Chapter 80 The Truth Unraveled
Phoebe
The morning air was freezing as I stepped out of the main building. The sky hung gray and heavy, and the first snowflakes of the season drifted lazily through the air before melting on the ground. The last Monday of November—the first snow should’ve felt magical. But today, it felt like a warning.
I pulled my coat zipper all the way up, trying to fight the chill. After spending the night in Finley’s room, I decided to return to my dorm early.
Everything seemed quiet at first… until the bell rang, calling us back to class. Finley was already waiting for me in Biology, giving me that calm, reassuring smile of his. But for some reason, my chest tightened when our eyes met.
“I brought your notes from before the break,” he said softly.
I smiled, taking the notebook from him. “Thanks, Fin. I wasn’t really focused today—I didn’t even realize I left this with you.”
But before the lesson even began, the speaker above us crackled to life, echoing through the classroom—firm and cold.
“Phoebe Matthews and Finley Knight, please report to Principal Hartman’s office immediately.”
Every head turned toward me. I froze in place. Finley frowned. “What’s going on?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea…”
We walked in silence down the empty hallway, the sound of our footsteps bouncing off the walls. But the moment the office door opened, I knew everything was about to fall apart.
My parents were there. Both sitting stiffly, faces cold and unreadable—but anger flickered beneath the surface.
“Phoebe,” Mom’s voice was low and sharp. “Sit down.”
My knees went weak as I obeyed. Principal Hartman stood near his desk, watching me with a look I’d never seen from him before—disappointment. Finley stood beside me, clearly uneasy.
Without saying a word, Mom placed a few printed photos on the desk.
My breath caught.
The pictures… were of me and Adonis in his dorm room—too close, too intimate. Me and Zion in his car, in his arms. Me and Finley behind the dorm, kissing. All the moments I thought no one would ever see. All the lies I thought were safely hidden.
“What is this, Phoebe?” Dad’s voice thundered across the room. “Are these real?”
I couldn’t answer. My throat went dry, my tongue heavy.
“Phoebe!” His voice rose, and Mom shut her eyes, trying to hold back tears.
Principal Hartman finally spoke, his tone controlled but full of disappointment. “I’ve defended you, Phoebe. I’ve dismissed every rumor that’s come my way. But this—this is serious.”
“I—I can explain,” I whispered, but my voice cracked halfway through.
Finley stepped forward. “Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, it’s not all Phoebe’s fault. We—”
“Be quiet, Finley,” my dad snapped. “Don’t act like you’re innocent in this.”
Finley lowered his head, silent.
Then the door opened again. Phoenix walked in with Hayden beside him. His face was pale—probably from what he was about to do.
“Dad, Mom… please, just hear me out,” Phoenix said, voice hoarse. “Phoebe didn’t mean to lie. She was just… scared.”
“Scared?” Dad’s tone sharpened. “Scared of what, exactly?”
Phoenix looked at me, then back at them. “Scared of her destiny. She has four mates. All of them exist in her life at the same time. She was afraid you’d be angry if you found out.”
The entire room went dead silent. Mom’s eyes widened. Dad frowned deeply.
“Four?” he repeated in disbelief. “For the Moon Goddess’s sake, what on earth has gotten into you, Phoebe?”
Tears welled up in my eyes. I stared down at the floor, trying to breathe through the ache in my chest. “I… I never wanted this to happen. I just wanted to be normal, like you always wanted me to be. But I can’t change what the Moon Goddess decided for me, Dad.”
“Phoebe…” Mom’s voice trembled—half hurt, half furious.
Hayden took a step forward, his tone calm but firm. “Mr. Matthews, if I may.”
Dad shot him a hard look. “And who are you, exactly?”
“My name is Hayden Grey,” he said steadily. “I’m the future Alpha of Silver Claw Pack. And I’m one of Phoebe’s mates. I won’t let anyone hurt her—not today, not ever. If someone must take the blame, let it be us, not her.”
The weight of his Alpha aura filled the room, pressing down on everyone. Even my dad faltered for a moment, though his glare never wavered.
“So, you’re an Alpha’s heir?” Dad muttered. “And what about the rest?”
Principal Hartman glanced at him. “Perhaps it’s best to call them all in, Mr. Matthews.”
Dad gave a curt nod. “Yes. I want to see every one of them.”
Moments later, the announcement echoed again through the halls. A few minutes after that, Zion entered, his expression tense. Adonis followed quietly behind him, eyes downcast.
The second Zion saw me crying, he rushed forward and pulled me into his arms. “Phoebe, hey… I’m here. Don’t be scared,” he whispered.
Dad yanked him away roughly. “Don’t you dare touch my daughter!”
Zion’s eyes flared with anger, his protective instinct rising. “I won’t stand here while you treat her like this!”
“Enough!” Dad roared, his voice clashing with Zion’s Alpha-born growl. The air thickened—like two wolves ready to fight.
Hayden stepped in fast, resting a firm hand on Zion’s shoulder. “Zion. Calm down. Now.”
Zion inhaled sharply, then backed off, lowering his head.
Adonis finally spoke, his voice quiet but steady. “Mr. Matthews… my name is Adonis Walsh. I’m the future Alpha of Dark Crimson Pack, and… I’m also Phoebe’s mate. But I swear, I never intended to dishonor your daughter.”
Dad scanned the room, eyes flicking from Finley to Hayden, Zion, and Adonis. His gaze finally landed on me. “So… it’s all true?”
I nodded weakly, tears streaming down my face. “It’s true, Dad. They’re all my mates. I lied because I was afraid… afraid of exactly this.”
Dad closed his eyes for a long moment. When he spoke again, his tone was lower, but still hard. “Fine. Then I want to meet their parents. All of them. We’ll settle this properly.”
No one said a word.
Principal Hartman exhaled heavily. “I’ll arrange the meeting for tomorrow.”
I looked at my father, hoping for even a flicker of understanding. But all I saw in his eyes was disappointment—a deep, aching kind.
When my parents finally walked out of the room, the air felt colder than the snow outside.
Finley turned to me, his voice barely above a whisper. “We’ll get through this, Phoebe. Together.”
I nodded slowly, my heart heavy.
Outside, snow kept falling. But instead of beauty, all I could feel was the chill of what was coming.
The first snow of winter wasn’t a promise of peace.
It was a warning. The storm had just begun.