Chapter 40: The Familiar Look

Words : 1686 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 40: The Familiar Look Natalie~ Zane’s voice was sharp, controlled, but beneath it was a tension that made my stomach tighten. "Abel, take Alexander to his room. I need to talk to Natalie alone." My heart plummeted. Zane never took his eyes off me, and the disappointment in his gaze was a dagger to my chest. What had Abel told him? What had changed in that single moment? Abel stepped forward, his hands reaching to pick up Alexander, but the little boy instantly tensed. "No!" Alexander shrieked, left his legos and ran into my arms clinging to me like his life depended on it. His small fingers dug into my arms as he buried his face in my neck. "No! Don’t touch me!" Abel hesitated, his face grim. Zane exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples as if exhausted. This wasn’t new. Alexander had always struggled with being touched by others. Zane thought returning Alexander to school would help, but the last teacher’s report painted a different picture—Alexander sat alone, never speaking, never playing. The only time he showed any joy was when I picked him up. Now, he was trembling against me, his little hands grasping onto my shirt as if afraid I would vanish. I stroked his soft curls, whispering, "It’s okay, baby. I’m not leaving you." Then, I looked at Abel. "I’ll take him to his room myself. I’ll tuck him in, then," I turned to look at Zane, "I’ll come to your office so we can talk." Zane’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. He gave me a single, sharp nod before getting up from the couch, turning on his heel and striding out of the living room. Abel followed, but not before glancing back at me, his expression curious. I sat still for a moment, holding Alexander close. My heart pounded against my ribs. What had I done? What had Abel told Zane that made his entire demeanor shift in an instant? I forced myself to push the thoughts aside and focused on Alexander. He needed me. "Come on, baby. Let’s get you to bed." Alexander sniffled but nodded, still wrapped around me like a koala. I carried him upstairs, his tiny fingers tangled in my sweater. When we reached his room, I laid him gently on the bed, tucking the warm blankets around him. "I don’t want you to go," he murmured, his brown eyes peering up at me. My heart clenched. "I’ll be back," I promised, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I’ll always come back to you." I sang softly, a lullaby I barely remembered from my childhood. His little body relaxed, his breathing evened, and soon, he was asleep. I tiptoed out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind me. And then I turned toward Zane’s office. Every step felt heavier. The anxiety gnawed at me, twisting my stomach into knots. Zane had never looked at me that way before—not with warmth, not with amusement. But with disappointment. I hesitated in front of his office door, my fist raised to knock. What if he tells me to leave? What if he’s done with me? What would I do then? I took a deep breath, bracing myself, and knocked. "Enter." I pushed the door open. Abel was there, seated across from Zane, speaking in a low voice. The moment I stepped in, Zane lifted a hand, cutting Abel off. "We’ll talk later," he said. Abel glanced at me, his expression unreadable, then rose to his feet. "Good luck," he murmured as he passed me, then left the office. Now, it was just me and Zane. "Sit." His voice was cold. Distant. I did as he asked, slowly lowering myself into the chair across from him. "What’s going on?" I asked, my voice a whisper so small that I couldn’t tell if he heard me. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Zane leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily. Then, his blue eyes locked onto mine. "Who are Evan and Isla Cross to you?" The world stopped. My heart slammed into my ribs, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. How did he—? My mouth opened, but no words came out. My entire body had gone numb. "How do you know those names?" I whispered. "That’s not my question, Natalie," Zane said, his voice sharper now. "Who were they to you?" The air in the room felt like it was choking me. "They were... they were my parents," I finally said, my voice cracking. Zane shot up from his chair so fast that it scraped against the floor. His entire body was rigid, his expression thunderous. "Are you telling me that the traitor Evan Cross was your father?" I was on my feet before I realized it, my hands clenched into fists. "My father wasn’t a traitor! Alpha Darius made him one!" I yelled. Zane’s blue eyes suddenly turned golden and they blazed with fury. "Then why didn’t you tell me?" His voice was rough, edged with betrayal. "You’ve lived in my house for months, and you never thought to mention this? Not once?" Tears burned at my eyes. My breath hitched. Because I was afraid. Because I knew this would happen. Because I had spent my entire life being looked at like this—like I was a stain, like I was unwanted. "I—" My voice broke, my vision blurry with tears. "I was scared, Sir. I didn’t know how to tell you." Zane let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. "You didn’t know how to tell me? After everything? After all the times I—" He stopped himself, his expression twisting with something unreadable. Then, suddenly, his eyes widened. His lips parted, as if realizing something. "If Beta Evan Cross was your father, and Omega Isla Cross was your mother..." His voice was eerily quiet now. "That means you’re a werewolf." I swallowed hard. His stare darkened. "Why in the hell don’t you smell like one?" His voice was sharp again. "Did you mask your scent? What did you use to mask it that even I couldn’t dictate? Why did you lie to me that you were human?" The questions came fast, too fast, and panic clawed at my chest. "I didn’t lie to you," I whispered. "You assumed I was human." Zane scoffed. "That’s still lying, Natalie! You let me believe it. Why? What were you trying to hide? Was it the fact that your father was branded a traitor or was it something else?" I dropped my gaze, unable to look at him. Zane’s patience snapped. "Answer me!" His voice was almost a growl. "How did you manage to hide your wolf scent from me?" I bit my lip, then, in a whispered voice, I said, "I didn’t mask my scent... If I could mask scents, I would have masked Alpha Darius’s scent on me a long time ago." Silence. Zane’s entire body went rigid. His expression quickly changed as realization dawned on his face. "You don’t have a wolf, do you?" It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. A revelation. Zane slowly sat back down, his face a mix of so many emotions that I couldn’t pick one. "You have no idea what your secrets have just done to me, Natalie," he muttered. "If I had known earlier... I would have done so many things differently." I didn’t understand what he meant by that. But, I understood the one look that took root on his face. I wasn’t welcome here anymore. My chest felt hollow as I turned and ran with tears blurring my vision. He didn’t call after me. I nearly collided with Nora at the door. Her wide eyes told me she’d overheard everything, but I didn’t let her say anything. I sprinted to my room, grabbing only a jacket and the warmest shoes I can find. No bags. No clothes. None of those things belonged to me. I didn’t want to be thrown out. I refused to face that humiliation again. Before I left, there was one last thing I had to do. With my heart pounding in my chest, I turned away from my bedroom door and made my way to Alexander’s room. The hallways were quiet, the mansion asleep, unaware of the choice I was making. My hands trembled as I pushed open his door, slipping inside like a ghost. Alexander lay curled up under his blankets, his beautiful lashes resting against his cheeks, his soft breaths the only sound in the room. My throat tightened as I walked closer, my footsteps light against the wooden floor. He looked so peaceful, so innocent. My chest ached at the thought of leaving him behind. I knelt beside his bed, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. Leaning down, I pressed a gentle kiss to his temple, my lips lingering for just a moment. "I’m sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I’m so sorry for leaving like this." My fingers curled into the blanket as I swallowed down the sob threatening to escape. "I promised I’d stay with you," I murmured. "I promised... and now I’m breaking that promise. I hope you can forgive me one day." He stirred slightly but didn’t wake. A part of me wished he would—wished he’d grab my hand and beg me to stay. Maybe then I would. Maybe then I’d find a reason not to run. But he didn’t. I exhaled shakily, forcing myself to stand. My fingers trailed over the edge of his blanket one last time. "I’ll miss you," I whispered, my voice breaking. Then, before I could change my mind, I slipped out of the room. And I ran. I took the route Alexander had once shown me, through the wine cellar. I stepped into the cold night, my breath fogging the air. The city lights glowed in the distance. As I walked toward them, one painful truth settled deep in my bones. I could never trust anyone. And no one would ever accept me for what I really was.

Chapter 40: The Familiar Look

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