Lydia's POV
I press myself against the desk. Trying not to breathe. Trying to disappear.
My father's footsteps circle the room. Getting closer.
You always were a stupid girl, he says quietly. Did you really think you could hide from me?
His boots stop right in front of the desk. Right above my hiding spot.
I taught you everything, Lydia. How to sneak. How to hide. How to lie.
My heart pounds so loud I'm sure he can hear it.
Which means I know exactly where you are.
His hand reaches for the desk. About to pull out the chair. About to expose me.
This is it. I'm caught.
I tense. Ready to fight if I have to.
The office door suddenly slams open.
Beta Thomas.
Kade's voice. Cold. Commanding. Furious.
My father jerks upright. His hand pulls away from the desk.
Alpha, he says smoothly. Too smoothly. What are you doing here?
I could ask you the same question. Kade's footsteps enter the room. What are you doing in your office at two in the morning?
Working. Pack security reports. I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd
In the dark? Kade interrupts. Without the lights on?
Silence.
I can feel the tension. Thick. Dangerous.
I thought I heard an intruder, my father says carefully. Came to investigate.
And? Did you find anyone?
More silence.
My father is deciding. Tell Kade I'm here? Or lie?
No, he finally says. Must have been my imagination.
Strange. Because I definitely heard something in this building. Kade's voice drops lower. More threatening. In fact, I could have sworn I saw someone enter through that window ten minutes ago.
My blood turns to ice.
Kade knows. He knows someone broke in.
Perhaps a guard? my father suggests.
Perhaps. Kade doesn't sound convinced. Or perhaps you're hiding something, Thomas. You've been acting strange since my mate arrived.
I assure you, Alpha, I have nothing
Get out.
What?
I said get out. I need this room. Now.
My father hesitates. But Alpha
Are you disobeying a direct order from your Alpha? Kade's voice carries pure dominance. Pure power.
No, Alpha. Of course not.
My father's boots move toward the door. But slowly. Like he doesn't want to leave.
He knows I'm here. Knows Kade will find me.
And he wants to see what happens.
Goodnight, Alpha, my father says from the doorway.
Then his voice drops. So quiet only wolf ears could hear.
Goodnight, Lydia.
He knows. He knows and he's leaving me here for Kade to find.
The door closes.
Silence.
I stay frozen behind the desk. Maybe Kade will just look around and leave. Maybe he won't—
You can come out now, Ash.
My heart stops.
He knows I'm here.
I can hear your heartbeat, Kade says quietly. It's beating fast. Like you're terrified.
I don't move.
I'm not going to hurt you. But we need to talk. Now.
I have two choices. Stay hidden and look guilty. Or come out and face him.
Slowly, I crawl out from behind the desk.
Kade stands in the middle of the room. Arms crossed. Eyes glowing gold in the darkness.
He doesn't look angry. Just... disappointed.
Which somehow feels worse.
Hi, I whisper. My voice shakes.
Hi. He doesn't move. Want to tell me what you're doing in my Beta's office at two in the morning?
I... I can explain.
I'm listening.
My mind races. What can I say? What lie will work?
But I'm so tired of lying.
The background investigation, I start. It starts tomorrow. And I... I wanted to see if there was any information here that might help me.
Help you how?
I don't know. Just... anything.
Kade's eyes narrow. So you broke into Thomas's office. Without permission. In the middle of the night.
When he says it like that, it sounds terrible.
I'm sorry. I just—
Why didn't you ask me? Kade interrupts. If you needed information, why not come to me?
Because you're the one person I can't trust with the truth.
I didn't want to bother you, I say weakly.
Bother me? Kade takes a step closer. You're my mate. Nothing about you bothers me. But sneaking around? Lying? That bothers me.
Guilt crashes through me. Because he's right. I am lying. About everything.
I'm sorry, I whisper again.
Kade studies my face. Searching for something.
Why are you so afraid of this investigation? he asks quietly. What are you hiding?
Nothing. Everything.
I'm not hiding anything.
Then why break in here?
I told you
You're lying. His voice is flat. Certain. I can feel it through the mate bond. Every word you say, I can feel the lie underneath.
The mate bond. Of course. I forgot he can sense my emotions.
Kade
Who are you really, Ash? He moves closer. Close enough to touch. Because I don't think that's even your real name.
My throat closes. Can't breathe. Can't think.
It is, I force out.
More lies. His jaw clenches. I've been patient. I've given you space. I've tried to earn your trust. But you won't let me in. You won't tell me the truth.
I can't.
Why not?
Because you'll hate me! The words explode out before I can stop them. Because if you knew who I really was, what I've done, you'd throw me out. Just like everyone else.
Kade's face softens. I could never hate you.
You don't know that.
Yes, I do. Because you're my mate. My other half. Whatever you've done, whatever secrets you're keeping, we can face them together.
I want to believe him so badly. Want to trust that he'll choose me over his pack. Over his Beta. Over everything.
But men always choose power over love.
Marcus taught me that.
I need time, I whisper.
How much time?
I don't know.
Kade's hands clench into fists. Frustration rolling off him in waves.
The investigation starts in a few hours, he says. Ryder will dig into your background. Your past. Everything.
I know. That's why I'm terrified.
If there's something you need to tell me, now is the time, Kade continues. Before someone else tells me first.
My father's words echo in my head: Tomorrow, I'll tell Kade about Ember's real father.
I should confess. Should tell Kade everything right now.
But the words won't come.
There's nothing to tell, I lie.
Pain flashes across Kade's face. The mate bond aches between us.
Fine. His voice goes cold. Distant. Keep your secrets. But don't expect me to keep defending you when I don't even know who you are.
He turns to leave.
Panic floods through me. Kade, wait
I followed you tonight because I was worried, he says without turning around. I woke up and you were gone. The mate bond was screaming that you were in danger. So I tracked you here.
He did that? For me?
I thought you were in trouble. Thought someone was hurting you. He looks back. Those golden eyes full of hurt. But you're not in trouble. You're just keeping secrets.
Kade
Why were you really here, Ash? The truth this time.
I open my mouth. Close it.
Can't tell him. Can't risk it.
I told you. The investigation
Stop lying to me! His alpha command hits me like a physical blow. Forces me to my knees.
Kade's eyes widen. Horror on his face.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean— He rushes over. Helps me stand. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have used alpha command on you.
It's okay.
No, it's not. I just— He runs his hand through his hair. You make me crazy. The lies. The secrets. I don't know what to do.
I'm sorry, I whisper. I'm so sorry.
Then tell me the truth. Please. Just one truth. Any truth.
I look into his desperate eyes.
And I want to. Want to tell him everything.
But I'm so scared.
My real name, I start slowly. It's not Ash.
Kade waits. Barely breathing.
It's
The office door slams open again.
Ryder stands there. Out of breath.
Alpha! We have a problem!
Kade doesn't look away from me. Not now, Ryder.
It can't wait. It's about the Luna's background investigation.
My heart stops.
What about it? Kade asks.
Thomas submitted additional evidence an hour ago. Claims he found something important.
What kind of evidence?
Ryder's eyes flick to me. Pity in his expression.
Birth records. For Ember.
No. No no no.
What about them? Kade demands.
They list the father's name, Ryder says quietly. Marcus Ashford. Former Alpha of Silvermoon Pack.
The room goes silent.
Kade stares at me. Shock on his face.
Marcus? he whispers. Your daughter's father was Marcus?
I can't speak. Can't move.
That means— Kade's face goes pale. That means Ember has alpha bloodline. Former alpha bloodline.
There's more, Ryder says. Thomas is claiming that the Luna's real name isn't Ash. It's Lydia. Lydia Ashford.
Everything stops.
Ashford? Kade repeats. As in
As in Thomas's daughter, Ryder confirms. The one who was banished five years ago for stealing from the pack treasury.
Kade looks at me. Really looks at me.
And I watch as he puts it all together.
The fear. The lies. The secrets.
Why I knew the pack house layout. Why Thomas recognized me. Why I was so terrified of the investigation.
Lydia, he says. Testing the name. Is it true?
I want to deny it. Want to keep lying.
But I can't anymore.
Yes, I whisper. My name is Lydia Ashford. I'm Thomas's daughter. And Ember is Marcus's child.
The betrayal on Kade's face breaks my heart.
You lied to me, he says. This whole time. You lied.
I can explain
Get out.
What?
Get out of my pack. Now. His alpha command forces me backward. You're banished. Again.
Tears pour down my face. Please, Kade
I SAID GET OUT!
The command hits me like lightning. Forces me to run.
I run out of the office. Out of the pack house. Back to his house to grab Ember.
But when I get there, guards are already waiting.
Alpha's orders, one says. You have one hour to leave pack territory. Or we use force.
I lost. Again.
My father won. Again.
And the mate who promised to protect me just threw me away.
Just like Marcus did five years ago.