My Three Beautiful Vampire Wives can hear my Inner Thoughts-Chapter 185: All are alive

Cain’s body moved before his thoughts could even begin to form, as if something deep inside him had already decided what mattered most in that moment, as if instinct had taken control and left no space for doubt, hesitation, or reason.

"My wives...!"

The words tore out of his throat, raw and uneven, carrying the weight of fear that had not yet left him, his voice trembling as though it had been dragged out of a place too deep for him to properly understand. His eyes darted wildly across the room, searching, desperate, almost frantic, as if he expected everything around him to crumble at any second.

"Cornelia... Ivira... Faith...!"

Each name came out heavier than the last, each one filled with urgency, with a kind of panic that could not be hidden, his chest rising and falling too quickly as his breath struggled to keep up with the storm inside him.

And then—

He saw them.

Not shadows.

Not illusions.

Not broken bodies lying in pools of blood.

They were there.

Standing in front of him.

Close enough to touch.

Close enough to feel.

Alive.

For a brief moment, Cain simply stared, his entire body going still as if the world itself had paused, his eyes wide, unblinking, drinking in every detail of their faces, their posture, their presence, as if he was afraid that even blinking would make them disappear.

"...You’re here..."

His voice dropped into a whisper, the words barely leaving his lips as if speaking too loudly might break whatever fragile reality he had just stepped into.

"...You’re really here..."

Something inside him snapped.

Not in anger.

Not in rage.

But in something far more desperate.

He didn’t think.

He didn’t question.

He reached out.

Fast.

Almost clumsy.

His hand caught Cornelia first, his fingers wrapping around her arm with a grip that was tighter than it should have been, pulling her toward him without giving her time to react, his movement rushed and uneven as he brought her close, his arms immediately wrapping around her as if he was trying to anchor her in place.

Before she could even process what was happening, he reached for Ivira, his other arm moving just as quickly, pulling her in as well, his hold firm, almost desperate, his body leaning forward as if he needed to close every bit of distance between them.

And then—

Faith.

He didn’t even hesitate.

His arms opened just enough to pull her in too, completing the embrace, holding all three of them at once, his grip tightening instinctively as if letting go would mean losing them all over again.

"...You’re here..."

He said it again, his voice shaking slightly, his face buried close enough that he could feel them, their warmth, their presence, something solid, something real.

"...You’re all here..."

His arms tightened further, not enough to hurt, but enough to show that this was not casual, that this was not normal, that this was something driven by something deeper than simple affection.

Meanwhile, the three of them froze completely, their bodies going stiff the moment he pulled them in, their minds struggling to catch up with what was happening, because nothing about this made sense.

Just moments ago, the air between them had been tense, filled with quiet conflict that had been building for longer than any of them wanted to admit.

Faith had stood in front of them, her posture straight, her expression serious in a way that rarely appeared on her face, her usual warmth replaced by something firmer, something more resolute.

"You should let him go," she had said, her voice steady, her eyes locked onto her sisters as if she had already made her decision and was now forcing them to face it.

Cornelia had frowned immediately, her brows drawing together, her tone calm but carrying a clear edge. "What are you saying?"

Ivira had crossed her arms, her gaze turning sharp as she looked at Faith, her voice colder, more direct. "You’re telling us to give up?"

Faith hadn’t looked away.

"Yes," she had answered, without hesitation, without softening the blow, her voice carrying a quiet determination that made it hard to argue against her even if they wanted to.

"If it’s better for him... then you should."

Cornelia’s jaw had tightened, her eyes narrowing slightly as she held her ground. "...No."

Ivira had let out a slow breath, her gaze hardening. "...We won’t."

Faith had looked at them both for a long moment, something complicated passing through her eyes, something that held both sadness and resolve.

"Why?" she had asked quietly. "Why do you both want him so much?"

Silence had followed.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

But neither Cornelia nor Ivira had stepped back.

Cornelia had spoken first, her voice low but firm. "Because I do."

Ivira had followed without hesitation. "Same."

And before anything else could unfold—

Cain had pulled them into his arms.

Now—

They were trapped in that embrace, their bodies pressed against his, their minds still trying to catch up, their hearts beginning to beat faster for reasons they could not fully explain.

And then—

They heard him.

"No...!"

The word broke out of him suddenly, right against them, his voice filled with something that made all three of them tense even more, something raw and unfiltered.

"Don’t die, Ivira...!"

Ivira’s breath caught, her eyes widening as she looked at him in shock, her usual composure cracking for a brief moment. "...What...?"

"It’s my fault... Cornelia... Faith...!"

His grip tightened again, his arms pressing them closer as if he was trying to shield them from something unseen, his voice shaking as if he was reliving something too painful to hold back.

"I won’t let you die...!"

The words came out like a vow, heavy and desperate, filled with something that made it impossible to dismiss them as nonsense.

"I won’t let you die...!"

Cornelia froze completely, her body stiff in his arms, her usual calm nowhere to be found as she felt the weight behind his words.

Ivira remained still, her eyes fixed on him, her expression no longer sharp but uncertain.

Faith’s hands trembled slightly, her breath uneven as she listened, something inside her reacting to the fear in his voice.

None of them spoke.

Because something about the way he said it made it clear that this was not something to interrupt.

It was not a joke.

It was not a misunderstanding.

It was fear.

Real fear.

The kind that came from loss.

The kind that left scars.

And Cain—

Held them tighter, his mind still caught between what he had seen and what was in front of him, his thoughts refusing to settle, his heart pounding as if it was trying to break free from his chest.

I won’t let it happen again.

The words echoed in his mind, over and over, louder with each passing second.

I won’t let them die.

Not Ivira.

Not Cornelia.

Not Faith.

Not anyone.

His breathing quickened, his chest rising faster as something inside him refused to calm down, refused to accept things as they were.

"...Wait..."

The word came out softly, almost uncertain.

Slowly, he pulled back just enough to look at them, his gaze moving from one face to another, searching, checking, as if he needed proof, as if seeing them was not enough.

Something still felt wrong.

Or maybe—

He was afraid it was.

His hand lifted again, slower this time, more careful, as if he was handling something fragile.

He reached for Ivira first.

His fingers brushed against her cheek, his touch gentle, almost reverent, his movements far softer than before, as if he was afraid pressing too hard would break the moment.

Ivira froze completely, her breath catching as she felt his hand against her skin, her white hair swaying slightly as she stood there, her cheeks beginning to turn red under his gaze.

"...Cain..."

She whispered, her voice quieter than usual, uncertain.

But he didn’t answer.

His focus was elsewhere.

His fingers moved slowly along her jaw, her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin, the softness, the undeniable proof that she was real.

"...You’re..."

His hand moved lower, resting lightly against her neck, his fingers pressing just enough to feel beneath the surface.

He waited.

And then—

There it was.

A pulse.

Faint.

But steady.

Alive.

Cain’s eyes widened slightly, his breath catching as he felt it again, his fingers pressing just a little more, as if he needed to be absolutely sure.

"...Alive..."

The word left his lips like a release.

Ivira’s blush deepened, her body remaining still, her usual confidence nowhere to be found under his touch.

"...W-What are you doing..."

But even as she asked, she didn’t pull away.

Cain moved again.

To Cornelia.

His hand reached her face, his fingers brushing against her cheek, his touch just as gentle, just as careful, his movements carrying the same quiet urgency.

Cornelia stiffened instantly, her breath catching slightly as his hand rested against her skin, her usual composure breaking in a way she could not hide.

"...Cain..."

Her voice came out softer, lower, almost uncertain.

But he was already focused.

His fingers traced her jaw slowly, feeling the warmth, the life beneath her skin, something that grounded him in a way nothing else could.

"...You’re here..."

He whispered, almost to himself.

His hand moved again, resting against her neck, his fingers pressing lightly as he searched for the same thing.

And he found it.

A pulse.

Steady.

Alive.

Real.

Cain’s breath hitched again, something inside him loosening as the confirmation settled in.

"...Alive..."

Cornelia’s face turned red, her long curly hair swaying slightly as she stood there, unable to move, unable to speak, her usual strength completely gone in that moment.

But Cain had already moved.

To Faith.

She stood there quietly, her eyes fixed on him, her expression soft, almost waiting, as if she had been expecting this, as if she understood something the others did not.

When his hand reached her face—

She leaned into it.

Just slightly.

But enough.

Her eyes sparkled as she felt his touch, her lips forming a small, warm smile as she closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling.

"...Cain..."

She said his name softly, her voice carrying a gentle warmth that made his chest tighten.

His fingers rested against her cheek longer than the others, his touch lingering as if something inside him slowed down when he reached her.

"...Faith..."

His voice came out quieter.

Gentler.

But his focus remained.

His hand moved to her neck, his fingers pressing lightly as he searched for the same confirmation.

And there it was.

A pulse.

Strong.

Clear.

Alive.

Cain exhaled slowly, a long breath leaving his body as if he had been holding it for far too long.

"...Alive..."

All three of them.

Alive.

Not illusions.

Not memories.

Real.

Here.

With him.

His shoulders lowered, the tension in his body finally beginning to fade, his breathing slowly returning to normal as the weight pressing down on him started to lift.

"...You’re alive..."

He said it again, his voice steadier now, his eyes softening as he looked at them.

And for the first time since he woke—

He smiled.

A real smile.

Small.

But filled with relief.

They were safe.

They were here.

Everything was fine.

Everything was—

His smile froze.

His eyes stilled.

Because something—

Still felt wrong.