Chapter 270 – Direction
–LIA’S POV–
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The second the words had left his mouth, it felt like the ground gave way under me.
My knees went weak and I gripped his arms to keep standing, images of my actual Mom playing in my head.
She didn’t deserve this. She deserved to be protected and
cherished.
www
How could Dad not recognise her? How was he living with Selene, sleeping with her, eating her home–cooked food and not able to tell that wasn’t his wife?
My jaw clenched in a mix of anger and annoyance. At him, and at myself.
I was an idiot. I was such an idiot to think someone like Selene could care
She was an immortal Goddess. Who knew how many siblings I had around the world?
I was a fool. And so was Dad.
But he didn’t know about the supernatural world. So he couldn’t have guessed that someone was impersonating his wife. He
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probably thought she was having a mere mood swing.
My chest tightened until it hurt to breathe, and before I knew it, I was crying into Zane’s shirt, clutching him like if I let go, I’d disappear.
Zane wrapped his arms around me instantly, strong and steady, holding me so close it felt like he was trying to shield me from the world. His chin rested on the top of my head and he kept murmuring something I couldn’t make out, his voice low and warm. Just the sound of it kept me from completely falling apart right there.
“Come on, Lia,” he said quietly against my hair. “Let’s get you
inside.”
I didn’t trust my legs, but he kept his arm around me and guided me through the door. The pack house felt too warm, too loud, but he didn’t stop until we reached the sofa. He eased me down like I might break, then sat right next to me, his arm still around my shoulders. His other hand rested on my thighs, gently tracing circles to calm me down.
The Hounds appeared again within seconds, surrounding us, voices overlapping.
“What happened?”
“Will you guys tell us anything now?”
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“Talk to us, Zane.”
Zane ignored them completely. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, his lips warm against my skin, then pulled me in even tighter. “Everything’s going to be fine,” he said firmly. “I’m here, Lia. And we’ve gotten through way worse.”
I scoffed, pulling away to meet his gaze. “Have we, Zane?”
“Yes,” he replied with determination. “I died, Lia. You brought me back. That was worse.”
My voice came out rough. “What if Mom isn’t alive anymore? It was so clear, Zane. The vision. I saw where she was,” I
whispered. “My real Mom. In a dark cave. Alone. But I didn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it.”
He didn’t say anything, just kept his hand moving slowly through my hair.
“I thought maybe it was just some nightmare. That my head was playing tricks. But if Selene is here, living in my Mom’s place…” My throat tightened and I had to pause. “Then that means she swapped places with her that very night.”
Zane’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What night?”
“The night we completed the bond,” I said, my voice so low I wasn’t sure he heard me. “That’s when it must have happened. She took her that very moment, and we didn’t even notice. I
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hugged her like everything was fine, Zane. Selene must have felt so proud, thinking she took over my mom’s life so perfectly that even her own daughter failed to recognise her.”
Hot tears rolled down my cheeks, and I wiped at them uselessly.
“Aaron,” Zane said without looking away from me, “get her a glass of water.”
Aaron was gone in a heartbeat and back just as fast, holding the glass out. My hands shook too much, so Zane covered them with his own, helping me lift it.
“Breathe, love,” he murmured again. “You’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out.”
The water was cool, and the first sip almost shocked me. I drank slowly, my hands still wrapped in Zane’s. By the time I set the glass down, my breathing had evened out a little.
“It’s going to be okay,” he promised. “Your Mom is a tough woman. She’ll be fine. Alright?”
I sniffed, nodding slowly.
Zane finally glanced at the Hounds.
“Selene’s here,” he said flatly. “The Moon Goddess. She’s been impersonating Lia’s mom.”
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For a second, no one said a word. It was like the words had sucked all the air out of the room. Then Sheila’s eyes went wide.
“What?” she breathed.
“You’re joking,” Ajax muttered, though his voice was shaking.
The
Warner just stared between Zane and me like he’d misheard. “The Moon Goddess? Our Moon Goddess?”
‘Apparently,” Zane said. “She’s been living as her mom. The real mom’s somewhere else.”
The reaction was instant then. They all started talking over each other, disbelief mixing with something sharper.
“She wouldn’t do that.”
“She’s supposed to protect us.”
“This makes no sense.”
“She’s… she’s meant to be good.”
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