The truth

JULIETTE

TWO DAYS LATER…

I halted before Darius's door, still contemplating the next step to take. I was torn between knocking and making my presence known, and just walking away to avoid Darius's ridicule.

But I was haunted, barely getting any sleep after that realistic dream I had. It left me shaken, and every attempt I made to get it out of my mind led to nothing.

I needed answers to the questions that plagued my mind. I needed to know if my mother truly died or if my father chose to lie to keep me from wondering what happened to my mother. It was hard to accept a new truth after fifteen whole years. I just couldn't.

So I pushed back my fear and pride, placing a gentle knock on the door.

“Took you long enough.” Darius's voice boomed from the other side. “Come in.”

With a racing heart, I pushed the door open, slowly striding into the room. He was on his bed, with a book in hand and weirdly reading glasses.

He looked different, harmless, soft, like a professor, a dangerously hot one.

Juliette!

I bit my cheek, averting my gaze. I halted at a reasonable distance away from him. “Good morning, A-Alpha Darius…” I cleared my throat, mentally preparing myself for the worst.

“What do you want?” he nonchalantly asked, flipping the page of his book.

My fingers itched as nervousness set in, but I refused to fidget. I needed to look confident, not weak.

Taking a deep breath, I summoned the courage to speak, “I want to see my father.”

Darius pulled his gaze from the book, settling it on me with furrowed brows. “Why?” He simply asked.

“It's important that I meet him in person. I just need him to answer a few questions.”

Darius slowly closed the book he was holding, taking off his glasses.

“That's not a reason for me to grant such access. Why do you want to meet up with your father? Are you planning another escape?”

I shook my head, “No, it's complicated, it's not something I can share, not until I speak to him.”

“And why should I listen to this request of yours, or grant it?”

My throat dried instantly, a plea escaping my lips, “I really need to talk to him, please…”

“Fine.”

That was all he said to me, he picked up the book and slid his glasses back on. I stood in silence for a full minute, wondering if he was playing a trick on me or if he truly meant it.

“Are you leaving? Or do you wish to spend the rest of the day here?”

I didn't argue, I couldn't… fear, worry, and uncertainty plague my soul, drilling their way into my heart.

I knew Darius was a monster, and nothing should be expected from a man like him, but my heart was forcing me to trust him, to trust in that one word.

*Fine*

And the scariest part of it was that I trusted him.

***********

Hours later a guard showed up at my door, informing me of my father's presence. The guard led me to the courtroom, and stopped outside, urging me to go in.

With trembling hands, I pushed the door open, slowly walking into the large hall. I met my father by the edge of the room, seated at a two-seater table.

“Juliette.” He called the moment his eyes landed on me. He stood up from his chair, walking towards me.

I held out my hand, stopping his movements. “Don't,” I said, a hint of a warning in my tone.

His mouth parted, but no words came out; rather, he slowly turned to maintain his gaze with me and returned to his seat.

I stopped by the opposite chair and plunged into it, folding my arms. “I am happy to see you.”

“I don't care. I didn't call you here for a reunion chit chat. I have questions and I want answers, not your fake concerns or lies, just the truth. I believe I deserve that.”

My father lowered his head, running his palm down his face. “What do you want to know?”

“Mom.” I said and he raised his head, eyes narrowing, “What truly happened fifteen years ago? I want the truth, Dad, you owe it to me.”

“Juliette…”

“You can't lie to me, Dad. I know the truth now, so do yourself some fucking good and start explaining.” I raised my voice, tears brimming in the back of my eyes.

He looked away, avoiding my gaze, his jaw tightening, silence descending upon us, for a long suffocating moment. The only sound in the room was my haggard breathing.

Finally, he exhaled, “You don’t understand, Juliette. Things were… complicated back then.”

“Yes, back then as you have said. So what about now?” I asked, “Tell me what was so complicated. Her cheating escapades? Or the child she was expecting?”

His eyes swiftly met mine, widening, “How did you…”

“Know?” I scoffed, “It doesn't matter. What really matters is the truth, what really happened to mom, why she left that day, if she truly died in an accident, or if you chose to kill her.”

My father gasped, rising from his chair, “I didn't kill her!” He defended immediately. “I swear Juliette. I know I have failed you as a father, but trust me I would never hurt anyone, especially not your mother.”

“Then tell me what truly happened,” I demanded, also rising to my feet.

“She threatened to take you away from me, we both knew you loved her more and she was confident in that. So I threatened to expose her secret as a cheat to the entire pack. Your mother couldn't take it, because she had more to lose, her name, her lover, her child.”

“I told her to never show up in our lives again, I told her I would move on and find you a better mother. She mocked me, confident I would give up and beg her to come back within a few days. I panicked from fear and anger, so I lied.” He paused, closing his eyes and heaving a deep breath.

“You lied about what?” I queried, my eyes stinging with tears.

“The accident.” He replied and a gasp tore out of my throat. “What?!”

His eyes snapped open, now filled with tears, “I am so sorry, Juliette. I was desperate to get her out of your mind, so I lied about the accident. I just wanted you to know that she wasn't coming back, but now I realize it was a selfish act on my part, and that I did it to convince myself that she was truly dead to me.”

“This is why there was no funeral? Why have you never let me visit her grave, or have a memorial in her name for over the past fifteen years…”

Hot tears streamed down my face, my heart burning from the realization that my whole life had been a lie.

“I was trying to protect us.”

“Liar!” I barked, stepping away from him. “You weren't protecting us, Dad, you were destroying everything, including me.”

He tried to reach me, but I jerked back, evading his touch. “Your mother ruined our family…”

“And you aided her in making it worse!” I snapped, more tears streaming down my face. “You let me live with a lie, made me mourn a mother who was never dead! You made me feel guilty for not missing her enough, for not loving her enough!”

My chest heaved, my voice breaking under the weight of betrayal. “I hate you for what you did to me, Dad, and I hate you both for ruining my life.”

“Go to hell!”

The moment the words left my mouth, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room. My vision blurred as fresh tears clouded my vision.

I had no place in mind to run, hide, and cry my eyes out. I just followed the paths that felt familiar.

I found myself halting in front of Dairus's door again; this time, there was no hesitation. I shoved the door open, my chest rising and falling.

I met him standing by the glass wall, he turned sharply as I slammed the door shut.

“Juliette?”

I ran straight into his arms, burying my face in his chest. The sobs came violently, shaking my whole body.