Serena
Lia chuckled. “Wait, I’m confused. Is this some kind of a joke?”
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and my thoughts raced. I knew I had to explain myself, even though I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt for deceiving everyone in Wolf Valley. Still, deep down, I understood it was the right thing to do.
"No, it's not," I declared, my voice trembling slightly. I could feel my palms becoming moist, and I couldn't help but look down at my fidgeting fingers, a physical manifestation of my inner turmoil.
“But why would you do that?” As Lia's disappointed and hurt voice reached my ears, I couldn't help but flinch. Her reaction was precisely what I feared the most – letting down someone I had come to care about deeply. Ollie's quick comforting gesture didn't go unnoticed, and I appreciated his support, even though it couldn't fully alleviate the weight of my confession.
My voice quivered as I continued, the words coming out in a rush, “Because…Because I was protecting myself. I am not sure if the facade of Wolf Valley being a helpful community for outcasts was fake or not. All my life, people whom I trusted betrayed me without batting an eyelash, and I learned not to trust anyone that easily.”
With each word I spoke, it felt as if I was baring my soul, exposing the long-standing emotional pain and fears that had driven me to lie in the first place. The silence that followed hung heavy in the air, and I couldn't help but wonder how my confession would affect the fragile bonds I had formed with them.
As the three of them listened intently, I continued my story. “I wanted to forget everything about my past. You guys gave me an opportunity to start anew. But I guess I could never run away from my tragic life. This time, I plan to confront it once and for all.”
"Then, who are you exactly?" Ollie's question echoed the open space.
My voice trembled as I continued, recounting the painful chapters of my life. “I am a Beta daughter, but lived worse than an omega. My dad married a vile woman after my mother died. She was the cause of all my miseries and the same reason why I wanted to go back. She took everything away from me…my title, my father, everything... She was the reason why I ran away from my pack after posing her own daughter for a life that was supposed to be mine.”
A lump formed inside my throat as I tried to recall the remnants of my past. I saw compassion forming in their eyes, and for me, it was enough.
"Did she cause the old scars and strangely healed broken bones we found when we treated your injuries?"
“Yes,” I answered Lia. “Mathilde made me the outlet of her evilness for years. I endured those abuses most of my life. In fact, I didn’t even remember her being ever nice to me. Her hatred intensified when Tori was born. That’s when she made me one of the omegas and moved me out from my room to stay in the filthy attic to make room for the new baby.”
“And your dad?” Ollie asked, “What did he say about all of these?”
"Well," I said, bitterness seeping into my tone, "he would always say how much he is sorry or how much he loves me, but he never actually did something to stop Mathilde from abusing me." The disappointment and betrayal I had felt from my father's inaction still lingered, and it was a wound that had yet to fully heal.
"Someone who stands by and does nothing in the face of evil is just as guilty," he declared, and I nodded in agreement.
Then, it was Alexei's turn to speak. He fixed his intense gaze on me and finally asked, "Which pack do you come from?" His expression was unreadable, leaving me wondering what thoughts were running through his mind at that moment.
"Goldenridge," I replied.
Lia was taken aback. "Wait! You know Ashford?"
"Yes. He is one of the reasons why I decided to tell the truth. You see, I am planning to come with him to Blood Rose after he recovers, but I figured I need to tell you everything first."
"That's a lot to take in," Lia exclaimed after sighing.
"I'm sorry that I lied. My life here in the camp is heaven compared to what I've been through. I love it here, but there are still some things I need to fix in my life. I would always be thankful for all you did for me. I wish nothing but the best for everyone and I am sorry for everything I put you through."
"Oh, Katniss!" Lia stood up and embraced me. I embraced her back, tears streaming down my face, grateful for the friendship she offered. "You will always be our good cook, Katniss. We will always be there for you, no matter what your decision is."
"I will miss this camp, most especially, you," I exclaimed while wiping my tears.
"You can always come back after you've done what you have to do. So, when are you planning to leave?"
"I think we can depart the day after tomorrow."
We were all taken aback at Ashford’s arrival, "Your doctors and nurses here did an exceptional job. Even the pack doctors in Blood Rose Pack can't compare to you guys." Then, he turned to Alexei. “I think you should come with us.”
"Is it necessary?" he scoffed. "I don't think I have any business in your personal affairs."
"No, you misunderstood me," Ashford clarified. "I want you to come talk to our Alpha Heir. I'm sure he would be happy to help this camp after hearing about the things you do for others. You can discuss with him the things you might need and perhaps form an alliance with Blood Rose for protection."
"That's wonderful!" Lia exclaimed. "You should come with them, brother. Isn't that what you really want? For this camp to be acknowledged as an official werewolf pack?"
Alexei remained silent, carefully considering the options. With Lia's persuasive words, he finally agreed, earning cheers from everyone.
"I guess everything turned out better than expected," I whispered to myself. To my surprise, Remus responded, "The truth always sets you free."