Chapter 85: A Change of Heart.

Alessandro’s POV
Alpha John gestured for me to sit down, and I did, settling into the chair across from him. His face was unusually solemn, and I could feel the weight of whatever was coming.
“What do you want to discuss with me, Father?” I asked, my tone steady but curious.
Alpha John sighed heavily, the sound of it filling the room with an unfamiliar tension.
“Alessandro, I know you’ve been the one helping me cover up Luna April’s drug scandals for a long while. And I know I haven’t acknowledged your efforts so far... I’m sorry.”
Those words caught me completely off guard. My father, Alpha John, apologizing? It was almost unthinkable.
Ever since I was a kid, he had placed enormous responsibilities on my shoulders, responsibilities far beyond what any child should bear.
Some of those tasks had been so heavy they’d felt impossible at the time, but I took them on.
I always did what was expected of me, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he would finally acknowledge me.
That he would see my efforts and tell me he was proud of me. But every time, I came back seeking even a sliver of admiration, it was never there.
Instead, he would tell me I hadn’t done enough. That the pack’s needs were greater than my accomplishments. That there was always more I could do.
So, hearing him now, apologizing for something as monumental as this? It left me stunned.
“Father,” I said cautiously, my voice quiet but firm, “I never did it for your approval.
I did it because it needed to be done. For the pack. For everyone else who might’ve suffered if her actions had been exposed.”
Alpha John leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “You’ve always carried more than you should have, Alessandro. I realize now that I’ve relied on you too much.
But it wasn’t because you weren’t good enough. It was because I knew you were strong enough to handle it.”
His words were meant to comfort, but they only stirred something deeper within me a lingering ache I hadn’t fully acknowledged before.
“Strength isn’t infinite,” I replied. “Even the strongest can break, Father. And I’ve been close, more times than I care to admit.”
Alpha John’s face softened, a rare flicker of something resembling guilt crossing his features.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his fingers steepled as he studied me.
“I know, Alessandro,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.
“And I hate that I’ve pushed you to that point. You’ve done more for this pack and for me than I could have ever asked of you. But I want to make things right.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly, unsure where this sudden change in attitude was coming from.
“And how do you plan to do that?”
He sighed again, shaking his head as if grappling with words he wasn’t used to saying.
“By taking responsibility for my own failures. For Luna April, for how I’ve treated you, and for how I’ve neglected to recognize your worth.
It’s time I stop relying on you to clean up my messes. You deserve better than that.”
The sincerity in his tone struck me, but it also made me wary. My father wasn’t a man known for humility or admitting fault.
Was this truly a moment of reflection, or was there something more behind his words?
“Father,” I began cautiously, “I appreciate the apology, but words won’t change the past.
They won’t erase the years I spent trying to prove myself to you, only to be told it wasn’t enough.
They won’t undo the weight I’ve carried for this pack, or for you.”
Alpha John nodded slowly, his gaze steady. “You’re right. Words alone aren’t enough.
But actions can be. I want to start by relieving you of the burden of Luna April’s mess. I’ll take full accountability for what she’s done.”
That caught me off guard again. “You’re going public with this?”
“Yes,” he said firmly. “It’s time. The pack deserves to know the truth, and she needs help real help not just someone covering up for her.
I’ve been a coward about this, Alessandro. I see that now. I’ve let you handle something that was my responsibility from the start, and it’s cost you too much.”
I leaned back in my chair, trying to process his words. Was this truly my father, the man who had always seemed so unyielding, admitting his mistakes and taking steps to fix them?
“If you’re serious about this,” I said after a moment, “then I’ll support you. But know that it won’t be easy.
The pack might lose trust in you, and there could be backlash.”
“I’m prepared for that,” he replied. “It’s a price I’m willing to pay to make things right for you, for the pack, and for Luna April.”
For the first time in a long while, I saw a glimmer of hope in my father’s eyes. It wasn’t much, but it was something.
“Alright,” I said, standing up.
“If you’re ready to take responsibility, then I’ll stand by you. But don’t expect me to clean up the fallout. This one’s on you, Father.”
Alpha John gave me a small nod, and as I turned to leave, I felt a strange mixture of relief and unease.
As much as I wanted to believe he was serious about change, part of me couldn’t help but wonder was this a genuine turning point, or just another way for him to shift the burden onto someone else?
When I walked out of my father’s office, his words kept circling in my mind. It was… unbelievable.
For years, all I’d ever heard from him was how I wasn’t good enough, how I hadn’t done enough. But now, he was apologizing?
It felt so... strange. And yet, somewhere deep down, it was also strangely satisfying.
“Hey, brother,” a voice called from behind, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see Rafael and Gabriel approaching, their usual confident strides making them seem like they owned the hallway.
“What’s that look on your face?” Gabriel asked, leaning in as if trying to decipher my expression.
I chuckled, shaking my head as the absurdity of it all hit me. “Guys, you won’t believe what just happened to me.”
Rafael raised an eyebrow. “Did Lena finally get bored of obsessing over Leonardo?”
Gabriel smirked. “Or did you finally trip over your own ego?”
I rolled my eyes, even as I smirked back at them. “No, nothing like that. I just had a conversation with Father.”
Rafael crossed his arms, his expression instantly skeptical. “And?”
“And… he apologized.”
The reaction was immediate. Gabriel burst into laughter, clutching his sides dramatically.
“Father?
 Apologize?
Are you sure you didn’t imagine it?”
Rafael, though less dramatic, looked equally dubious.
“What did he apologize for? Not criticizing you enough over the years?”
I shrugged. “No, he actually admitted he’s been unfair to me. That he’s put too much on my shoulders.
He even said he’d take responsibility for Luna April’s mess.”
That got their attention. Rafael’s eyes narrowed, and Gabriel’s laughter died down.
“You’re serious?” Rafael asked, his tone measured.
“Dead serious,” I replied.
“He said he’s going to come clean to the pack about Luna April and stop making me clean up after him.”
Gabriel whistled low. “Wow. Either the world’s ending, or Father’s had some sort of epiphany.”
Rafael nodded, though his expression remained thoughtful. “If he’s serious, that’s… big.
But you know how he is. Do you really think he’ll follow through?”
I hesitated, the same doubt nagging at the back of my mind. “I want to believe he will.
But… yeah, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this could just be another way for him to shift the blame.”
“Well,” Gabriel said, clapping me on the shoulder, “if nothing else, at least he acknowledged you. That’s progress, right?”
“Yeah, I guess,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Either way,” Rafael added, “keep your guard up. Father’s not exactly known for making life easy for anyone especially us.”
******
As we continued walking down the hall, Rafael suddenly smirked, his tone shifting to something more playful.
“So, what’s this I hear about you constantly hanging out with Aurora?” he said, a teasing glint in his eye as he winked at me suspiciously.
I stopped in my tracks and turned to glare at him, though the corner of my lips twitched in amusement.
“There’s nothing, Rafael,” I said firmly, shaking my head.
He raised his eyebrows, clearly not buying it.
“Nothing?
Really?
Because it looks like you’ve been spending quite a lot of time ‘protecting’ her lately.”
Gabriel chimed in, his grin widening.
“Protecting, huh? Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
Rolling my eyes, I started walking away from them, my voice even as I spoke over my shoulder.
“It’s not like that. I’m just protecting her, that’s all.”
“Sure, sure,” Rafael called after me, his voice dripping with mock innocence.
“Protecting her from danger, or protecting her from herself?
Or maybe... protecting her from you?”
Gabriel burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but shake my head, trying to ignore them.
“There’s nothing,” I repeated firmly, not bothering to turn around this time.
But as I walked away, I could still hear Rafael’s knowing chuckle and Gabriel’s exaggerated comments behind me.
“Oh, there’s something,” Rafael muttered, just loud enough for me to catch.
I clenched my jaw and kept moving, determined not to let their teasing get under my skin.
After all, they didn’t understand. Protecting Aurora was my responsibility, nothing more.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.