16. Jonas
Chapter Sixteen
Jonas
Idon't want her to leave. The thought sits quiet in my chest as I lean back in my chair, watching Kaia laugh at something Finn says.
He's made her laugh three times in the last five minutes.
It isn't loud or overwhelming—it's something softer, more genuine.
A real laugh that starts low in her chest and bubbles up like she can't quite contain it.
Her head tilts back slightly, her shoulders relaxing, and for just a moment, the careful control she usually holds so tight simply dissolves.
Her whole face changes when she laughs—her eyes crinkle at the corners, her mouth opens wider than I've ever seen it, and there's a flush of color that spreads across her cheeks.
It's unguarded. It's free. It's everything she's been learning to let herself be.
The evening has settled into something warm and easy.
The light from the kitchen spills into the living room in soft, golden tones, and the ocean sounds drift through the open windows—a gentle, constant rhythm beneath our voices.
There's no tension here, no performance.
Just the four of us and her, existing in a space that feels safe enough for her to simply be.
Lachlan shifts beside me, his presence steady and grounding.
Adrian is relaxed in a way I rarely see him, his usual intensity softened by the contentment of the moment.
And Finn—Finn is exactly where he needs to be, drawing her laughter out like it's the most natural thing in the world.
I notice everything. The way her shoulders have dropped since she arrived.
The way she leans slightly toward Finn when he speaks, genuinely interested instead of bracing for criticism.
The way her fingers have uncurled from the tight fists they usually are, resting open on the table.
She's settling. Not just for tonight, but into something deeper.
Into the belief that she might actually be safe here.
That we might actually want her to stay.
Lachlan shifts beside me.
I notice the violet shadows beneath her eyes—faint but unmistakable in the soft kitchen light.
The way she's leaning more heavily into her chair than she was an hour ago, her movements just slightly slower even as she laughs.
She's been up since before dawn for her shift at the café, and I can see the exhaustion settling into the small spaces between her breaths, the subtle weariness in how she holds herself.
As much as I want this night to never end, I need her to know that our priority is her well-being.
"We should call it," I say after a war in my head. "You've got an early morning, right?"
Kaia blinks, like she forgot. "Oh…yeah, I do."
Finn makes a face. "No! We're just getting to the good part."
Lachlan says, "You say that about every part."
"Because every part is the good part."
Kaia smiles at that, and I notice the flicker of hesitation. She doesn't want to leave.
I say, "I can take you back, if you'd like."
She looks to me. Her expression is somewhere between gratitude and relief. "That would be great."
Finn groans dramatically. "This is a tragedy," he mutters, but stands up. "A betrayal of the utmost."
Adrian says dryly, "You'll live."
Finn clutches his chest. "I don't think I will."
We all stand, and the moment stretches, like none of us want it to end. We don’t rush or push her toward the door. Everyone just…lingers.
Kaia looks between us, something soft and uncertain in her eyes. "Thank you," she says quietly.
I know she doesn't just mean dinner, but all of it.
Lachlan nods. "Anytime."
Finn steps forward and hugs her before any of us can stop him. "Text me when you get home," he says.
She blinks, then says quietly, "Um, you don't have my number. And I don't...I don't have a phone."
Finn freezes and turns to Adrian, pointing at him like it's his responsibility. "We are fixing that."
Adrian, without hesitation, says, "Tomorrow." Kaia huffs out a small laugh, and I step in, grounding the moment before it tips too far.
Adrian watches us move toward the door, his expression steady and measured—the kind of calm that doesn't waver even as the pack bond shifts. He nods once, a silent acknowledgment, his hand settling briefly on Finn's shoulder.
Finn bounces slightly on his heels, a restless energy that wasn't there a moment ago. He tugs at the hem of his shirt, then catches himself and forces a grin. "Drive safe," he calls out, the words a little too bright, covering something underneath.
Lachlan stands by the window, his hand pressed against the glass. His eyes meet mine for just a second, and there's understanding there. Acceptance.
Through the bond, I feel them as we step outside.
Adrian’s presence tightens first—a controlled, measured concern, like he's holding something steady even as it tries to slip.
Then Finn's restlessness blooms bright and fluttering, a nervous energy that makes my shoulders tense slightly.
And Lachlan—his calm certainty wraps around the edges, grounding the others even as they feel her absence beginning.
I don't speak for the first few minutes of the drive.
I want to give her space, let her settle.
I turn the car toward the older strip just outside of Main Street.
Then the motel comes into view and something in my chest goes tight.
I pull into the parking lot like it's the most normal thing in the world.
Kaia doesn't move or reach for the door. She just sits there, looking confused and a bit tense. "Um, you're not a stalker, right?" She tries for lightness but it doesn’t quite land.
I laugh under my breath. "No," I say. "But I was driving back from a meeting the other night and saw you heading in."
Her shoulders ease slightly, but not completely. The silence stretches. "It's not…" I wait. I won’t rush her. "It's just temporary," she finally says, her fingers curling slightly in her lap. "I'm just…trying to figure things out." She's being vulnerable and honest, much more than before.
I nod once. "I know." There's another pause, then before I can think it through, I say, "You don't have to stay here."
Her head snaps toward me. "What?"
"We've got plenty of space. An extra room. You could stay with us…just for a few days."
Her reaction is immediate. "No." Too fast, too sharp, too defensive—but I don't flinch, don't push.
I just nod. "Okay." I let the word sit, and that throws her. I note the way she braces for an argument that never comes.
"I just…" She tries again. "I don't want to…"
I interrupt her thoughts. "You don’t have to. It's just an option." More silence. I don't fill it or look at her. I just let her think and process. A few minutes pass.
Then I hear a small, quiet exhale. She mutters, "The bed is terrible…" I almost smile as she adds, "And the shower…it's just so disgusting."
I say, "Our water pressure is to die for. We have a walk-in shower."
She lets out a small breath, then looks at me again. Still hesitant and guarded, but…considering.
"Just a few days…" she finally says. "Just until I can find something else."
I nod. "Okay."
"And I can leave whenever I want."
"Of course."
"No questions asked."
"None."
She holds my gaze for a second longer, testing me. "Okay."
I pull out my phone to text the guys.
Jonas
So, small change in plans. Kaia is going to be staying with us for a few nights. Assuming everyone is good with that, but speak now if not.
Finn responds immediately.
Finn
ARE YOU KIDDING? YES! I AM CLEANING THE EXTRA ROOM RIGHT NOW!
I laugh quietly.
Adrian
Sounds good.
It's simple and final. Lachlan doesn't text. He doesn't need to for me to know he's okay with this.
We get out of the car and head over to the building so Kaia can grab her stuff. I step into the motel room behind her, and my jaw tightens. It's very small and not the cleanest. She deserves so much better than this.
Kaia moves quietly, gathering her things into a duffel. My gaze lingers on the space, or I should say, the lack of it. But I don't comment. It's not my place. "Ready?" I ask. She nods and slings the bag over her shoulder, then takes one last look around. A final look is all she needs.
We leave, no hesitation.
I offer to take the bag from her, but she doesn't let me. We get back into the car and drive home. We pull into the driveway and Lachlan is already outside, waiting. Kaia steps out and grabs her bag. Her eyes scan the house like she's seeing it through different eyes.
Not as a guest, but as something else.
Lachlan meets her gaze, but doesn't step forward. "You're back," is all he says. Her mouth twitches slightly.
"Yeah." There's a beat, then she adds, "For a few days."
Lachlan nods. "Sounds good." And this time, she doesn't hesitate before stepping inside.