Chapter 97

Hunter’s POV

The moment I left Lisa behind, something inside me cracked.

I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white, my entire body tense with frustration, anger, and something deeper—something I wasn’t ready to name.

My wolf growled, restless in my head. Go back. Take her away. Protect her.

I clenched my jaw. “I can’t,” I muttered through gritted teeth.

But God, I wanted to.

My foot pressed harder on the gas pedal as my thoughts spun wildly. Lisa… my sister.

No wonder our connection felt so strong. No wonder I felt drawn to her in ways I couldn’t explain. Blood is thicker than water.

The realisation slammed into me like a brutal punch.

With a growl of frustration, I slammed my hand against the steering wheel. The car swerved slightly before I regained control. My chest felt like it was caving in, suffocated by the weight of the truth.

Everything I knew—everything I believed—was a lie.

I needed answers.

When I entered my territory, I barely registered the way I stormed into the house. The heavy doors slammed behind me, making the walls tremble, but I didn’t care.

“Father!” My voice echoed through the halls, sharp and laced with fury.

A few servants scurried out of sight, sensing the storm brewing inside me.

“Hunter, please, what’s the matter?”

I turned sharply to see my mother descending the stairs, worry etched across her face.

My chest heaved. My head was pounding. “What’s the matter?” I repeated, my voice shaking. “I just discovered that my father—my father—is someone else. Someone I’ve grown to despise because of what he did to Lisa while she was growing up.”

My mother’s lips parted slightly, guilt flashing in her eyes.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my anger contained, but I was barely holding on. “Tell me everything. No more lies.”

A heavy silence stretched between us before she sighed, motioning for me to sit.

“I don’t want to sit,” I snapped.

“Hunter!"

My father’s voice cut through the air like a blade. He stood in the doorway of his study, arms crossed, his face unreadable.

I turned my glare on him. “You knew.”

He didn’t deny it.

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “Of course, you did.”

Mother cleared her throat, her fingers trembling slightly as she clasped them together. “A long time ago, your father and I… we couldn’t have children.”

I swallowed hard, my breath shallow.

“The one child we had died,” she continued, voice barely above a whisper. “After that, I never got pregnant again.”

My pulse pounded in my ears as she went on.

“One day, a human friend of ours, someone who knew about our kind, came to us. She was pregnant by another werewolf who had abandoned her. She knew the child needed to grow up among his own people, so she begged us to take him.”

The room spun.

I felt like the ground beneath me had just disappeared.

“We didn’t want to lie to you, Hunter,” she said softly. “But we did what we thought was best. And couldn't tell you.”

I stared at her, then at my father. “And you never once thought to tell me? Never once thought I deserved the truth?”

My father finally spoke, his voice firm. “You were our son in every way that mattered.”

A hollow laugh escaped me. “Except by blood.”

He stepped forward. “That doesn’t change anything. You are still my son, and I am still proud of the man you have become.”

I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face. My head was a mess. My emotions were in chaos.

“So where is she now?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

Mother’s eyes softened. “After she gave you to us, we never heard from her again.”

I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

My biological mother… the woman who had given birth to me… was a ghost.

I closed my eyes, trying to process it all.

The betrayal. The pain. The identity I thought I had.

It was all shattered.

Lisa’s Pain, My Pain

“Where is Lisa?” My father’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I opened my eyes, my throat tightening. “She didn’t come with me. She’s still there.”

A frown formed on his face. “With them?”

I nodded. “The man in question is her father too.”

Silence.

A deep, heavy silence filled the room.

My father exhaled, rubbing his temple. “Poor girl.” His voice, holding pity for "Lisa, is so nice. I can’t imagine how she must be feeling.”

My chest ached at the thought of Lisa, alone, confused, and heartbroken.

“She’s strong,” I said, though the words felt hollow. “She’ll be fine.”

I wanted to believe it.

But I wasn’t sure.

Because if I was barely holding on, then how could she?

Angus’s POV

I gripped the steering wheel tightly as I pulled out of the driveway. My mother stood at the entrance of our packhouse, worry etched across her face.

"Son, are you sure you don't need me to go with you?" She asked, her voice filled with concern.

I exhaled sharply. "Mother, it's fine. I caused this mess, and I need to fix it."

Just as I was about to drive off, Feeler appeared, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Where are you going?" she demanded.

I shot her a glare. "You have no right to ask me that."

Her eyes widened slightly, but I didn’t wait for a response. I stepped on the gas and sped away, my heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and regret.

Delta Slate had sent me directions to Lisa’s pack and her home. He had done a thorough investigation for me, and now, after three long hours of driving, I finally arrived at the Red Moon Pack.

**Arriving at Lisa’s Home**

I pulled up at the pack border and spoke to the guards, explaining that I needed to find Beta Giovanni’s house. Given his rank, they knew who he was and directed me.

The streets were quiet as I followed the directions, my mind racing with everything I needed to say.

When I finally reached the house, I parked and stepped out, my stomach twisting with nerves.

Just as I approached the entrance, a man walked out of the house. I cleared my throat.

"Greetings," I said firmly. "I’m Alpha Angus."

The man stopped and looked me over, his expression unreadable.

"Greetings, Alpha," he replied. "I could tell you were one."

"Please, I’m looking for Lisa Giovanni," I said.

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"

"I have important business with her."

He studied me for a moment before nodding. "Wow, that’s nice. I’m Mike, her brother. I don’t know if now is a good time, but let’s try. Come with me."

I swallowed hard and followed him.

The walk to the house felt longer than it actually was. My pulse quickened as Mike knocked on the door.

Another man opened it.

"Luke, Lisa has a visitor," Mike said.

Luke’s gaze flickered to me. "Greetings, Alpha."

"Please, can I see her?" I asked, my patience wearing thin.

Luke hesitated before stepping aside. "Yes, come with me."

We walked through the house, stopping in front of a closed door.

Luke knocked, but there was no response.

Instead, we heard muffled sobs coming from inside.

Luke exhaled. "She’s been like this since the person that came with her left."

My throat tightened. Hunter.

I swallowed back the lump forming in my chest and nodded. "Alright. I’ll take it from here."

Luke gave me one last look before shutting the door behind me.

The room entered was dimly lit, a small lamp casting a soft glow on Lisa’s figure.

She sat on the bed, knees pulled to her chest, face buried in them as she cried.

The sight of her like this—broken, vulnerable—hit me harder than I expected.

I took a careful step forward.

"What are you doing here?!" she suddenly shouted, her voice raw from crying.

I halted, my heart sinking. "Lisa, please, hear me out."

"I don’t want to hear anything from you!" She screamed, her voice cracking as tears ran down her face.

I clenched my fists. "Please, Lisa, I beg of you."

She let out a bitter laugh. "Beg? Now you beg? Did you ever stop to think about how your actions broke me?"

I lowered my head, shame burning through me.

She wiped her tears aggressively. "Where’s Feeler? Your Luna?" she spat. "Or have you finally seen her for who she really is?"

I took a deep breath. "All those things… everything I did… it was all manipulation. Noah and Feeler used me. I was blind, Lisa. I should have listened to you. To my mother."

Her lip trembled. She turned her face away, staring at the wall. "And Gina?" she whispered.

My chest constricted at the mention of the woman who had shown her the love she deserved.

"Gina loved me," Lisa continued, her voice hollow. "She showed me the love a mother should have given me. And now she's gone. I have nothing left."

My heart ached at her words.

"Lisa…"

She shook her head. "Just leave," she choked out. "I want to be alone."

Tears streamed down her face, and I felt something inside me crack.

I couldn’t leave her like this.

I stepped closer, ignoring the way she stiffened.

I reached for her, but she pushed me away.

"Don’t touch me!" she sobbed.

But I refused to back down.

I reached again, wrapping my arms around her despite her struggling.

"Let me go, Angus!" she screamed, hitting my chest weakly.

But I held her tighter, desperate.

"Please, Lisa," I whispered against her hair. "Let me do this one thing right. Let me hold you."

She struggled a moment longer before finally—finally—collapsing against me.

She sobbed into my shoulder, her entire body trembling.

I stroked her back, whispering soft apologies, feeling the weight of everything I had done crushing me.

She cried and cried, and I just held her, letting her release the pain I had caused.

After a long while, her sobs quieted, her breathing becoming slow and steady.

She still didn’t say a word.

But she hadn’t pushed me away again.

And for now, that was enough.