CHAPTER TWO: THE TRUTH

Thomas knocked gently on Aria's door.

"Aria, my love, could you please come out?"

There was a brief silence.

"Your mother and I are ready to tell you everything."

The door opened almost immediately. Aria's eyes were wide with anticipation.

"Really?"

Before either of them could respond, she threw her arms around them. For years, she had wondered what secret her parents were hiding. Tonight, she was finally going to find out.

They sat together on the sofa. Mira couldn't seem to sit still. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, and her eyes kept darting toward the window.

"Who approached you today?" she asked desperately. "Tell me everything."

Aria stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"I was only kidding. Nobody approached me. I wanted to see your reaction."

Mira let out a long sigh and placed a hand over her chest.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack."

Thomas shook his head, amused. But his smile slowly faded.

"Well, my daughter, it's not like your mother gave you those rules for nothing."

Aria's smile disappeared.

Thomas's expression became serious.

"She did it because she loves you. Your mother and I sacrificed everything to give you a safe life. We left our home in the city. We gave up our friends, our comfort, and everything we knew."

Mira lowered her eyes.

"We gave up everything because of you."

Aria's heart tightened.

"But why?"

Thomas took a deep breath.

"Because there is a law in this kingdom. All girls born in the kingdom are required to be registered with the crown. Any girl who reaches fifteen without being registered can be taken into royal service."

Aria's eyes widened.

"But... why didn't you register me?"

Mira's eyes filled with tears.

Thomas squeezed his hands together.

"Because we couldn't. Because we are not your biological parents."

Aria froze.

"What?"

Mira immediately began crying.

Thomas swallowed hard.

"We found you in the forest. One night, while your mother and I were returning home, we heard a baby crying. We followed the sound and found you lying alone in the bushes."

Aria's lips parted.

"Where were my parents?"

"We don't know. We searched the area, but there was no one around. No one came looking for you."

Mira wiped her tears.

"We had been praying for a child for years. When we found you, we thought fate had finally answered our prayers."

Tears slowly rolled down Aria's cheeks.

"This can't be true."

"I'm sorry," Thomas said.

"But we look alike. Everyone says I have your eyes."

Mira's voice broke.

"You learned to smile like me and frown like Thomas. But the color of your eyes... that was never ours. We don't know where you came from."

"Then who gave me these eyes?"

"We don't know."

"You don't know?" Aria's voice rose. "You found me in a forest and you didn't even try to find out who I was?"

"We tried," Thomas said quietly. "We searched for days. There was nothing. No tracks. No clues. It was as if you appeared from nowhere."

Aria was silent for a long moment. Then she shook her head.

"I don't care who they are. They left me alone in a forest. I was a baby. I could have died."

Tears streamed down her face.

"You found me. You raised me. You are my parents. I will never forgive the people who abandoned me. But I will always be grateful for you."

Aria's voice trembled.

"Please don't abandon me too."

Mira's heart broke.

"Oh, my child... We will never abandon you."

Thomas joined them.

"We have given up everything for you, Aria. And we will continue to do whatever it takes to protect you."

Aria buried her face against Mira's shoulder.

"I understand now. I understand why you gave me all those rules."

Mira kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry for keeping this from you for so many years."

"It's okay, Mummy."

After a long moment, Thomas pulled back.

"There is something else."

He gently took her arm and turned it over, revealing the strange moon mark on her skin.

"We noticed this when you were still a baby. We've never seen anything like it."

Aria stared at the mark.

"What does it mean?"

"We don't know."

Mira reached out and touched it gently.

"Your scent has always been different from ours. And there's the matter of your wolf."

Aria frowned.

"My wolf?"

Thomas hesitated.

"Aria, we are werewolves. You should have felt something by now—a pull, a presence. Your wolf should be waiting for you."

"But it's not?" She asked.

"No," Thomas admitted. "We think it might have something to do with where you came from. Something in your blood is different. It's like your wolf is asleep, waiting for something."

Aria's fingers moved over the mark on her arm.

"Do you think my biological family had this mark too?"

Thomas nodded slowly.

"Perhaps. If you ever decide to search for them, this mark might help you find where you came from."

Aria shook her head firmly.

"I don't want to search for them. You both are my parents. I don't care who gave birth to me."

Her knees weakened, and she broke down crying.

Mira immediately pulled her into her arms.

"Don't cry, my child. You will forever have a special place in my heart."

The three of them remained wrapped in each other's arms.

For the first time, Aria knew the truth about where she came from.

Or at least, she thought she did.

---

The next morning arrived with the sound of birds singing outside the cottage.

Aria woke up to find a small wooden carving beside her bed—a simple wolf.

She smiled. She knew exactly who had made it.

"Happy birthday, my Aria!"

Thomas stood at the doorway with a wide smile.

Aria ran toward him and hugged him.

"Thank you, Daddy."

Mira entered behind him carrying a small basket.

"Your father and I are going hunting today."

Aria looked at them.

"Can I come?"

Mira smiled.

"No. Because today is your birthday. Consider it your gift."

Thomas laughed.

"We'll catch the biggest bush meat we can find."

Aria smiled.

"You two are the best."

Thomas kissed her forehead.

"Happy fifteenth birthday, my daughter."

She watched her parents walk away from the cottage.

For the first time, she didn't argue about going with them. After learning the truth the night before, something had changed inside her. She understood why her parents were always afraid. And more than anything, she was afraid of losing them.

Aria closed the door and locked it.

She was alone.

She walked toward the window and watched her parents disappear between the trees.

"I'll stay here," she whispered.

But she had barely turned around when she heard screaming.

"Fire! Fire! Someone help us!"

Aria froze.

She rushed to the window. A thick cloud of black smoke was rising beyond the trees. The fire was coming from the neighboring village.

People were running in every direction. Children were crying.

"Fire! Someone help!"

Aria grabbed a cloth and covered her mouth and nose. Her hands were shaking.

"Mum and Dad told me never to leave," she whispered.

Another scream echoed through the forest.

"Please! Somebody help!"

Aria closed her eyes. Thomas had taught her that kindness was never a weakness. But he had also taught her to stay hidden. To stay safe.

"I'll only help them," she said, as though trying to convince herself.

She looked toward the cottage. For a moment, she thought about staying. About locking the door and pretending she hadn't heard anything.

Then another child's scream cut through the air.

"I'll be back before they return," she whispered.

She locked the door behind her and ran toward the village.

With every step, the smoke grew thicker. The smell of burning wood filled her lungs.

She had no idea what awaited her beyond the trees.

She only knew that someone needed help.

And as she disappeared into the smoke, she had no way of knowing that this single act of kindness would cost her everything