Declan's POVTristan's reaction was all I needed to know that I made the right decision. Now that I have revealed the truth in front of everyone, Vanessa has nowhere else to hide.This is probably wrong because we made a deal. I promised to keep her secret but I was afraid after what happened at the beach house, she would want to run away and never return back to me, which was supposed to be the deal anyway— avoiding each other.I can't allow her to take Dame away from me again, not after missing four years of his life. Who knows how long it would be this time? I couldn't bring myself to face her because I could see hurt written all over her face. She felt betrayed for snitching out on her like this, in front of everyone.I could see how disoriented she looked from the corner of my eyes, how she held onto Dame's little body and pleaded with her eyes before I spilled it out, I saw everything. But I am also doing this for us. This is the only way we can be together to take care of Dame.
VANESSA’S POVI could feel a cold sweat forming on my forehead, and my trembling hands betrayed the fear that gripped me. I panicked, unable to think of an answer to give the alliance.What would I say anyway? I'm sorry but Tristan is not the father of my child, Declan is? No, no, no, I can't embarrass Tristan like this. He has been nothing but good to me, I can't make him a subject of ridicule.I struggled to breathe as everyone kept their gaze on me, patiently waiting for my response. My foot became weaker, and I suddenly needed something to lean on. It felt as if the air had been restricted from the room, and it felt like I was suffocating.I can't breathe.The pressure was getting overwhelming, and I clung to my chest tightly, trying to steady my breathing, but it was awfully painful and tears were threatening to leave my eyes.I can't do this…"I'm sorry for wasting your time, I'm so sorry, but I can't do this." I dragged Dame's hands and ran out of the room out of shame and I co
Vanessa's POVAs soon as I stepped into Jenny's house, I broke down immediately, unable to control myself. Secrets that I spent five years hiding away from everyone came out like a newsflash, and every single thing I did to ensure that I didn't get exposed was suddenly in vain.I buried my face in my thighs, as I wrapped my hands around my legs, unable to control myself."Dame, come over here," I heard Jenny calling Dame, and the next thing I heard was the sound of the door which showed how she was trying to give me space to comfort myself.I appreciated the little gesture and cried until there was nothing left to cry. My heart burns from all sorts of emotions; pain, guilt and betrayal. I knew that I had ruined whatever chances I had with Tristan and he would be disappointed with me.I owe him an apology, a long heartfelt apology for deceiving him from the moment we met, but I can't even face him right now. How do I tell him that I was sorry? When I have comfortably lied to him for fi
Tristan's POVI rested on the table in my office as I stared at the room which is now left completely disorganized. Glasses were shattered everywhere, portraits and every single thing that was within my reach are now scattered on the floor.I sucked in a breath, too exhausted to break anything anymore, as I clenched my fist. Compared to how I was feeling when I had just gotten back from the alliance meeting, it is safe to say that I am calm.My mind went back to what happened earlier and I could feel resentment rising in me all over again.Declan's revelation was the least of things that I had expected in my entire life. I wasn't surprised to hear that Dame wasn't my son. Even though it was meant to be a secret between Vanessa and I, I also know that Declan was an asshole and could have done a little digging, but hearing that he was his biological father and Vanessa was his rejected Luna shocked me.I waited for five years for Vanessa to tell me the truth about her past. I knew she wa
Declan's POVMy heart ached and I felt completely helpless for not being able to stop Vanessa from leaving earlier. I saw the look on her face. They were filled with hurt and disgust, and I could tell that she wasn't bluffing when she said she would leave and I would never find her again.She did it once. She disappeared for five years… even though I made no attempts to look for her back then, it would still be impossible to find her because no one would have thought that she could have been hiding in Tristan's pack.I knew I fucked up. I knew I messed things up from her reaction… the way she pleaded with her eyes, begging me to stop before the words could come out, how stunned she looked when I confessed, the way she ran out when the alliance asked her questions and Tristan's reaction at the end of everything, but it was too late.No matter how much I tried to wave it off, I couldn't forget her pained expression. The hurtful look in her eyes, the one that says she trusted me and I be
Vanessa's POVJenny ought to have been back from work already, but for whatever reason, she was running late and I can't help but panic as different thoughts disrupt my mind.I paced around the living room, with my eyes fixed on the door knob, as I waited anxiously for her to come. I have been pacing around Jenny's living room for over two hours now and she was yet to be here. I thought of calling her but if she was still at work, she might get into some sort of trouble, that is if she did not get caught.I have been staying with Jenny for the past two days and after doing a lot of thinking, I figured I couldn't stay here anymore. I knew it was only a matter of time before Declan would show up at the front door asking for his son, so I came up with a lasting solution. One that I should have thought of a long time ago.I used to have all sorts of expensive jewelry, most of which I hardly wore while I was still Declan's Luna, and when he sent me out of his pack years ago, I totally forg
Declan's POVIt's been two days since the alliance meeting, and I was yet to receive any news from Vanessa. She has been awfully quiet, and I haven't caught a glimpse of her.I am starting to lose my mind from the fear of waking up one day and realizing that Vanessa had run away with my son. I'd lose it. I have spent four years without them, I do not want to spend another second away from them.I felt even more irritated because I couldn't go to her even though I knew where she was hiding. My wolf was there to constantly remind me about how I was the reason she had nowhere else to go. As stupid as it sounds, I know she would have returned home to Tristan if I hadn't revealed the truth.She is probably hiding right now because she can't bring herself to face him.And there is Jude who thinks I have done enough and any other attempts from me will scare her away. As much as I wanted to drag them back if that is what it takes to have them around me, I realized that I couldn't do that. No
Vanessa's POVMy heartbeat matches with the sound of the wall clock, as my heart keeps on beating fast out of fear and anxiety. I don't know what is going to happen next once we get to the Eastern pack or where we will be staying. I just knew that I needed to get far away from Declan and that is all that matters right now.Jenny left me alone to get some rest, but here I am, staring at the ceiling as my eyes keep on going to the wall clock, every second that passes by.I was nervous and I am afraid I might not be able to give Dame the kind of life he deserves. The money we got from selling off my jewellery would only last me for a little moment. I need to find a means of survival but before I can do that, I need to get there first and see how things are.I am going to a pack where I don't know anyone there, or understand their rules. I know it will take a little time to fit in, but I guess I will have to deal with all of my worries later.I checked the time for the umpteenth time toni
Vanessa's POV"Vanessa! Come and play with us!""Yes please, we are tired of playing alone," the kids whined as I sat down on the swing and watched them play by themselves."No, we want to play hide and seek," one of the kids whined, and I smiled at them."We have been playing hide and seek all morning," I said, still panting, from running for a long time. "You should play another game or I will have everyone go back inside," I threatened them, but it didn't even look like they were listening to me."Let's play a video game. Whoever wins gets to decide what we do next," one of the kids suggested, and I couldn't help but smile about how they reminded me of Dame in every way. That trick was the same Tristan and Dame always used to get whatever they want, and watching the kids say the same thing made me smile.It was as if the kids knew about my past life. They always find a way to remind me of the past in every way.It's been three years since I left the southern pack. Three years of le
Vanessa's POVI have concluded that I would be leaving once I regained my strength, but I do not want what happened when I tried to leave the last time to repeat itself. I know Declan would probably be looking all over the place for me, and he might have stopped me from leaving again, so I thought of writing a letter to him instead.I knew going to see him and telling him whatever I had to say was the proper way to end everything, but I was afraid that I might change my mind if I saw his pained expression, or even melt at his words if he surprised me by begging me to stay or do something worse like lock me up in his house to prevent me from leaving. With Declan, one can never be too sure.I opened the drawer and saw everything the way I left it. It was as if Tristan was hoping that one day I would return back to him. I expected him to throw out all of my belongings and wipe out every single trace or reminder of me in his pack, but he didn't.I imagined the good life I could have had w
Declan's POVTwo days have passed, and I have no clue where Vanessa might be. Even after watching the CCTV footage, I refused to believe that Vanessa would leave me. I spoke to the doctor and he said the side effects of the drug and injection he gave her were drowsiness and hallucination. Judging from how she left the hospital, I want to believe that she was sleepwalking and she is properly in some kind of danger right now.I had my men look everywhere for her, but she was nowhere to be found. We searched everywhere… every single road that led to the hospital. The streets nearby, we even went as far as searching through the people's houses, but there was no sign of Vanessa.I sat in my room, tapping on my table as I thought of where she might have gone. What if she had an accident? Then, the police would have said something. She doesn't have anywhere to go. She doesn't even have anything on her, where could she possibly go?Jenny…I rushed over to the kitchen where Jenny was busy cutt
Vanessa's POVCrying for so long made me feel numb and it felt like there was no water left in my eyes to shed. The injection given to me made me drowsy and my head felt heavy. I know the smartest thing to do right now was to sleep or at least lay on the bed and get some rest, but I can't afford to be anywhere around Declan anymore and I just wanted to leave.Staying in the hospital reminds me of how I watched Dame's lifeless body on the bed without being able to do anything to revive him and I think it's best to just leave.My vision was blurry, and I felt so weak. I knew I had to leave, but I couldn't even think straight. With trembling hands, I reached for the tube in my arm, wincing as I pulled it out. The pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth and kept going. Finally, I was able to pull it out, and I staggered out of the ward, barefoot and disoriented.Every step felt like a hassle as I made my way down the corridor. I have to get out of here. Those were the only thoughts i
Declan's POVI stormed back home, feeling enraged, as my insides boiled with anger like a pot left unattended on a raging fire. Guilt weighed down on me at the reminder of Vanessa's accusations, and shame chewed me up inside. As much as I hated to admit it, she was right. Dame died because of me, I killed him.Even if that was true, it's not like I neglected them intentionally. She has equal blame in all of this. She ran away with my child and only showed up years later. If she hadn't left, or if she had ignored her pride and informed me about the pregnancy, none of this would have happened.Dame's death hasn't been easy on me too, heck, it hasn't been easy on anyone. Even the maids are grieving his death so what made her think she could get mad at me on this? I understand that she was mourning her child, but he was my son too.I could feel all sorts of emotions surge inside me; anger, irritation, hurt, and pain.The last time I felt this way was when I lost Ellena, and now, once agai
Chapter 140Vanessa's POVI woke up in the hospital bed, surrounded by the sterile scent of antiseptic and the low hum of medical equipment. My body felt heavy like I was being dragged in the mud, and all of my pain came rushing back in double folds.When I lost Dame in the rogue attack, I thought that would be the end of me. I cried every day and became a mess because he was all I lived for. But then Tristan came back to tell me he was alive, all of my pains vanished into the air. It felt like I was given a reason to live again. To work harder, to become a better mother.Just when I thought I had all the time in the world to be with my boy, I lost him to the cold hands of death. I wanted to scream, to yell out my frustration. I wanted to blame somebody so badly, and hate them for the rest of my life, but where do I begin?I haven't shed a single tear since we got back home from the hospital. This one was different— I had two weeks to prepare for his death. His death wasn't exactly ne
Chapter 139Declan's POVIt's been a week since Dame died. Seven miserable days of wishing and hoping even though no amount of breakdown would bring him back. The last time I felt this vulnerable was when Ellena died. I wasn't even this sad when I lost my parents.Everything felt vain and I had lost the will to continue with my role as the Alpha or do anything to gain more wealth or power. What was the use of all my power and influence when it couldn't save my son from dying?What is the point of being the most powerful Alpha when I can't even keep the one thing I wanted most in my life?What hurt the most was the fact that I was beside Dame when he took his last breath, but I wasn't there for him. I slept peacefully that night, thinking I still had another day to grant his wishes. I went to bed feeling on top of the world because I finally got to hear him call me father, not knowing those would be his last words.If only I had known that those were the last time I'd hear him speak, m
Vanessa's POVI traced my hands on the bed, expecting to feel a small hand or at least a tiny body, but there was none. I opened my eyes lazily and found myself in a room different from the one I thought I would be in.I was at Dame's ward until last night, how did I end up here? Judging from the smell, I could tell that I was still at the hospital. Did I pass out? I searched my body checking for any visible injury but other than the throbbing pain in my heart and the headache that has become a constant thing since I found out about Dame's health, I am all good.Maybe Declan brought me here so that I can sleep peacefully. I stood up from the bed and made my way to Dame's ward, where Dame and Declan were sleeping peacefully.This is the first time Declan has looked peaceful since we have been visiting the hospital. He was trying so hard to stay strong, to hide his feelings, but he couldn't always keep them in check. His expressions sometimes sell him off.Dame clung onto Declan's cloth
Declan's POVVanessa paced the room anxiously, waiting for Tristan to return with Dame as I watched from the minibar. We haven't said a word to each other since our last encounter in the morning and I do not want to say another word knowing she would end up misunderstanding it.Right on cue, Tristan came in with Dame sleeping peacefully in his arms. Vanessa's worried expression was soon replaced with excitement as she rushed over to his side."Thank you so much for today," Vanessa gave Tristan a warm smile which made my stomach twitch. The way Dame and Vanessa act so comfortable around Tristan was enough to rile me up, and once again, Tristan does that thing he always does.He acts like the perfect gentleman that Vanessa could always lean on. Too fake if you ask me. They seemed to be carried away with their little conversation to notice my presence.I made my way to them, and Tristan handed a basket of fruit to Vanessa simultaneously."What is that?" I pointed at the little puppy roam