Kai POV
A nurse just came over the PA system and told me I have guests. When I tried to ask who is on their way she shut off the connection. Now I am pacing my tiny room like a caged animal. I stop in the middle of my room and look at the walls. They are covered in my latest artwork. I wish I had time to rip them all off the walls and hide them. I don't want anyone else looking at them. They are personal.
The lock to my room clicks, and my eyes dart to the door. I feel like I could vomit. It has been weeks since anyone has dared to visit me. I was irate and unstable. There was no telling what I might have done if someone entered the room. Especially Tish.
Now, as the door swings open, I am met with her green eyes. They have both a hint of excitement and worry inside them. I am not surprised when Kaden walks into the room behind her. It is for the best. We should not be left alone.
I stand in the middle of the room, not wanting to make the first move. A frown tugs at my lips when Tish walks by me. She is studying the artwork on the walls. My inner thoughts spread on paper for everyone to see. I swallow hard and wait for a response.
Her eyes are wide and full of tears when she turns to look at me. She takes a small step in my direction but is careful not to get too close.
I let my eyes drag over her body. Kaden's glistening mark is now on her neck. I find a flare of jealousy in my gut because I was not there for it. But I know I didn't deserve to be.
She is curvier than the last time I saw her, and there is something odd about her scent. Nervously, she tucks her dark hair behind her ears and clears her throat.
"Did you do all of these?" She asks, filling the silence in the room.
"I did," I respond, not brave enough to look up from the floor.
"They are all me," she says in awe.
I glance around at the pictures on the walls like I am seeing them again for the first time. They are all of Tish from different times in our short time together. One is of her sleeping in the car. Another is of her anger, a full pout on her lips, and her green eyes glowing with malice. There are several of her in a state of undress, with her eyes hooded and darkened with lust.
"How often do you draw me?" She asks.
I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to make a big deal out of nothing. "A couple times a day."
"Are there more?" She questions.
Reaching underneath my bed, I pull out a cardboard box. It is filled to the brim with more pictures of Tish.
She inches her way around me and sits down on the bed. Pulling the box closer to her, she sorts through the artwork one by one.
I can't take my eyes off her as she looks through my box. She smirks at some, and others make her blush. As I watch her, I can't believe I ever harmed her. She is the most precious thing in the world to me. I am so enraptured with watching her that I have forgotten Kaden is in the room.
"I vouched for your release, but the doctor isn't sure you are ready while Mom is still in custody," Kaden tells me.
I cannot stop the growl from leaving my lips when he mentions Mom. She is going to pay for what she has done to me. I will make sure of that personally.
Tish flinches on my bed as I growl, and guilt rushes through me. I don't know if things will ever be the same between us. I quickly silence my wolf, and Tish lets out the breath she was holding.
She pats the bed beside her, but I don't know if she is asking for Kaden or me to sit with her, so I stay rooted in the spot.
"Kai," she calls my name. "Come sit with me. We need to talk."
Her face is unreadable, and my stomach is churning as I approach her. She is going to reject me. I know it. I have done nothing but hurt her and fuck her since she arrived. She deserves better. Kaden can give her everything she needs and more. I am just the spare mate.
She takes my hands when I sit beside her. They are cooler than mine and ease my suffering a little. Her eyes bore into mine, and I hold my breath, waiting for the rejection.
"I'm pregnant," Tish says quietly.
"What did you say?" I ask. I am positive I misheard her. She is supposed to be rejecting me.
"We are going to have a baby," she says. "We just had our first appointment to confirm, and I wanted to come straight here."
"You aren't here to reject me?" I ask.
Tish squeezes my hands, and the sparks from the mate bond pulse through my body like electricity. "Why would I reject you?"
"Do I need to make a list?" I try to joke, but it misses the mark. Tish doesn't laugh.
"You were made for me," Tish tells me. "Why would I give up someone who was made for me?"
"I have hurt you," I whisper.
"Everyone makes mistakes," she reminds me. "Plus, you were poisoned. I don't believe you would ever hurt me on purpose."
My hand darts out to touch her belly, but I recoil before I do. I am not sure I can trust myself enough to lay my hands on her.
Tish pouts when I pull my hand away. I can feel her disappointment through the bond. She gently takes my hand and lays it against her stomach. Closing my eyes, I focus on her body beneath my hand, and I swear I can feel the fluttering of the baby within her.
My eyes fly open, and there are tears streaming down her cheeks. She is scared. I can feel it. She doesn't think she is going to be a good mom.
"You are going to be the best mom," I whisper in encouragement.
"Visiting hours are over," the nurse announces over the speaker.
I remove my hand from her stomach and give her the space to leave. Only she leans forward and places a small kiss on my lips before picking up my box of art.
"Where are you taking that?" I am unable to keep the panic from my voice.
"I'm keeping these," she smiles, before handing the box to Kaden.
"Wait ," I call out before she leaves. "Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's too soon to tell," Kaden replies but Tish is chewing on her bottom lip.
"It's a girl," she says quietly. "A very important girl."