Chapter 91: Julian’s Confession
Adrian stares at Clara, barely processing her words. "Are you sure you’re not seeing things?"
"No, Future Alpha. They’re really downstairs. They insisted they wanted to come up to see you."
Before anyone can respond, the door opens.
Julian enters first, his clothes covered in dirt and soot, his hair a mess, and several scratches running across his arms. The girls behind him look no better, their clothes torn and stained with soot and mud.
But none of them look furious. Instead, they look...sad.
Okay, now Adrian is genuinely confused. Shouldn’t they be furious? So why are they looking so guilty?
"He’s awake!" Lena says first, a genuine small smile spreading across her face as she rushes to Adrian’s side.
The other girls immediately follow, moving toward Adrian’s bed and asking if he’s okay.
Julian is the only one who doesn’t follow. Instead, he turns to Alpha Darius.
Before the older man can get a word out, Adrian clasps his hands together, bowing his head--a common sign for mercy in Moon-Crest.
"I’m so, so sorry, Alpha. I know you must be really angry right now."
Darius’s brows draw together. "For what?" He is still shocked to see these kids standing here, completely unscathed except for a few scratches.
How is it possible they escaped a vehicle laced with explosives?
Julian swallows hard. "I think...I think I caused an accident. And the driver...he’s gone."
Adrian cuts in, "Julian, what exactly happened on the way here?"
Julian looks at him, guilt written all over his face. "I kept arguing with the driver. I don’t know why, but something felt wrong. I kept telling him to stop and let us out. Even the girls told me to just sit down and leave it alone, but I wouldn’t listen."
"Yeah, we did." Leah says in a scolding voice. "He refused to and kept arguing with the driver."
Julian looks even more guilty as he continues. "Because of the distraction, we swerved and hit a pole."
Oh.
Oh.
"The driver was unconscious from the impact. We tried to get him out." Julian looks down at his hands. "But before we could reach him...the van exploded."
Silence fills the room. No one blinks, no one even breathes.
Adrian just stares at him, at them, thanking the Goddess for giving them such odd luck.
His father hadn’t lied about the explosion, they just...crazily managed to escape.
Thank goodness they’re okay.
Meanwhile, Darius is also glancing at his son on the bed, watching the relief spread across his features.
He still doesn’t agree with Adrian’s decision to let these kids keep his true nature a secret. After all, this is something that had been hidden for years for a reason.
But seeing the relief spread across his son’s face at the sight of his friends, he can’t bring himself to argue anymore. If Adrian trusts them enough to keep his secret, then perhaps he should trust his son’s judgment too.
"It’s okay." He finally finds his voice, patting Julian’s shoulder in a fatherly manner. "It’s fine, it was an accident."
"I don’t even know what to say..." Julian shakes his head. "My father would be willing to pay for the damages. And for the driver, his family..."
Adrian doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Julian is apologizing for the man who had been driving them toward their deaths.
"It’s fine, Julian." Adrian cuts in. "It’s really fine, you can stop apologizing now. All that matters is that you’re all okay."
Adrian sighs, watching Julian fumble with his hands. Now here comes the hard part. How exactly is he supposed to explain to his friends that his father tried to kill them to protect him?
Where would he even start...?
He looks at his mother, then at his father, then down at his own lap again. Maybe, for the first time in his life, Adrian understands the weight of his father’s position.
Because he has decided to never tell them.
He’ll let them think it was an accident, that’s the only way to keep the peace. But Goddess, it doesn’t make things easier at all.
He watches the nurses check on them. Watches Julian fumble with his fingers more than once.
But this is the only way. He reminds himself to make peace with his decision now.
And hopefully, Nyra will understand when she wakes up too.
---
Nyra is already missing Adrian so much. She looks at the flowers they planted together, and memories of the way he’d kissed and cared for her make her cheeks burn.
But at the same time, Nyra is genuinely at peace here.
Here, there’s no more drama or fighting, only warmth.
She exhales quietly, fingers brushing through the soft grass beneath her. The breeze carries the sweet scent of daisies, making her close her eyes with a small smile.
She is still watching the sunset when a voice startles her into sitting straighter.
"Hi."
"H-hi." She responds, still not used to the fact that she can hear her wolf loud and clear here.
A soft sigh comes from somewhere inside her. "Why do you sound like that?"
"Because you only talk to me here, never in the real world where I actually need you."
Her wolf chuckles. "But I helped you in the warehouse."
Nyra winces at the mention, hand instinctively flying to her stomach. She had begged Adrian not to mention anything about what happened to her while they were here.
It hurts. It hurts so much knowing she lost her chance to become a mother all because of Anna’s jealousy.
Nyra doesn’t think she’ll ever forgive Anna for what she’s done.
Her wolf, feeling her pain, purrs soothingly. "It’s going to be fine, Nyra." It whispers.
"I know...It’s just, it’s so painful to think about it."
"Then don’t think about it," her wolf says. "Just remember that what happened in that warehouse is just the beginning...you are not an ordinary wolf."
Nyra stares ahead. "Then what am I?"
It goes quiet. Of course, it doesn’t answer.
"Okay, if you won’t answer me, then can I just see you? Please. I want to know what it feels like to actually be a werewolf. Is that really so hard?"
Her wolf sighs. "I don’t answer because you’re not strong enough to handle it yet."
Nyra’s lips form a pout. "That’s what you always say." She scolds. "You never tell me anything! You’re supposed to guide me, but you don’t even do that!"
"Because when you’re ready, it will happen naturally."
Nyra crosses her arms, clearly unhappy, refusing to respond.
Her wolf sighs again. "Fine, you stubborn girl."
Before she can ask more questions, a strange white light appears a few feet away from her.
Nyra watches as something slowly emerges from it.
A beautiful white wolf walks toward her, its paws sinking softly into the grass.
Nyra’s mouth falls open as she takes in the sheer beauty of it. But that’s not all. It looks...different from the white wolf from the awakening rite.
Then her eyes drop to its tail, and her hand flies up to her mouth. "Is that...?"
The wolf nods.
"Wow! But how is this even possible!?"
"But you can’t tell anyone yet until the Goddess decides to let you shift in front of everyone."
"Not even Adrian?"
"Not even our mate."
Nyra sighs in disappointment, but it quickly fades as she looks up at the wolf again. She reaches toward it, and the wolf steps closer, allowing Nyra to touch its soft fur.
"I spent years thinking I was useless, that something was wrong with me. I can’t believe this..."
"I’m sorry for not revealing myself sooner." Nyra looks down. "But soon everyone will see your true strength."
"Why are you making me wait?"
"Because the path the Goddess chose for you isn’t an easy one, Nyra. You still have many things ahead of you."
Nyra’s fingers tighten in its fur. "But it’s so hard. Is it bad that sometimes I just wish I could stay here forever?"
The wolf shakes its head. "You can’t."
"Why not?"
"Because your mate needs you. Your clan needs you." Nyra closes her eyes as the words sink in. "You were chosen as the future Luna for a reason. The Goddess makes no mistake."
She slowly nods. "Okay. For my mate and my people."
"For them." The wolf steps closer until their foreheads touch. "Be strong, and always remember what’s inside you."
Nyra smiles faintly. "You’ll always be with me?"
"Always..." The wolf’s voice cracks as it starts to fade back into the light.
"Wait." Nyra reaches for it. "Why are you leaving?"
"I’ve completely healed your wounds. You can go back now." The wolf smiles at her. "Go back to your people!"
Nyra lets out a long, loud exhale and nods. She needs to go back, she’s been here for far too long now.
---
Her eyelids feel like bricks as they slowly flutter, the sound of the steady beeping of a monitor filling her ears.
Then, very slowly, she opens her eyes.
The first thing she sees is Adrian. He’s sitting beside her bed, smiling down at her.
His silver eyes are warm with relief.
"Welcome home, my love."
Nyra blinks sleepily, enjoying the warmth when Adrian intertwines their hands. "You’ve been out for almost a week. A lot has happened since."