The Alpha's Unwanted Bride novel Chapter 682

Chapter 682: THE OTHER SIDE

His arms wrapped around me before my mind could catch up.

Warm.

Solid.

Real.

But my body didn’t relax.

It stiffened.

Remained frigid and confused.

Because as comforting as the embrace should have been, something inside me recoiled.

Slowly, carefully, I pushed against his chest.

"Wait," I said, breath uneven. "No."

He froze instantly.

Not offended.

Not angry.

Just... startled and ..... lost.

I stepped back, my heart pounding violently against my ribs.

"I know who you are," I said quickly, panic threading my words together. "You’re Aiden. I recognize you. I saw your painting. I felt it the moment I looked at it. You’re my uncle, aren’t you?"

His smile faltered.

"But you’re not my father," I continued, firmer now, grounding myself in the truth I knew. "My father was Bale. Whether he was a monster or not, whether he lied or not.... that’s who raised me. That’s who-

My voice cracked despite myself.

"That’s who everyone said he was."

And it was true.

That was what I had known my entire life.

Despite Bale acting insane towards the end and saying things that never made sense.

Things like him not being my father.

I had accepted that it was most likely the fact that he had lost the pack that had made him descend into his madness in the end.

Aiden didn’t interrupt.

He didn’t argue.

He just looked at me like someone watching a storm roll in, knowing it couldn’t be stopped.

"Jasmine," he said gently, "I didn’t mean to frighten you."

"Then don’t say things like that," I snapped, emotion spilling out before I could stop it. "Don’t claim me like that. I’ve had enough people telling me who I am, what I am, what I belong to."

I pressed a hand to my stomach, grounding myself again.

"I don’t even know where I am right now," I whispered. "One moment, I was surrounded by guards in the distant lands, the next the throne reacted to me, and now I’m here with you, calling me something I don’t understand."

And then my mind flickered like a touch.

Otto.

He wasn’t here with me.

I had left him behind when I came.

At that moment, I noticed his eyes flicked to my stomach.

Just for a second.

Then back to my face.

"You’re right," he said quietly. "You deserve clarity. Not proclamations."

I swallowed.

"Then explain," I demanded, though my voice trembled. "Explain why my necklace reacted to that throne. Explain why those people bowed. Why does everyone keep calling me ’your majesty’ when I’ve never ruled anything in my life?"

He inhaled slowly, like a man choosing his words with great care.

"You know what?" I said, massaging my brows, no longer caring what they called me. I just wanted to find my way back home. "Just forget about everything I asked. It’s completely irrelevant. I came looking for you because I have questions."

"You are not wrong," Aiden said. "Bale was the man you were told was your father. He raised you. That matters. That will always matter."

I clenched my fists.

Well.... Bale didn’t exactly raise me.

He just tossed me aside in the pack while everyone spread rumors that I was his child.

"But," he continued softly, "blood is a complicated thing, Jasmine. And truth... even more so."

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