bhapter /bb34 /b

bNyssa /bbpov /b

My heartbeat thudded in my bears /bbas /bbI /bsat frozenb, /bstaring at my father in shock, my eyes wide and struggling to process what bwas /bhappening. Hiding something from him? Yes, I had bbeen/b, and the truth bwas /bthat I bhad /bbeen sent back into the past by bthe /bgoddess. It was something I couldn’t bshare /bbbecause /bif I did… I would die.

But nowb, /bmy bfather/bb… /bdid he knowb? /b

I watched bas /bhe frowned at my silence before turning to his beta and gamma, exchanging a quiet look between them- one that spoke of disappointment and pity? My heart sank, but I couldn’t quite ce what it meant.

“F–father, I-” bI /bstammered, my bvoice /btrembling as my eyes began to well with btears/b. I didn’t understand how he knew, but it didn’t matter anymore. I had so much to say, so many apologies to offer.

Apologies for letting Kieran and Aria destroy everything, for allowing them to take the pack for themselves. Apologies for being naive and gullible, for making decisions that led to I and my unborn child death.

“I–I wanted to tell you, Father. I wanted to tell you so badly that I’ve been sent back―”

Before I could finish my sentence, I froze. My father, without a word, pulled out his phone, tapping on it. He turned the screen towards me, and my confusion deepened.

There, on the screen, was a video from the mall when Darius had shoved Kieran into the wall. But the video that was being yed to me was when Aria had rushed over, holding Kieran close, her eyes narrowed in worry, her hands instinctively reaching for him as if nothing else mattered in that moment.

I blinked, trying to process everything at once.

Huh?

My gaze flickered to my father, who watched me with a sad expression, his lips curved into a frown. It was as though he expected me to say something, but how could I when I had no idea what was going on?

When I remained silent, he let out a deep breath, turned off his phone, and ced it back into his pocket. He then began to speak, his voice softer now.

“Why didn’t you tell me, princess?”

I raised an eyebrow, confused.

Tell him what? That Darius had shoved Kieran against the wall? I had just gotten home and barely had time to breathe before being interrogated.

“That’s why you’ve been so upset. That’s why you didn’t want to see them, why you’ve been angry, right?” His fist mmed against the seat, his rage radiating off him in waves. “I should’ve known that bastard would do this to you, but I can’t believe “Aria would betray you like this after everything you’ve been through together. I’ll kill both of them,” he hissed.

And then it finally clicked. His words echoed in my mind.

Aria betrayed me? Wait- did he know that Kieran and Aria were seeing each otherb? /b

My eyes brightened as I looked at my father, excitement bubbling inside me. Oh my goddess, this was bgreat- /btruly fantastic but I needed him to confirm it with his own mouth to be certain. bIf /bbI /bsaid it first and it wasn’t what he meant, I’d probably die. But if he brought it up himself and I simply confirmed it, it wouldn’t count as me revealing anything about the future.

“Y–you bknew/bb?/bb” /bbI /bstammeredb, /bbmy /bbvoice /bbshaky /bbas /bbI /bbstared /bat my bfather/bb, /btrying bto /bmask my bexpression /band the urge bto /bsmile.

bMy /bfather’s frown only bdeepened/b, and bI /bbsucked /bin a shaky bbreath/bb, /bbforcing /ba bsad /bbexpression /bonto my bface/bb. /b

b“/bbSo /bit’s true? Kieran and bAria /bbare /bbseeing /bbeach /bother and you bknew /babout it but decided not to say anything bjust /bto keep them bsafe/bb?/bb” /b

bYes/bb!! /b

Oh my goodnessb, /bthat was it. I wanted to jump up and burst intoughter, but instead, I dramatically mmed a hand bover /bmy mouthb, /bfeigning shock. I took bseveral /bdeep breaths, forcing btears /bto well up in my eyes.

“H–How did you know?” I whispered, my voice trembling bas /btears began to spill down my cheeks, my lips quivering for

beffect/b.

My father’s eyes immediately darkened, and a strong wave of killing intent radiated from him, making even me flinch.

You bsee/b, my father was a good and kind Alpha- beloved and respected by the entire pack. But he rarely got angry. And when he did… he became someone belse /bentirely.

I once watched him behead a man with his bare hands, all because the man had plotted treason to steal his position. My father hadn’t even hesitated.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I pictured Kieran in the ce of that traitor, my father standing over him, blood dripping from his hands.

It would be such a beautiful sight.

“How could you still choose to protect him after what he’s done to you? I can’t believe you knew and decided not to tell anyone! Do you love him that much?” my father hissed, his voice echoing through the packhouse as he stood up, his face flushed red with anger.

Love him? I wanted to kill him.

“And that Aria girl,” he continued, practically spitting the words, “after all these years, how could she betray you for that bastard?b” /b

I watched him lose hisposure, his eyes shing with raw, unrestrained fury. Calen and Benjamin kept their gazes trained on me, and I could see the heavy disappointment written clearly across their faces.

bIf /bI told them the truth that Kieran and Aria hadn’t cheated, that they had been mates all along and had tricked everyone just to steal the Alpha’s position, would that count as breaking the rule of not revealing the past?

Definitely.

bI /bshook the thought from my head, forcing myself to focus. Rising slowly to my feet, I reached for my father’s hand with teary eyesb. /b

“F–Father, please… please forget about this. Let’s not bring it up again,” I choked out, letting my voice bwaver /bjust enough. “I–I don’t want anything to happen to them… Even though I’m hurt, even though I want to cry, just… bplease /bforget about it.”

My father froze, frowning deeply as he stared at me. I made sure to keep my expression as broken and vulnerable bas /bpossible, watching carefully as he shook his head, pulling his hand away from my grasp.

“Princess, I can’t do that. I can’t let them off for doing this to you. You are my daughter, and no one bullies my daughter. No matter what you say, they are going to be punished for what they’ve done.”

My eyes lit up at his words, and bI /bopened my mouth, ready to bagree/bb. /bIn particrb, /bbI /bbwas /babout to hint bthat /bthey should be killed for what they did, but before bI /bcould bsay /banything, my bfather’s /bbgaze /bshifted behind me and in the bnext /bmoment, he stiffened and quickly lowered his bhead /bin greeting.

Even Calen and Benjamin immediately followed, bowing their heads.

Almost instantly, I knew who it was.

bI /bscowled, fighting the urge to roll my eyes at the terrible timing of this man.

Without thinking, I turned around, narrowing my beyes /binto a re at Darius, who stood upstairs, leaning casually against the railing with an expressionless gaze locked onto me. His white, baggy shirt and trousers matched his hair, making him look almost ethereal–like a god that had descended to earth.

Behind him was Cassian, who watched the scene with eager eyes, his grin widening when he met my gaze.

Just great.