Chapter 112
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My stomach hasn’t been in knots like this since I went through with the abortion. My grandmother is here and making sure everything is taken care of the way she left specific instructions for. For someone who has been gathering the Lycan armadas, she seems well rested and relaxed, even.
‘Grandma, can we talk in private?” I ask her as we sit down for breakfast.
‘It doesn’t get more private than this,” she says, thanking Eliza for her plate.
‘It can,” I disagree. She and Eliza have a strange interaction. I think Eliza is glaring at her, and she’s taking it to heart. My grandmother is the one who gives in and nods.
“Take our breakfast up to Sophia’s study. I’m bringing my tablet, granddaughter. You can’t stop me,” she says dismissively.
‘I wouldn’t dream of it,” I agree and stand. Eliza gives me an encouraging smile as she takes our plates, and her staff takes the
rest.
As promised, my grandmother makes her way to my study with her attention fixed on the screen in front of her. It always has a protective film on it so that no one can eavesdrop on what she’s looking at. But for someone who is usually stoic and cold, she has a bit of a bubbly aura this morning and the smile only adds on to that happiness. I’m already kicking myself because what I am about to tell her might ruin her day.
“You seem like you’re in a good mood,” I say when we finally take a seat. Her eyes gleam with the light of her tablet just as she sets it down.
‘I am. I’ve taken your advice,” she smiles, reaching for the creamer for her tea.
“My advice?” I ask, confused.
“To start dating again,” she clarifies. I smile, loving that she’s decided to leap onto this monumental milestone in her life and the confidence of her announcement.
“And?” I press.
“When I was in Seoul, I was reacquainted with an old friend of mine from my early training years. His mate passed away around the same time your father did. I told him about you because I remembered that he was also in the medical evacuation program when we were pups, and guess what?” she beams.
“What?”
“He’s a doctor. I told him that you were also pursuing medicine, and one thing led to another,” she shrugs. “We haven’t stopped talking since then.”
I’m so happy for you, Grandma. It sounds like you’re having fun,” I smile.
“I am,” she one–shoulder shrugs coquetishly. “Tell me. What is so private that you wanted all ears off us?
A part of me screams not to tell her. The smile on her face is so foreign to me because I’ve never seen her smile that way: But this is something she needs to hear from me. All of it. Because the last thing she deserves is to be blindsided by what might be coming to light during the trial, and I know that things like this are live. It’s a political stance on matings. Especially between alphas.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Santiago petitioned for me to go back to him with the entire Alliance Council, I start gently. Her smile immediately vanishes, and her eyebrows furrow,
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“What?” she all but growls. Not at me, but it’s not a great sound.
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“Yeah, and there are some things that I think you should hear from me before they are made public record, I add She shfa uncomfortably in her seat and nods. “Before I say anything. I want you to take into account that this is a very sensitive topic
for me.
“I want you to know that this was my choice and that I don’t regret it in the slightest. I thought it through, and nothing anyone could have said to me would have changed my mind. I want you show me the same respect I have always shown you when you made choices I didn’t approve of.”
“You’re scaring me,” she says gently.
“I was scared, too. I am scared,” I sigh, taking a sip from my hot tea
“Please, don’t leave me in suspense,” she says, reaching out to place her hand over mine. I turn my hand to hold hers.
“The first thing is that, before Ivar showed up. I was held hostage in my apartment by Santiago and his mother. A threat after he heard me tell you I didn’t want to be there anymore. That day, after I called you to tell you I didn’t feel safe, he assaulted me in our shared bathroom.” I can see her jaw lock as her eyes go completely cold. The day that Beta Prince Malcolm forced the rejection, Santiago cornered me in the bathroom and assaulted me again.”
‘Sophia-
‘I’m not finished,” I clear my throat. She lowers her gaze and urges me to continue. “Either of those encounters could have been the reasons that resulted in my first pregnancy. Her shoulders tighten up. I can see tears swell in her eyes as she fights down her urge to shift. “And I got rid of it, knowing that if something as binding as a child tied me to him, he would drag me back and never let me see you again. I wanted you to hear this from me so that it’s not a shock when it is presented in court tomorrow. I’m sorry-”
‘No,” she’s crouching down beside me in a flash. She takes my hands and turns me to face her. “You do not have to be sorry about any of that. He did it. All of it. He’s been the cause of all this, even if he was manipulated and coerced by his parents.
The truth is that he chose to do what he did. So did you,” she clears her throat and takes a deep breath. “You made a choice, and the choice was as you said, yours and yours alone,” she tucks my hair behind my ears and stands to tower over me. She eans in to kiss the top of my head before pulling me out of my seat to hug me. I am sorry”
Why are you sorry?” I ask, wiping away my tears. “I was the one who hid from you
For being the mother who you were too afraid to tell this to. I’ve come to regret my choices regarding your upbringing. I failed you when you needed me the most because of a stupid grudge I held against your mother. If I had been there more, if I had told you that something felt off about the Romanos, perhaps I could have done more to prevent all of this,” she bumps her forehead against my chin. “I truly am sorry, my love.”
‘I didn’t make it any easier for you either. I’m starting to see why people think we’re so similar. Our ego and pride could literally strangle us to death, but it would be the hill we die on.”
“Your father said those exact words to me when you were just a pup. Your mother was livid that you looked so much like me. It’s why she cut your hair short and dressed you in bright, vibrant colors despite your protests,” she sighs and pulls away to look at me. “If she could see you now, she’d see a mirror image of herself at your age
“You’re not mad at me?” I ask.
“No,” she shakes her head. “I could never be mad at you for choosing yourself. You’ve always had a good head on your shoulders. I’ve seen you doubt that these past couple of years, but I also see that you are beginning to ground yourself again You have very sharp instincts, and I trust them with my life.
“You’re right. He would have used this against you. Not because he wanted to be a devoted mate and father, but to punish
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Chapter 112
you for trying to escape. You have nothing to be ashamed of. No one and nothing should ever make you feel like you’ve done something wrong. I will be by your side throughout this entire ordeal. You have my word. That sick animal will never call you his again, so as long as I may live.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
