CHAPTER EIGHT: THE LIE

Elena POV

"Do you have a child, Elena?"

The question hung in the air between us like a blade about to fall, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, feel it in my throat, taste it on my tongue.

He was staring at me with those dark eyes, waiting, watching every breath I took.

I should tell him the truth, I knew I should, the words were right there on my tongue, yes, I have a daughter, yes, she's yours, yes, I've been raising her alone for five years.

But then I remembered that night, the altar, the white dress I'd worn, the way he'd looked at me with such hatred.

Your father murdered my family; your bloodline is poison.

The words he'd said in front of everyone, the way the pack had watched me bleed and done nothing, the way he'd walked away without looking back.

That man didn't deserve to know about Maya, didn't deserve to touch her, be near her, breathe the same air as her.

"Why would you think that?"

My voice came out steady, carefully controlled, like I was asking about the weather instead of lying about the most important thing in my life.

Cassian's jaw clenched, and I saw the muscle jump under his skin.

"Answer the question,"

It wasn't a request, it was a command, the Alpha voice he used when he expected obedience.

But I wasn't part of his pack anymore, wasn't his mate, wasn't anything to him except a business arrangement.

I stood up, my legs were shaking, but I forced them to hold me, reached across the table and took the hospital bracelet from his hand.

The plastic was warm from where he'd been gripping it.

I tucked it into my pocket, felt the weight of it against my hip.

"My personal life is none of your business," I said, meeting his eyes, "the contract says so."

"Elena,"

"No," I cut him off, "you don't get to destroy me five years ago and then demand answers now,"

"I'm not trying to destroy you,"

"Aren't you?" I asked, "because that's what this feels like,"

He moved around the table toward me, and I stepped back.

"Don't,"

"I just need to know,"

"Why?" I demanded, "What difference does it make what I've been doing for five years?"

"Because I can't remember things," he said, running his hand through his hair, "whole nights just gone, and every time I wake up I find evidence of places I've been, and none of it makes sense unless,"

He stared at me like I was a puzzle.

"Unless what?"

"Unless you're hiding something,"

My throat felt tight, I wanted to scream at him, wanted to tell him everything just to see his face.

But I thought of Maya, my sweet girl with her dark hair and yellow eyes, safe with Sophie, away from the pack that called her bloodline poison before she was even born.

"I'm not hiding anything,"

"You're lying,"

"Believe what you want," I turned toward the door, "I signed your contract, I'll move in tomorrow, I'll play the devoted mate in public, but my private life stays private,"

I took three steps.

"I'll find out the truth, Elena,"

His voice was low, dangerous.

I stopped, my hand on the door handle, didn't turn around.

"With or without your help," he continued, "I'm going to find out what you're hiding,"

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a fact,"

We stared at each other across the room, two people who used to be everything, now just strangers bound by a contract.

"You really haven't changed," I said quietly, "still so sure you're right, still destroying things because you're too stubborn to see the truth."

"What truth?"

"That maybe the people you trust are the ones lying," I said, "not me,"

His eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ask your uncle about that night," I said, "ask him why the timeline doesn't match, why my father's body had defensive wounds, not offensive ones, why he was so quick to blame a dead man."

"My uncle raised me,"

"I know," I said, "and mine raised me, and my father raised me, and all of them are dead now except Marcus, isn't that convenient?"

Cassian looked like I'd slapped him.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" I pulled the door open, "think about who benefits from our families being destroyed, from you and me hating each other, who's been whispering in your ear since your parents died,"

"Stop,"

"I'm moving in tomorrow," I said, "for one year I'll be the perfect fake mate, but after that I'm gone, and you'll never see me again."

"Elena,"

"And whatever you think you're going to find," I continued, "just remember that some secrets are kept for protection, not deception,"

I walked out before he could respond.

The elevator doors closed, and I finally breathed.

My hands shook when I pulled out my phone, called Sophie.

"How did it go?"

"He knows," I said, "he doesn't know he knows, but he knows, someone gave him my hospital bracelet,"

"What did you tell him?"

"Nothing, I lied," I said, "but Sophie, he's going to keep digging, he's having blackouts, visiting Maya as his wolf without remembering, it's only a matter of time,"

"Then maybe tell him the truth,"

"No," I said firmly, "not until I know he won't try to take her from me,"

The elevator reached the ground floor.

"I'm heading back to the sanctuary now," I said, "hug Maya for me, tell her mommy will be home soon."

I hung up and walked into the afternoon sun.

Tomorrow I'd move into Cassian's mansion, tomorrow I'd pretend to be his mate, tomorrow everything would get complicated.

I got in my car and started the long drive back to the sanctuary.

Let him search, let him drive himself crazy trying to find answers.

By the time he figured it out, I'd be ready.

Or at least that's what I told myself as I drove toward the sanctuary, toward my daughter, toward the last night of peace before everything changed.