The Dark Side Of Fate

Telling Justin ~Liam~ The hospital wait proved challenging as time seemed to drag while we remained motionless.

Josephine and I took short strolls occasionally to stretch our legs.

I permitted her to rest on the couch while I remained standing.

Despite the unspoken nature of the situation, I anticipated that questions would arise soon.

Seated on my lap, Josephine inquired, “Are we still planning to visit the food truck?” Justin observed us, prompting his interruption, “What food truck?” “It’s a little place we checked out yesterday before all of this happened,” Josephine replied, intentionally vague about the location.

“I understand.

However, you two shouldn’t go anywhere without a couple more people at least,” he remarked, his tone resembling that of a protective figure.

I almost let out a chuckle at his statement.

“Point taken, Alpha,” I replied, and he wasn’t still smiling.

Whatever he was seeing bothered him a lot, and I knew I was the bad guy in the eyes of those who did not know what was going on.

“Join me in the cafeteria, Li.

I have something to discuss with you,” Justin stated, rising from his seat.

It was clear that the conversation intended for the pack house, either in his room or office, would now transpire in the hospital cafeteria.

The restlessness and tension in Justin’s gaze were evident, and I dreaded the confrontation.

Josephine appeared to share my unease, her expression reflecting worry.

Likewise, Charlotte seemed puzzled and disapproving.

It was apparent that all of them were protective of Josephine.

But what puzzled me was the underlying assumption that I could ever purposefully cause harm to Josephine or anyone else.

I had never dated anyone before.

This was my first relationship.

I might have crushed on Sophia and believed I was in love by the time of graduation, but I never made a move on her.

Seeing my impulses a few weeks ago, I realised I might have made that move because I liked having my life in order.

I wanted the relationship part taken care of, so I could forge ahead.

Usually, when most people turn eighteen, their parents are on the lookout for their mates, if any, because it is a rare occurrence, and a lot is damaged for those who find their mates later in life after being mated.

Finding Josephine was all I needed for me to know that I was about to tow the wrong path with Sophia.

Truly, regardless of the nature of my relationship with Sophia, I am committed to investing the same level of effort in locating her.

She’s my friend, and her well-being matters to me.

However, my emotions have become distinctly clearer, and my heart beats exclusively for Josephine.

Moreover, my motivations aren’t driven by our bond.

Spending time with Josephine allowed me to realise how mistaken I was about her true personality.

She turned out to be an exceptional person.

In all honesty, even with the eyeliner, she retained her unique charm.

Josephine shifted from my lap, prompting me to rise, prepared to accompany Justin to the cafeteria.

Similar to Uncle David, Justine possessed a stern side, and I understood that this time, I would be on the receiving end of it.

As we exited, the remainder of the team seated outside regarded us with surprise.

“Facing some trouble?” Noah reached out through our link, and I found myself at a loss for words.

“What’s going on between you and Justin?” Oliver’s message popped up in our mental connection.

“Josephine,” I responded, and a hush fell over our conversation.

Considering the current trajectory, it seemed the entire team would uncover the truth before Josephine did.

inevitable since I couldn’t address the situation

to confide

want to tell Josephine anything; I wanted her to find

rob her of

team knows, and she is the only one that does not know, I believe it would be

I prayed

and I proceeded

offering

were aware of

me that, despite being the Beta, I

was an

history within Grizlo was extensive, and the

of the events that had compelled our return to this place

cafeteria, Justin and I,

wasn’t exactly my preference, but I was prepared to

meagre offering of sandwiches and water hardly constituted a satisfying

for a table tucked into a corner, we settled

the reason I asked to speak with you,” Justin inquired calmly, and I feigned

Sophia, I

left me puzzled as to why others weren’t receiving similar inquiries about

was evident, and he was almost

Marvin were frequently seen with

connection as well? “What is with you and Jo?” he asked, and I did not know how

like

his siblings are like family,

through fire and blood; why would you want to act irresponsibly? I understand you are hurting and miss Sophia so

do you think is going on in her head? The both of you went from not being able to stand each other and

it? It is wrong to use

revert seamlessly? How do you think that will impact Josephine? She holds affection for you; it’s evident in her

showing her she matters, but we both know that Sophia is your

why we’re

end this now before it escalates and jeopardises our

we encounter conflicts, they will

and Stepanovs, especially

falsely accused Adrik of treason to eliminate

Lord Alexei, his siblings, Eric, and ten Stepanov families who resolved

us not create another problem because you were looking for a substitute,” he warned, and

that day—first from Josephine in the morning, then Noah at my grandparent’s home, and now

how this word had become

shook my head and directed my

can trust that Josephine’s well-being is genuinely important to

and my feelings for her are authentic,” I asserted,

sincere the last time we discussed

“Yes, Justin.

I responded, knowing that those words

circumstances have

words weren’t spoken in haste,

You meant them.

has been a constant presence,

and Oliver have

were with Sophia

Sophia is missing, you suddenly start spending time

pressed, causing me

care

I truly do.

it’s your prerogative not to believe

took me some time to

had the opportunity to express those sentiments, but I believe my emotions for her were born out of familiarity and the

felt like a

didn’t grasp

a concept of what they entailed, but I

misinterpreted my infatuation

person, and being

misled me into believing I had deeper feelings,” I

Sophia or asking her

I reached eighteen and still hadn’t found her, my plan was to

something changed during graduation week, and the notion of

things, to get that aspect of my

I intended to speak with her, to lay bare