KAIA'S POV
I knew it. My instinct was right all along.
The moment Derek says Marcus's name, everything clicks into place. The mysterious brother who appeared and disappeared. The timing of Kelly's death. The way he vanished right after it happened.
Ronan waves the guard away with a dismissive gesture. "Thank you, Derek. That will be all for now."
"Yes, Alpha," Derek says with a bow, and quickly leaves the room.
As soon as the door closes, I turn to face Ronan. But instead of the anger or determination I expect to see, his face is filled with disappointment and betrayal.
"You knew," he says, his voice flat.
"No," I say immediately.
"You knew, Kaia," he repeats, his dark eyes boring into mine.
I sigh, knowing I can't completely deny it. "I suspected it was a Duskmore, but I wasn't sure which one was the culprit."
"Suspected," he repeats bitterly. "Right."
The hurt in his voice cuts through me like a blade.
"Does that mean this is why you're here?" he asks, his voice getting quieter, more wounded. "You came here for that? Not to become my Luna because you wanted to..."
He trails off, unable to finish the sentence.
"Don't accuse me, Ronan," I say firmly. "You knew from the start that I didn't want to be your Luna."
"But I thought that changed," he says desperately. "Last night, when you said I was your mate, when we... I thought you chose me because you wanted me."
"I did choose you," I insist. "I do want you."
"But you also want revenge," he says, and it's not a question.
I can't deny that, so I don't try.
Ronan buries his head between his palms, his shoulders shaking slightly.
"My brother," he whispers. "My own brother."
I feel a stab of pain seeing him like this. Marcus being the culprit hurts me too, but in a different way. This means Ronan's family really did destroy mine. It means the man I love is related to the monster who killed Kelly.
"Why did Marcus suddenly leave that year?" I ask quietly.
Ronan looks up at me, his eyes red-rimmed. "He just left one day. No warning, no goodbye. He dropped a letter saying he preferred his mother's pack to ours."
"And you believed that?"
"I had no reason not to," he says. "Marcus always felt like an outsider here. It made sense that he'd want to go somewhere he belonged."
"But now it's making sense, isn't it?" I press. "The timing, the sudden departure..."
"Yes," he admits quietly. "Now it's making perfect sense."
He stands up abruptly and heads toward the door.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"To find him," Ronan says grimly. "To get answers."
I grab his arm before he can leave. "Ronan, wait."
"What?" he snaps, whirling around to face me.
"I'm sorry," I say, the words tumbling out. "I'm sorry for not telling you the complete truth from the beginning."
"Are you?" he asks coldly. "Or are you just sorry you got caught?"
"I'm sorry for lying to you," I say firmly. "But I'm not sorry for wanting justice for my sister."
"Even if it means destroying my family?"
"Your family destroyed mine first," I shoot back.
"I didn't destroy your family!" he shouts. "I was seventeen years old and had nothing to do with what Marcus did!"
"But you're still a Duskmore!" I shout back. "You're still his brother!"
"So what does that make me?" he demands. "Guilty by association? Responsible for crimes I didn't commit?"
"No," I say, my voice breaking. "But it makes this complicated."
"Complicated," he repeats with a bitter laugh. "That's one way to put it."
We stare at each other across the room, both breathing hard from our argument.
"I just apologized to you," I say quietly. "I told you I was sorry for not being completely honest."
"And I heard you," he replies.
"Did you? Because you're still acting like I betrayed you."
"Didn't you?" he asks. "You came here under false pretenses. You let me fall in love with you while planning to use me for revenge."
"I wasn't planning anything!" I protest. "I was just trying to survive! And somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you too!"
The admission hangs between us like a bridge we're both afraid to cross.
Ronan's expression softens slightly. "You love me?"
"Yes," I whisper. "I love you, you idiot. That's why this is so hard."
He crosses the room in three quick strides and kisses me. Hard. Desperate. Like he's trying to pour everything he can't say into the contact.
When he pulls apart, we're both breathing heavily.
"He's your brother," I say quietly. "You promised me justice. What will you do now?"
The question hangs in the air between us, heavy with implications.
Ronan stares at me for a long moment, conflict clear in his dark eyes.
Then, without saying a word, he opens the door and walks out.
Leaving me standing alone in our bedroom, wondering if the truth has just destroyed everything we built together.