Liora's POV

I leaned against my doorframe, arms crossed, staring at the old man like he'd just crawled out of a time machine. "Okay... you know my full name. Great trick. Now, who the hell are you, and why are you waiting in front of my house like some creep?"

The man didn't flinch. His voice was calm, polite, annoyingly steady. "Miss Liora, perhaps we should sit. This is... a rather long conversation."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, of course. I always invite strange men in suits into my apartment at night. Sounds safe."

He actually smiled, which made me more suspicious. Nevertheless, I unlocked my door since I had a gut feeling he wasn't coming to rob or kill me. "All right, but just so you know, I'm a very good fighter , and if you try anything funny, I won't think twice about breaking your nose." I kicked off my shoes, turned on the lights, and gestured toward my couch inside. "Take a seat. Avoid touching anything that is bright. Hold on, I don't have anything bright."

As he made himself comfy, I made tea because, truly, if this was all a trick, I would at least need the tea to deal with it. That's when I saw a bit of an envelope from his pocket. A card for a wedding. My want to know more grew, but I let him speak first.

"So," I said, setting his cup down, "you're gonna tell me who you are before I call the cops, right?"

The man finally introduced himself. "My name is Elias, Miss. I am the butler of the Blackwood family."

I froze with my cup halfway to my lips. "Excuse me? Did you just say Blackwood? As in the Blackwoods? The alpha dynasty who own half the hotels, restaurants, and casinos on this planet?"

"Yes."

I snorted. "Right. Try again."

"I assure you, Miss Liora, I'm telling the truth."

"Uh-huh. Sure." I leaned back on the couch, squinting at him. "So what? Did I rack up a secret debt with one of their casinos? Because my luck at slot machines is bad, but not that bad."

He shook his head. "No, you're not in any trouble. In fact, quite the opposite. I am here on behalf of Miss Selene Blackwood. She wishes to invite you to her mating ceremony."

My jaw dropped. Then I laughed. Hard. "You mean Selene Blackwood-the princess of the golden empire, the woman who's probably never microwaved leftover beef in her life-wants me at her wedding? Okay, now I know you're smoking something expensive."

Elias didn't laugh. He calmly pulled another envelope from his jacket and slid it across the table. Inside were three things. A birth certificate, and two old photographs.

I frowned. Picked up the first photo. A baby. A baby with big round eyes. Me. Next to me was a toddler girl with dark hair and a face I didn't recognize.

The second photo was almost the same, except this time my father was in it too.

I stared at the pictures, my stomach doing cartwheels. "What the hell... Where did you get these?"

Elias folded his hands. "The little girl beside you is Selene Blackwood."

I blinked once. Twice. Then I burst out laughing again. "Okay, now you're killing me. Selene Blackwood, the same girl whose face is on magazine, was hanging out with me in diapers? Yeah, sure, buddy."

"The birth certificate belongs to you," Elias went on, completely unfazed by my sarcasm. "Your real name is Liora Blackwood. Your mother was a maid in the Blackwood household. Your father had an affair with her, which led to your birth. As a result, he rejected Ravenna Blackwood. He left the house months later, ruined."

I stared at him, waiting for the punchline. "So... let me get this straight. You're saying my dad went full soap opera, broke up a billionaire alpha, and somehow I'm the illegitimate child of the Blackwood dynasty? Hidden omega heiress to an alpha pack empire?"

"That is correct."

I slapped the table. "Well, damn. That explains why my dad was always broke. But you expect me to just... believe this? Some guy in a suit shows up with old pictures and suddenly I'm heiress to the Blackwood royal family?"

He didn't blink. "The photos and birth certificate are genuine. Miss Selene has been searching for you for months. Now that she has finally found you, she wishes to reconcile. What better way than at her wedding?"

I rubbed my temples. This was insane. Completely insane. And yet... I couldn't deny the familiarity of the photo. My dad had once shown me a similar picture, except my supposed sister's face had been scribbled out with ink. He'd told me I had a sister once, but never revealed who.

I forced a laugh. "You know, if you're lying, this is a really good story. Ten out of ten for creativity. Movie industries might call."

Elias didn't budge. He just placed the documents neatly on my coffee table and rose to his feet. "Whether you believe it or not, Miss Liora, Miss Selene Blackwood wishes to see you. I will return in the morning to escort you to her."

I opened my mouth, closed it, then shrugged. "Sure. Why not? Worst case scenario, this is some elaborate scam, and I end up in a Lifetime movie about kidnapped strippers."

He gave me a polite nod, like I hadn't just insulted him, and left.

I sat there staring at the photos and the birth certificate. My so-called birth certificate. "Liora Blackwood," I muttered. "Wow. Sounds fancy. Too bad it is not befitting for a stripper."

I grabbed the picture with Selene and squinted at her toddler face. "So you're supposed to be my sister, huh? Figures. You got the money and the glamour, I got the pole and late-night rent struggles. Life's a comedian."

When I finally crawled into bed, I tossed and turned. My brain refused to shut up. What if this was real? What if I was a Blackwood?

I pulled the blanket over my head and groaned. "Great. Just great. My life was already a mess, and now I might be the bastard child of an alpha family. Universe, you really need a new hobby."

Sleep finally claimed me, but not before I whispered one last sarcastic thought to the dark.

"Tomorrow, I find out if I'm royal ... or the punchline to the worst family reunion ever."

Liora's POV

My alarm rang before the sun came up, waking me from my hard earned sleep. I lay there for a bit, looking up, thinking if last night was just some weird dream. A butler at my place telling me I was part of the richest families out there? Yeah, right.

But those pictures, the birth certificate, and how Elias talked-it seemed too true to just think of as some horrible mistake or well thought of prank.

I got out of bed, headed to my bathroom to brush my teeth, and was spitting out water when the doorbell rang.

"Great. I knew who would come by so early." I said to myself as I dragged my feet to the answer the door.

When I swung the door open, Elias was there. He looked just like he did last night-sharp suit, looking like he just stepped out of a magazine for sugar-daddies. In contrast, I was a mess, like I'd battled against a rhinoceros, my hair disheveled like I just got exorcised.

"You're here early," I noted, leaning against the door. "Is there some rich guy's secret schedule you follow that we don't know about?"

A small smile showed on his face. "Sorry if I woke you."

I let him in with a casual shrug. "No worries. It's just, I'm not used to having guests. Or folks popping by to say I'm supposedly linked to some big family. Want some coffee?"

"No need to trouble yourself."

"Too late," I said, on my way to the kitchen. "If I'm going to walk into a big house with folks who say they're my kin, I need my coffee."

We sat down to scrambled eggs and toast-cheap, easy, the normal stuff. Elias ate it as if it was a grand meal, and for some reason, that made me warm up to him a bit more.

When I went to switch clothes, I picked a plain dress. Not showy, just tidy. Good enough so no one could say I didn't care, but also not so different that I'd feel fake.

"Ready?" Elias asked as I came back.

"As I'll ever be," I said low, taking my bag.

The car waiting outside was smooth, black, and too shiny for my area. I slid into the back seat with Elias and saw another man driving. He was quiet, a pro. The drive lasted almost an hour along quiet streets, my mind racing, until we slowed down.

When I looked out the window, I gasped.

Ahead stood the Blackwood mansion, like a scene from a fancy magazine. Big green lawns, tall stone walls, water fountains shooting up like glass. My heart squeezed. This was a place folks talked about in low voices, a house that got in the news-the heart of the Blackwood pack empire.

I swallowed hard. "This can't be real," I murmured. "People don't actually live in places like this. They film movies here."

Elias didn't comment. The driver pulled up to the front steps, and I followed Elias out, my nerves buzzing like electricity, amplified by the pull of hidden blood ties.

Inside, I expected chaos-stylists, wedding planners, a small army preparing for one of the biggest events of the year. Instead, the house was calm. Almost too calm.

And then I saw her.

Selene Blackwood.

She wasn't surrounded by a team of assistants. She wasn't dripping in diamonds. She was in a simple dress, hair pulled back, setting the dining table like an ordinary woman.

When she saw us, her face lit up. "Elias! You found her!"

Her eyes landed on me. Genuine warmth filled them. "You must be Liora."

I nodded stiffly. "That's me. Thanks for not having security throw me out."

Selene laughed softly. "I'm so glad you're here."

I wasn't sure how to take that. "Yeah... look, I still can't shake the feeling that I'm in a TV show. So, could you start over? Slow."

And she did. She went over everything Elias had said last night-the love, the split-up, when I was born, the noise around it. She spoke easy, her eyes fixed, but each word made me doubt even more, even as my omega senses warmed to her familiar presence.

After she stopped, I put my arms over my chest. "So you're saying my whole life is like a big news story? Sorry if I can't just... take that."

"I get it's a lot," Selene spoke quietly. "You don't have to take it all now. Give it some time."

"Good, because I plan to." I stepped back toward the door. "Thanks for the tea party invite, but I think I'll head home now before my brain explodes."

"Wait, please." Selene's tone shifted-gentle but urgent. "At least stay until after the wedding. Just a few days. Please. I also want you to meet my fiancé... today."

I hesitated, my hand on my bag, as millions of thoughts ran through my mind. Finally, I exhaled. "Fine. I'll meet him. But if he growls to mark dominance I'm out."

"Trust me he is not." Selene said and as if on cue the sound of footsteps came from behind me.

"Babe!" She screamed like a little kid.

I turned, expecting some lycan, with nine tails or at least someone intimidating and out of this world.

But it was neither of those things. It was him. The big fish. The man from last night. The one-night stand.

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

"You.

Liora's POV

As soon as I said, "You." Selene's eyes widened.

"You...know him?"

Selene continued to dart her eyes from me directly to Darius.

A little chuckle left my lips, accompanied by a dismissive gesture, and sputtered, "I thought I was wrong, thinking I saw Mr. Darius Knight in person. The Darius Knight?"

Within a second, Darius's lips curved out in a smile. " In flesh and blood," he chuckled.

The totally oblivious, Selene wore a wide smile: "Meet Darius, the man I'm going to marry!" Taking my hand, she gave it a squeeze, looking down at our held hands as she moved them hesitantly toward Darius. "This here is Darius. My sister, Liora."

Something about the word 'sister' pierced through my heart, and I almost choked.

Darius put his hand out for a handshake, but I didn't notice till Selene gave me a gentle nudge.

"Hello...I'm Liora," I smiled sheepishly as I took his hand. The contact sent a jolt through me.

"I'm thrilled Selene finally found you," Darius smiled broadly. "She's needed you for so long. Always nice to know you're finally alive."

"Yes, life is so much simpler," I blurted out with the most mischievous, least truthful smile.

Selene beamed, her eyes full of laughter as she led us to the dining table. I took my seat while Selene sat next to Darius. "Liora, you will be my bridesmaid, won't you. I am sorry I have to ask you like this, but I need you at my side-tomorrow. Please.."

I looked at her with my fork held high in the air. "I... I am not so sure how to go about this. I have never been a bridesmaid before. I am not someone familiar with-" pointing around , "-this sort of stuff."

Selene reached over and held my hand. "Don't worry about that. All I want is for my sister to be with me. Right? Please?"

As for the words, they did indeed provide solace completely for me. There were probably few instances throughout my childhood where I wished I was a bridesmaid. I chuckled, half-amused. "All right, then. If you're certain things will go fine."

She grinned. "You won't mess up. I promise."

While Selene continued talking, Darius acted as a mere silent observer while I struggled to get rid of the intrusive thoughts in my head. The mate pull warred with my guilt, making every glance torture.

I tried to eat but the secret I carried inside of me made that hard. I forced the food into my mouth, forced myself to chew and swallow, but every mouthful turned to dust because there was simply so much noise in my head.

Midway through our lunch, Darius's phone rang, a frown was on his face and he picked up and took a few steps away. He came back and spoke after he apologized for the sudden call, "I have a meeting that I must go to. I'll be back for dinner."

"But.." Selene pouted, as he placed a kiss on her lips, silencing the rest of her words.

Darius looked at me and smiled again. "Pleasure to meet you, Liora."

I turned to him but quickly put my head down. "The player is all mine, Bye,"

Selene accompanied him to the door. I glared down at my salad while the two walked away.

"Seriously, universe," I mumbled. "I mean, out of countless guys, you had to make it him?"

At that instance, I heard footsteps. Selene came back, catching me muttering a sigh. "You seem worried. What's the matter?"

I got my hands down in quick time, forcing a weak smile. "Nothing. Just... wondering where your mom is. Haven't seen her anywhere."

For the first time since we met, Selene's friendly smile disappeared from her lips. "Oh, my mom. Um, she's... not here. I'll just say she got herself into a mess. Legal trouble. She can't come to the mating ceremony."

"Legal trouble?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, arrested," she said casually, as if she wasn't talking about her mother being in jail. "But don't worry, she's got some real good lawyers working her case. But she won't be making it here for the mating ceremony tomorrow."

I blinked, my eyes growing wide. "Sorry to hear all that. Must be so hard for you knowing she won't be here for your big day. I know how important moms are... I feel bad knowing she will miss her daughter's mating ceremony."

A small smile adorned her lips. "If only you knew who she really is, you would not have said this."

"What truth?" I asked.

Her smile dimmed again, growing into a grim sadness. "She's the reason you got pushed out with Dad. She is the reason you grew up in extreme poverty. Her hate for you and dad, is the reason we never got to see each other. Her pride ruined both of our childhoods."

I stared back at her, absorbing her words-but my grief was deeper than I ever thought I'd feel. The same woman who I was worried for, is the same woman who made my father's life hell, separated me from my family and made my whole childhood a living nightmare, the same woman who forced me into the arms of stripping.

Selene's eyes turned tender, and she gently tucked my hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry for all she did to you. You didn't deserve it. I want to undo it. I want you in my life. Even if it means I have to go against her."

Words of absolute love and kindness only made me feel guiltier. Her innocence seemed to remind me of her ignorance to my dark secrets. She had no idea the man she was getting married to cheated on her, and not just with anyone...the same girl she is willing to fight with her mother for. The same girl she is opening her doors and arms for.

"Selene...thank you. It means so much to hear that I have a sister, and that too one who cares me about me so much. But..."

My throat felt tight again.

"...but I have a confession," I whispered out.