11

[Jade’s pov]

Sitting at the dining table with Lily and Zilver, I couldn't shake the swirling emotions inside me. The revelation had left me feeling unsettled and totally betrayed, and I had to know the truth. "How did I not know about any of this at all?" I questioned with my voice trembling slightly. "How could you all keep something like this from me?"

Alpha Zilver's gaze met mine with a mix of disappointment, his eyes reflecting a mix of sorrow and understanding. "Jade.” He began gently, as if he understood my pain personally. “It was the Alpha of the pack, Ragnar's father, who made the decision to keep this from you. He believed you were a special gift from the goddess herself, destined to stay within the pack and remain unmarried."

No! No! That could not be right! Is that why alpha Ragnar had been hesitating to mark me? Is that why he just had sex with me only to leave me like an abandoned thing? This could not be! I was not willing to accept that Ragnar knew all that and then decided to get mated to Clara because he knew that I was some gift from the goddess which he stole and kept inside the pack.

My brother’s harsh words hit me like a tidal wave, and I felt a surge of anger and confusion rise within me. "But why? Why would they hide such an important truth from me? And what is this gift they speak of? I have no wolf let alone powers. Hah! So my whole damn life had been a lie?" I asked numerous questions and then shook my head while searching for some semblance of understanding.

Lily interjected with her voice filled with empathy. It was the moment I realised that if she knew all this then why did she keep such a big truth from me? "The goddess we, wolves refer to is believed to be the one who blessed you with unique powers, Jade. Your abilities were somehow tied to the pack, and it was thought that if you were to leave or marry, those powers would weaken or be lost entirely."

“But I swear, I had no idea about this matter or even knew that the well sought gift every pack’s alpha was seeking was you. I only came to know about this when I overheard the conversation between Ragnar and my father.” I saw sincerity in her tone as Lily turned her head towards Zilver and grabbed his hand when she resumed talking as if she had been trying hard not to cry.

“It was the day I also came to know how my father went to the extent of chasing me out of the pack because I was in love with Zilver, a lycan. He could not accept it and disowned me but when I tried to revolt for you and went to beg my father to spare your life, I came to know that he was driven by greed and power. He did not even care about me, Jade, what could he have done to you.”

“He presented a bad picture of Zilver in front of me and convinced me that he had been cheating on me. I was blind, I really was until I saw that same girl working as an omega maid in my father’s home. Everything became clear but before I could do anything Zilver found a way to bring me back home. The very day he found you with me and realised that you are his long lost sister who was stolen from the pack.”

I tried to wrap my head around the gravity of the situation, struggling to accept that my life had been shaped by secrets kept from me. "So, are you saying that my entire life has been predetermined? I was never given a choice to begin with? I am nothing but a tool for all these bloody alphas who want to seek power through me?" I asked, feeling a mixture of anger and helplessness.

I immediately stood up from the chair while banging my hands on the table. “How can I believe that now you two are even telling me the truth and not some made up stories? If I am a precious possession everyone wants to keep alive in their packs, then why not you two huh? Why should I even believe that this man is my brother and you…as my best friend, have no dirt on yourself?”

I could not believe that I was actually saying all those things to Lily who had been by my side ever since I could remember. But there was no way I could trust any of those especially after knowing how horribly everyone had played with my feelings for their own gains.

Zilver stood up immediately and reached out and took my hand in his, offering a comforting squeeze. "It is true that you were never given a choice in this matter, Jade. But please understand, every decision was made out of love and protection for you. As the alpha here, my pack believes in your importance and your rightful title. I know it is so much to comprehend and figure out all of a sudden. Give it time, okay?”

A part of my heart softened as I looked into Zilver's caring eyes, understanding that he spoke with genuine concern for me. But another part of me still felt trapped, yearning for a sense of trust which had been broken multiple times. Whom should I trust now when my own people have been playing me?

As the weight of the truth settled upon me, I could not help but wonder about the life ahead. My powers? What even were they? And how were now intricately tied to the pack? I could not help but feel it in my gut that perhaps this time my life would have been pre written too. If that was the case, then was Ragnar included in it?