Chapter 6: Conspiracy
953words
"Mom," I got straight to the point. "Did Dad really come from Silver Moon Town?"
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, then a long sigh. "You've finally returned there, haven't you?"
My fingers tightened around the phone. "You knew? You knew all along?"
"Your father didn't want you involved in that world, Bella." My mother's voice suddenly sounded much older. "He said it was too dangerous."
"Did he really die in a car accident?" I pressed, my voice trembling with tension.
Another silence. "That's what the police said." She finally answered, but I heard the implication.
Hanging up, I felt dizzy. Derek hadn't lied—at least about my father.
"Bella."
I turned to see Derek standing in the terrace doorway, moonlight outlining his tall figure. Memories of last night flooded back, making my cheeks warm. His transformation in the moonlight, that primal connection, and afterward we...
"Are you alright?" He approached but maintained a polite distance, as if afraid of frightening me.
"If you're asking whether I've accepted being a half-werewolf, my daughter possibly having two fathers, and the fact that I spent last night with an Alpha werewolf during the full moon," I smiled bitterly, "then the answer is no, I'm not okay yet."
Derek's lips curved slightly upward, that smile I once loved and still made my heart race. "You've always been so direct."
"There are things I need to know," I looked directly into his eyes. "That rainy night eight years ago, what did I see?"
Derek's expression turned serious. He sat in the chair beside me, close enough to feel his warmth but not invading my space.
"It was a carefully orchestrated plot," his voice was low and controlled. "That woman was sent by the Blood Moon Pack. They knew you were my mate and wanted to destroy our bond."
"Mate?" I raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a fairy tale."
"For werewolves, it's the most sacred connection," Derek's gaze softened. "When I first caught your scent, I knew you were my other half."
I looked away, not wanting him to see my wavering resolve. "What about Owen? What role did he play in this conspiracy?"
Derek's jawline tightened. "Owen... it's complicated. On the surface, he's gentle and rational, but inside, he has a strong possessiveness. When he also fell in love with you, the Blood Moon Pack exploited his jealousy."
"So the person who told me 'this was just a game' that night was Owen?" My voice trembled with anger.
Derek nodded, pain flashing in his eyes. "He pretended to be me, making you believe I had betrayed you. By the time I discovered the truth, you had already disappeared."
He stood up and walked to the corner of the terrace, picking up a leather box I hadn't noticed before. "These are letters I wrote to you over the past eight years," he opened the box, filled with envelopes. "None could be sent because I didn't know where you were."
I picked up the top envelope, my fingers trembling slightly. The handwriting on the paper was firm yet vulnerable:
"Dear Bella, Today marks thirty days since you left. I still go to the library where we first met every day, hoping to run into you by chance. I don't know what Owen told you, but please believe that my love for you has never changed..."
Tears blurred my vision. I looked up at Derek and found him watching me intently, his eyes naked with longing and fear—longing for my understanding, fearing my rejection.
"There are two major werewolf packs in Silver Moon Town," he continued explaining, his voice low. "The Silver Moon Pack led by the Ravencraft family and the Blood Moon Pack. The Blood Moon Pack has always coveted our position, especially after learning I had found my mate."
"Why is finding a mate so important?" I asked, though I already knew the answer in my heart.
"Because when an Alpha bonds with his mate, his power increases exponentially," Derek explained. "And they can produce powerful offspring."
Lillian. I suddenly understood why the Blood Moon Pack was so interested in her. If she truly possessed the bloodlines of two Alphas...
"I'm starting to believe you," I said softly, seeing hope light up in Derek's eyes. "But that doesn't mean I forgive everything. Eight years, Derek. Eight years of pain and loneliness."
"I know," he stepped closer, carefully reaching out to touch my cheek. "I don't expect immediate forgiveness. But please give us a chance, Bella. Give me, give Lillian, give the future we could have a chance."
His touch was like electricity, awakening long-dormant desire. I didn't back away but leaned slightly into his palm, closing my eyes.
"What about Owen?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper. "What role does he play in this 'future'?"
Derek's hand stiffened for a moment but didn't withdraw. "That depends on you, Bella. Entirely on you."
I opened my eyes to see the sincerity and pain in his. Eight years of hatred began to melt away, but questions remained. Owen's deception had broken my heart, but seeing his gentle interaction with Lillian yesterday confused me. If Lillian was truly both men's daughter...
"I need time," I finally said, stroking his hand on my cheek. "Time to process all this."
Derek nodded, respectfully stepping back. "I'll give you all the time you need, Bella. I've waited eight years; I can wait longer."
In the moonlight, his promise felt like a vow, and for the first time in eight years, my heart began to lower its defenses.
