Chapter 48

Ariezel

I held my breath. Even though now I was at the forefront of it all, everything still felt daunting at the last moment.

But this time I wasn't afraid. Despite the trepidation I felt, there was not one iota of hesitation in me.

As I looked up at him, my thoughts were affirmed. I loved him. I loved Asher, and it was enough to share my secrets.

“Derek." The name sounded so foreign to my lips, an evident sign of how long I had gone without thinking of it. Without thinking of him, until now.

The thought of Derek's cruel face, the words I heard in my haze was enough. He knew about my child.

But he wasn't important. Not now, as I sat with my mate and love about to tell him my past finally.

“Derek said he was my mate... because he was.”

The guillotine had struck. I had finally revealed part of the truth I had hidden for so long.

“What?” Asher spoke, his incredulous tone evident.

A flood of guilt came to me, even though I knew it didn't belong. It shouldn't have bothered me. After all,