The Secret He Recognized
995 Words
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
Mara couldn’t breathe.
For several seconds, she simply stared at Lucian.
Then she laughed.
It wasn’t a happy laugh.
It was small, broken, almost desperate.
“That’s not funny.”
Lucian didn’t smile.
Mara’s fingers tightened around the pendant at her throat.
“Say that again.”
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
Her stomach twisted.
“No.”
The word came out as a whisper.
“No, you’re wrong.”
She shook her head harder.
“My parents died. That’s what I was told. I was raised by Evelyn. I’ve lived the same life for twenty-two years.”
Lucian’s expression remained unreadable.
“Who told you your parents were dead?”
“My foster mother.”
“Name.”
“Evelyn Vale.”
Something flickered across his face.
Mara noticed.
And suddenly anger burned through her fear.
“You know her.”
Lucian said nothing.
“You know her, don’t you?”
Still nothing.
Mara stepped closer.
“Look at me and tell me you don’t know her.”
His jaw tightened.
“I know the name.”
Her heart sank.
“How?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Mara’s eyes burned.
“Of course you can’t.”
She wiped away the tear that had escaped before Lucian could see it.
“Everyone knows something about my life except me.”
Her voice cracked.
“Do you know what it’s like to grow up wondering why nobody wanted you?”
Lucian’s expression shifted.
Mara continued before he could interrupt.
“I spent my whole childhood thinking there was something wrong with me. Every other girl got her wolf. I didn’t. Every other child had a family. I didn’t.”
She pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
“I thought I was defective.”
Lucian stared at her.
“And now you stand there telling me I’m supposed to be dead?”
She laughed bitterly.
“Then who am I?”
Silence.
Mara’s anger finally broke.
“Who am I, Lucian?”
He looked away.
That hurt more than she expected.
She had barely known him for an hour, yet his refusal to answer felt like another abandonment.
Mara turned toward the door.
“I’m leaving.”
Lucian caught her wrist.
“Don’t.”
She spun around.
“Don’t touch me!”
The force of her voice surprised even her.
Lucian released her.
Mara hugged herself.
“I don’t know you.”
Her voice became quieter.
“And I don’t trust you.”
A strange expression crossed his face.
Pain.
Then it disappeared.
“You need to leave Blackthorn Manor.”
Mara stared at him.
“You just told me I was in danger.”
“You are.”
“From who?”
Lucian hesitated.
“Everyone.”
Her fear returned.
“That isn’t an answer.”
Before he could respond, the doors opened.
Kael rushed inside.
“Alpha.”
His eyes landed on Mara.
He froze.
For a moment, genuine shock crossed his face.
“You found her.”
Mara’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“Found me?”
Kael immediately looked at Lucian.
Mara stepped toward him.
“What does that mean?”
Neither man answered.
Her hands began shaking.
“Stop doing that.”
Lucian frowned.
“Doing what?”
“Looking at each other like I’m some secret you both know.”
Her voice rose.
“I’m standing right here!”
A sudden pain tore through her chest.
Mara gasped.
She grabbed her shirt.
“Ah!”
Her knees gave way.
Lucian caught her.
The moment his arms wrapped around her, warmth exploded through her body.
Mara saw fire.
Blood.
A little boy.
A black wolf.
And herself as a child, crying as someone dragged her away.
“Take her!”
Mara screamed.
“NO!”
She shoved Lucian away and collapsed onto the floor.
Her entire body trembled.
“I remember…”
Lucian crouched beside her.
“What did you see?”
Mara stared at him with tears streaming down her face.
“You.”
His face went still.
“You were there.”
“I don’t remember.”
“You were holding my hand.”
Lucian’s breathing changed.
Mara touched her head.
“You were crying.”
Her voice broke.
“You told me you’d come back.”
Lucian stared at her as though she’d struck him.
Then the word came.
Not from him.
Not from her.
From somewhere deep inside her.
Mate.
Mara froze.
Lucian froze too.
Her heart pounded violently.
“Did you hear that?”
Lucian slowly stood.
“No.”
He was lying.
Mara knew it.
And somehow that frightened her more than anything else.
Then the manor’s alarm bells erupted.
Mara jumped.
Kael drew his sword.
“Alpha, we’re under attack.”
Lucian’s entire demeanor changed.
“Who?
Kael looked at Mara.
“They aren’t attacking the manor.
A pause.
“They’re here for her.
Mara’s blood turned cold.
“Me?”
Kael nodded.
Outside, dozens of wolves began howling.
Mara backed away.
“No.
Her voice trembled.
“I didn’t do anything.
Lucian stepped between her and the windows.
“You don’t understand.
“Then make me understand!
“I can’t
“Why?!
Her voice shattered.
“Why does everyone keep protecting secrets that are destroying my life?
A shadow appeared beyond the glass.
A man stood in the rain.
Mara stopped.
Her breathing became shallow.
She knew him.
She didn’t know how.
But something inside her recognized him.
The silver pendant around her neck suddenly burned against her skin.
She cried out and grabbed it.
The stranger smiled.
His lips moved.
Daughter.
Mara’s entire body went numb.
“No…”
Lucian turned toward the window.
“What did he say?”
Mara couldn’t answer.
Tears filled her eyes.
Because for the first time in twenty-two years, a terrifying thought entered her mind.
Maybe she hadn’t been abandoned.
Maybe.
someone had stolen her.
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