In The End, She was My Beginning

Chapter 3: Hidden Secrets

Luna couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened in the park. Collins had been acting so strange, and then, just as she was starting to push for answers, something—or someone—had interrupted them. Now, as the days passed, her mind swirled with questions. What was Collins hiding? Why had he been so terrified? And why had he been so adamant that she needed to stay away?

She had to know more. She couldn’t let this go. But the more Luna thought about it, the more her frustration grew. Every time she tried to get closer to the truth, the answers seemed to slip further away, like water through her fingers.

The next morning, Luna stood outside her apartment building, her hands nervously clasped in front of her. She had decided that today would be the day she found out everything. She couldn’t stand the uncertainty anymore. She had to confront Collins again.

But first, she needed to figure out where he had been, what he had been doing, and why he had been so desperate to protect her. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like Collins was involved in something dangerous—something that had to do with his past. The way he had spoken about “protecting her” kept echoing in her mind.

Luna had tried to get in touch with him again, but his phone remained unanswered. No calls, no messages. It was as if he had completely cut her out of his life.

That was it. She couldn’t wait for him to come to her. She would go to him. She needed to know what was going on.

Luna walked to the nearest coffee shop, a small, cozy place she liked to visit when she needed to think. She had always found the clink of coffee cups and the murmur of quiet conversation calming. It was the perfect spot to gather her thoughts before diving headfirst into the mess Collins had left her in.

As she waited for her coffee, Luna couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. Her eyes darted around the cafeteria, but there was no one who seemed out of place. Still, the unease in her chest wouldn’t go away.

Suddenly, the door to the coffee shop opened, and Luna’s heart skipped a beat. Standing in the doorway was a man—a man she had never seen before, but one who seemed strangely familiar.

He had dark hair, sharp features, and a presence that made the air around him feel thick with tension. His eyes scanned the room before they landed on Luna.

Luna’s breath caught in her throat. There was something about him that made her uneasy. He looked like someone who didn’t belong. But before she could think too much about it, the man started walking toward her.

Luna quickly glanced around the cafeteria. The few customers sitting at tables didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. But the man’s eyes never left her. It felt like he was searching for something. Or maybe someone.

When he reached her table, he stopped. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The man’s gaze was intense, studying her, almost as if he was trying to figure her out.

“Luna,” he finally said, his voice low and gravelly. “We need to talk.”

Luna’s heart raced. How did he know her name? She had never seen this man before. But there was something about him, something about the way he looked at her, that made her feel like she should know him.

“I don’t think we have anything to talk about,” Luna replied, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to stay calm. “Who are you?”

The man leaned in slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. “You’re asking the wrong question,” he said. “The real question is: What do you want to know?”

Luna’s breath hitched. Was this a threat? Who was this person, and why was he suddenly so interested in her?

“I don’t know what you mean,” Luna said, her voice steady despite the fear creeping up her spine. “Why are you here?”

The man smiled, but it wasn’t a reassuring smile. It was a knowing smile. “Collins is in danger,” he said softly. “And you’re caught in the middle of it.”

Luna felt a chill run through her. “What do you mean? What danger?”

The man’s eyes darkened. “You need to understand something,” he said. Collins isn’t just any person. He’s part of something much bigger than you realize. Something dangerous. If you keep pushing him, if you keep trying to get close to him, you’ll put yourself in danger, too.

Luna felt the blood drain from her face. “What are you talking about? "Why can’t he just tell me the truth?”

The man’s expression grew hard, as if he was reluctant to say it anymore. “Because he’s trying to protect you,” he said. “And right now, the best thing for you is to stay away. Let him handle this on his own.”

Luna shook her head, her mind racing. “No. I can’t just walk away from him. He’s my fated mate. I love him.”

The man’s eyes softened for a brief moment before his gaze hardened again. That’s exactly why you need to stay away. The truth is more complicated than you think. There are things in play that you can’t even begin to understand.”

Luna stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. “I don’t care what you’re saying,” she said, her voice shaking with determination. “I’m not going to walk away, not without answers.”

The man sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. “I was hoping you would say that,” he muttered. “I can’t stop you." But just know this—you’ve been warned. If you keep pushing, you’ll regret it.”

Luna glared at him, her mind swirling with confusion. She didn’t know what to make of this stranger or his warning. But there was one thing she was sure of—she wasn’t going to let Collins face whatever this was alone.

As she walked out of the coffee shop, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn’t even imagine. Whatever secrets Collins was keeping, whatever danger he was facing, Luna was determined to find out the truth.

And she would stop at nothing to get to the bottom of it.