Chapter 2: The Secret She Brought With Her
Elena followed the guards into Blackwood Manor.
Every step felt like walking deeper into a nightmare.
The manor looked exactly as she remembered.
The black marble floors.
The enormous staircase.
The silver chandelier hanging above the entrance.
Even the faint scent of cedarwood that had once made her feel safe.
But tonight, none of it felt like home.
Because Adrian was here.
And he hated her.
“Sit.”
His voice came from behind her.
Elena turned.
Adrian stood near the fireplace, his injured hand resting against his side.
Blood was still dripping from his fingers.
“You should see a doctor,” Elena said.
“I said I’m fine.”
“You’ve always been terrible at taking care of yourself.”
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Silence filled the room.
Adrian slowly raised his eyes.
“You seem to remember quite a lot about me.”
Elena looked away.
“I remember things.”
“Apparently.”
He walked toward her.
Elena instinctively stepped backward.
Adrian noticed.
His expression hardened.
“Afraid of me?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
He stopped inches away from her.
Five years.
She had imagined this moment countless times.
In some versions, she apologized.
In others, she told him the truth.
But she had never imagined being this close to him again.
His voice became quieter.
“Why did you come here?”
Elena swallowed.
“I told you. Someone is trying to kill me.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t expect anything from you.”
“Then leave.”
Elena’s heart sank.
She looked toward the door.
Then down at her hands.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered,
“Because they found my daughter.”
Adrian froze.
The room seemed to lose all sound.
His eyes slowly returned to her face.
“What did you say?”
Elena’s blood ran cold.
She hadn’t meant to tell him.
Not yet.
But it was too late.
Adrian stepped closer.
“You have a daughter?”
Elena nodded.
“How old?”
“Four.”
His expression changed.
Four.
His mind immediately began calculating.
Five years ago…
Elena had disappeared.
Four years ago…
A child could have been born.
Adrian’s eyes darkened.
“Who is the father?”
Elena couldn’t answer.
He stared at her.
“Elena.”
She closed her eyes.
“I came here because I need protection.”
“Protection for yourself?”
“For my daughter.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“I won’t tell you.”
His anger exploded.
“You walk into my territory after five years, tell me someone is hunting you, then casually tell me you have a child and refuse to tell me where she is?”
Elena looked at him.
“I came because you’re the only Alpha powerful enough to protect us.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“Don’t flatter me.”
“I’m not.”
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Adrian spoke quietly.
“Bring the child here.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“No.”
“That wasn’t a request.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
“I can’t.”
Adrian’s gaze hardened.
“Then we’re done.”
He turned away.
Elena’s heart raced.
“Adrian.”
He stopped.
She whispered,
“She’s yours.”
The room went completely silent.
Adrian slowly turned around.
His face had lost every trace of emotion.
“What?”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“She’s your daughter.”
Adrian stared at her.
Five years of hatred.
Five years of revenge.
Five years of believing Elena had betrayed him.
And suddenly…
There was a child.
His child.
The woman he had sworn to destroy had been carrying his daughter all along.
Adrian’s voice was barely audible.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Elena looked down.
“Because I was trying to keep her alive.”
“From whom?”
Elena raised her eyes.
“The same people who are trying to kill us now.”
Before Adrian could respond, his phone rang.
He answered.
“Speak.”
A guard’s voice came through.
“Alpha, we have a problem.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“What happened?”
“We found a vehicle near the eastern border.”
“And?”
“There was a woman inside.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
The guard hesitated.
“Someone who was supposed to be dead.”
Adrian’s face became dangerously cold.
“Send me the photograph.”
His phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
And froze.
Because the woman in the photograph was Elena’s mother.
A woman who had supposedly died twelve years ago.
—
