweet fragrance.

Caspian reached out again. He gently took the flower back and tucked it delicately into my hair, settling the stem just above my ear. His knuckles brushed against my cheek, sending a warm shiver down my spine. The romantic warmth wrapped around me like a thick blanket. I felt safe.

But the romantic warmth didn't last.

A sudden, sharp, excruciating pain violently shot through my body.

It started deep within my chest, right where the mate bond tethered me to Kael, and exploded outward like a stick of dynamite. It felt as though someone had driven a jagged, rusty blade directly into my heart and twisted it without mercy.

A loud scream tore directly from my lips. My knees buckled instantly.

I tumbled out of Caspian's arms, crashing toward the ground. I fell too fast for him to catch me. My palms hit the dirt as a wave of absolute agony ripped through my nervous system. My lungs seized. Every muscle in my body spasmed in horrific synchronization.

*Kael.*

The realization slammed into my panicked brain. Kael was sleeping with someone else again. The phantom sensations of his lust and betrayal burned through the bond, weaponized against my fragile state. The physical pain was unbearable, a searing fire melting my bones from the inside out.

"It's happening again!" I gasped out, my voice cracking into a desperate sob.

I curled into myself, clutching my swollen belly as another agonizing spasm tore through my spine. I was convinced Kael was literally trying to kill me through the bond. The sheer force of the connection was too much for my weakened, pregnant body to handle.

"Please, Caspian, make it stop!" I begged, tears streaming down my face. "It hurts too much! Please, help me!"

I felt his large hands grab my shoulders. Caspian rapidly lifted me into his arms, pulling me tight against his chest. I heard his frantic voice, but the roaring sound of blood rushing in my ears drowned out his words.

He didn't waste a single second. He spun around and sprinted desperately back through the woods. The cold breeze slapped my face severely as he ran, the landscape blurring into a dizzying streak of green and brown.

The pain amplified with every step he took. Black dots quickly clouded my vision, swarming at the edges of my sight. The darkness beckoned to me, promising relief from the agonizing physical torture.

But I desperately fought the encroaching darkness. My fingers dug into the fabric of Caspian's shirt, anchoring myself to him. I squeezed my eyes shut and gritted my teeth against another horrifying wave of pain from Kael.

I didn't want to pass out. Not yet.

I needed to stay awake just a little longer. I needed to solidify my mind, to sever whatever emotional hold Kael still had over me. My actual mate was never coming back.

My grip on Caspian's shirt tightened as the blackness threatened to swallow me whole. I needed to speak over the agony tearing my body apart. I needed to tell Caspian, *Yes, I will be with you.*