Chapter 126
I sat in my room, staring blankly at the wall, the heavy silence pressing down on me. My eyes burned from crying, my throat ached, and my wolf whimpered weakly in the back of my mind.
A sharp knock shattered the quiet.
“Ayla, open the door!” Sophie’s voice was firm, edged with frustration.
I froze, my heart hammering. I didn’t want to face her, not like this.
“Ayla, I know you’re in there. Don’t make me break this door down,” she threatened.
Reluctantly, I shuffled to the door, cracking it open. Sophie pushed her way inside without waiting for an invitation.
Her arms were crossed, her brows furrowed in anger. “Why?” she demanded.
I blinked at her. “Why what?”
“Don’t play dumb with me,” she snapped. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I—I didn’t think it mattered,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Didn’t matter?” Sophie’s voice rose, incredulous. “You’re an omega, Ayla! That’s not something you just sweep under the rug!”
I flinched, the words cutting deep. “I was afraid,” I admitted. “I thought you’d see me differently. That you wouldn’t trust me anymore.”
Sophie’s expression softened, but only slightly. “Ayla, we’re supposed to be friends. I’ve stood by you, defended you. But you didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth?”
I shook my head, tears brimming in my eyes. “It wasn’t about trust. It was shame. I’ve spent my whole life hiding what I am. Do you know what it’s like to be treated like you’re nothing, just because of your rank?”
Sophie’s face fell, and she sighed heavily. “Ayla… I get that you’ve been through hell. I do. But you’re the Luna now. Secrets like this can destroy you. You’ve seen how Jake reacted.”
Her words were a dagger to my chest. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” I said, my voice trembling. “I just wanted to protect the twins.”
Sophie shook her head, frustration and sadness mingling in her expression. “And now you’ve put them in more danger. Jake is furious, Fatima is hurt, and the pack is already buzzing with rumors. You need to fix this, Ayla.”
“I don’t know how,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face.
Sophie stepped closer, her voice softening. “You start by being honest. With Jake, with Fatima, with everyone. But most importantly, with yourself.”
Her words lingered in the air as she left, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Later that afternoon, I was making tea in the kitchen when Fatima walked in. The tension was palpable, and I braced myself for the confrontation I knew was coming.
Fatima didn’t say anything at first, just moved around the kitchen with sharp, precise movements. Finally, she turned to me, her arms crossed and her lips pressed into a thin line.
“So,” she said, her tone icy. “It’s true.”
I set the kettle down, avoiding her gaze. “Fatima, I—”
“Don’t,” she interrupted. “You lied to us, Ayla. To me.”
Her words hit like a punch to the gut. “I didn’t mean to lie,” I said, my voice shaking. “I was just… scared.”
Fatima’s eyes narrowed. “Scared of what? That we wouldn’t accept you? That we’d treat you differently?”
“Yes,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
She scoffed, shaking her head. “Do you know how much I defended you? How many times I told people to give you a chance? And all this time, you were hiding who you really are?”
“I didn’t want to hide,” I said, my throat tightening. “I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
Fatima stared at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. “Do you know why Priscilla was so important to me?” she asked suddenly.
I shook my head, confused by the abrupt change in topic.
“She was honest,” Fatima said, her voice softening. “No matter what, she always told the truth. Even when it hurt. That’s why people trusted her. That’s why I trusted her.”
Her words cut deep, and I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. “I’m not Priscilla,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’m not trying to replace her.”
Fatima sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I know you’re not. But if you want people to follow you, to respect you, you need to stop hiding. You need to own who you are, Ayla. All of it.”
Her words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.
Finally, she turned to leave, pausing at the door. “For what it’s worth, I don’t hate you. But trust… trust is earned, Ayla. And right now, you have a lot of work to do.”
The rest of the day passed in a haze. I couldn’t shake the weight of Sophie and Fatima’s words, or the overwhelming sense of failure that clung to me like a shadow.
By the time night fell, I was emotionally drained. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring out the window at the darkened sky.
Memories of my past flooded my mind—the taunts, the isolation, the endless reminders that I was less than everyone else. I had spent my entire life trying to prove them wrong, but now, it felt like I was right back where I started.
A knock at the door startled me, and I looked up to see Sophie peeking in.
“Can I come in?” she asked softly.
I nodded, wiping at my eyes.
She sat down beside me, her expression gentler than it had been earlier.
“I’m sorry for how I handled things,” she said. “I was upset, but that doesn’t mean I should’ve lashed out.”
I shook my head. “You had every right to be upset. I screwed up, Sophie. I should’ve trusted you.”
She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “We all make mistakes, Ayla. What matters is what you do next.”
Her words brought a small, flickering hope to my chest.
“Thanks, Sophie,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
She smiled softly. “Get some rest, Ayla. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
As she left, I felt a glimmer of determination stir within me. I didn’t know how I was going to fix things, but I knew I had to try.
For the twins. For the pack.
For myself.
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