Chapter 8

Timothee's voice cracked with pent-up frustration, "Don't lie to me, Barbara. I've seen it in the way you look at me, in every touch. We have a family, for God's sake. How can you say you don't feel anything?"

"I'm not lying," I managed, my voice steadier now, though my body still trembled. "I never meant for this to happen. It's complicated, Timmy. Please, you have to understand."

"Complicated? You mean you've been playing me all along?" His grip on my jaw tightened, and I winced. "I thought we had something real, Barbara. I thought you... I thought you loved me."

"I do love you, Timmy," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. "But it's not that simple. I just... I don't know how to do this."

"D*mn it, Barbara, look at me!" Timothee's voice thundered through the room. "You can't keep avoiding the truth. We have kids. Twins, for God's sake. What about them?"

The room fell silent, the only sound my shallow breaths and the distant echo of our confrontation. I finally met his gaze, and in that moment, I saw the hurt and betrayal mirrored in his eyes.

Painful seconds stretched into what felt like eternity. The shadows danced on Timothee's face, revealing a vulnerability I had never allowed myself to see. And in that silence, I understood the depth of what lay before us—a tangle of love and fear, desire and denial.

I nodded, a single tear tracing its path down my cheek, breaking the facade I'd held up for too long. "I do feel something, Timothee. I always have. It's just... I'm scared."

"Scared of what?" he demanded, his voice now a husk of the explosive anger from before.

"Scared of this," I said, motioning between us. "Scared of what it means to admit that you mean more to me than anyone should. Scared that if I allow myself to love you, I'll somehow lose myself. And scared... scared of what happens if you don't love me back."

His hand, still holding my jaw, softened, and he pulled me into a desperate, searching kiss. It caught me off-guard, but I sank into it, letting the walls around my heart crumble.

When he pulled back, our foreheads rested against each other.

"I do love you," he said, voice raw. "And I understand your fear, but you won't lose yourself, not with me. And our boys—what about them? Don't they deserve to see their parents in love, to know what it means to fight for it?"

I nodded silently, knowing he spoke a truth I had tiptoed around for too long.

It was on that uneasy truce our confrontation settled, filled with unspoken promises and fragile hope. We stood at the precipice, together yet apart.

"Can we try?" I asked, my voice a mere echo in the turmoil of emotions churning within me.

"We already are," Timothee replied, a note of cautious optimism threading through his voice.

In the end, the intensity of the confrontation wove us tighter, beckoning the possibility of a love tested, yet enduring.

After that, I didn't realize anything, waking up on a bed that seemed unfamiliar. I didn't see anyone there, but I noticed a cup on the bedside table and a piece of old brown paper with neatly written, slightly slanted words. 'Stay here, Barby. I'll return to your home to check the surroundings. Don't forget breakfast. Sawyer and Asher are already enrolled in a nearby werewolf human club, so no need to worry about them skipping school.'

I furrowed my brow. Should they be enrolled there? Shouldn't they also have Hybrid blood? Oh sh*t!

I startled, then tried to recall my dad's words before I caught Alpha Taylor cheating with Ennik.

Dad once said that mom lived in a forest not far from my old pack. But I've never met my mother since childhood. How could I find her and ask for an explanation for all of this? Is she also being targeted by the Rogues? Is mom also hiding from the Rogues?

"Luna? Are you awake?" a knock made me flinch.

"Yes, who's there?" I stood up and immediately adjusted my clothes before opening the chamber door.

As I opened the door a sweet young man with neat teeth smiled at me. "Luna, I'm Dave. Lycan ordered me to bring you breakfast when you wake up and--"

"--to ensure that you're comfortable with everything here." His warm smile was comforting, yet my mind was racing with questions about my mother and my current situation.

Trying to keep my composure, I nodded, "Thank you, Dave. I appreciate it."

Dave entered, carrying a tray filled with a variety of foods that smelled divine. He placed it on the table, and his eyes met mine, filled with a kind of empathy. "Luna, if you need anything or have any questions, feel free to ask. We're here to help."

I sighed, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Dave, do you know anything about my mother? Was she really from the forest near my old pack?"

He hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "I might not have all the answers you seek, Luna. But I do know that your mother was very much loved and respected. I believe Lycan might be able to tell you more."

Nodding, my heart felt a mix of hope and fear.

Instantly I felt like a fool for asking something like this to Dave, who I had just met.

"Luna, if you need other food or need anything just say so. I'll be happy to help you." Dave cleared his throat.

I smiled and nodded. "I don't need anything else. If I need it, I'll go prepare it myself."

Dave gaped. "No, Luna. Lycan ordered me to serve you as Luna here. You're my Luna."

"But I'm not official yet--"

"Whatever it is, Luna. You are someone who can provide an heir to the throne for the Silver Armor Forest." Dave interrupting.

I bit my lower lip because I was embarrassed and ashamed. "Well... Ugh... When is Timmy coming back home?"

"Maybe in the afternoon, Luna."

Dave's expression softened, understanding my discomfort. "Luna, why don't we take a short walk around the perimeter? The Silver Armor Forest is safer in the daylight, and you might find the scenery calming." Deciding that getting some fresh air might indeed help, I agreed.

"Wait, Silver Armor Forest? What do you mean?" I startled.

"Luna, actually this is not in New York. This is Silver Armor Forest, Lycan brought you here last night because you and the young masters are safer."

I hurriedly went to look at the window, a little startled because this apparition was so foreign to me.

Outside, the forest was alive with the sound of birds and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

"Luna, you better have breakfast first. After that I will take you for a walk around here." Dave voiced.

Nodding slowly, the reality of my new surroundings began to sink in. This wasn't just a dream; it was a whole new world, a different reality from what I had known.

"Okay, breakfast first," I agreed, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that settled in my stomach. Dave led me to the mini table area, where a variety of foods was laid out on the table. It looked delicious, yet foreign.

Every bite felt like a bridge being formed between me and this new world — the Silver Armor Forest. After finishing the meal that was both comforting and strange, I followed Dave outside. The sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, painting patterns on the forest floor. With each step, the natural beauty of the Silver Armor Forest began to reveal itself, turning my apprehension into wonder.

Dave pointed out various landmarks and shared snippets of their histories. It was during these tales I began to sense the depth of the legacy I was stepping intointimidating, yet thrilling.

Abruptly, Dave tensed, his jovial demeanor replaced by alertness.

"Do you hear that Luna?" he whispered.

I listened. A faint, melodic humming filled the air, unlike anything I had heard before.

"What is it?" I breathed, caught between awe and fear.

Dave's face was grave. "It's the Call of the Hidden," he said. "It's not supposed to be heard by human—or Lycan—ears. It means..."

He paused, his gaze scanning the forest with a sense of urgency. "Luna, we must return to the sanctuary immediately. This changes everything."

Before I could ask what he meant, a shadow flickered at the edge of my vision, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. What awaited us in the heart of the Silver Armor Forest?