Chapter 20- Naughty Girl Damien's POV: I pressed the accelerator, pushing the car faster than usual, the road to Evelina's house blurring beneath me. Adrenaline surged in my veins, impossible to suppress. When I reached the ivory villa's entrance, I braked abruptly, barely slowing down. 0 0 2 ? Matthew was already there. "What's the situation?" I asked, stepping inside without hesitation. "Evelina is asleep," he said, keeping pace with me. "Phase three of her treatment is complete. Her mind is gradually clearing, though her thoughts are sometimes still jumbled. The doctors recommended exposure to familiar people and surroundings to aid her recovery. So I brought her here." I wiped my face with my hand and exhaled. "Keep this confidential. No one else can know." "Understood." He nodded firmly. Even without my reminder, he knew what needed to be done. Evelina had been treated in Germany; Matthew handled every detail for me. We were like brothers-trustworthy beyond question. As we neared Evelina's room, I slowed my steps and gently opened the door. She lay there, pale, frail, her limbs delicate as if they might shatter at a touch. Her face showed the unrest of nightmares. I approached, tracing every line on her face with my eyes. Slowly, I bent down, brushing her forehead with my fingers, smoothing away the tension. Her skin felt cold. I held her hand gently, sharing my warmth. "I'm here, Evelina. You're safe." Guilt gnawed at me, memories of what had led her here. If I had been decisive, if I had listened to my instincts, she wouldn't have suffered. Matthew stood at the doorway, raising his phone to signal he had news. I wrapped Evelina in a blanket and stepped back. "Any news on Vanessa?" An hour had passed; he should have the information I needed. "Yes," he paused, searching for words. "She's fake." "She's not Vanessa?" "She's the real Vanessa... but actually, the one you need to find is Selene." He grabbed his head, eyes locking onto mine. "You know, Selene Armand." He emphasized the name heavily. I rolled my eyes. "How the hell am I supposed to know who Selene is? Why would I be looking for her?" "Vanessa's twin sister. Your true mate." He stated it bluntly. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in my mind. Everything started to make sense. 15:15 64.05% "Vanessa... I mean Selene... she did go to the restroom that night. Vanessa brought a witch with her. Vanessa wore sunglasses and a scarf, so we couldn't see her face, but her manicure gave her away. Later, two wanderers caused a scene in the restaurant, distracting the staff, and in that chaos, the witch took the disguised Selene away." He glanced at me, observing my reaction. "Our deeper investigation into the Ice Moon Pack revealed that Lars Armand has two daughters." Twin sisters. Birthmarks. Grandmother. Exile... As Matthew spoke, I pieced together my mate's experience. Her father and sister had tried to harm her. Anger surged uncontrollably. My teeth sharpened, claws extended, a roar thundered deep in my throat. Under the surface, Arthur raged, demanding release and vengeance. "Alpha Damien," Matthew grabbed my shoulder to restrain me. Had anyone else touched me like that, I would have torn their arm off. But he was my Beta, my best friend. My wolf recognized him. "Selene is safe now. We caught the two rogues in Hartbrun Forest. They confessed everything. Roadside cameras captured Selene driving back home. Honestly, she's incredible! I'm already a fan of hers!" Matthew tried to ease the tension. My throat tightened. I had let my mate face danger, right under my nose, on my own territory. Shame struck like a burning slap across my face. "I've stationed guards to watch over her, so don't worry. Yanis and the other pack members in the restaurant will face consequences for their negligence," Matthew added, as if he were a parasite inside me. I nodded. As an Alpha, my reputation had to be upheld. No more leniency. I closed my eyes, letting the moonlight wash over me, calming the storm brewing within. Selene... Selene. Her name rolled off my tongue like a sweet melody, yet frustration lingered in its tone. On our wedding day, you tried to run from me. And now... you do it again? Naughty girl. Do you prefer me as the bad guy? Harder, stronger... for you? Leave a comment 15.15 $4.05% Dangerous Stand-in DNDE, A Luna on the KUN