Chapter 44 – Nothing but the Truth Part 1

Billy jolted awake, a knock at the door pulling him from sleep. Rose was already up, answering with a quick, "Yes?"

"Dinner's ready," came Bastian's voice from the other side.

"Alright, we'll be down soon," she replied, then turned back to Billy. Relief flooded her as she took in the sight of him, safe and sleeping beside her. Throughout the day, she couldn't sleep and kept moving around in bed, troubled by Anastasia's talks about attacks. She had been consumed by fear, but now, as she gazed upon him, she couldn't stop herself from looking, silently expressing gratitude to any deities who might be listening for his return to her.

When she locked eyes with Billy, she couldn't restrain herself. She flung herself into his embrace, crying into his chest.

"Hey, hey, babe, what's the matter?" he whispered, massaging her back in an effort to calm her. He softly drew her backwards, holding her face in his palms.

"I was so worried about you, Billy," Rose choked out. "I barely slept. Anastasia mentioned an attack while talking to Warren, and all I could think was, what if you didn't make it back? I don't know what I'd do if I lost you…"

"Shhh, baby," Billy whispered, pulling her close again. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Rose pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his. "What happened, Bill?"

He hesitated, glancing away. The truth was a ticking time bomb, and he knew it would come out eventually. Better sooner than later, but still, he dreaded the moment. If she rejected him after hearing it, his world would shatter into pieces too jagged to ever put back together.

"Bill?" Rose's voice trembled, her anxiety rising.

"Everything will be explained tonight," he began, his voice thick with tension. "But no matter what you hear, Rose, know this—I have loved you, I do love you, with every fibre of my soul. That will never change. You are my everything—there is no one else."

His tone was so serious, so grave, that it sent a chill down Rose's spine. Her hands shook slightly. "You're scaring me, Billy…"

"I don't mean to, love," he sighed. "I just need you to understand that everything we've had, these last four years, it's been real. I see a future for us." He lifted her chin and kissed her softly, a kiss that lingered like it might be the last, leaving a cold dread coiling in her stomach.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, pulling away. She nodded, perhaps a little too eagerly.

He chuckled, standing up from the bed. "Let's go eat."

But as they headed downstairs, Rose's mind was spinning. She was hungry, yes—but not just for food. She needed to know what was going to be revealed tonight, what was so big it made Billy fear losing her. Whatever it was, she was sure nothing could tear them apart… But could it?

The house was abuzz as everyone gathered around the table for dinner, except for the guards and rangers, who, duty-bound, politely declined. Anastasia, ever the gracious host, insisted they take plates to their quarters. The rest of the group, having barely eaten all day, eagerly dug in.

Wyatt sat at the head of the table, with Matt, Sean, and Anastasia to his right, while Rose, Billy, and Bastian were on his left. Across the table, Bastian and Anastasia stole glances at each other, a silent conversation only they could understand.

Dinner started in uneasy silence, forks clinking against plates, but Anastasia's curiosity gnawed at her more than hunger. She'd waited too long for answers. When Wyatt noticed her barely touched plate, he finally broke the tension.

"Not hungry, Ana?" he asked, drawing everyone's attention.

"I am, Dad, but…" Anastasia hesitated, her voice small, unsure if she should continue.

"But?" Wyatt prompted while raising an eyebrow.

"I've been waiting to find out what's going on. I can't focus on food," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Wyatt sighed, his gaze shifting to Billy and Bastian. "Where should I begin?" His question was mostly directed at Billy, knowing he hadn't told Rose about his true identity yet. If Wyatt revealed everything, Billy's secret would come out.

Billy took a deep breath, nodding. "From the beginning."

Everyone except Bastian exchanged puzzled glances, but remained silent, eager for answers. Wyatt launched into the story, detailing the origins of demon hunters and angel guardians, their purpose, and how they came to be—everything Billy had already explained to Matt and Sean, who were still grappling with the idea that their family descended from a long line of Demon Hunters. The confirmation from Wyatt was like a sledgehammer of reality, hitting them just as hard as when Billy first told them.

Rose started to giggle, nervously. "This has to be a joke, right?" she looked around, hoping for a sign that this was all some elaborate prank. But everyone's expressions were as stone-cold as the truth they were hearing.

"Rose," Wyatt said gently, "I know it's hard to believe, but the things you see in movies—they come from somewhere. They're based on truths, even if those truths are twisted into fiction. I wouldn't have involved you in this if I didn't have to, but it turns out, you're already involved."

"What? How am I involved?" Rose's voice rose, frustration sharpening each word.

"Maybe you should ask who our Angel Guardian family is," Matt suggested.

Rose scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Who is your Angel Guardian family?"

Anastasia, her eyes narrowed in thought, looked across the table. "Warren, it's you, isn't it?"

Bastian shook his head, not wanting to be the one to spill the beans. "I'm not your family's guardian, Ana, but I am yours—at least temporarily, while you all train and learn your powers."

Both Anastasia and Rose stared at him, one in confusion, and the other in growing irritation. Rose's patience was wearing thin. "Oh, so Warren's an angel, huh? And what about your family's guardian? Who is it?"

Wyatt exchanged a meaningful look with Billy. It was time.

Billy looked down, took another deep breath, and finally said, "It's my family." He turned to Rose, bracing himself.

Rose's disbelief was almost palpable. "Your family? You're saying you're an angel? Right, of course, you are," she chuckled, but the silence that followed was deafening. When she noticed Anastasia's stunned expression, her laughter died in her throat. "Billy, what is going on? Why is everyone messing with me?"

"No one's messing with you, Rose," Billy said, his voice steady but serious, a tone she wasn't used to from him, especially not when talking about something so outlandish.

"Okay, so if you and Warren are angels," Rose challenged, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "show us your wings."

Billy and Bastian shared a look. It was do or die time—literally, if Rose rejected this truth, Billy would have to do the unthinkable: erase himself from her memory, the cruellest fate for any angel whose mate turns away.

They both stood, stepped back from the table, and with a slight glow of golden light, their wings unfurled, shimmering in the dim light of the dining room.

Rose's smirk vanished instantly. She shot up from her chair, her face pale. "This… this is not possible!" she cried, the world she knew crumbling around her.