Chapter 19

Diana's voice quivered as she disclosed the painful truth.

"We made our escape one night, we slipped through an unlocked window and got out."

"But outside the orphanage, the world was just harsh. There was no money, no place to go. We roamed the streets, begging for food, and slept in abandoned buildings." Her eyes welled up in tears.

"We did our best to take care of each other, but one fateful night, Sarah didn't come back. I searched for her, but I never found her. And I was alone again."

Luka reached out to Diana and wiped away a tear that had escaped, his touch was gentle and encouraging.

"I eventually found my way back to the city, to the life of odd jobs. But that experience left me with both a physical and emotional scar." Diana continued.

Luka squeezed her hand, to provide a source of comfort.

"I've carried those memories with me, Luka," Diana said.

"They've shaped me into who I am and made me resilient. But they've also left me to yearn for a family of my own or belong to one."

"You have a family now, Diana, you have me." Luka leaned in closer, his voice was filled with sincerity.

"Thank you, Luka." she said happily.

Their connection deepened as they shared their painful pasts.

At that moment, Luka and Diana's hands were intertwined, Diana had already narrated her difficult time at the orphanage, and now she took a deep breath, preparing to share the next chapter of her life. It was a long night at the library for them.

"After leaving the orphanage, I entered the foster care system." She paused, her gaze fixed on a distant point in the room as she gathered her thoughts.

"Tell me, Diana." Luka said, his eyes fixed on her.

"I was placed with different families, and each time I hoped I would finally find a place to call home," Diana explained. "But the reality was far from what I had dreamed of."

Diana's mind drifted back to another foster family, the Whitmans.

"The Whitmans were the willing family I lived with," she first said.

"They appeared like a loving couple when the social worker introduced me to them. With a nice house and a daughter who was a few years older than me." Diana continued.

Luka furrowed his brow, sensing that there was more to the story.

"At first, things were okay," Diana continued. "But it didn't take long for me to realize that I was just a pawn in their facade of a perfect family. They wanted a picture-perfect image, and I was expected to play my part."

Diana's voice trembled with suppressed emotions, and she continued.

"I was given chores and I didn't mind, it became clear that I was there to serve them. Their daughter, Emily, made sure I knew my place." Luka's grip on Diana's hand tightened.

"Emily and her friends bullied me at school," Diana revealed. "The Whitmans turned a blind eye to it all, as long as their reputation remained intact."

Diana bitterly recalled her time with the Whitmans. "I endured it for a while, with the hope that things would surely get better, but I was wrong, they didn't. I felt like a burden, a problem that needed to be hidden away."

Luka continued to listen to her painful past, his eyes damped with great empathy.

"After a year, I couldn't take it anymore," Diana admitted. "I ran away from the Whitmans, and determined to find a better place to live."

"You were brave, Diana." Luka's uttered, he understood all she said.

Diana showed a small smile before continuing her story.

"I moved from one foster family to another, with the hope that I would eventually find a place where I was truly wanted. But I kept repeating the same cycle."

She took a deep breath before she continued.

"Some families cared less about me, while others were abusive. And I was been shuffled from one home to another. I never stayed in one place for too long."

"You went through all of these alone?" Luka asked angrily.

"Yes Luka, I never gave up hope. And I held onto the belief that someday, I would find a real family that would love and accept me for who I am."

Diana finished sharing her past, her voice filled with sadness.

At that moment, as they shared their painful pasts and the unbreakable bond they had formed, Diana felt a warmth she had longed for her entire life, a feeling of belonging and acceptance. Her gaze locked on Luka.

Luka leaned in and rested his forehead against Diana's.

"You did find a family now Diana. You have me." he said.

She had always been drawn to Luka, it was an attraction she couldn't resist.

Diana was grateful that Luka saved her life and he could revealed his true identity as a werewolf.

It seemed a lot to process, but at that moment, she trusted Luka with her life.

"Luka," she called for his attention, with her voice barely above a whisper.

He raised his forehead to face her, his gaze locked onto hers.

"Yes, Diana?" Luka responded.

A soft smile graced her lips, one that spoke of genuine affection.

"Luka, I want to thank you for everything. For being there, for helping Mr. Varane, for staying here with me, for...." she was interrupted by Luka.

Luke brought his face closer to her again. He placed a finger on her lips, urging her to stop talking.

"You don't have to thank me, Diana." he giggled.

Diana nodded, her heart started beating faster with each passing second. She wanted to express how she felt and tell him that her feelings for him had grown beyond explanation. But sometimes, words weren't enough.

Nonetheless, Diana took a bold move, she closed the little space between them, and suddenly her lips met with Luka's in a gentle yet passionate kiss.

Luka wasn't expecting that but he responded to the kiss. After a few seconds, his arms enveloped her, pulling her closer as if he couldn't bear to let her go.

They continued kissing with their lips moving fast together, it was an intense kiss.

It was as if the world had faded away, and it remained only the two of them, lost in the intensity of their desire.

As soon as they finally broke the kiss, the air inside the library became different and chilled all of a sudden.

Instantly, fear gripped Diana. The lights in there started going off and on as if it was being controlled.

However, before any of them could imagine what the fuss was all about, Diana had already collapsed.