Chapter Twenty-Six
Danae
The air in the garden feels so different now, less vibrant and more solemn after Silas’s confession. The setting sun bathes his face in soft red, but it can’t soften the raw emotion etched into his features.
His vulnerability is startling. It’s a side of him I never expected to see or even knew existed. It breaks my heart to see him this way, to hear the sound of his voice, low and saddened, as he recounts the pain of his first rut. I can’t believe he carried something so devastating for so long alone. And now, he’s sharing it with me.
“I’m so sorry you went through that, Silas,” I say, keeping my voice soft, my heart twisting at the thought of the boy he must have been…terrified, ashamed, and confused. “And that you’ve carried it for so long.”
He looks at me, his eyes deep and earnest.
“I’m sorry I called you an asshole,” I add, my voice faltering slightly. “I had no idea you had so much pain. I’m so sorry.”
Sorry.
Sometimes that word just doesn’t feel strong enough. It doesn’t feel fitting. Here Silas stands, a man, but as I look into his eyes, it’s like I’m standing next to that hurt child who lost a friend and a brother over something that wasn’t his fault.
Suddenly I feel a wave of guilt for the squabbles we’ve had. I reach out, taking his hand in mine. His skin is warm, and I hope my touch is as comforting as I mean it to be. “I understand why you acted the way you did now.”
Silas shakes his head, his grip on my hand tightening. “No. I had no right to treat you like that. And I hate myself for it.” His voice is low but steady, filled with a kind of conviction that makes my heart stutter. “I don’t want to do that to you anymore, Danae. I don’t want to fight you anymore.”
He pauses, and the silence stretches between us. When he speaks again, his tone is gentler, almost hopeful. “I think we can make this work. I want us to have a good marriage…a friendly marriage. One without being constantly at each other’s throats.”
His words warm me in a way that almost surprises me. There’s hope blossoming in my chest, a fragile thing that feels exhilarating.
But beneath that hope is something else. A slight pang of disappointment that I can’t quite shake. He didn’t say he loves me. A part of me wishes that he would. That he could look at me and see more than just the possibility of friendship.
It almost hurts that he doesn’t. But then I have to remember everything he’s been through and how hard this must be for him.
I should be grateful for this moment, for his apology, for his effort. After everything, I should be glad if we could have a friendly marriage. That’s enough, isn’t it?
“I don’t want to fight you anymore, Silas,” I say, my voice steady despite the swirl of emotions inside me.
He smiles then, a small but genuine smile that tugs at something deep within me. And for a moment, standing there under the setting sun with his hand in mine, it feels like we’ve taken the first step toward something better.
We walk back to the house in silence, the tension between us easing with each step. Time slips by the hours blurring together as the evening fades into night. But sleep eludes me.
I lie awake in my room, staring at the ceiling as Silas’s words replay in my mind. His confession, his apology, the emotion in his eyes…it all lingers, heavy and unshakable. I can’t stop thinking about how traumatic his first rut must have been and how deeply it scarred him. How could someone endure that and still find the strength to open up, even just a little?
He was just a kid—a kid who found himself looking up to someone he’d come to see as a brother. Losing that connection, having it ripped away by forces beyond his control, would make anyone build walls around their heart.
My phone buzzes, jolting me from the spiral of my thoughts. I glance at the screen, and seeing Leila’s name flashing there sends a wave of comfort over me, soft and steady, like a balm for the ache in my chest.
Without hesitation, I swipe to answer.
“Hey, Danae,” she says, her voice warm and familiar. Just hearing it makes me smile, a sense of relief washing over me. “How’s it going?”
“Leila,” I say, her name escaping like a breath I didn’t know I was holding. My voice is soft, but the emotion lurking beneath it betrays me. “Boy is it good to hear from you right now.”
“Aw, what’s wrong?” she asks, concern lacing her words. “Tell me everything.”
I laugh lightly, a sound that feels strange after the heaviness of the day. “Where do I even start? The union ceremony happened. It was intense.”
“Oh my God, you actually did it?” she exclaims. “I need details. Was it beautiful? Dramatic? Did someone object at the last minute?”
I laugh again, this time more freely. “No objections, but it was definitely dramatic. I climbed a mountain, Leila.”
There’s a beat of silence before she responds, her tone incredulous. “Wait. You climbed a mountain? You?”
“Yes, me,” I say, rolling my eyes even though she can’t see me. “It was part of the ceremony. Something about proving my dedication or whatever.”
“Proving your dedication?” she says, the shock evident in her voice, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Something like that,” I admit. “But it’s not just about Silas. It’s about the way they do things here, the traditions, everything. It’s a lot.”
We talk for a while, and our conversation is easy and familiar. But eventually, the topic moves to Silas, to the conversation we had in the garden, as I knew it would.
“Honestly, Silas is complicated,” I say, my voice softening. “From the moment I got here, I thought he hated me. He was so cold, so distant. But now, now I’m learning the truth. He was hurt badly years ago, and it’s shaped him in ways I didn’t understand before.”
Leila hums thoughtfully. “So, do you think things will be different now?”
“I think they might be,” I say, hope threading through my words. “He apologized, Leila. And not just for how he treated me, but for how the pain he’s been carrying had made him see me. It was moving. I didn’t expect it.”
“Well, I’m happy you’re happy,” she says, her voice warm. “You and Silas will be great. Especially since you’re a perfect match. I can’t wait to come for the wedding.”
Her words make me pause, a thought nagging at the back of my mind. I hesitate for a moment before speaking again, my voice quieter this time. “I don’t know…maybe when it happens, it might be more than two people getting married?”
There’s a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line, followed by a squeal of excitement. “Danae! Spill! Tell me everything!”
I laugh, the sound bubbling up despite myself. “Okay, okay! There’s a lot to unpack.”
“Start with the basics,” she says, her tone playful but insistent. “Who’s the lucky someone else?”
“Well,” I begin, biting my lip. “There’s Joseph, Silas’ best friend. He’s kind, protective, always looking out for me. And then there’s Adriel, Silas’ brother. He’s intense, but in a way that makes you feel seen, you know? He’s already asked to be in a family unit with me.”
“Wait, what?” Leila practically shouts. “Danae, are you telling me you have three men interested in you? Three Alphas?”
I laugh again, my cheeks flushing even though I’m alone in my room. “It’s not like that. It’s complicated.”
There’s a beat of silence, the kind that feels heavy with thought. I can almost picture her now, her brows knitted slightly as she mulls over my words. Then her voice filters through the phone again, warm and steady.
“Yeah. I think I have an idea of what that feels like.”
Something about hearing her say that makes my chest feel a little lighter. It’s not just her words; it’s the understanding behind them. I’m not sure what to call it, but knowing she gets it makes all the difference. And if there’s anyone who truly understands, it’s Leila.
“I just…” My voice wavers, thick with vulnerability. “I hope I’m good enough for them, Leila.”
Her response is immediate, like she’s been waiting for me to say this. “You are, Danae,” she says, her tone firm yet impossibly gentle. “You have to know that. You’re deserving of all the love you’re receiving. Embrace it.”
I sigh, the sound tinged with doubt. I want to lean into her words, to believe them, but the uncertainty lingers like a shadow I can’t quite shake. It feels surreal going from being completely unwanted to having three men, men who could have anyone they wanted, pining for me.
“Did you ever feel this way?” I ask softly. “With your mates?”
“Oh, yes,” Leila says without hesitation, her honesty both comforting and grounding. “I’ve been there. I even talked with you about it, remember?”
Her words tug at a memory—a phone call from what feels like another lifetime. It hits me all at once, a vivid recollection of her wrestling with the same doubts I’m drowning in now.
“I understand you, Danae,” she says again, her voice rich with sincerity. “I know what it’s like, wanting to be worthy of the love you’re getting. Wanting to be perfect for them. But let me tell you this—they’re with you because they love you, exactly as you are. You don’t have to prove anything. You just have to let yourself believe it.”
She pauses, letting her words sink in before continuing, her voice softening. “Being with my mates—Henry, Ryan, and Luke—it’s been the most beautiful experience of my life. And it makes me so happy to know you’re on the cusp of finding that same kind of happiness. Trust yourself, Danae. And trust the feelings they have for you.”
Her words linger long after our call ends, the events of the day settling over me once again. As I lie back on my bed, staring at the ceiling, I can’t help but wonder if Leila’s right. Maybe I can have it all. But for now, I’ll take things one step at a time.