CHAPTER FIFTY–ONE
LIANA’S POV
“A werewolf.”
I froze.
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“A what?”
My dad looked straight into my eyes, and my heart dropped as soon as the words came out of his mouth. “You’re a Liana.”
werewolf,
I blinked, stunned. “B–but… how?” I could barely form the words. “I’m a human. all my life I’ve always believed I was a human
He gave a slow nod, his face filled with regret. “You are. But you’re not fully human,” he said quietly, like even he didn’t want to hear himself say it. “You’re a werewolf too.”
My knees felt weak. I staggered a little while looking at Killian, panic crawling into my voice. “Of which pack?” I snapped. You mentioned you lead a pack, right? So am I a werewolf from your pack? Huh? Just make me understand, because right now it feels like my whole life has been a fucking lie. I don’t even know what to think about myself anymore. I’m… I’m just lost. So tell me, which pack?”
”
I turned toward Killian, hoping, praying for something that would make sense. “Killian, am I part of your pack? The one you lead?”
But it wasn’t Killian who answered.
“No,” my dad cut in, “Not his. It’s a different pack.”
I stared at him, my voice cracking. “What pack?”
He didn’t answer.
“That’s all in the past,” he muttered, looking away.
“The past?” I yelled, my whole chest tightening. “What fucking past? Tell me everything I need to know about my life now. Who you really are… Are you also a werewolf? Huh? Dad, answer me! Who did I take it from? From Mom or from you?!”
My stepmom moved to calm me, placing a hand on my arm. “Liana, please. Just calm down.“.
“No! Don’t tell me to calm down!” I snapped, yanking away. “I want answers. I need answers.”
My dad sat down heavily on the armrest of the couch like the weight of my questions was suffocating him. His hands shook, and his eyes darted everywhere but toward mine.
“Was my mom a werewolf? Is that it?”
He hesitated. Looked down. Then muttered, “Yes.”
1 blinked “What?”
“Yes,” he repeated slowly. “She was… something like that.”
“Something like that?” I said, nearly choking on my own disbelief. “You’re seriously doing this right now? ‘Something like that?‘ You either are or you’re not! What the hell does that even mean?!”
He rubbed his temples hard. “She was part of a pack… but I don’t remember which one-
“You don’t remember?” I cut in, seething. “You were married to her. You had a child with her. And you don’t even remember
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her pack?”
He stood up, frustrated. “Okay. Fine I remember, but It doesn’t matter now!”
“It does matter!” I screamed, my throat burning. “Dad, please tell me. It’s my life! Why are you hiding this from me?! What are you so afraid of?!”
He ran his hands through his hair and finally burst out, “I’m just trying to protect you, Liana. You won’t understand.
I stared at him, my entire body trembling. “Protect me from what?! You keep saying that over and over but you won’t say from what! What are you protecting me from, Dad?! From the truth?!”
“You won’t understand,” he said again, voice cracking.
“Then help me understand!” I shouted. “You lied to me my entire life! You let me grow up feeling like with me! You never said anything! Never even hinted! That was so cruel dad. So so cruel!”
“It was for the best,” he whispered, eyes rimmed with tears. “I didn’t want to lose you.”
“You will if you don’t tell me the truth dad!” I said coldly, stepping back.
something was wrong
My stepmom was crying too now. She rushed to him again, kneeling beside him. “Liana, please… he’s not ready. He’s not strong enough for this.”
“Not ready?” I repeated with a hollow laugh, wiping the tears off my face. “He’s had YEARS to be ready. Why does he still
need more time? What exactly is he hiding that I can’t know? Huh?”
He looked up at me, red–eyed and shaking. “I’m just trying to protect you… That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I felt like I was going to explode. “Stop saying that! Just stop! Protect me? You’re not protecting me. You’re breaking me.
You’re confusing the hell out of me. You’re making me feel like I’m crazy!”
“Killian, please… take her away,” my stepmom said gently, eyes full of pity.
“No!” I screamed, crying harder. “I’m not leaving until he gives me the truth. I deserve that much!”
Killian reached out slowly, his voice low but steady. “Liana… you’re in pain. Let me take you somewhere calm. Please. Just
for now. We’ll figure it out together.”
I shook my head, lips trembling, but I couldn’t say no anymore. My chest hurt, my head was throbbing, and my whole world
felt as if it was tilting. So I let him lead me away.
And the moment we got into the car and the door shut, I collapsed.
“It’s not fair!” I screamed, punching the seat with everything I had left. “Why me?! Why won’t he tell me?! Why did he lie to me,
Killian?! My whole life has been a damn lie, and now that I want the truth, he hides behind I’m trying to protect you! He’s not even trying to explain! I feel lost! I feel so damn lost, Killian!”
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. He pulled me into him, let me cry into his chest, held me like I was the most fragile
thing in the world.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered into my hair. “I’m so sorry, Liana.”
He drove me to his hotel, held my hand the whole way. Didn’t say much. He knew I needed space. He knew I needed silence.
When we got to the room, I didn’t even make it to the bed properly. I sank to the edge, my legs weak, my throat sore, my heart aching in a way I had never known.
Killian sat beside me, pulling me into his arms, stroking my hair gently.
“You’re safe here,” he whispered, his lips brushing my forehead. “I promise, you’re safe.”
