Chapter 199: The Truth that Burns
Leonardo’s POV
“Bartender, pour me more whiskey!” I yelled.
“I’m sorry, sir. You’ve had enough already. If you continue, you might pass out,” the bartender explained, but I didn’t care. I was tired of my life. I was tired of the mess I put myself in, and I just wanted to end everything.
Lena being pregnant for me was my greatest regret. How was I supposed to handle being with that witch?
She was my biggest mistake. And marrying her? My worst nightmare.
Should I just drink myself to death?
I nodded to myself. “Yes… that’s a good idea,” I muttered as I gulped down another glass of whiskey.
“Leo, what the hell are you doing to yourself?”
That familiar voice cut through the haze in my head. I dropped the glass with a thud and turned.
“Hey… Tamara,” I slurred, forcing a smile. “Are you… enjoying yourself?”
Her eyes narrowed, full of disdain. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at you. Drowning yourself in liquor instead of facing your problems like a man.”
“What are you talking about?” I snapped, reaching for another bottle, but she snatched it from me.
“I mean, instead of drinking yourself into a coma, why don’t you use your brain to find a way out of this mess? Are you really going to marry that slut?”
“What do you want me to do, Tamara?” I growled, my voice breaking.
“You think I want this? You think I don’t want to be with the person I truly want?” My chest ached as I slammed my fist on the table. The glasses rattled.
“You think I like the fact that Lena is pregnant with my child? No!” I roared, my eyes burning with anger and regret.
“I hate it!
I hate that she’s the one carrying my child.
I hate that she’s the one I have to walk down the aisle with all because of one damn mistake.”
Tamara sighed, calm where I was chaos. She waved at the bartender.
“A martini, please.” Then she turned back to me, her voice cold and sharp.
“Then maybe you should find out if the child she claims is yours… is really yours.”
Her words froze me. I stared at her, heart pounding.
“And how the hell am I supposed to do that? I can’t hurt the baby,” I muttered, shaking my head.
Tamara leaned in, her lips curling into a dangerous smirk. “Who said anything about hurting the baby?
There are… other ways. Secrets she’s keeping. Lies she’s told. If you dig deep enough, Leo, you’ll find the truth.”
Her hand slid over mine, her nails biting into my skin. “Don’t be stupid. Don’t chain yourself for life over a lie.”
I swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking in. My drunken haze faded just enough for me to feel a dangerous clarity.
“What are you suggesting, Tamara?” I asked, my voice low, almost afraid of her answer.
She smirked again, her eyes gleaming like a predator who had just cornered her prey.
“I’m suggesting… you stop acting like a victim, and start acting like an Alpha’s son.”
Before I could respond, a sharp, mocking laugh echoed from behind us.
“Well, isn’t this interesting…”
I froze. Tamara stiffened.
Lena walked into the bar, her heels clicking against the floor like a death sentence. Her lips curled into a wicked smile as her eyes flicked between us.
“Oh, Tamara,” she cooed, her voice dripping with false pity. “I almost feel bad for you. I heard Alessandro is fighting tooth and nail with his father because he refuses to marry you. What a shame, really. Must hurt knowing you’ll never be Luna.”
Tamara’s smirk fell. Her back straightened, her entire body stiff with rage. She stood slowly, eyes blazing as she squared up to Lena.
“At least,” Tamara hissed, “I didn’t have to spread my legs and use a fake pregnancy to tie down a man who clearly doesn’t want me.”
Lena’s smile faltered. Her jaw tightened.
Tamara leaned in closer, her words like venom. “I mean, look at him. Look at Leo.
Drinking himself half to death just at the thought of being chained to you. That’s your worth, Lena. A ball and chain no one asked for.”
“You bitch—”
Lena started, but Tamara cut her off, her voice rising, crueler.
“You can paint your lips, wear your little dresses, and parade yourself as his fiancée, but deep down, you know the truth.
You’re nothing more than a mistake he can’t escape. The only reason anyone tolerates you is because of that baby in your belly. Without it, you’d be less than dirt.”
Lena’s face darkened, her nostrils flaring as she clenched her fists.
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. My head was pounding, my vision spinning.
The last thing I needed was these two clawing each other to death in public.
Before Lena could strike back, a hand landed on my shoulder, shaking me roughly.
“Leo!”
I blinked and turned. Rafael stood there, breathless, his eyes wide with urgency.
“What the hell do you want?” I grumbled, still slurring.
“You need to sober up right now,” Rafael hissed. “I just heard something. Alpha Tony Holmes of the Raven Pack is here.”
I raised an eyebrow, unamused. “So what? Why should I care?”
Rafael’s lips pressed into a thin line. He leaned closer. “Because guess who he came to see?”
I shrugged lazily, swirling the whiskey in my glass. “Who?”
Rafael’s next words ripped the haze right out of me.
“Aurora Holmes.”
The glass slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor. The alcohol in my system evaporated in an instant.
“What…?” I rasped.
Rafael nodded grimly. “Aurora is Alpha Tony Holmes’s daughter.”
The bar seemed to go silent, every sound fading except for Rafael’s words echoing in my skull.
Aurora… Holmes?
My heart pounded violently against my ribs, fighting its way out of my chest.
“That’s impossible,” I whispered, but even to my own ears, my voice sounded weak.
“Aurora? Alpha Tony’s daughter? No… you must be mistaken.”
Rafael shook his head firmly. “I heard it with my own ears. Alpha Tony himself told Alpha John he came to collect her. Aurora Holmes, his blood, his daughter.”
I staggered back, my mind reeling. Aurora… not just some girl. Not just my brother’s mate. She was the daughter of Alpha Tony Holmes of the Raven Pack one of the most powerful Alphas alive.
Tamara’s lips parted slightly, her confident smirk slipping into something sharper.
“Well, well…” she purred, her eyes narrowing in thought.
“So our little Aurora isn’t just a weak step-sister after all. She’s royalty.”
Lena’s jaw dropped. “No.”
She shook her head violently, almost laughing in disbelief.
“No, that’s not true. Aurora?
That pathetic little orphan?
She’s no Alpha’s daughter.”
Rafael turned on her, his eyes blazing.
“Keep running your mouth, Lena, but facts don’t care about your lies.
Alpha Tony himself is in John’s office right now.”
I collapsed back onto the stool, my body trembling as though the earth itself had shifted under me.
Aurora… daughter of Alpha Tony.
That changed everything.
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