The Bride Widow
Chapter 152: Ch 152: Gentle Reassurance - Part 2

Chapter 152: Ch 152: Gentle Reassurance - Part 2

Anabella’s heart beat a little faster, but she kept her breathing even, unwilling to open her eyes and confront the source of the touch. A voice in the back of her mind whispered that she should be alarmed, but another part of her—the part that had grown to trust Clair and Noah—urged her to stay calm. This wasn’t danger. At least, it didn’t feel like it.

The hand lingered for a moment longer before pulling away. She thought she heard a faint whisper, though the words were too soft to make out. The presence at her side remained for a little while longer, unmoving and silent, and then it was gone. She heard the faint shuffle of feet retreating and the soft click of the door closing.

Her eyes fluttered open briefly, staring into the dim, moonlit room. She felt unnerved, yet oddly at ease. It was a peculiar contradiction, one that stayed with her even as she drifted back into a deeper sleep.

he next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting the room in warm hues. Anabella stretched under the blankets, the memory of the night’s events lingering faintly in her mind. For a brief moment, she debated whether she should bring it up to Clair and Noah. Were they checking on her? Had she imagined the touch entirely? It was hard to tell.

Pushing the thought aside, she got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, where she found Clair and Noah sitting at the table. Their expressions were uncharacteristically tense, worry etched into their features.

"Good morning," she greeted them, her voice soft but cheerful.

Both alphas turned to her, their gazes sharpening as they looked her over.

"Did you sleep well?" Clair asked, her tone casual, though her eyes held an intensity that made Anabella pause.

"I did," Anabella replied, forcing a smile. She hesitated, debating whether to share her strange experience, but something about their worried faces made her second-guess herself. "I think I had a dream, though," she added cautiously, testing the waters.

Noah tilted his head, his posture relaxing slightly. "What kind of dream?"

Anabella shrugged, playing it off. "Just... something about someone being in my room. It was probably nothing."

Her words caused a fleeting look of guilt to cross Clair’s face, though it disappeared so quickly Anabella wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it. Noah, on the other hand, gave her a reassuring smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Dreams can be strange sometimes," he said, his tone light. "Maybe it’s just your subconscious processing everything from the past few days."

"Yeah, maybe," Anabella agreed, though she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that it hadn’t been just a dream.

Clair stood abruptly, clearing her throat. "Breakfast is ready. Why don’t you sit down? You shouldn’t overexert yourself after yesterday."

The sudden shift in topic left Anabella with little choice but to drop her line of thought. She took a seat at the table, allowing herself to be distracted by the meal in front of her. Clair and Noah hovered more than usual, their concern palpable despite their efforts to appear nonchalant.

As the day went on, the memory of the night’s events faded into the background, overshadowed by the comfort of being in Clair and Noah’s care. Yet, every so often, a flicker of curiosity would resurface, and she’d find herself glancing at them, wondering if they knew more than they let on.

______

Unbeknownst to Anabella, her suspicions weren’t entirely unfounded. The night before, after ensuring that she was asleep, Clair and Noah had quietly crept into her room. They hadn’t meant to invade her privacy, but the events of the day had left them uneasy. Anabella’s exhaustion and vulnerability weighed heavily on them, and the thought of leaving her completely alone had been unbearable.

Noah had sat by her bedside first, his sharp eyes scanning her sleeping form as if to ensure she was truly safe. Clair had stood at the foot of the bed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Neither of them spoke, their unspoken worries hanging in the air.

It was Noah who had reached out to touch Anabella’s face, his fingers brushing against her skin with a gentleness that belied his usual strength. He hadn’t meant to linger, but the sight of her peaceful expression had tugged at something deep within him. Clair had watched silently, her jaw tightening as conflicting emotions flickered across her face.

"She’s strong," Noah had whispered finally, his voice barely audible. "But she’s been through too much."

Clair had nodded, her gaze softening as she looked at Anabella. "She’ll get through it," she murmured. "We’ll make sure of it."

They had stayed for a little while longer, their presence quiet but protective. When they finally left, closing the door behind them, both alphas had carried a sense of relief that Anabella was safe, though neither could fully shake the guilt of their intrusion.

Now, as they went about their day, they couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease every time Anabella mentioned her "dream." It wasn’t something they could admit to—not yet, at least. For now, they focused on supporting her, determined to help her heal in any way they could.

And though Anabella couldn’t quite pinpoint why, she felt an undeniable sense of security in their presence, as if she were finally surrounded by people who truly cared for her.

The evening light streamed through the windows, painting the room in warm golden hues. Anabella sat on the couch, her hands twisting in her lap as Clair and Noah hovered nearby. They had been unusually attentive ever since her accident in the kitchen the night before, and while part of her appreciated their concern, another part of her felt increasingly suffocated by it.

"I should get going," Anabella said, breaking the silence. Her voice was firm, though her eyes darted away to avoid the inevitable protests. "It’s getting late, and I need to be up early tomorrow for work."