*Daryl’s POV*
I stared, dumbfounded, at my birth mother Elaine. The words flowing from her mouth felt unreal. Every syllable was like a hammer to my heart, each revelation tearing apart everything I thought I knew.
I wasn’t the only one in shock-Leo and Mara sat beside me, just as stunned. How could she keep such a secret from us?
We were all still gathered in the living room, with Serai, the witch, seated in our midst, her gaze calm yet watchful.
The tension in the room was suffocating. The truth she had just revealed about my lineage and the prophecy haunted my thoughts.
My own mother, the daughter of the lycan king? And now, I’m the grandson destined to kill him?
My mind raced, but the worst part was that my lycan, Jagao, had gone silent. He was always there for me, but now, in this moment of betrayal and confusion, even he had forsaken me.
“Son, we are sorry for hiding the truth all these years, but it was for the best,” my father, Liam, said, his voice heavy with regret.
His eyes were filled with sadness, but I couldn’t meet them.
“We wanted you to live a happy, carefree life without the weight of your destiny holding you back,” Luna Macy added, her voice trembling with the same sorrow.
My mother’s eyes were filled with unshed tears as she stared at me, her expression pleading for forgiveness.
I stared back, feeling the hurt and betrayal rise inside me. How could they do this to me?
“You are the daughter of the lycan king, and I his grandson… Why hide such news, Mother? And now, he seeks to kill me for a prophecy, for something I had no part in creating? My whole life has been a lie!” The words tore from my throat, filled with pain I couldn’t hide.
“I’m sorry, Daryl,” Elaine whispered, her voice breaking. “I only wanted you to have a normal life. I felt guilty for dragging you and your siblings into the mess I created with my father.”
“I deserved to know, Mother! You had no right to keep it secret until danger was practically breathing down our necks!”
“Daryl, my son, please forgive us for hiding the truth,” Father pleaded, but my mind was already spinning out of control.
Anger, confusion, and a sense of betrayal warred inside me. How do I go from being a simple lycan to discovering I am the true lycan king, destined to kill my own grandfather-the same one who now seeks to kill me?
“Child,” Serai’s voice broke through the chaos of my thoughts. “Your parents did what they had to, protecting you and your siblings from a dark and twisted fate. Even the Moon Goddess watches over you, Daryl. You are far more special than you realize.”
I didn’t respond. Her words were just noise to me now. Without another word, I stormed out of the room, my aura thick and brimming with rage. My hands trembled, my skin tingling as the shift overtook me.
I lost control, and my lycan burst forward. Jagao sprinted into the woods, driven by the need to escape, to run away from the lies and the weight of my cursed destiny.
***
*Leo’s POV*
I couldn’t leave him, not like this. I shifted and followed Jagao through the thick forest, my paws pounding the earth as my wolf, Zagan, chased after my brother’s lycan.
I knew him better than anyone. Daryl wasn’t one to handle this kind of revelation easily, and the last thing he needed was to be alone.
After what felt like hours of running, we reached our favorite spot by the lake, hidden deep in the woods.
The peaceful water gleamed under the soft light of the morning, but even its serenity did nothing to ease the turmoil in Daryl’s mind. I shifted back into my human form, sitting beside him as we both stared out over the calm surface of the lake.
“My mind is in a frenzy, brother,” Daryl finally whispered, his voice strained.
“I completely understand how you feel, brother,” I said softly, my gaze still fixed on the water. “I’m as shocked as you are. But you know our parents wouldn’t have hidden something like this without a reason. It doesn’t change the fact that we’re here now, and we have to face this.”
Daryl scoffed, shaking his head. “How can I face this? I’m supposed to kill our grandfather. He wants me dead because of some prophecy. How am I supposed to process that?”
I reached over, gripping his shoulder tightly. “You’re not alone in this, Daryl. We’ll figure it out, together. You have me, Mara, Aria-our entire family. We’ll get through this, no matter what.”
***
*Daryl’s POV*
Just as Leo’s words began to ease my nerves, I heard a soft rustling from behind us. My lycan stirred within me at the familiar scent.
Aria. Her white wolf emerged from the trees, her presence instantly calming the storm inside me. She shifted effortlessly back to her human form, her eyes filled with concern as she approached us.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. The emotions I had bottled up were too much to bear, and when she wrapped her arms around me, I fell apart in her embrace.
“Shh, it’s okay, Daryl,” Aria whispered, her fingers running through my hair as she held me. “I’m here. We’ll figure this out. You don’t have to carry this burden alone.”
Her sweet words soothed my aching heart, and as I lifted my head to meet her gaze, I felt a familiar heat stir inside me.
Aria’s presence was intoxicating, and the way she looked at me, her lips slightly parted, made me forget everything but her.
“I need you so fucking bad, baby, please…” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I didn’t care. I leaned in, capturing her lips in a hungry kiss that she eagerly returned.
Her warmth, her scent, her touch-it was all I needed to calm the chaos inside me.
As our kiss deepened, I knew there was only one way to truly feel at peace, and that was in her arms.