47

Nova's POV

The fog hadn't completely lifted as I slowly stood up, my knees trembling. The air around Scarlet Ridge felt heavy on my chest, making every breath feel painful and piercing. In front of me stood Diego, his body covered in wounds, his face as hard as stone. Yet, his eyes—those eyes—still stared at me. Not with anger, nor with love, but with something I couldn't explain. It was as if he himself was confused about what he should feel toward me.

My heart raced as I looked at him. In this moment, with darkness lurking, I felt a strange and terrifying closeness. Everything happening felt so unreal, but I knew one thing, I couldn’t let him fight alone.

“Diego,” I whispered, my voice filled with doubt. I wanted to step closer, but fear held me back. The darkness behind him crept forward, a clear and present threat.

I knew all of this was happening because of my emotions, and in an instant, I felt guilty. Had I opened the door to this darkness? Yet, as his eyes bore into mine, I felt a strength flowing between us, as if he was trying to tell me that everything would be alright.

Diego struggled against the creature, but I could feel the heavy burden he was carrying. In my heart, I was determined not to be a burden. I had to find a way to help, to turn the tide against this darkness.

I hugged myself. Still cold. Still trembling. What I had just seen—the creature, the cracking earth, the changing air—felt like I had opened the gates of hell with my own hands.

I never intended for any of this to happen.

“I just want to know,” my voice came out softly, hoarsely. “About my family… about why everything feels so wrong…”

Diego didn’t answer. He simply observed. His body was full of wounds, but he didn’t complain. He never complained. Even as the world around him crumbled, Diego always appeared strong. Yet that strength felt distant from me.

I felt alienated, trapped in uncertainty. All I wanted were answers, but what I had done only brought danger into our lives. Anxiety gnawed at my heart, and the guilt sank deeper.

In the midst of this chaos, my eyes couldn’t leave Diego. He was my protector, yet I felt helpless. If only I could turn everything back, if only I could change the decisions I had made.

“I don’t know why I’m here…” I continued, staring at my trembling hands that had just touched the darkness. “I thought, maybe if I knew my origins, I could understand all of this… accept our marriage… our position…”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself from the panic threatening to overwhelm me. Every word that left my lips felt heavy, as if revealing buried fears.

“But what I found… is scarier than I expected.”

The darkness seemed to respond, vibrating around us. I felt as though everything I had discovered only brought more questions than answers. How could my origins contain such deep and dangerous secrets?

Diego still stared at me, his eyes filled with concern. I could feel the tension between us, a bridge connecting uncertainty with hope.

I wanted to rely on his strength, but I also knew I had to find my own. Perhaps by understanding who I was, I could contribute to fighting this darkness. This wasn’t just about him or me, it was about us and the future we might have.

They… the people I called family, harbored secrets darker than a moonless night. And I, who had always felt like an outsider in that grand castle, might indeed be destined never to fully belong to them.

“I feel guilty,” I whispered. “I feel… like I brought disaster. Into your life. Into this pack.”

Those words hung in the air, and I felt their weight. Guilt gnawed at my heart. Everything I did, every question I asked, seemed to add to the burden that already existed. The darkness I had discovered wasn’t just mine, it threatened those I loved.

Diego remained silent, but his eyes conveyed a deep understanding. He knew how difficult this situation was for me. Yet, beneath it all, I also felt hope. Perhaps by uncovering all these secrets, we could find a way out.

But what if the truth was more devastating than I had ever imagined?

I didn’t know how deep the darkness was, but one thing was certain, I couldn’t back down.

Diego stepped closer, his voice deep and calm, “You didn’t intend for any of this, Nova. I know that.”

“But I still did,” I replied bitterly. “And you’re hurt… your men are hurt… all because of me.”

I looked down, holding back tears that were welling up again. Disappointment and guilt enveloped me, making me feel even more isolated.

“I have to go…” I whispered, whether to Diego or to myself. “Before everything gets worse.”

But before I could turn away, his hand touched my wrist—gentle but firm enough to hold me back. “No,” he said softly. “You will come back with me.”

I stared at him, confused. “Why?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Finally, he said, “Because if we’re going to fall, we fall together.”

It wasn’t a declaration of love. Not a sweet promise. But amidst all the chaos, it felt… real. Real enough, at least for now.

In that simple statement, I found a bit of calm. Maybe if we faced this darkness together, we could find a way out. Perhaps we could protect each other, even as the world around us crumbled.

I finally nodded slowly. Our steps were heavy as we left Scarlet Ridge. The fog began to lift slowly, as if nature itself knew the battle was not over, but also not yet won. Each step felt like lifting a heavy burden, as if the ground beneath my feet wanted to pull me back into the darkness.

I didn’t know what awaited us at the castle.