The figure that stepped into the room was shrouded in darkness, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light. My breath caught in my throat as the heavy air seemed to press in on me. I could feel the tension vibrating through the floor, like the world itself was holding its breath.

“Who are you?” Sydney’s voice was shaky, his usual confidence nowhere to be found.

The man didn’t answer immediately. He took a slow step forward, his presence so commanding that the space seemed to shrink around him. His eyes, glowing faintly in the darkness, fixed on me

“Luna,” the voice was low, familiar, but twisted by time and distance. “It’s been a long time.”

I froze, unable to move or speak. The man before me was no stranger, though it felt like a lifetime had passed since I last saw him. The memories rushed back, too quickly, too sharply, our shared past, a tangled mess of love, betrayal, and secrets.

“You…” My voice was barely a whisper, “It can’t be.”

He stepped fully into the light, and I saw the scars etched into his face, the coldness that had replaced the warmth I once knew. It was him.

Varek.

“Luna,” he repeated, this time softer, almost like a plea. “I didn’t want it to end like this.”.

Sydney took a step back, clearly unsettled by the exchange. “Do you know him?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly.

Before I could respond, Varek spoke again, his tone sharp. “Not here. Not now.” He turned to Sydney, his gaze flicking over him with an almost dismissive air. “This place isn’t safe anymore.”

Sydney’s jaw clenched. “I don’t care who you are. I don’t want you in my house

“Do you know him?” Sydney’s voice cracked, shaking the air between us.

I didn’t respond right away. I couldn’t.

Flash back!

“You still haven’t gotten pregnant?” Sydney’s voice had cut through me like a knife. His words, sharp with disappointment, echoed in my ears. Each word was a reminder of how I had failed him, failed us.

I didn’t answer. I had no defense, no explanation. His frustration had become a daily weight on my shoulders.

That was when I met him…

Verek

“You look like you’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Varek had said, his voice smooth like honey as he stepped closer, his eyes dark and intense. “Everything okay?”

I tried to smile, but my lips trembled. “I’m fine,” I said, but the words felt hollow,

Varek didn’t move, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re not fine,” he murmured.

His voice had a way of cutting through all the noise in my head, making everything else fall away.

I shrugged, trying to brush it off, but he stepped in, just a little closer, and I felt the heat of his presence. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he said, his voice suddenly softer. “But you’ve got that look. Like you’re carrying more than you should.”

I swallowed, my heart beating faster. I didn’t know how to respond. So, I didn’t. Instead, I just met his gaze, a flicker of something, curiosity?

“You’re quiet,” he observed, leaning in just slightly, as if trying to read me. “It doesn’t suit you.”

I finally exhaled a laugh, but it was strained. “It’s nothing.”

“Don’t lie,” he said gently, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against my arm, a touch that sent a spark through my skin.

I froze. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Everything else faded, leaving just the two of us in this space, connected by something unspoken.

“You’re not here for nothing,” he added, his voice almost a whisper. “You’re here because you need to feel something. Even if it’s just for one night.”

The words hit me harder than I expected, and before I knew it, I found myself nodding.

I needed to be loved , due to my childlessness, my husband lost interest in me, we only became intimate when he was drunk..

It wasn’t just the words that drew me in, t was the way he said them, the way he made me feel seen, like he understood me in a way no one else did.

“I didn’t expect this,” I said softly, barely a breath between us.

He took another step forward, the intensity between us palpable. “What didn’t you expect?” His voice was low, almost seductive now.

“This.” I gestured between us, unsure of how to express what was happening, what I was feeling. But I didn’t have to. Varek already knew.

He reached for me then, pulling me gently closer. His lips found mine, tentative at first, like he was waiting for me to pull away. But I didn’t.

The kiss deepened, slow, deliberate, and I felt everything inside me turned, my thoughts no longer coherent., There were no words, just actions. Just us.

When he pulled away, his forehead resting against mine, his eyes searched mine. “I told you,” he whispered, his breath warm against my lips, “it wasn’t just this one night.”

I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “Will I see you again?”

But one night turned into something more. And when we met again... it wasn’t over. The second time, it felt different. More intense. The way his hands had caressed my skin, like he was imprinting something into me that I couldn’t forget.

After that, Varek disappeared. I hadn’t heard from him in months. Not a word.

And then, a few months later, I found out I was pregnant.

******

“Luna! Answer me!” His voice rose, demanding an answer.

I recovered quickly…,

“Yes,” I said. “I know him.”

“Who is he? What the hell is going on?” Sydney’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his voice trembling with frustration.

“He’s...” I couldn’t finish the sentence. His name felt like a weight I couldn’t bear to say aloud.

“Who the hell is he, Luna?” Sydney demanded again, stepping closer.

“He’s someone from my past,” I forced out, my voice barely a breath.

Varek’s voice cut through the tension. “Luna, there’s no time for explanations, but you need to understand..”

“No,” Sydney interrupted, spinning toward him. “You don’t get to walk in here and…”

“I’m not here for you, Sydney,” Varek said, his voice calm but firm. “I’m here for Luna.”

Sydney stepped forward, blocking my line of sight to Varek. “I won’t let her talk to you. Leave.”

Varek didn’t flinch. “You don’t have a choice, Sydney. This is bigger than anything you understand.”

“I’m not letting you..” Sydney started, but I raised my hand.

“Stop, Sydney,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant.

Varek looked at me, his eyes intense. “Luna, we’ve all been playing a game we didn’t choose. It’s time to face the truth.”

“No,” Sydney spat. “I’m not listening to this. I’m not…”

The door creaked open, and Cedrica walked in, her eyes scanning the room before landing on Varek. Without a word, she walked over to him and stood by his side.

Sydney’s voice shook with disbelief. “What are you doing there?”

Varek looked down at her, his voice steady. “This is my daughter.”

Sydney’s eyes went wide, his breath catching in his throat. “What?”

Cedrica didn’t move. She didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. She just stood there, her gaze unwavering.

I froze.

You..” Sydney stammered, his voice thick with disbelief. “You’re telling me that she… she’s your daughter?”

Varek nodded, slowly. “Yes.”

Zadre's POV

Varek’s gaze shifted to me once more. Luna, there’s no time for explanations. But you need to understand, we’ve all been playing a game we didn’t choose. And now, it’s time to face the truth.”

Sydney’s eyes turned cold, his jaw tight. “Varek?” He scoffed. “How could you…”

“Don’t make this harder than it is,” I said. My voice was steady, but my insides felt like they were shaking.

“Luna, What the hell is going on?”

I glanced at Cedrica, standing there, watching us. Her gaze was distant, but there was a calmness in her eyes that I didn’t understand.

“Cedrica,” I said, my voice soft. “Do you want to go with him? Do you want to leave this place and go with Varek?”

Cedrica’s eyes flicked toward Varek for a brief moment before she nodded, her expression cold, unreadable. “Yes.”

Sydney froze, his eyes bulging in shock. “What?” he gasped. “You’re my daughter! You can’t just… leave!”

“I’m not your daughter,” Cedrica snapped. “Not anymore.”

Sydney staggered back, his hands trembling, his voice shaking. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about how you hurt me.”

Cedrica’s voice broke through the tension.

“You think I didn’t notice? You think I didn’t understand what you did to me?”

Her words were like acid, cutting through the years of silence.

“You molested me, Dad. You touched me in ways I couldn’t escape.”

Sydney went silent. His face drained of color. He looked at me as if I were betraying him too.

Flashback...

Cedrica POV

“Don’t make this harder than it is,” I said. My voice was steady, but my insides felt like they were shaking.

“Luna, who is this guy? What the hell is going on?”

I glanced at Cedrica, standing there, watching us. Her gaze was distant, but there was a calmness in her eyes that I didn’t understand.

“Cedrica,” I said, my voice soft. “Do you want to go with him? Do you want to leave this place and go with Varek?”

Cedrica’s eyes flicked toward Varek for a brief moment before she nodded, her expression cold, unreadable. “Yes.”

Sydney froze, his eyes bulging in shock. “What?” he gasped. “You’re my daughter! You can’t just… leave!”

“I’m not your daughter,” Cedrica snapped. “Not anymore.”

Sydney staggered back, his hands trembling, his voice shaking. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about how you hurt me,” Cedrica’s voice broke through the tension. “You think I didn’t notice? You think I didn’t understand what you did to me?” Her words were like acid, cutting through the years of silence. “You molested me, Dad. You touched me in ways I couldn’t escape.”

Sydney went silent. His face drained of color. He looked at me as if I were betraying him too.

Flashback…

"You’re lying," Sydney choked out, his voice a hoarse whisper. "That's not true."

"It is," I said, the words a steady stream now, fueled by years of silent rage. "It's all true. I remember everything."

"You were a child," he pleaded, reaching for me. "You didn't understand."

I recoiled from his touch. "I understood enough to know it was wrong. Enough to know I hated it."

"Cedrica, please," he begged. "This is crazy. I’m your father."

"You were my father," I corrected, a cold finality in my tone. "Until you made it clear I was something else to you."

He staggered back, his face a mask of disbelief and pain. "I gave you everything! A good home, a good life!"

"You took everything, too," I shot back. "My innocence. My trust. My childhood." The words were like a dam breaking. "I was 16 when I finally understood what you had taken from me."

I closed my eyes, a flash of memory burning behind my eyelids. Ethan had dropped me off at school, the usual morning routine. But that day, a tall, imposing man was waiting for me. He had a scarred face and a stern expression. He was from a pack I didn’t know, one that was whispered about in hushed tones, known for their ruthlessness. He told me his alpha wanted to see me.

Fear warred with curiosity. I followed him, and we drove to a cabin deep in the woods. When I walked inside, a man was standing by the fireplace, his back to me. When he turned around, I froze. He had my face. The same high cheekbones, the same serious mouth. And his eyes… they were the same piercing blue as mine.

"Dad?" I whispered. But this man wasn’t Sydney.

This man looked just like me.

"Hello, Cedrica," he said, his voice a low rumble. "My daughter."

My mind raced. How could this be? I looked at my hands, at his hands. We were connected.

No wonder Mom and Dad (Sydney) had golden eyes, I thought wildly. But then… why did Edward have blue eyes, too?

The thought was a jarring puzzle piece that didn't fit.

Suddenly, Sydney’s voice broke through the memory, pulling me back to the present.

"You're making this up!" he yelled. "This is a lie! You’re just… running away with him!" He pointed a shaking finger at Varek. His golden eyes flashed, a primal warning.

I looked at Sydney, at the man I had called Dad my entire life, at the man who had stolen so much from me. The lie had been his. The escape was mine.

"I’m not running away," I said calmly. "I'm going home."

“Cedrica, I never,” His voice cracked, but Cedrica shook her head, stepping back.

“Yes, you did. I remember everything, and I hated every minute of it. You think I didn’t feel that?” She stepped forward, her voice rising. “But you were my father, and I thought I had no choice.” She looked at Varek then, and something in her eyes softened. “I do now.”

I stood there, in shock, my heart torn between the woman standing in front of me and the man who I had once called my husband. The man who had broken her and who had broken me in ways I hadn’t even realized.

“Cedrica…” I whispered.

“I’m going,” she said, her voice firm. “With him.”

Luna Zadre's POV

As I stepped outside, the chaos hit me like a wave. The castle was in complete disarray. There were people shouting, running, and scrambling to either defend or escape. The air was thick with panic. I felt a chill run down my spine. This was bad, worse than I’d ever imagined.

“Luna!” The chief maid’s voice broke through the noise. I looked up to see her beckoning me. “We must go through the back gate before it’s closed. It’s our only chance.”

I nodded. We made our way through the halls and down the narrow passageways that led to the back. I could hear the sounds of wolves howling against the walls. I knew they were closing in.

The chief maid grabbed my arm again. “Disguise yourself,” she urged, pulling me toward a small room. She quickly handed me a plain, dark cloak. “Hurry, Luna. It’s the only way they won’t recognize you.”

I didn’t argue. I pulled the cloak over my shoulders, covering as much of my face as I could. My heart pounded in my chest as we continued to rush through the corridors.

The door to the back gate was just ahead. But before we could reach it, I heard the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

“We’re too late,” I whispered, my chest tightening.

“We have to go, Luna. Now!” my maid urged, pulling me towards the door with all her strength.

I glanced back, heart skipping a beat when I saw Sydney. He was being dragged across the courtyard by two guards. His face was pale, his expression filled with disbelief. I could see it clearly; his pride was shattered in an instant.

"Sydney," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. My feet moved as if they had a mind of their own, my gaze locked on him.

His eyes locked with mine, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. His gaze was filled with a mixture of anger, confusion, and something else—regret, maybe? He saw me; I could tell. But there was nothing I could do.

Nothing.

I looked away quickly, forcing my feet to keep moving. My maid tugged harder on my arm, and we both hurried out the door.

“Luna, we can’t help him. We need to leave now,” she said, her voice firm but tinged with fear.

“I know,” I said, my voice hollow.

We ran!

There was nothing I could do to stop it.

We pushed forward, weaving through the trees and down the forest path. The cool night air brushed against my face as I tried to shake off the feeling of panic that threatened to overwhelm me.

We reached the edge of the forest, where a small, run-down building stood. The walls were worn, the windows cracked, but it was shelter. It was a place to hide.

“We can stay here for now,” my maid said, her voice low and tense.

I nodded, not saying anything. The silence between us was thick, filled with the weight of everything that had happened. The castle was no longer a safe haven. Sydney’s betrayal, Cedrica’s departure, and the invasion—it was all too much. And now, I had nothing.

We entered the small building, and my maid quickly locked the door behind us. She led me to a small room at the back, where a bed and a small table sat. The room was dimly lit, the flickering light from a single candle casting shadows on the walls.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, the exhaustion finally catching up to me. My hands trembled as I took out the pouch of jewelry. The only things I had left were these precious pieces, and even now, they felt like nothing.

“Are you alright, Luna?” the chief maid asked, sitting beside me. Her voice was soft with worry in it.

I looked at her, my mind racing. “What now?” I asked, the question heavy in the air.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap. I could tell she was thinking, weighing the choices. Finally, she spoke.

“We wait,” she said simply.

“Wait?”

“Yes,” she said, nodding. “We wait for the right time to leave. We can’t stay here forever, but for now, it’s safe. We have time.”

I didn’t know if I agreed with her. I didn’t know what the right choice was anymore. Everything had changed in the span of a few hours, and now we were fugitives, hiding in the shadows.