Chapter 45 Chapter 45

Chapter 45 Chapter 45
_Anya's POV_

I was still standing near the window, my fingers resting against the folded photograph hidden inside my pocket, when I heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. My entire body immediately stiffened. The sound was familiar. A voice followed moments later.

"Anya?"

My heart jumped. It was Jacob.

I quickly pulled my hand away from my pocket as if the photograph had burned me. I did not know why I was suddenly so afraid of him seeing it, but something inside me told me that I could not let him find it....not yet.

I looked toward the door. The photograph was still hidden inside my clothes. If Jacob saw it, he would immediately ask questions.

Where did you get this?

Why were you in the west wing again?

Why did you go against my warning?

And I had no answer that would not reveal the truth. I could not tell him that I had returned to the ruined hallway. I could not tell him that I was looking for clues concerning the mystery surrounding Mom Jess. Especially not after he had already defended his mother. He had looked at me with disappointment when I admitted that I was suspicious of her. I did not want another argument.

I quickly moved toward the table and placed my hand over my pocket, making sure that the photograph was completely hidden. A few seconds later, the door opened and Jacob stepped inside.

The moment he saw me, his expression softened. "There you are."

I forced a smile. "Hi."

He walked toward me slowly. His eyes were studying my face. Something about his expression made me nervous. Jacob always noticed things....even small things.

"You look tired."

I looked away. "I'm fine."

He raised an eyebrow. "You always say that when something is wrong."

I let out a small laugh. "Maybe I am just tired."

He smiled slightly and reached out to brush a strand of hair away from my face. The gentle gesture made my heart soften despite everything happening inside my mind.

Jacob was not the problem. That was what made everything harder. He was kind to me and he loved me. But there was still a part of me that could not forget what I had seen in the west wing; the blood, the ritual room and the strange feeling that had followed me ever since.

And now...the photograph.

Jacob leaned closer and kissed my forehead. "I missed you today."

I looked at him. "You saw me this morning."

He smiled. "That was hours ago."

I shook my head slightly. "You are dramatic."

"Only because my mate keeps disappearing into dangerous places."

My smile faded slightly. He was joking but his words reminded me of the west wing. I quickly looked away and he noticed. His expression changed.

"Anya?"

I immediately looked back at him. "What?"

"Something happened."

It was not a question. I forced myself to smile.

"Nothing happened."

He watched me silently. For a moment, I thought that he would continue asking. But, instead, he sighed softly.

"Fine."

He reached for my hand. "But I know you."

My fingers tightened slightly around his.

"I know when you are hiding something."

The words made my heart beat faster. I looked down.

"I'm just tired."

Jacob studied me for a few seconds before finally nodding.

"Okay."

Then his expression changed. A small smile appeared.

"But I have something that might help."

I looked at him curiously. "What?"

He stepped closer. "I want to take you out tonight."

I blinked. "A date?"

"Yes."

His smile widened. "A proper one."

I looked surprised. "Tonight?"

He nodded. "I already made plans."

A strange feeling settled inside my chest. A part of me wanted to say yes immediately. I wanted to forget everything for one evening, to stop thinking about the photograph and the questions that had been haunting me. I wanted to spend time with Jacob, laugh with him and pretend that everything was normal again.

But I couldn't.

My mind was still trapped on that photograph...the woman....the baby....the impossible resemblance that made my heart ache. No matter how hard I tried, I could not push it away.

"I don't think that is a good idea," I finally said softly.

The smile on Jacob's face slowly faded. Confusion replaced the happiness in his eyes.

"Why?"

I looked away, searching for an excuse.

How could I explain something I barely understood myself? How could I tell him that a simple photograph had opened the door to a past I had never known existed? How could I explain the strange dreams that I have been having about that woman?

I couldn't...not yet.

"I am just tired," I said quietly while forcing a small smile. "I think I need some rest."

Jacob continued looking at me. He was clearly not completely convinced. But then he smiled again.

"Then that is even more reason for us to go."

I frowned slightly. "What?"

"You have been worrying too much."

He gently squeezed my hand. "You need a break, Anya. You need to stop carrying so much on your shoulders, even if it is just for one evening."

I looked at him. He sounded so sincere. Maybe he was right. Maybe I had been thinking about everything too much.

Maybe the ruined west wing, the strange dreams and the photograph were only connected because I desperately wanted answers. It could be that my mind was searching for a meaning behind things that had no connection at all.

Maya immediately growled inside my head. "No."

I ignored her.

Jacob's smile widened when he noticed my hesitation. "Get ready."

I sighed. "You already decided, didn't you?"

"Yes."

I shook my head, unable to stop a small smile from appearing.

"You are impossible."

"And you love me anyway."

I rolled my eyes. "Unfortunately."

He laughed softly. "Good. Now go get ready."

I shook my head but turned toward the bathroom. As I closed the door behind me, the smile slowly faded from my face.

Because even though I was about to spend the evening with the man I loved, my thoughts were still somewhere else.

They were trapped in that old photograph. In the mystery of the past I had never known.

A woman who looked exactly like me.

A woman who might be related to me......