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.

address the situation with Justin without disclosing the truth about

reluctant to confide in Josephine

anything; I wanted her to find out

want to rob her

the only one that does

prayed

I

us, offering respectful greetings, particularly directed at

recognition—people were aware of our identities, mine

me that, despite being the Beta,

it was

within Grizlo was extensive, and the community there held a

our return to this place cast

cafeteria, Justin and

preference, but I was prepared to

and water hardly constituted a

for a table tucked into a corner,

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

concerning Sophia, I hadn’t

why others weren’t receiving similar inquiries about their

evident, and he was almost always by her side when she

frequently seen with the Corrigan

Was I not allowed to form a connection as well? “What is with you and

like family,

and his siblings

act irresponsibly? I understand you are hurting

you went from not being able to stand each other and never speaking to each other to

you think we can’t see it? It is wrong to

think will happen when we find Sophia Li? Do you expect to revert seamlessly? How

convincing job of showing her she matters, but we both know that Sophia

why we’re

this now before it escalates and jeopardises our

me, if we encounter conflicts, they will extend to our

history well, including the Volkovs and Stepanovs, especially the actions of our

accused Adrik of treason to

Alexei, his siblings, Eric, and ten Stepanov families

create another problem because you were looking for

day—first from Josephine in the morning,

word had become linked to

and directed my gaze at my

I understand your concern, but you can trust that Josephine’s

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

last time we discussed Sophia?” he questioned, and

“Yes, Justin.

my fated if the situation ever arose,” I responded, knowing that those words had indeed escaped my lips and had crossed my

circumstances have

weren’t spoken in

You meant them.

a constant presence, and yet

Oliver have

with

Sophia is missing, you suddenly start spending

believe people won’t notice?” he pressed, causing me to shake my head

care for Josephine,

I truly do.

your prerogative not to believe

to untangle my

express those sentiments, but I believe my emotions for her

felt like a natural

that point, I didn’t grasp the intricacies of relationships or

I had a concept of what they entailed, but

misinterpreted my

an incredible person, and being around her was

me into believing I

time, I refrained from pursuing Sophia or asking her out because I held out

eighteen and still hadn’t found her, my plan was to wait until Sophia turned eighteen before

the notion of waiting didn’t

a desire to accelerate things, to get that aspect of my life settled

with her, to lay bare my feelings, but