Chapter 66 The Painful Truth

Chapter 66 The Painful Truth

"Sorry for rushing out that way," I said as I came out of the bathroom, wrapping a robe around my body. I walked over to where Aiden was standing close to the crib. "I didn't know you were here."

"You don't have to apologize," Aiden said calmly, reaching out to touch my baby girl. She immediately wrapped her small hand around his finger.

I smiled at her, before looking up at Aiden. "Thank you so much for giving me and my pups a place to stay. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Aiden didn't say a word for a while, continuing to play with the pups. "I'm glad I could help you." He pulled his hand away from the crib and turned to face me. "I think you should rest. You've had a tough day and you need to relax to gain your strength back. The housekeeper will bring your meal soon."

I gave him a smile filled with gratitude. "Thank you."

A small smirk pulled at his lips, his gaze lingering on me before he walked toward the window, leaning against the glass pane. "I saw Alpha Warren today close to my border. He seemed to be looking earnestly for you."

My heart skipped a beat when I heard that, but I forced myself to stay still. "Why does he keep bothering to look for me? I thought he had accepted Layla to be his mate."

Aiden turned to look in my direction. "I don't think he accepted her," he said calmly, and my eyes widened in shock.

"If he hasn't accepted her, why is she his Luna?" The last word hurt more than anything I had said, hitting my chest like a painful blow. I knew I couldn't blame Warren for getting tricked by Layla, but I still expected him to be able to tell the difference between his true mate and someone who isn't.

"I smelled it on him," Aiden said, looking at me with an intense stare that made my heart jump. I blinked, trying to focus my thoughts on what he was saying. "Wolf concealer. Your stepsister is using it on him."

"What's that?" I asked, completely confused as I stared at him.

Aiden scoffed. "Your stepsister is smart, but not smart enough. She might get caught soon. A wolf concealer is a potion meant to create attraction and hide real scents."

"So that's how she was able to convince Alpha Warren that she's his mate?" I asked, shock taking over my voice.

Aiden nodded. "Yes. That potion is rare because it's something only rogue wolves have, and it takes time to wear off. It confuses any werewolf, especially an Alpha."

Tears filled my eyes as the truth sank in. "Does Warren know? Is that why he's looking for me?"

"He doesn't know yet," Aiden said. "Which is strange, considering he's an Alpha."

A heavy wave of sadness washed over me. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I realized the truth. It wasn't completely his fault that he left me. He had actually come to look for me, but Layla had deceived him with a potion and was now charming him against his will.

"Stop thinking about it," Aiden said, his voice cold and direct. "Focus on your safety and the safety of your pups. I only told you this because I felt you should know what is going on."

When Aiden turned back to the window, I sank down onto the edge of the bed, my mind spinning out of control. I remembered everything from the start—how sweet Warren used to be with me, and then the painful day I caught him and Layla kissing in his office. A deep ache spread through my chest, and I tried to hold myself together, but the pain was too much.

Aiden watched me quietly from where he stood near the glass pane, his dark eyes showing no pity, though he stayed in the room.

The sound of the door opening pulled his attention. The old housekeeper, Gina, walked in along with a maid dressed in a clean uniform. The maid walked over to the side table and placed a tray holding a warm bowl of soup and fresh bread.

"Your meal is ready, Diana," Gina said with a soft smile before walking over toward the cribs. She looked at the babies, then turned to Aiden with a puzzled look. "I thought the doctor said they shouldn't open the glass display yet. Why is it open?"

"After the checkup, the doctor realized there was no need to keep it closed," Aiden replied plainly.

Gina nodded. "Okay."

Aiden glanced toward me one last time. "I will be back later," he said, turning around and leaving the room, leaving just Gina, the maid, and me behind.

Gina noticed the way I was sitting frozen on the bed, lost deep in my painful thoughts. She motioned for the maid to leave, then walked over to sit beside me on the mattress.

"You look like you've seen a ghost, child," Gina said softly, placing a warm hand on my shoulder. "What's bothering you?"

"It's just... everything," I whispered, wiping a stray tear from my cheek. "Finding out the truth about why things happened the way they did. It hurts so much."

Gina shook her head gently. "You are safe here now, Diana. Aiden might seem cold on the outside, but he brought you here for a reason. You have two beautiful pups to care for, and they need their mother to be strong."

I looked over at the cribs, watching my babies sleep peacefully, and breathed out a small sigh. "I know. You're right."

"Good," Gina said, smiling as she patted my knee. "Now cheer yourself up by tasting this soup while it's still warm. You need to keep your strength up for those little ones."

"Okay," I said, offering her a faint smile as I reached for the tray. "Thank you, Gina."

She nodded softly and walked over to the pups direction playing with them while I took a spoonful of the soup and took a sip out of it.

Letting the warmth soothe my nerve as I continued eating telling myself that I wasn't going to think of Alpha Warren and how he must've been feeling wherever he is.