He walked slowly to the chair across from me and sat, leaning back. His gaze never left mine. There was something different in his eyes now. Confusion. Maybe a little curiosity.
He studied me like I was some puzzle that didn’t fit his plan.
"You keep talking like you know something I don’t," he muttered finally. "What deal? What truth?"
I didn’t answer. I just stared at him, silently. Because even though I had nothing left... I still had my secrets. And if this was going to be the end, I’d choose how it finished.
His jaw tensed when I didn’t respond, and he leaned forward a little, his voice dropping. "You made mention of the triplets... do you mean Lennox, Levi, and Louis? Alphas of The full moon pack."
My throat tightened. I swallowed hard. He knew. He knew exactly who I meant. Still, I said nothing.
"You’re Damien’s wife," he said slowly, studying my every twitch, every breath. "So what did you mean by he should tell them the truth someday? What truth?"
I held his stare, but I didn’t open my mouth. Because I remembered what Damien told me once. That it was better if Olivia stayed dead... because there were people who would kill her if they ever learned she was alive.
I didn’t trust Damien. But in that moment... I believed him.
I thought of the woman in my dream. The one who told me I had escaped my first death. Maybe it was better to let Olivia stay dead.
So I finally spoke—but only what I chose to say.
"Alpha Damien isn’t stepping down," I said clearly. "You picked the wrong person."
His eyes narrowed. I tilted my chin. "He married me as a campaign. That’s all. He doesn’t love me. Everything he did... everything he said... was just an act."
I gave him a bitter smile. "And you believed it. You fell for it."
His jaw clenched hard. But I wasn’t done.
"His love is Sofia," I said quietly. "It’s always been her."
His frown deepened. "Then why did you marry him?" he asked.
I shrugged faintly. "Because he took my parents and threatened me into marrying him."
I let out a sigh, tired and hollow. "Do whatever you want. I’m tired... really tired."
And I was. More tired than I’d ever been in my life.
His brows pulled together. For the first time, I saw something in his eyes besides coldness... was that concern?
Then he looked me up and down, eyes narrowing slightly again. "Are you human?" he asked. "I... can’t feel your wolf."
My heart skipped, but I quickly forced a blank face. "Yes," I lied. "I’m human."
He stared at me for a long moment, his lips slightly parted. Then he exhaled slowly and leaned back again.
"So Damien’s played me," he muttered to himself. "Again."
Silence fell between us. It was heavy. Awkward.
Then he looked back at me. "What’s the thing you wanted Damien to tell the triplets?" he asked carefully. "You spoke as if... you were involved with them somehow."
I frowned at him... he seemed far too interested in the triplets. I drew in a slow breath, picking my words carefully.
"Yes," I whispered. "Even though I was married to Damien... I fell in love with them."
I saw it in his eyes—the shift. The shock. He didn’t know what to make of that.
"And they?" he asked.
I let my lips twitch sadly. "They’ll never know. And maybe that’s for the best."
The man let out an angry scoff and stood to his feet. He paced around the empty room with his hands tucked in his pockets.
I could tell he was angry at the turn of events, and I knew he would end up killing me, not like I’m even scared of death... right now it felt like I needed death more than anything. Death didn’t seem scary anymore. It felt like the only rest I’d ever get.
He finally stopped pacing and turned to face me, frustration flashing in his eyes.
"Now what should I do with you?" he asked bitterly. "Hmm? What do you think I should do?"
I met his eyes without flinching. "Let me go," I said softly. "Or kill me."
He stared at me, stunned by my answer. Then he laughed—a low, cold sound that didn’t reach his eyes.
"You think I’m a monster, don’t you?" he asked. "Is that what you see when you look at me?"
I didn’t respond. Because I didn’t have to. He saw the answer in my eyes.
He let out a humorless breath, shaking his head. "I don’t even know what to do with you. I’ll have to think of something special," he muttered, half to himself.
He turned and began walking toward the door, but something inside me stirred, and I found myself calling out.
I hesitated, then asked, "Who are you?"
I didn’t know why I asked, but I needed to know who he really was. If he was going to kill me, I at least wanted to know the name and identity of my killer.
He turned back around, staring at me like I was either brave or stupid for asking.
"You really don’t know?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No. I don’t."
He studied me for a long, quiet second, then finally said, "I’m Alpha Calvin. Of the Nightshade Pack."
The name sent a jolt down my spine. Alpha Calvin? One of the most feared Alphas in the region. Ruthless. Cunning. Dangerous. Nightshade Pack? That was just one pack away from the Full Moon Pack!
But then he added something that made my breath hitch.
"And I’m related to Damien," he said. "And to the triplets."
I blinked. "What...?"
He gave me a slow nod. "We share the same great-grandmother. The Alphas of the Full Moon Pack—Lennox, Levi, Louis—they’re my distant cousins. And Alpha Damien is my distant uncle."
My heart pounded as I stared at him, utterly stunned.