271 A Different Man

“I didn’t… I swear on my life… I am still investigating her death.”

“In the mortuary,” Louis responded.

The closer I got, the heavier my heart felt. I reached my front door and rang the bell. It opened seconds later to reveal my mother. She stood in the doorway, stunned, confused.

“Tell me, did you kill her?”

I clenched my jaw and slowly turned around to face him, the pain bubbling inside me.

I stepped back again.

“Thank you. I will take my leave now.”

“I left because I found out we’re related.”

I sighed. “I don’t know if they will let me see her.”

“Yes… we share the same father but different mothers who are twin sisters,” I added. The triplets looked dumbfounded, but I continued.

“I believe Olivia is my half-sister,” I announced and saw their eyes widen.

“You know it’s true,” I added quietly. He looked down, pain etched on his face.

Gently, I reached down and pried his hands off me. He didn’t fight me. Didn’t try to stop me. He just let me. I stepped away, opened the door, and left.

Damien’s eyes twitched, and I could tell he was hurt by my accusation.

Tears stung his eyes. “Sofia…”

I didn’t wait to get their response before leaving. As I stepped out into the cool evening air, the wind kissed my cheeks, drying what remained of my tears. I had barely taken five steps when a guard approached me from the side of the mansion.

I nodded slowly. “Our families… the blood feud… the history of betrayal between us. I found out. And I knew then that whatever we had–whatever we dreamed of–was doomed from the start.”

271 A Different Man

The drive was quiet. No music. No questions. Just silence… and my thoughts. Thoughts of Rebecca. Of Damien. Of Olivia. Of everything that had fallen apart.

How could I tell him that his father didn’t even know he existed?

My shoulders slumped. “My mother was an enemy to Olivia’s mother despite them being twins… It’s a long story, but just know that Olivia and her brother see me as an enemy,” I said with pain. Knowing that I have a younger sister who probably hates me without even getting to meet me or know me was a lot to take.

“Sofia,” his voice cracked. “At least tell me why. I deserve that much.”

“I’m…” I began, meeting each of their eyes, “I apologize for all the things Damien did to you three. I hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive him.”

They didn’t say anything. They didn’t need to. I turned to leave, but paused at the doorway and glanced back.

My heart leapt. A wide smile spread across my face as my two-year-old son came running, his arms flung open as he threw himself into me. I dropped to my knees instantly and scooped him into my arms. Tears rushed to my eyes. I held him tightly, kissing his soft curls.

“Oh, baby,” I whispered. “I missed you so much.”

Behind me, I heard him shift.

Sofia’s POV

He took a step toward me. “I don’t care about that,” he said, shaking his head. “I love you. I don’t care what our families did. I don’t care about any damn feud. You’re mine. My mate.”

I froze. He sounded broken. Desperate.

“I couldn’t live with that truth,” I whispered. “I couldn’t lie to myself anymore.”

I swallowed in pain and nodded. “I will make arrangements when I get home for her body to be brought to me. That way I can bury her myself.”

I closed my eyes, forcing the tears back.

“Mommy!”

271 A Different Man

His breath hitched.

“Sofia?” she whispered.

Our eyes met, and I couldn’t recognize the man in front of me… I couldn’t believe this was the man I fell in love with… the kind-hearted, jovial Damien. I couldn’t believe he did all the things he confessed. I glared at him and stood to my feet, moving closer until I stood before him.

But I didn’t even make it halfway across the room before I felt him. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me into his chest like letting go would destroy him completely. He didn’t say a word. But I could feel it–his sobs. His chest shook silently against my back. His breath hitched as he buried his face into my shoulder, clinging to me like I was the last thing holding him together.

Silence stretched between us, thick and aching.

With tear-filled eyes and a broken heart, I descended the stairs, and when I got to the living room, I met the triplets having a talk with one of their guards. When they saw me, they sent the guard away. I walked over to them and spoke.

My head was spinning. It felt like I was trapped in a dream. Rebecca dead? How was that even possible? Was that why I couldn’t reach her for the past few months? When I heard she’d married Damien, I was stunned–because the Rebecca I knew would never do that. She knew I loved Damien too much to ever hurt me like that… speaking of Damien, the door creaked open and he stepped in, looking like he was on the brink of collapsing.

The look in his eyes told me he was telling the truth, but I just couldn’t believe him. My head throbbed as I stood there, staring at the man I once loved. The man I thought I knew. Rebecca was gone… and somehow, Damien–my Damien–was tangled in all of it. I couldn’t breathe. I took a step back, my heart pounding.

He froze.

He giggled against my shoulder, wrapping his little arms around my neck. “Miss you, Mommy! Daddy come too?” he asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

The brothers looked confused. “Why?”

I hesitated for a moment–torn between pride and exhaustion–but finally gave a soft nod. “Thank you.”

3/5

271 A Different Man

“I loved you, Damien,” I whispered. “But right now, I don’t recognize the man in front of me. You’ve changed a lot, and I hope one day you find love and peace.” With that, I turned to leave.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “But this isn’t our story anymore.”

After two long hours, the vehicle slowed to a stop at the edge of Nightshade Pack’s territory. I opened the door gently and stepped out. “Thank you,” I said to the guard. He nodded, and I watched the car disappear down the road before turning toward the path that led home.

“The Alphas instructed me to drive you, ma’am,” he said politely, gesturing toward the sleek black car parked near the edge of the driveway.

“I need to leave,” I whispered, turning around.

The triplets nodded, and then Lennox spoke. “Are you going to meet Olivia now?” he asked.

My heart cracked. My wolf whimpered inside me, crying for the bond we once shared. For the love that still lingered in the corners of my heart. But I couldn’t let her rise. Not now. Not anymore.

“Where is Rebecca’s body?”

Before she could say more, a tiny voice squealed from behind her.

I met his eyes.

“I loved you,” he said, each word heavy. “I never once tried to hurt you. So please… just tell me why you left.”

“No point hiding it anymore,” I said softly. “You want the truth? Fine.”

I looked away, blinking back tears. “You know I’m not really your mate, Damien.”

I felt my throat close up.

“You marked me,” I continued. “We chose each other because we loved each other. We wanted to be bonded… but we were never fated mates. Not really.”