---- Chapter 13 No.13 Kaelen POV: Seraphina crumpled under my gaze, her manufactured rage dissolving into pure panic. "Kaelen, don't listen to her! She's always been jealous of me, of us!" she cried, trying to play the victim one last time. "Be silent," Lyra snapped, her voice cracking with a pain | now understood was for her sister. "You have no right to speak her name. Elara is my sister. My blood. Something you will never be." Seraphina stumbled back as if struck. She clutched her chest, her eyes wide with feigned distress. "My heart... | can't..." But this time, no one rushed to her side. Elena, her face a mask of horror and dawning comprehension, took a step back, away from the girl she had raised as her own. Lyra's words had been a dagger to her heart, reminding her of the daughter she had so easily discarded. Lyra ignored the theatrics. She stepped forward and laid out the evidence with cold, brutal efficiency. "This is the healer's report on Elara. It states she has only one fully functioning kidney due to silver poisoning. This is the report from the dungeon, detailing multiple occasions where she was beaten to the brink of death. And this," she said, holding up another ---- scroll, "is the healer's report on you, Seraphina. It confirms you are in perfect physical and mental health." My world tilted on its axis. | snatched the report on Elara from Lyra's hand. The words swam before my eyes. 'Contusions consistent with blunt force trauma... severe malnutrition multiple instances of silver-fever relapse... prognosis: critical My wolf, the beast within me that was eternally bonded to her, let out a howl of such profound agony that | felt my knees buckle. The pain of my mate, a pain | had ignored and dismissed, slammed into me with the force of a physical blow. | turned to Seraphina, my vision tinged with red. "What," | snarled, unleashing the full, terrifying power of the Alpha's Command, "did you do to my mate?" The force of my command slammed into her, forcing her to her knees. She whimpered, her eyes darting around, searching for an ally, a lifeline. She found none. "|... [wanted her to suffer," she sobbed, the truth finally spilling from her lips. She looked at Elena, her eyes pleading. "Mother, please..." Lyra stepped between them. "She is not your mother." With all her escape routes cut off, Seraphina finally broke. "I wanted her to die!" she shrieked, her face a twisted mask of hatred. "That's all | ever wanted!" ---- My father-in-law, his face ashen, stepped forward and pushed a leather-bound journal into my hands. "You should read this." It was Elara's. It was open to the last page, her elegant script in the Old Tongue a testament to a brilliance | had never acknowledged. My eyes found the line addressed to me. '.And to Kaelen, my mate, | release you from the vow the Goddess made... | am sorry, but this time, | will not wait for you.' She was gone. She had released me. The frayed, damaged bond between us snapped. The pain was instantaneous and absolute. It was a physical tearing in the center of my soul, a agony so profound it stole the air from my lungs. | collapsed, clutching my chest, a guttural scream of pure, unadulterated regret tearing from my throat. Tears, hot and shameful, streamed down my face. | had lost her. | had thrown away my other half, my soul, for a lie. In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.