Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Chapter 0266

Lottie POV

The familiar voice of Kane echoed through the room, causing my heart to skip and then race, thundering a mile a minute as I spun towards the door. There he stood, looking exhausted and run down, a shadow of the man I remembered. My mind had replayed this moment a thousand times, yet none of my imagined reunions had prepared me for the torrent of raw emotions now overwhelming me.

My knees felt weak; my heart threatened to burst from my chest as he took a step forward. Instinctively, I retreated until my back pressed against the cold counter. The space between us charged with unspoken words and stifled emotions; I struggled internally, fighting the urge to close the distance and embrace him.

"What is SHE doing here?" Connie's shrill voice cut through the thick air, her tone dripping with disdain and snapping me back to reality. My mind raced, urging caution, but my heart hammered so loudly it drowned out any coherent thought I might have had. "You are not welcome here, runt," Connie snapped as she moved to step into the kitchen. Kane's head whipped around to face her, and for a fleeting second, I thought I saw a flash of hatred in his eyes. But I quickly dismissed it, convincing myself I was projecting my own feelings after all, why would he hate his own mate?

"Leave! Now!" Kane's voice was a harsh growl, filled with anger and frustration. Connie recoiled slightly, her face a mix of embarrassment and hurt. I tensed, anticipating the inevitable temper tantrum that would follow.

"No," she laughed mockingly, crossing her arms defiantly, her features twisted with hate and jealousy. As she glared at me, her eyes brimming with malice, I found myself weary of the drama and longing only for escape and detachment from this bullshit. "Escape?" Sage asked cautiously. "He wants to speak to you." She reminded me, and I shook my head of the tears I felt brewing.

"He has had months to speak to me. He made his choice." I muttered my dry reply.

"Something is up, I can't sense anything. We used to be mates; I should be able to sense SOMETHING." Sage complained while I closed my eyes, not wanting to have this conversation right now or at all.

"I mean it, Lottie... Something is going on. Let me talk to him. Please." Sage begged, her voice whiny and fueled with a raw need that pulled at my heartstrings.

audible as I tried to sidestep past Kane; my mind made up. This wasn't a good idea, and for once, Connie was right; I shouldn't be here. Moving my arm from Kane's grasp as he moved to stop me, I pushed forward towards the door, But Connie blocked my path, her gaze

you look like a hippo. You poor thing! You should have taken better care of yourself! There is no way anyone will love those stretch marks," she spat viciously,

could muster a response, Kane stepped protectively in front of me, his anger palpable. His hand reached out, resting lightly on my stomach, a protective gesture that sent a wave of complex emotions through me. The

moment, despite the chaos, the harsh words, and the painful circumstances, a flicker of hope ignited within me. Perhaps not all

his hand still resting gently on my stomach, fingers subtly caressing the fabric of my top as if to

defiant stance

I knew all too well from personal experiences in this very kitchen. Memories

igniting a familiar heat between my thighs. I discreetly rubbed them together, trying to soothe

the twins had

Connie.

with raw, unmistakable need, locked onto mine, and the intensity of his gaze was startling, almost taking me by surprise. "I need you to stop doing that," he warned, his voice low and fraught with a barely contained urgency that made

innocence, my voice light, almost teasing, as Connie tried to interject herself

exactly what you are doing," he snapped, his gaze dropping to where my thighs were rubbing subtly. The corners of my mouth twitched into a smirk, and I couldn't help but let out a

is going on here?

tightened. He pushed her none- gently through the door; his eyes, however, remained locked on mine, the intensity of his gaze causing my stomach to flip with a mix of

and slamming the door shut. The door rattled from her attempts to get back in, but Kane was quicker,