Chapter 147
Juno’s POV
Come in, I know it’s you Lock the door, Amelia’s voice called from inside.
I did as instructed and walked to the sofa, sitting beside her. Amelia smiled at me, though worry still lingered in her eyes. Despite my lingering wariness, 1 forced myself to keep an open mind.
“First, I apologize, but I need to ask you a personal question,” Amelia began, looking directly into my eyes. How did you feel when Matthew met hic fated one? I need you to be honest.”
I considered whether to answer, but realized I had to if this conversation was to continue. “Heartbroken, I finally admitted. Like my life was over. Matthew was the leading Alpha of Forestvale. I had nowhere to go, no one would want me. I could only stay there until the Clifflands attack gave me a way out.”
Amelia looked surprised, and I explained further. ‘I offered myself as tribute to leave Matthew. We could try have subdued the attackers, but I didn t want to be the outsider anymore. I watched Matthew with Isabelle and realized they would be a family with no place for me.
Despite Amelia’s concern, I smiled, one hand gently caressing my belly. “But I’m glad I found love and everything I wanted in Clifflands.
Amelia smiled back. “If Matthew had been Augustin, you truly would have had nowhere to go because Augustin is a rank above Matthew, but no one is above the Alpha King. Her gaze grew distant. “In that situation, you would have been trapped forever, unable to leave even if you wanted to, because society, your family, and your own heart wouldn’t allow it.”
She refocused on me. “But I didn’t call you here to discuss your relationship. I called you to discuss mine.” She took a deep breath. “What my sons don’t know is that their father had a fated mate.”
I feigned surprise to hear Amelia’s version. “Everyone who knew was sworn to secrecy by Nathanael,” Amelia explained. “His fated mate was named Charlotte Sinclair, from Verdantia in the western region. Only the elder council members and the older Lakeside Alphas know of her existence.”
Tears glimmered in Amelia’s eyes. “Nathanael loved me wholeheartedly, just as Augustin loves you. Perhaps not exactly the same, but similarly. And I loved him with all my heart. I thought we would have a wonderful life, but I was wrong.”
“Everything changed when Nathanael met Charlotte and took her as his mistress.” Amelia continued, tears streaming down her face. “My family, the Montalvos, and the elder council wouldn’t allow Nathanael to mark Charlotte because it would insult me, so he maintained a relationship with her, subjecting me to unimaginable pain.”
“Charlotte was no saint,” Amelia’s voice turned bitter. “This wasn’t Charlotte’s choice, but by design. No fated mate would willingly be a mistress; they believe the wife is in their rightful place, so they will do anything to completely replace her rather than share.”
She described how Charlotte plotted against her, manipulating Nathanael. “Charlotte was the one who started Nathanael’s war frenzy. When my family and parts of the elder council opposed it, Nathanael began eliminating them to make Charlotte his Luna and Luna Queen of Clifflands.” She laughed bitterly. “I had given up hope by then. I had Evanth, but he wasn’t an Alpha, so I knew my days with Nathanael were numbered.”
“When Charlotte became pregnant, I left the manor with Evanth and returned to my family,” Amelia continued. “Nathanael didn’t come for me; he just doted on Charlotte but never marked her. Charlotte was so wicked that her people refused to come to the manor to help her. You can investigate this if believe me.”
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Her voice grew more pained. “Because of this, Nathanael forced me to return to be Charlotte’s midwife. I was abused and insulted; Nathanael would beat me because of Charlotte’s lies, and Charlotte never lacked for lies.” Her hands trembled slightly. “I was tired, and if it had been a lower–ranking Alpha, I could have run away, but no one would challenge the Alpha King for me.”
“Then the Moon Goddess showed me mercy,” Amelia’s expression grew complex. “Charlotte died giving birth to her son. Nathanael lost his mind, first accusing me of poisoning Charlotte and throwing me in jail, but later it was proven that Charlotte died from childbirth complications. I was released and asked to care for the child, but I refused, calling the boy a bastard.”
“Nathanael felt guilty for imprisoning me, so he didn’t force me to care for the child,” Amelia continued. “Soon he discovered all of Charlotte’s lies about me. When the boy turned one, Nathanael discovered he had an Alpha wolf and sent him to Crimson in Clifflands to be raised by a minor family.”
“Around that time, I became pregnant with Augustin, but things were never the same,” Amelia’s gaze darkened. “Though Nathanael loved me, losing his mate destroyed him. He found himself attracted to Lakeside women who resembled Charlotte, so he actively maintained a harem. He conquered all of Lakeside for other reasons, but he took their women so he could briefly replace Charlotte.”
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Chapter 147
Then, Amelia said softly, “I gave birth to Augustin, and when Nathanael discovered Augustin was an Alpha, his love for me Ingrenset, and Charlene and her son were gradually forgotten
“The boy’s name is Chris Sinclair, Amella fold me. “Nathanael didn’t give him a surname because he was illegitimate.”
She explained, “This illegitimate son is why I left. I went to see if I could find his whereabouts because he’s the only one who might want to kill my soris and the only one who would benefit from it. Evanth and Augustin don’t know he exists. I told Evanth yesterday, but he didn’t take it well
“That’s why i’m telling you, Amelia gripped my hand. “I hope you can help me tell Augustin. We need to find Chris and make sure he’s not behind all this.” Her voice was pleading. I have no evidence, only speculation, but I know you’re good at investigating. I hope you can look into this and uncover the truth
Faced with this monumental revelation, I sat stunned, unable to respond immediately. The implications were staggering – Augustin had a half–brother. A half–brother who might want him dead.
The scent of shock filled the room as I tried to process what I’d just learned.
This matched with what Elton had told me, but hearing it from Amelia herself gave it new weight. Still, I couldn’t help wondering if there was more to the story. Was Amelia telling me everything, or just the parts that painted her in a sympathetic light? A half–brother with Alpha blood would indeed have motive to eliminate Augustin and claim the throne, but was Chris truly behind these attacks?
I took a deep breath. This secret could tear apart what was left of the Levenston family. And now the burden of it rested partly on my shoulders.
‘I need to think about how to tell Augustin,” I finally said.
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