CHAPTER 16- FAMILY REUNION 1
I was about to head home when my phone buzzed. It was my mom.
“Nia, can you come to the house? It’s important,‘ she said, her voice calm, but with an undertone I couldn’t quite
“I’ll be there soon,” I replied, curiosity sparking.
Changing direction, I drove to the family house, my mind buzzing with questions What could be so urgent? My mom rarely called me this late unless it was serious.
When I arrived, the warm lights from the house glowed against the dark night. I stepped inside, letting the familiar scent of home wash over me. But what I saw next stopped me in my tracks
In the living room, my mother was wrapped in a man’s arms, her head resting against his chest as if it was the most natural thing in the world. They looked comfortable, almost too comfortable. My brows shot up in surprise.
“Has Mom finally found someone?” I whispered to myself, a smile creeping onto my face. “Did she call me here to
introduce him?”
Excitement bubbled within me as I stepped back, planning to watch them from a hidden corner. But before I could retreat fully, the man’s ear twitched, and he turned his head sharply in my direction
My heart dropped.
His face came into view, and the happiness I’d felt a moment ago was replaced with shock, anger and other
emotions I couldn’t quite place.
“Why are you here?” I asked, my voice sharp as I turned to face my mom. My heart was pounding in my chest, a mix of confusion and anger coursing through me. “Mom, what is the meaning of this?”
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My mother, the woman who had raised me single–handedly, was sitting on the couch next to my father. The very same man who had left us in shambles all those years ago. How could she let
him back into our lives after everything?
I looked at her, searching her face for some explanation. But all I found was a quiet sadness in her eyes. A sadness that only deepened when she saw the disappointment etched across my face
“Nia, please sit down,” my mom said softly, her voice wavering. “Let me explain.”
I wanted to walk away. My instincts screamed at me to leave, to shut the door on whatever mess this was. But something stopped me. Maybe it was the lingering effect of my conversation with that stranger earlier today. For some reason, I felt more open to hearing people out, even if I didn’t fully trust them.
I
“Fine. Speak” I said, my tone colder than I intended. I sank into the sofa opposite them, my arms crossed tightly
over my chest.
Mom took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she clasped them in her lap. “Nia, there’s something I’ve been hiding from you,” she began. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed her fear.
I stayed silent, my gaze fixed on her, waiting
TION THE OMEGA DRES:
“Your father didn’t leave us because he wanted to,” she said, her words heavy. “He had to.”
I frowned, my confusion deepening. “Had to?”
She nodded, her expression tightening. “Back then, your father’s elder brother was supposed to inherit the throne. He was next in line to be the werewolf king. But he was assassinated. It was a calculated move, part of a larger plot to destabilize the royal family”
My heart skipped a beat. Royal family? Throne? What was she talking about?
“With his brother gone, your father became the next target,” Mom continued “His relatives were ruthless, Nia. They wanted power, and they wouldn’t stop until they had it. To protect us, your father made the hardest decision of his life. He divorced me and disappeared. It was the only way to keep us safe.”
I stared at her, my mind reeling. The words sounded so surreal, like they belonged in a story rather than my life. My father–this man who had abandoned us–was some kind of hidden royalty? And he had left us to shield us from danger?
“I don’t believe this,” I said, shaking my head. My voice cracked as I spoke. “You expect me to believe that he left us–left me to play hero in some royal drama? Do you have any idea how much we suffered because of him?”
My mother flinched at my words, guilt flashing across her face. But before she could respond, my father–silent until now–finally spoke.
*Nia, I never stopped looking for you,” he said, his voice low and filled with regret. “But your mother was smart. She changed your names, moved you far away. Every lead I followed turned into a dead end. If it hadn’t been for the high priestess…” His voice trailed off, and he looked down, his hands clenched into fists.
