Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 172

Chapter 172

Natalia

The next morning, Jane was miraculously cleared for discharge. She had no injuries, all thanks to the man who had saved her from the lake. In fact, she had even slept like a baby all night, not even waking up once with a nightmare from the trauma.

All she could talk about from the moment she went to sleep to the moment she woke up was Andrei.

Her hero.

On the way home, she finally asked, “Can we call Daddy and tell him I’m all better?”

My stomach flipped as I realized that I couldn’t put it off any longer. I’d been thinking about it all night, laying awake with my head reeling, and I’d decided….

The twins deserved the truth. The full truth, with nothing held back.

Andrei deserved the truth.

Even if it was terrifying. Even if it ruined everything.

I couldn’t keep it hidden anymore. I had to tell them. Had to finally stop with the lies and face the potential consequences, if there were any. And that was the thing, wasn’t it? What if there were no consequences? What if Mila had been wrong?

What if, what if, what if…

All of the possibilities swirled through my head for hours and hours, and by the time we got home, I had made my decision.

Once we were settled, I sat both twins down in the living room. Grace had tactfully disappeared to give us privacy, and Damon was handling pack business in his office. It was just the three of us.

“I need to tell you both something important,” I began. “About Uncle Andrei.”

Jane’s eyes lit up immediately. “Is he coming to visit?”

“Maybe. But first, I need to explain something about… about who he really is.”

Max gave me that look that said he knew exactly what I was going to say. They both did. But I needed to say it out loud.

“You both know that Andrei is your father, don’t you?” I asked gently.

Jane nodded vehemently. “Yes. I knew from the moment I met him. I felt it…” She touched her chest, right over her heart. “Right here.”

“So it’s true?” Max whispered.

I blinked back tears and nodded. “Yes, loves. It’s true.”

Jane let out a squeal of delight. Max was quieter, and it was his reaction that I was mostly concerned about. But I

1/2

+25 Bonus

saw a flicker of something in those green eyes that told me… Maybe he was a little relieved.

His attitude toward Andrei had shifted after everything. So had mine, So had all of ours.

“But… You Hed,” he said then, and my heart cracked.

I dragged my lower lip through my teeth, scrambling to come up with a response. He was right, of course. Goddess, he was right. I had led. Lied and led and led.

“You see…” I struggled to find the right words. “For a long time, I thought I was doing the best for you by lying.”

“That doesn’t sound right,” Jane said, wrinkling her nose. “You always tell us to be honest.”

I sighed. “I know. But sometimes adults have to lie to keep the people we love safe. It’s complicated.”

Max and Jane exchanged a glance. Max said, “So… adults lie because they think it’s better than telling the truth.”

“Yes. Sometimes,” 1 admitted. “But I’ve decided… I’m not going to lie to you two anymore. For so long, I thought the lies I told you were the best option, but then I learned that lying to you was hurting you more than telling the truth. So for that, I’m sorry.”

Jane let out a breath that sent a lock of dark hair flying. “Adults are so weird…”

I snorted. “They sure are.”

Max tilted his head. “You’ve been lying to Andrei too, right? So are you going to tell him the truth now?” My throat clenched, but I nodded. “Yes. I’m planning on it. Is that what you two want?”

COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus

P