Chapter 127 A PAINFUL REVELATION
Edeline
His voice trembled as he pleaded, his sincerity evident through his anguish.
That night, the pain was almost too much to bear. I hated reliving the recent turmoil, the rawness of it still fresh. But despite everything, I trusted him. As tears streamed down my cheeks, blurring his figure before me, I whispered, “I have faith in you, Darius.” My heart ached, knowing that the actions he confessed to weren’t truly him. They were the result of manipulation by Tatiana and Anita.
“I promise you, I will make sure justice is served,” I said, my voice trembling. “Even though it’s still so vivid in my mind, I understand your situation now. It’s important to clear your name and address the issues with Anita and Tatiana. Is there any tea left?” I stood, lifting the torch as I moved towards the door.
Darius slowly made his way toward the exit, his demeanor fraught with pain. I flinched at his movement, making him lower his head in hurt. “Yes,” he replied softly, “it’s in the floorboards under the rug in my room.”
I hesitated, cautious. It was difficult to know what remnants of poison might still be affecting him. “What made you realize you were being poisoned?” I asked gently.
He looked at me, his eyes clouded with sadness. “Once all those thoughts of being together faded away... I realized it had to be the tea. My mind has become much clearer since I stopped drinking it. It’s like a fog has lifted from my thoughts.”
I nodded, tears continuing to flow down my cheeks. “I just... I want to make sure you’re no longer burdened by those emotions,” I admitted.
He nodded, his bruised face reflecting a fragile understanding. “I understand,” he said. “I’m deeply sorry, Edeline. I have strong feelings for you. Yes, I do. But I would never intentionally hurt you.” Tears rolled down his cheeks, mingling with the cuts on his face, and my heart ached for him.
A thought crossed my mind, and I pursed my lips as I watched him. “Darius? Could you tell me about the letters?” I asked, trying to keep my voice gentle and persuasive.
His eyes narrowed, and a choked sob escaped him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his head bowing in embarrassment. “I remember feeling envious... I wanted to separate you and Percival. I was the one who intercepted your letters. Tatiana and Anita would rewrite them and instruct me to replace the originals, which is what you discovered. I’m so sorry, Edeline. I never meant to cause this turmoil in your life. I can’t believe how terrible I’ve been,” he sobbed, his voice trembling with guilt.
I took a deep breath, struggling to hold back the tears. The realization that the final letter had completely numbed me regarding Percival was overwhelming. It had driven him to seek solace in Tatiana, and the pain of it all was nearly unbearable.
“I’ll be glad to assist you, Darius,” I said firmly. “Just stay patient. I will help you find a way out of this situation. And I’m going to make them both pay,” I promised, my voice resolute as he looked up at me with a pleading expression.
“Thanks, Edeline,” Darius said, his voice thick with emotion. “I will make sure everything is resolved between you and Percival. Just go and accomplish what you’ve planned. Please, help me seek retribution.”
I nodded, tears streaming down my face as I softly sobbed. I pressed a kiss to my hand, then to the iron bars, before reluctantly turning away from my dear friend. With a heavy heart, I made my way up the stairs, or rather, the steep slope, taking deep breaths as I finally escaped the putrid stench that had filled the air.
...
Emerging from the basement, I carefully concealed any evidence of my presence and discreetly returned the key to William’s pocket. Knowing he would be finishing his training classes soon, I composed myself and made my way through the woods towards the training grounds. However, as I entered the clearing, a surge of fear gripped me, my eyes widening in shock.
My heart raced as I feared the worst: that my mother had discovered the truth about Nixx not being my biological father.
The training camp was eerily quiet, with no young wolves or males around—only two figures were present: Luna Annabel and my mother.
I took cover behind a tree, cautiously peeking out to observe the scene before me. My mother was on her knees, clearly overcome with emotion, while Luna sat on the ground, crying uncontrollably.
Seeing Luna in tears was a strange comfort, a sign that my mother might be starting to confront her mistakes. It seemed that the situation was related to one particular matter.
Their words were difficult to make out, but I could discern their distress.
My mother clutched Luna’s hand tightly. “Luna... I apologize for my actions. I had no idea... Please, forgive me. I only made assumptions after Tatiana discovered that Nixx was her mate. I am truly sorry.”
Luna looked at her with intense frustration. “How could you!?” she shouted. “I’ve known about your affair for decades! And now, to find out that your child is the one who is next in line, while none of my children are, just because he is the son of my partner!” Her voice was a mix of anger and disbelief.
“Please,” my mother pleaded, “I didn’t mean—”
Luna’s frustration turned physical as she struck my mother with such force that I flinched at the sound of impact. Even though it wasn’t my altercation, my instincts urged me to intervene.
“You don’t get the privilege of apologizing!” Luna snapped, her voice sharp and commanding. “But you won’t utter a single sound!” She towered over my mother, her piercing blue eyes blazing with fury. “My son will not be replaced by your son. I’ll deal with the test tomorrow, but right now, keep your mouth shut! Don’t say a word to your friend! I’m sharing a secret with you, and I hope it weighs on your mind just as heavily as the one I’ve kept from you all this time!” Luna’s words echoed with a finality that made my heart sink.