Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 13: Telling the Truth

The questions wouldn't stop. That night, sleep was impossible. My mind was spinning with the list I'd been piecing together in my head, replaying every confusing detail: Why would Derek, only an eleven-year-old kid back then, interfere with Alpha Council business, causing us to lose our home? Why would he hate us so much, to go so far? And now, why was I being warned to keep my distance from him, to stay away from this whole tangled mess? My chest felt tight with frustration as one final question echoed: Who on earth was behind these messages?

Just then, my phone buzzed, startling me out of my thoughts. My heart pounded for a moment, but it wasn't a cryptic warning this time-only a text from Alya, asking if I wanted to join her for a training session. I exhaled, suddenly grateful for the distraction, and quickly replied that I'd meet her soon.

I grabbed my gear, trying to shake off the fog of endless questions. I needed a way to clear my mind, to keep myself grounded, and running drills with Alya was perfect. The fresh air of the training grounds was a welcome change from the thick tension in my house. Alya was already waiting when I arrived, her expression bright as always, and just seeing her brought a bit of calm.

"Ready to go?" she asked with a grin, giving me a quick, enthusiastic hug. I nodded, and soon, we were off, jogging in perfect rhythm through the trees. The night air was cool, the quiet punctuated only by our breath and the soft crunch of leaves beneath our feet.

After a few laps, Alya glanced over at me, raising an eyebrow. "You've got that look again," she said, her voice teasing but laced with concern. "Spill. What's up?"

I slowed, finally feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. Taking a deep breath, I began to share what had been eating at me for days now. "Alya... you know Derek, right?"

"Of course." She looked at me curiously. "Derek Garcia, the Alpha, my former classmate?"

"Yeah, him." I paused, not sure how to even start. "Well... there's more to it than that. Derek... he's my mate." The words came out quietly, as if saying them aloud made them even more real. Alya stopped mid-step, eyes wide.

"You're kidding," she breathed, clearly stunned.

I shook my head, feeling the bitter twist of the memory. "No, I'm not. And here's the thing-he rejected me. Made it perfectly clear that he wants nothing to do with me. And that's not even the worst part."

Alya's face softened, and she nudged me to keep going. I could see the worry in her eyes as I continued, voice cracking slightly. "It was him, Alya. Ten years ago, he was the one behind everything. He pushed the Alpha Council to seize our family home over some ridiculous 'debt.' And now... now I keep getting these strange messages, warning me not to dig into the past, telling me he's dangerous."

She took a deep breath, clearly trying to process everything. "Deniz, that's... a lot. I can't believe he'd go that far. And now these messages?" Her voice was gentle, but I could see the fire in her eyes. "So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know," I admitted, looking down. "Every time I think I'm done with all this, something else pulls me back. First, this Leo shows up at the café and claims he is the one who saved me from the attack. Then these messages start appearing out of nowhere." I shook my head, frustration seeping into my voice.

Alya's brow furrowed as she caught the last part. "Wait, what? What attack are you talking about?"

I bit my lip, realizing I hadn't told her anything about that night either. Her eyes were filled with concern, mixed with a hint of disappointment. I took a deep breath. "The night of the party, after I texted you that Aras called and I had to head home... that wasn't true."