lphas Second Choice novel Chapter 16

Chapter 7

Alpha Rex’s words carried a hint of accusation, as if Luna Ruby were the one to blame.

However, the truth was now undeniable, laid bare before her eyes.

Even if she wanted to deceive herself, she no longer had the strength to do so.

Finn slumped to the ground. He suddenly struggled to crawl toward me, grabbing my hand.

“Maple, I was wrong. I’m so sorry,” he pleaded.

I gave a faint smile and did not respond. The silver needles attached to me continued to glow faintly.

The scenes flickered in the memory projection. In one, I was seen picking up a letter that had fallen under the

bedsheet.

The envelope was blank. Out of curiosity, I opened it.

But its contents stunned both the version of me in the memory and every pack member watching.

The letters were filled with unspeakable youthful infatuation.

The truth was, Finn harbored a secret he could never share with anyone.

He felt something for Hazel that went far beyond sibling affection.

He loved her, not as a brother should.

They weren’t related by blood. Having grown up together, Finn had silently chosen to stand by her, to shield

her from any harm.

From the very first day Hazel was brought back to the pack by Alpha Rex and Luna Ruby, Finn had held a

deep admiration for her.

The feelings he showed me were never real.

Though we were only a year apart, and attended chemistry classes together, trained together, and as fellow rogues taken in by the pack, Finn’s care for me was nothing more than a duty.

Alpha Rex and Luna Ruby had asked him to look after me, so he often included me when he was with Hazel.

Hazel genuinely liked me and strongly pushed for Finn and me to be together, hoping we would become

mates.

Finn, loving everything Hazel cared for and wanting to see her happy, went along with it.

And I, foolishly, immersed myself in this illusion of love for years.

Even though I told myself it was all a lie, I couldn’t bring myself to let go of those fragile shards of happiness in my life.

Chapter 7

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After Hazel’s passing, I decided to keep this secret.

I folded the letters and placed them back where they belonged, my heart tangled in conflicting emotions. Finn’s love had always belonged to Hazel.

In truth, the signs had been there all along, visible in the smallest details.

And I was merely a supporting character in their story.

The weight of it all was too heavy to bear, but I resolved to carry it alone, as a way to repay the pack for taking me in all those years.

Slowly, I turned on the hospital bed, my gaze falling on Finn’s familiar yet strangely distant face.

Forcing a strained smile, I mustered all my strength to speak, “Finn, I finally… don’t love you anymore.”

“The debt I owed your pack… I’ve repaid it all.”

A flicker of panic crossed Finn’s eyes.

“Maple, I truly know I was wrong. Please don’t leave me. I… I actually fell for you a long time ago, I just refused to admit it. I was afraid to face you. I felt like I had betrayed Hazel.”

His voice faded until it was barely audible.

I felt nothing inside. As my eyes slowly closed, a final tear traced down my cheek.

The heart monitor began beeping urgently.

“Maple’s heart rate is dropping. We need to resuscitate her, now,” a voice said.

The witch pulled Finn aside, removed the silver needles from my body, and began administering a potion and preparing for defibrillation.

“Save her! You have to save her!” Finn demanded, his voice frantic.

The witch frowned, her expression troubled.

“We will do everything we can. But her body was already pushed beyond its limits. All we can do now is try. You must prepare yourself.”

Only then did Finn realize the full extent of what he had done.

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