Chapter 43
(Lily’s POV)
I staggered back a step, the world around me tilting.
“What… what did you just say?” I whispered, staring at Tobe.
He held my gaze. “Lucien is Aria’s mate. You’ve been dating her mate.”
The words hit harder the second time.
Suddenly, all the memories flooded in… The way Aria had rushed to Lucien’s beast where he lay bleeding after the fight with Zion, the flicker of hurt in her eyes when Lucien had called me his girlfriend and kissed my cheek… the muffled sobs I’d heard from her room more than once.
The truth had been in front of me all this time.
My knees buckled, and I grabbed Tobe’s arm for balance. “No… no, that can’t be right,” I murmured.
I looked up at Tobe, my eyes burning. “Why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t either of them tell me?”
Tobe’s expression softened. “I think she was trying to, or maybe she didn’t know how. You and Lucien got close really fast. And Aria… well, she’s never been good at talking about her feelings.”
I dropped my gaze to the grass, my breath shallow. “It’s no wonder she hates me now,” I said.
“She doesn’t,” he said gently. “She’s just hurt, and angry. You didn’t know… but still, it hurts her. She’s been carrying this in silence, watching you and him get closer.”
I pressed a trembling hand to my chest. “This is too much, I never meant to hurt her. Never.”
“I know.”
There was a pause, the weight of everything pressing down on both of us.
“I need to talk to her,” I said finally.
Tobe nodded and stood. “You should, and I think she needs it too.” He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze and then walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I didn’t go back inside right away. I paced the field for a moment, trying to gather my courage. My feet eventually moved on their own, leading me to the old building we sometimes used for quiet reading sessions; The Wisteria Room.
I peeked inside, and Aria was sitting on a chair, shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. Dev was beside her, his arm resting protectively over her back, murmuring something I couldn’t hear. They looked up the moment I stepped in.
A heavy silence settled in. They both froze.
My eyes locked on Aria. I wasn’t smiling.
My aura pulsed with something I didn’t recognize…. something ancient and burning. It must’ve been Vaelith dominating the
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Chapter 43
atmosphere. Aria tensed, and even Dev subtly straightened.
A flat smile spread across my lips “What were you crying for?” I asked.
Aria wiped her face quickly. “I was thinking about my mom,” she said tightly. “Why are you here?”
I tilted my head, my lips curling into a cold smile. “Same old lies, huh?”
Dev shifted uncomfortably.
“When exactly were you going to tell me Lucien is your mate?”
Aria’s eyes widened, and she looked at Dev, then back at me.
“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered.
“Don’t play dumb with me,” I snapped, my voice rising. “You looked me in the eye and let me walk straight into something that should’ve been yours. And you never said a word.”
Aria shivered and couldn’t speak. She stared helplessly and stammered. “H–How did…” she was saying when I raised my hand sharply to silence her.
I was livid. My chest heaved as I fought the urge to scream. The betrayal ran deeper than words.
I turned to Dev with teary eyes. “So you also knew all along too and you never said a thing…”
Dev looked down. “Lily, I…”
“Save it,” I said bitterly. “I never expected this from you.”
Then I turned my burning gaze on Aria. “And you… how long did you know Lucien was your mate?”
Aria covered her face, the tears now spilling freely. Her shoulders trembled as she struggled to speak.
When she finally looked up, I could barely recognize the girl in front of me.
“The first week I resumed school,” she whispered. “But I can explain…”
“Explain what?” I said, backing away. “That you watched me be with him while you kept quiet? Knowing what it would do to both of us? You knew the pain it caused me to see Zion and Celeste together, and yet, you made me do the same thing to you!!”
She shook her head, sobbing harder.
I didn’t want to hear her anymore. My so–called friends had betrayed me in the worst way possible.
Aria had known all along that Lucien was her mate and still let me fake–date him. Dev had known too. Even Tobe, who had just told me.
I turned and stormed toward the door–only to find Tobe standing there, as if he’d been there the entire time.
“Lily,” he said softly.
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Chapter 43
But I flinched away, pain flashing in my eyes.
“You’re all hypocrites,” I spat, my voice breaking. “And I never want to have anything to do with either of you. Just stay away!”
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