Chapter 360
Aiden POV
“Mama,” I said with a smile, and I know I sound like a country boy when I say it. I also feel through the mate bond desire coming from my mate and then it quickly disappears. I’ll tease her later about it.
Then Blanca looks at Thalia, “Mija, what you said on the way here is bothering me. Tell me what really happened to you all those years ago.
“We would like to know too.” Damara said, speaking for himself and Valeno.
I looked at Raul, “You still have copies?”
“Yeah. I will bring three for you all to look at.” He said and stepped out of the room.
Dad went just outside the room to the waiting area and pulled in a couple of extra chairs. There is a sofa in here, but it’s not enough seating. Once everyone is settled and Raul comes back with the folders, I asked Thalia if she wanted to start.
She started explaining, “Ma. I wasn’t kidnapped. Diego handed me over to two loan sharks to rape and beat me so he could settle his gambling debts.”
“WHAT!” Valeno said and Blanca stared at Thalia in shock.
“He said you were kidnapped. He lied to me.” She said, crying. “Mija, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I would have left with you and your brother and sister. I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me then?”
“He said he would hurt Mia. He always used you both as leverage over me.” She said but continued, “A year later, when Diego said he was taking me for Christmas shopping, remembered he carried me inside when we returned?”
“Yes.” Blanca said with trembling hands.
“He had more gambling debts.” She said, “He took me to an abandoned warehouse where I was raped, beaten, burned and whipped for an entire afternoon.”
“No, No, No!” Blanca said covering her face and balling out crying. “Ay, mija. I’m so sorry. I failed you as a mother. I should have protected you. I didn’t know.”
Thalia hugs her mother. “Ma. There is nothing you could have done. Diego was a beast. He never loved me. You know that. I don’t understand why, but he has always hated me.”
Blanca is hugging Thalia tightly even though her body is weak. “What else? Did he do anything else to you?”
“Yes. After the second attack, he started giving me what I always thought was birth control. But it turns out it was henbane pills. He didn’t want to get me pregnant is what he said.”
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Damaro speaks up, “HE didn’t want to get you pregnant? Are you saying what I think you saying, nieta?”
Thalia didn’t even turn around. She kept looking at Blanca. “Yes. Abuelo. From sixteen und turned eighteen, he molested me. He did that because for whatever reason, the henbane pills didn’t kill me. He wanted me dead.” She said sadly.
Valeno shifted and crashed through the hospital window. I don’t blame him. I had to let Leon out when we first heard about it. “Dad, can you get shorts and a shirt ready for when he comes back?”
“Sure. I’ll be right back.” Dad said as he left the room.
Blanca is sobbing and holding Thalia. “Mija. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She kept repeating it, like she didn’t know what else to say. Damaro has tears running down his face.
“Blanca, mija, I’m sorry. If I had known, I would never have taken the actions I took.” He said.
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Thalia looks up, “No. It’s not your fault, abuelo. The fault lies completely with Diego. Now you understand why I’m not acknowledging him as my father.”
Damaro looked at me, “You said the son is heavily influenced by Diego?”
“Yes. He hates his sister. Possibly Mia too.” I replied.
I see him open the folder and he sees Thalia’s pictures as he growls. He starts reading the reports and looks up. “The Moon Goddess healed you of all the damage? You were infertile after the first attack, and you are pregnant now?” He asked like he was trying to confirm.
“Si, abuelo.”
“Aiden, you are not a chosen mate, correct?”
“Correct. Thalia and I are fated mates. I waited fourteen years for her.” I said, smiling at
Thalia.
Blanca spoke up, “I don’t understand why he tried to kill you. You’re his daughter.”
“I don’t understand how I survived henbane pills.”
“Nieta, when did you get your wolf?” Damaro asked.
“Recently. In the last month. Right after Mia turned eighteen.” She said.
“It’s very hard to kill a Shadow Maw wolf. Aside from ripping out the heart or removing the head, a Shadow Maw will survive everything. The henbane pills would never kill you, but it would suppress your wolf. Nyx absorbed the pills to save you. Releasing her would have taken great effort though.” Damaro said.
“It did and my first shift was incredibly painful.” Thalia said.
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“Yeah, it took the better part of fifteen minutes.”I added.
“Pifteen minutes?” Blanca asked, “Thalia…this is all my fault.”
“Mama, don’t you do that. You don’t get to take Blame for Diego. He is a bastard and a half. He made you suffer just because of his obsession with power and greed.”
“Why was he after you?” Damaro asked Thalia.
“He was trying to force me into an arranged margage with another crime family. He wanted me to marry into that family to infiltrate and help him take over the ports. It was a suicide mission, but since he was trying to kill me anyway, he didn’t care,” Thalia said.
Damaro stayed quiet for a beat then he looked at he, “You are right. She has the right. However, I want to help.”
“The more the merrier.” I said.
BUCHANAN
Author
Okay…you get a second chapter today….Oh, Diego just compiling on a lot more torture for himself, isn’t he? What do you think?
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.

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