Chapter 54

We sat there for a few minutes when my nostrils caught Aira’s scent. I turned immediately in that direction and saw her walking toward me. Her gaze shifted from Clara, seated beside me, then back to me. It seemed she hadn’t gotten a clear look at Clara’s face yet. But as she drew closer and her eyes settled on Clara again, I saw them widen in shock. She froze a few feet away. “Aren’t you going to greet your child?” I asked, but she just stood there, stunned. After a moment, she finally spoke. “We should talk about this at home,” she said. I rose from the bench and glanced down at Clara, whose eyes were still fixed on my wife, then back at Aira. “For the record, Clara will be coming with us.” She knew from the tone of my voice that when I spoke like that, my word was final. On the outside, I may have seemed calm, but inside, I was boiling with anger—and no one could fault me for it. Without waiting for a response, I started walking back toward the hall where my son and his mate would be waiting. I didn’t bother checking if either of the women followed behind me. By now, Aina would have gone home with her mate. And she'll probably get answers from her father-in-law. But for now, there was something far more pressing that needed to be settled in my house. Aira I made my way back to the hall where I knew they would be waiting, but on the way, I spotted my mate sitting with a young woman. The place was dim, so at first, I couldn’t make out her face clearly. But as I drew closer, my heart stilled. I recognized her. The way she looked at me—it was the gaze of someone meeting the person who had once discarded them. To be honest, I had never wished to see this child again, but avoiding her wasn’t an option anymore. And my mate… I could sense the anger simmering in him. Who wouldn’t be furious in his place? If I were him, I would have been throwing a fit by now. Yet, he remained composed, restrained—that’s one of the many reasons I love him. So, when he firmly declared that Clara would be coming with us, I didn’t object. As he walked off, I stayed rooted, staring at the girl he called Clara—the daughter I had abandoned. She stood up, and the resemblance was undeniable. She was the very image of Alpha Owen. Her voice broke the silence, almost cautious: “If, perhaps, you don’t want me around, it’s fine.” She must have caught the expression on my face. I drew in a shaky breath and shook my head. Seeing her now filled me with guilt that I could no longer hide. Memories came rushing back—the times we had struggled together while she was still inside me. Her tiny kicks, the moments I almost reconsidered my decision. But every time I looked at her father’s face reflected in her, I couldn’t bear it. And so, I gave her away. Now, tears slipped down my cheeks unchecked. I wiped them quickly with trembling hands. “Ah… I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice breaking as the words finally escaped me. I didn’t know what to do or even say — I was completely lost, frozen in confusion. But she seemed to know, because suddenly she came over and wrapped her arms around me. It was a hug I couldn’t bring myself to reject, not because I didn’t want to, but because my body refused to move. “I think they’re out,” she murmured softly. I quickly wiped my tears with the back of my hand as she pulled away, and then I turned, catching sight of them coming out of the entrance. My mate refused to meet my eyes, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him. I caught Josh and Suzy staring at Clara in awe, and by the look on their faces, I knew they finally believed it was true. The drive back to our house was painfully silent, though I knew plenty would be said once we arrived. When we got inside, Suzy quickly offered to prepare something for our guest, and Josh followed his mate without hesitation. “You may sit,” my husband said, his voice calm but firm. Clara settled comfortably onto the couch. He glanced at her sharply. “On our way here, I noticed two cars following us. They didn’t carry the Waterford flag.” Clara smiled and nodded. “Although I told my husband I’d be coming alone, he insisted on having guards trail me.” Gary gave a small nod, then turned his attention to me. “I believe there’s something you need to tell her, Aira.” I returned his gaze and nodded slowly. “Yes.” Looking over at Clara, I spoke carefully. “I had you when I was at my lowest. I couldn’t bring myself to keep you, so with the help of my aunt, I gave you to a good family. I know it was wrong, but back then, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind.” My chest tightened as the memories surfaced. Being ghosted by my mate, never rejected but left behind, while watching another woman on his arm… it broke me. I was completely drained. “I see,” Clara said softly. “So, who is my father then?” I bit my lip, closing my eyes for a moment before opening them again. “He was my mate. But circumstances tore us apart. Your father is the Alpha of Silver Crest Pack.” “This pack?” she asked, surprise flickering across her features. I nodded. She seemed lost in thought for a while before asking, “But I thought the Alpha’s son was getting married today. Would I have seen him?” A hollow laugh escaped me, one that never reached my eyes, but I nodded all the same. “Your arrival today stirred unrest in the pack,” I admitted. “The woman who brought you here caused a scene, announcing you during my daughter’s wedding.” “Your daughter’s wedding?” Clara asked, her voice laced with disbelief. This time it was my mate who laughed bitterly. “Isn’t it ironic? You married Aina off to the son of the very man you once had a child with. What in the world were you thinking, Aira?” His voice rose as he stood, irritation pouring off him in waves. “And don’t you dare tell me it was all in the past, that you didn’t think it through,” he continued sharply. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a child with him? Do you realize the chaos you’ve stirred now?” I clenched my fists, my chest tightening until the words burst out of me. “I know!” I screamed, my voice breaking. But he fired back instantly, his tone harsher than before. “No, you don’t! By tomorrow, the entire pack will know. The secret you fought so desperately to bury—it’s all coming out now.” Through all of this, Clara sat in silence, watching.