Lahat ng Kabanata ng Fake Vow, True Luna: Kabanata 291 - Kabanata 300

The plush pillow felt cool against my cheek as I stirred from my fitful slumber. Sunlight seeped through the sheer curtains covering the windows, illuminating the tiny dust particles dancing in the air. My body ached from the awkward position, my hair a tangled mess from hours of restless tossing and turning.Somehow, I had managed to fall asleep last night, but just barely. I hardly felt as though I slept at all without Nathan by my side, and I knew that I would be paying for it later.“Nathan?” I croaked out, my voice barely above a whisper. I hoped beyond hope that he had decided to return home at some point during the night, but I knew that that wasn’t true. I would have heard him come home in my half-asleep, half-delirious state.The empty echo of the room provided a bleak answer, but the soft cries of the babies from the adjacent room added to the urgency of my life. It was a cruel irony that they were oblivious to the turmoil our family was in.But I preferred it that way, and

The sting of Olivia’s words echoed in my ears as I stormed away, every step heavy with the weight of her accusation.“She isn’t even your real daughter, Nathan.” Those words had cut deeper than any wound I’d ever felt.We had agreed, hadn’t we? From the moment those twins had been born, they were ours, regardless of blood. I had put my heart and soul into caring for them as if they were my own flesh and blood. And now Olivia had cast doubt on that bond.The town’s dilapidated streets and ruined buildings became a blur as my thoughts spiraled.Did Olivia's transformation into the Ancient Wolf alter her perception of our family? Or was it the weight of exhaustion and stress taking its toll on her? I wanted answers, but the exhaustion gnawing at the edges of my own mind told me that now wasn’t the time. I needed to breathe, to think, to work.As I approached the Council building, my mind shifted to more immediate matters: rebuilding the town and fortifying our defenses. The loss of the

“Oh, really?” I asked, my mouth spitting fire at Nathan. “But you’re ready to invite your ex back to town?”There were several long moments of silence that hung heavily between us. The air was so thick and palpable you could cut it with a knife, and for a moment, I half expected Nathan to turn on his heel and storm off.“Olivia…” he began, his voice low. I could tell he was trying to keep the edge out of it.I tilted my chin up, tossing a lock of blonde hair over my shoulder in defiance. “Go on. Tell me it isn’t true. Enlighten me.”His jaw was set, a sign that he was trying to keep his emotions in check. “You act like I invited Layla back to the pack just for the heck of it,” he said quietly. “And it’s not true. You should know my intentions.”I raised an eyebrow, silently urging him to continue.“Look, she’s helping with the rebuilding of the library,” he explained with a soft sigh. “Her pack has copies of some invaluable documents they’re willing to donate. And I need her expertise

“You are Aurora’s dad,” I whispered.Nathan watched me for a moment before speaking. “I’m not so sure anymore.”There was a silence between us, one heavy with regret. “I’m sorry,” I murmured. “And for the record, if Layla’s kid did somehow turn out to be yours, and if you wanted to be a part of his life, I’d support you. I meant what I said about being your Luna, standing by you.”Nathan’s face contorted, a mixture of surprise and skepticism. “Really? After everything?”“Yes,” I whispered, taking a deep breath. “Nathan, I am so, so sorry for what I said earlier. I shouldn’t have doubted your role in our twins’ lives. It was a horrible thing to say. You are their father, in every way that matters.”He took a step closer, eyes searching mine. “Do you have any idea how much that hurt? When you threw those words at me? It felt like a punch to the gut, especially knowing how much I love Aurora and Elliot.”I looked down, my guilt burning like acid. “I know, Nathan. I shouldn’t have said it

The room seemed to spin as Layla’s confession hung in the air between us. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even think straight. My eyes widened as I stared at her, desperately searching for some sign that this was a bad joke, a dream—anything but reality.But it was the truth. I could see it in Layla’s eyes.“He’s really Nathan’s?” I stuttered, grappling with the enormity of her revelation.Layla nodded, her eyes rimmed with red from crying. “I didn’t find out until recently. I thought he was Cade’s,” she said, referring to her bodyguard-turned-fiancé.“How did this happen, Layla? Nathan and I—”She cut me off with a wave of her hand, her face flushed with the stress of her confession. “I understand how complicated this sounds, but let me explain,” she said. “If you’ll hear me out, that is.”I paused for a moment, unsure if I wanted the truth. But finally, I decided that it was better this way. Perhaps Layla did have a good explanation, something that would prove that Nathan hadn’t someho