Giovanni's Perspective
I sat in my study, my eyes gazing out the window, filled with mixed emotions. I already knew that the distance between Diana—no, Fern—and me had been growing, but after seeing the news of my marriage to Elena today, the guilt and unease that had been building in my heart felt like they had been set ablaze by a small spark, exploding relentlessly. Elena, the woman with whom I had never truly shared my heart and soul, whose coldness and calculating nature sickened me, had become part of a marriage contract based on power and profit, forcing me to compromise.
Despite my inner reluctance, I had come to realize that this was the only decision I could make. But as I replayed this hypocritical union in my mind, a sharp knock suddenly came at the door.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and to my surprise, standing in the doorway was not one of my subordinates or clan elders, but Daniel.
I jerked my head up and met his familiar gaze, my heart skipping a beat. Daniel's face was stormy, his fists clenched tightly, his entire presence radiating a powerful aura that suggested he was holding back something. His anger was palpable. I couldn't react immediately, but there was something about his expression that seemed oddly familiar, a connection I couldn't quite express. In that instant, my heartbeat quickened, almost leaping out of my chest.
Daniel's voice was calm but laced with coldness. "You betrayed her."
I narrowed my eyes, setting the papers aside, an inexplicable surge of emotion flooding my chest. I stood up, gazing intently at the young man before me, a mix of confusion and surprise crossing my face. "Betrayal? What are you talking about?"
Daniel, clearly furious, took a step forward. His voice came through clenched teeth. "How much my mother sacrificed for you, how much she did for you... and you separate yourself from her for all that power and profit? You don't deserve to be her partner!"
"Daniel—"
"Who do you think Elena is?" Daniel cut me off, not budging an inch. "She's nothing but someone who used you! You left my mother behind and used her... as a pawn, a tool!"
My heart sank, and I knew Daniel wasn't entirely wrong. Elena had indeed been calculating, and I had made sacrifices for the sake of my pack's stability. But seeing the raw emotion in Daniel's eyes stirred something in me, something that almost felt out of my control. It was as if my instincts were driving me to act irrationally.
"What are you talking about?" I managed to steady my voice, hoping to calm the confrontation. "Your mother made her choice, and you should respect it. The decisions I made were for the future of us all."
"Easy for you to say." Daniel sneered. "You have no idea what family is, or what responsibility means! You're a coward!"
Impatience flared in me, and I strode toward him, trying to keep my composure. "Do you realize what you're saying?"
But just then, Daniel seemed to lose some control. His anger surged, and I could feel it radiating from him. His eyes flashed with a strange intensity, and I suddenly realized that something more was going on. My heart tightened, and my body involuntarily trembled as I sensed something familiar in the air—something I couldn't mistake. The scent of the werewolf bloodline, carrying power I had once known, emanated from Daniel.
He suddenly growled low in his throat, and the very ground beneath me seemed to tremble with the force of his presence. My breath caught in my chest, and a series of thoughts began racing through my mind. I stared at Daniel's face, now contorted in anger, and I couldn't hide the suspicion any longer. That scent, that power—it all formed a conclusion in my mind: Daniel was my son.
I took a step forward, grabbing his shoulders, my eyes locking onto his. "You're my son?"
Daniel froze, his body stiffening, a look of disbelief flashing across his face. He seemed unable to believe the question I was asking. But as my gaze softened with the truth burning in me, he finally lowered his head and whispered, "Yes, I am your son."
In that moment, my heart felt like it had been struck with a heavy blow. All the suspicions and uncertainties of the past were confirmed, but instead of clarity, I was overwhelmed by an emotional storm. Shock, confusion, betrayal—everything churned inside me, and I struggled to keep it together.
"But..." Daniel slowly lifted his head, his gaze filled with complexity. "Do you know she's been hiding from you? Do you know how much pain she endured to protect me?"
My face changed, and I took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions that threatened to spill over. "Your mother, Fern... she never died?"
At last, I knew the truth: Diana was Fern.
Daniel was silent for a moment, a flash of pain crossing his face. He finally nodded. "She didn't die. She left you to protect us. She didn't want you involved in the danger."
My heart raced, my emotions tumbling in a mix of shock, joy, anger, and betrayal. I didn't know how to process it all.
I grabbed Daniel by the arm and pulled him aside, my mind racing with thoughts of Fern. All the images from the past flooded my mind: the look in her eyes when she left, her coldness. Now I understood the truth behind it all—a secret she had kept from me. And I hadn't seen it coming.
Anger surged through me, a flood of emotions breaking through my calm. I shoved Daniel away with more force than I intended and turned toward the window. My thoughts were a whirlwind. I had been deeply deceived. I had wasted so much time. The woman who had once loved me so fiercely had been here all along, hiding the truth.
"You should have told me, Daniel," I said, my voice low and filled with anger. "Your mother shouldn't have made those decisions on her own. You should have told me everything!"
Daniel's eyes darkened with disdain. "She did it for you, to protect you. You have no right to blame her!"
"I know," I sighed, finally realizing I could no longer dwell in the past. I had to face the truth now. "You're coming with me."
Without waiting for Daniel's response, I turned toward the door, my voice cold. "You're my son now. You're coming with me. Home."
Daniel hesitated for a moment, then nodded, a mixture of doubt and anger still lingering in his expression. It was clear he wasn't happy, but he couldn't refuse.
Together, we walked out of the study, and I knew that whatever the future held, we had to face it together. It was time to confront the painful truth and the hope that still lay ahead.