Chapter 136 A WEB OF SECRETS
Edeline
“Why didn’t you ever mention it to him?” I asked softly, curiosity tinged with concern in my voice.
She nervously bit her bottom lip, her gaze shifting away as she glanced down at her hands resting in her lap. For a moment, she seemed lost in her thoughts, gathering the strength to face me. When she finally met my gaze, her expression was one of pain and regret.
“It was a difficult situation, one I promised not to disclose,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “At the time, I had strong feelings for your father, but I made a terrible mistake and felt rejected by Jack. When I realized I was pregnant, I didn’t want to cause any harm to Jack or his friendship with William. Jack and William had such a close bond, and I wanted to preserve that. If I had told Jack about William and me, it would have jeopardized our future together. His parents would likely have influenced him to reject me, and there would have been doubts about Nixx’s paternity. I would have been forced to mate with William, which would have been devastating for your father. Looking back, I do not regret keeping the truth from him because it led to your existence. However, I do regret that Nixx was born as a result of my betrayal. I never even suspected it would come to this.” Her voice broke, and tears began streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes squeezed shut, as if trying to block out the painful memories.
I wrapped my arms around her tightly, feeling the weight of her sadness pressing against me. I rested my cheek against hers as she cried, our embrace a small comfort against the storm of her emotions. “I am sorry, Mom. I regret being angry with you all this time. I… I deeply regret that you had to experience that.” My gentle words seemed to only deepen her tears, the shared sorrow binding us closer together.
My heart ached for her. My dad should never have treated my mom the way he did, leaving her feeling excluded and isolated. I understood her pain now, and it resonated deeply within me.
I was starting to understand that there is always more to a story than meets the eye. Even when faced with the most troubling secrets, it’s crucial to hear the other person’s side before jumping to conclusions. There is always a deeper layer to uncover.
Exploring the city with Mom, discovering hidden gems with William, and unearthing secrets with Darius—even when Percival was around—had given me new perspectives. Learning about their betrayals initially painted them in a negative light, but hearing their stories also made me feel a wave of sympathy for them.
I had been so consumed by my own pain that it clouded my judgment. In my encounters with Percival, I realized that my hurt had obscured my understanding of the situation. I had even mistakenly introduced Mom to Tatiana, and for that, I felt a deep sense of regret. I recognized that my actions had been selfish and misguided.
I was beginning to grasp a new understanding of things, starting to feel more at home with this realization.
“How did you discover?” Mom’s voice was soft, carrying a hint of sadness.
As I pulled away, a sheepish smile crept onto my face. I had noticed some unusual behavior, like when you saved Nixx’s gum from the garbage or when you were keeping an eye on William and Nixx. It seemed like Nixx was growing stronger, so I decided to ask Mirabelle for help. I wanted to uncover any secrets or hidden motives. Mirabelle shared her vision with me, and slowly, everything began to make sense. It was hard to accept at first, but it eventually became a reality I had to face. My feelings for Nixx hadn’t changed—he was still my brother, and Mom was still my mom. I loved them both. It was just strange to realize that my brother and my partner had the same father. I chuckled softly, even though tears were still in my eyes. Mom placed her hand gently over mine, offering silent comfort.
“Mom?” I asked, my gaze fixed on her as she wiped away her tears. “What about what you mentioned regarding Annabel? You said she was Dark Moon, but now you’re saying Nyra is Dark Moon?”
Mom nodded, taking a deep breath to compose herself. She blinked, drying her tears before continuing. “After Nyra died, and about six months after the incident with William… The Dark Moon Alpha, Nyra’s father, had a niece who was mated to a low-ranking wolf. In Dark Moon, if a mate is of lower rank, they are rejected, and another mate is chosen. It’s a terrible practice. The Alpha didn’t want the lower-ranked wolf in his family. He told William that, since he could not care for his own daughter and blamed him for her death, he must take his niece—Nyra’s cousin, Annabel. William was so wracked with guilt that he agreed, and Annabel was promised to him. William traveled to Dark Moon, and they had the ceremony and mated there. When he brought her back, she approached me. She said she had scented me on him and knew about our affair. She was kind but very protective of what was now hers. She asked me to stay away from William and said she would keep my secret. She didn’t want to destroy a mated pair expecting a pup. We became friends after that, but my guilt consumed me, and I couldn’t be around them more than necessary.” Mom’s lips tightened into a thin line. “William and Annabel had a deep connection, and I vowed to keep their secret. I couldn’t bear to tell William that Annabel was already aware of everything. He asked me not to mention Nyra to Annabel, knowing how painful it was for her to reject her true mate and choose her deceased cousin instead. Annabel honored Nyra by naming their child Percival—a name that is Nyra spelled backwards with a ‘Z.’” Mom’s lips curved into a small, bittersweet smile.
I was taken aback, my eyes widening in surprise. Did Annabel choose that name as a tribute to her cousin?