Chapter 42

Chapter 42
|| CEDRIC'S POV ||
I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands trembling as I gripped the fabric of my dress. The news had come like a storm, breaking the fragile calm I had managed to maintain. Cedric and Tiara’s engagement. It was all anyone in the castle could talk about, their whispers carrying through the halls like echoes of my own thoughts.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. I had known this was inevitable—knew that whatever had passed between Cedric and me that night was fleeting, a mistake that shouldn’t have happened. Yet, hearing the confirmation made my chest ache in ways I couldn’t explain.

What did you expect, Vanessa? I chided myself. That he’d choose you over his duty? Over his future?

The guilt was almost unbearable. Tiara’s face flashed in my mind, her hopeful eyes, her laughter that always seemed so genuine. And then the memory of that night resurfaced—Cedric’s touch, his whispered words, the way he looked at me as though I were his entire world.

I buried my face in my hands. “I’m such a fool,” I whispered.

A knock at my door broke through my thoughts. I straightened, wiping at my eyes quickly. “Come in,” I called, my voice hoarse.

One of the castle messengers stepped inside, bowing slightly. “Lady Vanessa, Lord Cedric has summoned you to his chambers.”

I froze, my heart thudding in my chest. “Tell him I can’t,” I said quickly, my voice firmer than I felt. “I’m not feeling well.”

The messenger hesitated, looking like he wanted to protest, but he nodded. “As you wish, my lady.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, I exhaled shakily. I couldn’t face Cedric—not now, not ever. Whatever he had to say, it didn’t matter. It was clear to me now that we had crossed a line that should never have been crossed. For his sake, for Tiara’s sake, for my own… I had to stay away.

\---

The day dragged on with an unbearable heaviness. I tried to busy myself with small tasks, but my mind kept drifting back to Cedric.How could I have let myself get so entangled?

A second knock on my door came in the evening. This time, when I opened it, Aria stood on the threshold, her expression unreadable.

“Aria,” I greeted her, forcing a smile. “What brings you here?”

She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, shutting the door behind her. “We need to talk,” she said, her tone serious.

I frowned, gesturing for her to sit, but she waved me off. “I saw something in the forest the other night,” she began. “Something I can’t explain.”

“Aria,” I said softly, “I’m not in the mood for stories right now.”

“This isn’t a story,” she snapped, her emerald eyes narrowing. “It’s about you, Vanessa.”

I blinked, startled. “Me? What about me?”

She crossed her arms, studying me intently. “Your eyes changed, Vanessa. When you faced that cursed dragon, your eyes weren’t normal. They were glowing—like an Alpha’s.”

I laughed nervously, shaking my head. “That’s ridiculous. You must have imagined it.”

“I didn’t imagine anything,” she said firmly. “I know what I saw.”

“Aria,” I began, trying to keep my voice calm, “I’m an omega. You know that. I’ve always been an omega.”

“No, you’ve believed you’re an omega,” Aria corrected. “But what if you’re not? What if there’s more to your past than you realize?”

Her words struck a chord deep within me, and unease crept into my chest. “That’s absurd,” I insisted. “I’m just Elnora. I’m no Alpha.”

Aria stepped closer, her gaze piercing. “You’re not just anything. Think about it, Vanessa. Do you even know where you come from? Who your parents are?”

I opened my mouth to retort, but the words caught in my throat. The truth was, I didn’t know. My earliest memories were of the pack that had taken me in as a child. No one ever talked about where I’d come from, and I had never questioned it.

“I… I don’t remember,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Aria softened slightly, her expression turning from frustration to concern. “Vanessa, I’m not saying this to upset you. But you need to start asking questions. If you’re truly from an Alpha bloodline, it changes everything.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head vehemently. “It doesn’t change anything. I’ve lived my whole life as an omega. That’s who I am.”

“But is it really who you are?” she pressed. “Or is it who you’ve been told to be?”

Her words sent a shiver down my spine. I stood and paced the room, trying to collect my thoughts. “Even if you’re right,” I said after a long silence, “it doesn’t matter. My life is here, Aria. I’ve made my place in this pack.”

“And yet you’re miserable,” she countered. “I see the way you look at Cedric, Vanessa. You’re holding yourself back because you don’t think you’re worthy of him. But what if you are?”

“Stop,” I said sharply, turning to face her. “This isn’t about Cedric. This is about me, and I don’t need some fantasy about Alpha blood to complicate things even more.”

Aria sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Fine,” she said finally. “I won’t push you. But promise me you’ll think about it. At least consider the possibility.”

I nodded reluctantly, though my mind was already racing. “I will,” I said softly. “But please, Aria, don’t tell anyone else about this. Not until I figure out what it means.”

She nodded, her expression softening. “Of course. But, Vanessa… you deserve to know the truth. Whatever it is.”

After she left, I sat alone in the silence of my room, her words echoing in my mind. Who am I, really? The question lingered like a shadow, one I wasn’t
sure I wanted to face. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t ignore it forever.