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.

was inevitable since I couldn’t address the situation with Justin

reluctant to

I wanted

did not want to rob her of the feeling of

this team knows, and she is the only one that does not know, I believe

I prayed for wisdom to

and I

toward us, offering respectful

were aware of our identities, mine in

with me that, despite being the

was

Grizlo was extensive, and the community there

contemplation of the events that had compelled our return to this place cast a sombre shadow

Justin and

but I was prepared to

offering of sandwiches and water hardly constituted

for a table tucked into a corner,

I asked to speak with you,” Justin inquired

beyond the matter concerning Sophia,

others weren’t receiving similar

Elaine was evident, and he was almost always

and Marvin were frequently seen

situation treated differently? Was I not allowed to form a connection as well? “What is

is like

and his siblings

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

going on in her head? The both of you went from

It is wrong to

to revert seamlessly? How do you think that will impact Josephine? She holds affection

showing her she matters, but we both know that

why we’re all in

that you end this now before it escalates and jeopardises our

encounter conflicts, they will extend to our

trust you’ve studied history well, including the Volkovs and Stepanovs, especially the actions of our great-great-

Adrik of treason to eliminate

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

looking for a substitute,” he warned, and that word ‘substitute’ echoed once

day—first from Josephine in the

pondered how this word had become linked to my relationship

head and directed my gaze at

but you can trust that Josephine’s

my feelings for her are authentic,” I asserted, and he let out a

they were sincere the last time we discussed Sophia?” he questioned, and I averted

“Yes, Justin.

would reject my fated if the situation ever arose,” I responded, knowing

have since

weren’t spoken in haste,

You meant them.

presence, and yet you never pursued

Miles, and Oliver have been upfront about

with

missing, you suddenly start

won’t notice?” he pressed, causing me to

genuinely care for

I truly do.

you have doubts, and it’s your prerogative not to believe me,

time to untangle

the opportunity to express those sentiments, but I believe my emotions for her were

felt like a

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

a concept of what they entailed, but

misinterpreted my infatuation as

and being

misled me into believing I had deeper feelings,”

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

plan was to wait until Sophia

week, and the notion of waiting didn’t

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

speak with her, to lay bare my