The One

The Revelation: Part 1

 Christian was done playing his mate's game of evasion. He bided his time, waiting for the opportune moment before seizing her. In an act both possessive and violent, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her tightly enough that she froze in shock. Without a moment's grace, he began to guide her toward his home office meeting room, every step filled with sinister intent.

With his arms constricting around her upper body, he covered her mouth with a palm damp with tension, muffling any cries for help that might erupt. He inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of his mate, which elicited a slight shudder from her, albeit quickly masked as she writhed in his grip.

"Please don't scream, baby girl," he whispered, his voice low and dark.

In a heartbeat, he thrust her into the meeting room, the gaze of his startled colleagues frozen like deer caught in the headlights. Ulfred's voice cut through the shock, disbelief dripping from his words, "Oh my goddess, Karol? Is that really you?"

Bardou, sitting rigid in his chair, shot up with an impassive expression, his eyes darting between Christian and Karol, disbelief mingling with recognition. She rolled her eyes, exasperation etched across her features as she sighed, her body radiating an aura of resignation.

"Move," she commanded flatly, trying to sidestep Christian's looming presence, only to find the way barred by a figure that resembled a ghoul, pale and haunted.

"No," his voice was cold and insistent.

"I said, move," she repeated, her irritation simmering just below the surface.

"No, please don't leave me. I beg you," Christian's desperate plea reverberated between them as he edged closer, her retreat leaving no room for escape.

She rolled her eyes yet again, a move so fluid it could've been mistaken for a dance, but as she prepared to bolt for the exit, the door burst open. William, Anna, Beo, and Accalia charged into the room, all eyes snapping to their chaotic entrance, oblivious to the tension radiating from Christian and Karol who were locked in a silent duel, each refusing to blink.

Accalia was the first to break the tension, her voice laced with warmth, "Oh my goddess, Karol, you've come back!" and enfolded her in an embrace.

Karol returned the embrace stiffly, her mind still ensnared by the turmoil that was Christian, and as Beo joined the fray, embracing her with a tenderness that felt almost foreign, they showered her with words of concern.

"We've been searching for you for years, Karol! Where on Earth have you been?" Beo exclaimed, a mixture of relief and disbelief flooding his tone.

She inhaled deeply, piecing together her response with a dash of politeness. "Was away, here and there, exploring the world."

"Why didn't you call? We were all worried, especially Christian," Beo pressed, the implications of his words causing Karol to scoff in disdain.

"No reason—just didn't want to disclose my journey, that's all. Can I go now? Someone is waiting for me," she stated with an air of finality.

Christian, his voice tinged with mockery, cut in with a sharp edge, "Someone? I bet that someone is your precious, whom you left everyone behind for."

"Yes, Christian, that someone is my precious—nothing can replace him. He's my world, my everything."

A dark storm brewed in Christian's eyes as he fired back, "I hope he won't betray you as much as you did me."

Karol's fists clenched at the audacity of his words, an inferno of rage igniting her gaze as she locked eyes with him. "No! He will NEVER betray me, unlike what you DID to me. What happened is unforgivable, even for someone as low as you. You absolute arsehole."

The air thickened, charged with Christian's escalating fury at her insolent tone. "You didn't listen! You ran away before I could explain!"

"Explain what, Christian? Apologise to me?! Tell me how you fucking raped me?!"

Gasps erupted like wildfire in the room, every head spinning to her, save for William and Anna who took their seats, desperately trying to contain their shock.

"You did WHAT?!" Accalia shrieked, spinning to face Karol, her movement halted as Karol grasped her hands, shaking her head imploringly at her friend, eyes wide in a mixture of anger and desperation.

Before she could utter another word, the piercing sound of a slap cracked through the charged atmosphere, as Beo struck his own son, fury ignited in his gaze. "You disgrace! How could you do this to her?!"

"I was drunk that night; it wasn't my intention to hurt her," Christian stammered, his voice a feeble murmur against the storm of outrage. "Someone set me up, but I swear I took care of her!"

"Then explain! You dragged us all here—everyone is here to listen," Beo demanded, his disappointment cutting like a knife.

"It was the full moon. You weren't supposed to be there, and I wasn't either. We went out to party, and my ex was there, trying to pull me back in. I told her no because you were my beautiful mate. I tried to find you, but I got drunk and then...that happened in the woods because I was jealous. I'm sorry, Karol, truly."

"Sorry? Jealousy? After all you've done, that's all you care about? You think saying sorry will make it all magically better?" She inhaled deeply, fury sparking in her tone. "You know because of your jealousy a poor kid almost got killed. Your stupidity led you to screw this up so badly—because you failed to listen to me, you ended up in that situation—because of your lust, you raped me, Christian! Do you understand that? I bled that night; I was shattered—both physically and emotionally—I feel rendered worthless—all because of you!"

She shouted, her voice ringing out with a tumult of emotion as she unleashed her pent-up feelings. The moment the words tumbled from her lips, she trembled slightly, a potent mix of anger and frustration coursing through her veins. Her eyes, smouldering like embers, were fixed on her mate, who stood frozen in place, a statue of regret caught in the web of her ire.

He felt utterly stupid, an angry tide crashing through him as he wrestled with his shame. Every fibre of his being screamed at him to unleash his fury on himself; he was painfully aware of the wrongs he had inflicted upon his mate.