Chapter 58: Impulsive Confession

Chapter 58: Impulsive Confession Natalie~ The moment my eyes locked onto the girl I had just crashed into, my breath hitched in my throat. She was adorable, almost like something out of a fairytale, with wild curly hair that framed her delicate face. Her big, doe-like eyes were a stunning shade of emerald green, wide with surprise and fear. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks, giving her an innocent, youthful charm, and she wore a cute pink blush that made her look even more endearing. But my admiration quickly turned into horror when I noticed the dark bruises marring the soft skin around her eyes. The large, dark sunglasses she had been wearing now lay on the pavement beside her, revealing the ugly purple and black bruises that hinted at a violent past. Someone had hurt her. Badly. "I am so, so sorry!" I gasped, immediately crouching to gather the scattered contents of our bags. She scrambled to find her glasses first, quickly slipping them back on as if to hide the evidence of whatever pain she was going through. Then, without a word, she began stuffing things back into her bag. Her bag contained a mix of items—bandages, makeup, a small pocket knife, a cute wallet, a few books, and some loose papers. My heart clenched. I knew the signs of someone trying to survive, someone patching up their own wounds. I had lived it. Once our bags were packed, she made to leave in a hurry, but I reached out and gently grabbed her arm. "Wait," I said, my voice soft but urgent. "Are you okay? Do you need help?" She flinched at my touch, though I had barely applied any pressure. Her head shook quickly, her voice barely a whisper. "I’m fine. Don’t worry about it." I didn’t believe her. Not for a second. I had seen that look in the mirror too many times. Desperation. Fear. The desire to disappear. I tightened my hold slightly, my eyes pleading. "Please—" She yanked her arm free, though not harshly, and looked at me with something akin to sadness. Then, in a soft, accented voice, she murmured, "Ne t’inquiète pas pour moi et fais attention la prochaine fois." My French was rusty, but I understood enough. "Don’t worry about me. Watch where you’re going next time." Before I could respond, she turned and ran. "Wait!" I called after her, but she was gone, swallowed up by the sea of students moving in every direction. My stomach twisted in frustration and concern. Then, something on the ground caught my eye—her wallet. I bent down, picking up the small, worn object. Opening it, I searched for any form of ID, anything that would tell me who she was or where she belonged. But there was nothing. Just a few crumpled bills and an old photograph. The picture showed her standing beside another girl who looked exactly like her—her twin. Both of them had identical smiles, radiant and full of life. It was a stark contrast to the broken girl I had just met. I let out a shaky breath. "Who are you? And who hurt you?" For the rest of the day, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. My thoughts kept drifting back to her bruised eyes, her trembling hands, the way she had fled like a frightened animal. Was she safe? Was she alone? Had she gone home to someone who would hurt her again? By the time school ended, I was a mess of emotions. I stood near the gate, scanning the crowd for any sign of her, but she was nowhere to be found. Frustration and helplessness gnawed at me, making my chest feel tight. Then, my eyes landed on Zane. He stood beside his fancy black car, exuding power and authority despite his casual outfit—a fitted black Henley that accentuated his broad shoulders, dark jeans that hugged his muscular frame, and expensive boots. His presence alone was enough to command attention, and I wasn’t surprised to see a group of girls stealing glances at him as they passed by. But I didn’t care about them. Right now, all I saw was him. The man who had given me a home when I had none. The man who, despite his cold and guarded exterior, had shown me kindness in ways no one else had. Before I knew it, my feet were moving on their own. I closed the distance between us in seconds and threw myself into his arms, burying my face in his chest. Zane stiffened for a moment, clearly caught off guard, but then his arms wrapped around me, strong and secure. "Natalie?" His deep voice rumbled against my ear. "What’s wrong?" I shook my head against his chest. "Nothing. I just... I just felt like hugging you." A low chuckle escaped him, and then I felt his lips press softly against the top of my head. "You’re a strange one, Cross. But I won’t complain." His warmth surrounded me, engulfing me in a way I desperately needed. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to lean into his strength, to take comfort in his silent reassurance. Finally, I pulled away, feeling a bit self-conscious about my impulsiveness. He didn’t comment on it, simply opening the car door for me like always. I slipped inside, exhaling deeply as he walked around to the driver’s side and got in. The drive home was unusually quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine and the faint rustling of the wind against the windows. My mind kept drifting back to the girl I’d bumped into earlier. There had been something in her eyes—a quiet, haunted sadness that I knew all too well. It was like looking into a mirror of my past self, back when I was lost and desperate for kindness. Would I ever see her again? "You’re quiet," Zane’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Did something bad happen at school?" I sighed, leaning my head against the cool glass. "Not exactly bad, but... I bumped into a girl today. She reminded me of myself. I wanted to talk to her, to see if she needed help, but I couldn’t find her again. I’ve been thinking about it all day." Zane glanced at me briefly before returning his focus to the road. "You really want to find her?" I nodded. "Yeah. All I have to go by is a photograph. I would have given anything for someone to help me back then." He was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Then we’ll find her." I blinked in surprise. "What?" He smirked slightly. "I have connections, Natalie. If you really want to find her, I can have my secret service look for her. Or," he added with a teasing lilt, "you could just ask Jacob or one of his many talented brothers to work their magic." A wave of relief washed over me, and before I knew it, I was smiling. "Thank you, Sir." "You don’t need to thank me." His voice was softer now. "If something matters to you, all you have to do is ask. I’ll do anything for you." His words settled deep in my chest, leaving a warmth that only he could give. Blushing, I turned my attention back to the window, letting the city lights blur into a soft haze. When we pulled into the villa, nothing could have prepared us for the sight that awaited us. "What the hell—?!" Zane slammed the brakes, and I barely managed to brace myself as the car jerked to a stop. Right in the middle of the vast courtyard, Alexander was perched on the back of an enormous tiger—a tiger far larger than any normal one should be. Its powerful muscles rippled beneath its striped fur as it bounded across the grounds, and to my utter horror, Alex was laughing, his tiny hands clutching onto the thick fur as he urged the beast to run faster. Panic surged through me. "Sir, do something!" Zane had already flung open the car door, his face a mixture of horror and disbelief. "Alexander!" Just as he took a step forward, a familiar, mischievous voice called out, "Relax, relax! No need for all that tension." Bubble appeared out of nowhere, his wide grin completely at odds with the panic we were feeling. "Bubble!" I snapped, barely keeping myself from shaking him. "Why is Alex riding a massive tiger?!" Bubble chuckled. "That’s Tiger. My brother." I blinked. "What? That’s Tiger?" "Yeah." Bubble repeated cheerfully. "Didn’t anyone mention that Tiger is the Earth Spirit? This is just one of his forms. And before you ask," he added, eyes twinkling, "he would never hurt Alexander. So relax." I turned back to Alex, who was now sprawled on the tiger’s back, giggling uncontrollably as the massive creature leapt effortlessly into the air, twisting mid-jump before landing gracefully. Zane groaned and ran a hand through his hair, looking utterly exasperated. "I swear, I can’t have a single normal day in my own damn house. I might end up dying of a heartattack at this rate." That was it. I lost it. Laughter bubbled up from deep within me, and I couldn’t stop it. Zane turned to glare at me, but the sight of his scowl only made it worse. I doubled over, clutching my stomach as my laughter echoed through the courtyard. "I’m glad you find this funny," Zane grumbled. "Oh, I do," I wheezed, wiping a tear from my eye. "Because, let’s be honest, this is our life now. Just accept it." Zane shot me a dark look, but the corners of his lips twitched, betraying his amusement. "I should’ve left you at the homeless shelter." "Oh, that’s dark," I feigned hurt, punching his arm. He huffed but didn’t pull away. As we watched Alex ride the Earth Spirit Tiger across the courtyard, laughing like he had the whole world in his hands, I couldn’t help but laugh harder. ******* Later that night, after a long day, I tucked Alexander in for the night, then I said my goodnight to Zane, and went to my room. The moment I closed the door behind me, I let out a shaky breath. I turned to face my room—it was just like the one in Jacob’s house, cutesy of Bubble. The walls pulsed with an otherworldly radiance, shifting hues like a living aurora. Overhead, the ceiling stretched into a vast expanse of deep blue, dotted with stars so vivid it felt like I could pluck them from the sky. In the heart of the room, an enormous bed, draped in shimmering silver and gold, looked almost too soft to be real. Golden lanterns hovered in mid-air, bathing the space in a dreamlike glow. One wall was alive with a cascade of luminous petals, flowing like a celestial waterfall into a pool of crystal-clear water. A fairytale. But fairytales couldn’t take the darkness away completely. I ignored the bed entirely and grabbed the extra blankets I had neatly folded beside it. I laid them out on the floor next to the bed, smoothing out the fabric before lying down. The hard floor beneath me was familiar, comforting. I had spent too many years sleeping this way to suddenly change now. The thought of sinking into that grand bed made my skin prickle with unease. If Zane, Jacob, or his brothers found out I was still sleeping on the floor, they wouldn’t be happy. But this was my choice. It wasn’t about comfort—it was about what felt safe. I curled up beneath the blankets, hugging my knees to my chest, and closed my eyes. But the moment sleep took me, I was thrust back into the past. I was fourteen again. My back ached from the old, rickety bed I had been given in my small house. Night after night, I endured the pain until I couldn’t take it anymore. Summoning every ounce of courage I had, I went to see Mather, the woman in charge of the household supplies. I found her standing in the storage room, taking inventory. "Um... Mather?" I asked hesitantly. She turned slowly, her sharp eyes narrowing at me. "What do you want, cursed girl?" I swallowed my fear and forced myself to stand tall. "The bed I was given... it’s too old. It’s hurting my back. Could I please have another one?" There was silence. And then, suddenly, she laughed. A cruel, mocking laugh that sent a chill down my spine. "You think you deserve a nice bed?" she scoffed. "A girl like you? The daughter of traitors?" Her words struck me so bad that before I knew it, my fists were clenched. "My parents weren’t traitors." Her smile vanished, replaced by a sneer. "How dare you talk back to me? You ungrateful wretch!" Before I could react, she turned to the other girls working in the storage room. "This brat just slapped me!" she cried out, feigning shock. I gasped. "What? No, I didn’t—" But I never got to finish my sentence. The girls pounced on me, their hands striking me from all directions. Kicks, punches, sharp nails digging into my arms. My cries for help went unanswered. And then they dragged me to Alpha Darius. "She attacked an elder," they lied. Darius’s face twisted with rage. "You’re just as ungrateful as your parents! Throw her in the dungeon. Five days." No trial. No chance to explain. The cold, damp dungeon swallowed me whole, the darkness wrapping around me like chains. The floor was cold, the stench unbearable, and I was left alone. No food. No water. Just five days of silence and suffering. When I was finally released, I had learned my lesson. Never ask for anything. Never stand up for myself. Never trust anyone. I woke up with a scream, my body trembling violently. My heart pounded against my ribs as I gasped for air. I wasn’t there anymore. I wasn’t in that dungeon. I was safe. Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks as I let out a choked sob. The relief was overwhelming, but the fear still clung to me like a shadow. The door burst open and Zane rushed in. His blue eyes locked onto me, his expression shifting from alarm to something else—something raw and concerned. "Natalie?" His voice was rough with worry as he strode toward me. "What happened?" I shook my head, still crying, unable to form words. Without hesitation, he knelt and scooped me into his arms, lifting me off the floor as if I weighed nothing. He carried me to the bed and sat down, cradling me in his lap, his strong arms wrapped securely around me. I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent—fresh pine and leather. It calmed me, grounding me in the present. "I had a nightmare," I admitted in a whisper. Zane held me tighter, his hand stroking my back. "You’re safe, Natalie. No one’s going to hurt you. Not while I’m here." His words made something in my chest ache. No one had ever held me the way Zane usually did. No one had ever whispered those words to me before. I clung to him, not wanting to let go. "Thank you," I murmured. He sighed softly. "You don’t have to thank me." But he didn’t move. He didn’t push me away. We sat there in silence, the warmth of his body keeping my shivers at bay. The steady rise and fall of his chest soothed me more than words ever could. I didn’t know when it happened. Maybe it was the way he held me, or the way he always seemed to be there when I needed someone the most. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, even when he tried to hide it. But before I could stop myself, the words slipped past my lips. "I think I’m in love with you." Zane stiffened beneath me, his entire body going still. The room suddenly felt too quiet, the air too thick. My breath hitched as I realized what I had just said. Oh, no. What had I done?