Chapter 189
Elowen's POV
The silence that followed my outburst was deafening. My chest heaved, my claws still extended, and I could feel Juno pacing restlessly in my mind. Through our bond, I sensed Casper's protective fury and Cassian's calculating anger, both ready to tear this room apart if anyone tried to hurt me.
But it was Ronan who broke the silence, his voice flat and cold as winter steel.
"Your birth mother and the Lycan King were both murdered."
The word hit me like a physical blow. Murdered. Not died. Not passed away. Murdered.
My breath caught in my throat. Juno let out a mournful whine in my head, and I felt my knees go weak. Casper's hand tightened around mine instantly, and through our bond, I felt both twins react—shock, rage, and a fierce determination to protect me from whatever came next.
I looked at Austin and Ella. Their faces had gone paper-white, eyes wide with something that looked like terror and desperation mixed together.
"What?" The word came out as barely a whisper.
"And Jessica—" Ronan continued, his emerald eyes never leaving mine, "—was originally your mother's maid. She smuggled you back here, changed her identity, let everyone believe you were her daughter."
No. My mind reeled. Jessica was a servant who'd stolen me?
"Holy fuck," Casper breathed beside me, his Leo surging so close to the surface that his eyes flashed gold.
Through our triple bond, I felt Cassian's ice-cold fury crystallize into something sharp and deadly. His fingers found my other hand, squeezing gently even as his body went rigid with barely contained violence.
"My parents..." I choked on the words. "They're both dead? I just found out they existed, and they're already—"
"I'm sorry." Ronan's voice softened, and for the first time since he'd entered this room, I saw genuine pain flicker across his features. His jaw clenched, and his hands curled into fists at his sides. "I didn't want you to remember such painful things."
Something in my chest cracked. This man—this dangerous, powerful Alpha—was hurting too. Had he known them? Loved them?
"You don't have to listen to this, cutie," Casper said urgently, pulling me closer. Through our bond, I felt his wolf Leo snarling, desperate to shield me from this pain.
But I shook my head, sending back my determination through our connection. I need to know. All of it.
Casper's resistance melted into reluctant acceptance, though his grip on me didn't loosen.
"How did you know them?" I asked Ronan, my voice steadier than I felt. "Why does this matter so much to you?"
Ronan's lips twisted into something that might have been a smile if it hadn't been so filled with grief. He took a step closer, and I heard both Casper and Cassian growl low in their throats—a warning.
He ignored them, his emerald eyes locked on mine.
"Because the Lycan King was my father too."
The world tilted.
"What?" Cassian's voice cracked like a whip.
"You're saying—" Casper started, but I was already moving forward, breaking free from their protective hold.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I closed the distance between Ronan and me. Up close, I could see details I'd missed before—the slight curl to his hair that matched mine when it was humid, the shape of his nose, the set of his jaw.
"You're my brother?" The words came out barely above a whisper.
Ronan's expression softened, and he nodded slowly. When he spoke, his voice was rough with emotion. "Yes, Elowen. We're siblings. Same father, different mothers."
Holy shit. Juno's voice echoed my thoughts. We have a brother.
I felt tears prick my eyes, but I blinked them back furiously. Behind me, I sensed Casper and Cassian's shock through our bond, along with a spike of jealousy that they quickly tried to suppress.
"And you didn't think to mention this earlier?" Cassian's voice was deadly quiet as he appeared at my side. "You let her go through all of this without telling her?"
"Would you have believed me?" Ronan shot back. "Or would you have assumed I was trying to manipulate her, to use her for some political gain?" His eyes flickered to Austin and Ella. "Besides, some truths need to be revealed at the right time. And these two have been doing their best to bury them."
"How dare you—" Austin started forward, but Ella grabbed his arm.
"He's right," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Austin, he's right. We've been keeping this from her. From everyone."
"Why?" I turned to face them, my voice breaking. "Why would you hide this? Why would you let me grow up thinking I was nothing special, just some Beta's daughter who wasn't even wanted by her own mother?"
"Because the truth puts a target on your back," Austin said finally, his voice heavy with defeat. "The Lycan King didn't just die, Elowen. He was assassinated. And whoever killed him would have come for you next."
"So you traded my truth for my safety?" I felt Juno's rage bleeding into my words, making my voice rougher. "You let me believe I was worthless, that my own mother didn't love me, that I was some kind of burden—"
"We were trying to protect you!" Ella cried.
"By lying?" I spat back. "By making deals with demons? By trying to sell me off to Drake?"
The room fell silent. Even Ronan looked surprised at the venom in my voice.
Through our bond, I felt Casper's approval and Cassian's cold satisfaction. They moved to flank me again, a united front against the people who'd manipulated us all.
"Tell her the rest," Ronan said quietly. "Tell her what she really is."
Austin and Ella exchanged a long look. Finally, Ella turned to me, her face crumbling.
"You're not just the Lycan King's daughter, Elowen," she whispered. "You're his heir. The rightful successor to the throne."