31. Secrets

Mia Miller

I couldn’t sleep the rest of the night. Every time I tried to relax, that message invaded my mind, bringing back the cruel reality. Ethan was investigating me. He knew more about my past than I did. The truth about my father... What else was he hiding from me?

I silently moved away from the bed, being careful not to wake him. I needed a moment to breathe, to think, away from him and the weight of his secrets. The early morning was cold, and as the wind hit the window, my thoughts grew darker.

How could I have been so naïve? I let myself be carried away by a moment of weakness, by the warmth of his arms, only to discover that he had been hiding something all along. The worst part? I knew there was so much more behind it.

"What are you doing?" he whispered, giving me a scare. "Come back to bed. I’d love to feel your butt against me." He sniffed my neck.

How could he be so deceitful?

But then, what else to expect from a man who is a wolf?

I stood by the window, hugging my arms in an attempt to warm myself from the cold coming from outside and the ice now taking over my chest. Ethan slept peacefully, as if he hadn’t done anything wrong. As if he wasn’t messing with my life in ways I could never imagine.

When dawn broke, I returned to bed and lay beside him, keeping a careful distance. I couldn’t let him notice my restlessness, at least not yet. What was I supposed to do with this information? I didn’t know. I only knew one thing for sure: I no longer trusted him.

"Good morning," Ethan said with his hoarse voice, moving closer to pull me by the waist.

I subtly turned away, pretending to be distracted. "We need to go back," was all I could say, my voice cold, almost distant.

He seemed to notice the change in my tone, but didn’t insist. He just nodded and got up to get ready. The drive back home was silent, and I knew he felt the tension. I could see him glancing sideways, trying to decipher what had changed.

We arrived home, and I got out of the car without a word. My heart was pounding, as if waiting for the right moment to explode. I needed to confront him. I couldn’t keep this inside anymore.

Later, when Lorenzo was safely with the babysitter, I went after Ethan. He was in the office, with a concentrated expression, but his eyes lifted as soon as I entered the room.

"Mia," he began, noticing my state. "You look—"

"Are you investigating my father?" the words left my mouth before I could control them, my voice low but sharp.

Ethan’s face turned into a mask of surprise, but it didn’t last long. He quickly composed himself, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Mia, I can explain," he began, but my anger was already bubbling up.

"Explain? You spent the night with me, and at the same time, you were hiding the fact that you’re investigating my life! Who do you think you are?" My voice trembled, and I hated it, hated showing how much it was affecting me.

Ethan took a step toward me, but I raised my hand to stop him.

"Tell me the truth, Ethan. Now. No lies. What are you really doing? Why are you investigating my father?"

He paused for a moment, his eyes locked on mine as if he were carefully choosing his next words.

"I started the investigation because I knew there was something about your family that wasn’t clear," he confessed, his shoulders tense. "And when Lorenzo was kidnapped, it just confirmed that your past was involved with something bigger, something dangerous."

"Something dangerous?" I repeated, incredulous. "My father was involved in this? He was just an ordinary man, Ethan! What did you find out?"

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on me. "Your father wasn’t who you thought he was, Mia. There’s a lot about his history that you still don’t know. He had enemies, and they weren’t ordinary people. They were wolves, like me."

I felt the ground disappear beneath my feet. My father? Enemies? Wolves? None of it made sense.

"Why didn’t you tell me before?" My voice was almost a whisper, the pain evident in every syllable.

"I wanted to protect you," he replied, his voice full of guilt. "I was waiting for the right moment to tell you, but after Lorenzo was kidnapped, everything became more urgent."

I crossed my arms, trying to stay calm. "And what do you really want from me, Ethan? Protection or control?"

He moved closer, his expression serious. "Mia, I never wanted to control you. I just want to keep you safe. And now that we know who you really are… that’s going to get harder."

My eyes widened. "Who I really am?"

"Yes," he said, with a heavy tone. "You’re more than just human, Mia. Your father was a wolf... and you, you’re one too."

I stared at Ethan as if he had just lost his mind. What he was saying simply didn’t make sense. "You must be crazy," I muttered, disbelief flooding my voice. "I know exactly who my father was. He was an ordinary man. He was just... normal. And I’m normal too."

Ethan shook his head, visibly frustrated but still calm. "Mia, listen," he said slowly, trying to find the right words. "I understand that this is hard to accept, but I’m telling you the truth. Your father wasn’t just an ordinary man. He was a wolf. And because of that, you’re part of this too."

I let out a dry laugh, crossing my arms. "A wolf? I’ve never shown any signs of being a wolf, Ethan. I’m human, always have been. You’re completely wrong. Or worse... you’re lying to me."

He took another step toward me, his expression serious. "I’m not lying, Mia. You’re different. Maybe you’re a hybrid, that’s why you’ve never transformed. But there’s a connection in you, something that can’t be ignored. And that’s what led to Lorenzo being kidnapped. They were after something bigger, something that comes from your blood."

I took a step back, feeling my stomach turn. A hybrid?