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I’ve been harboring secrets.
Two to be precise, and the weight of them is becoming unbearable. These secrets, if revealed, have the power to fracture our team just when we need unity the most, especially with the looming threat of The Rift and the malevolent entities it houses.
The forest’s eerie silence mirrors the turmoil within me as I grapple with the knowledge that these secrets must remain hidden, buried deep within me. Each day that passes only intensifies the struggle, and I find myself torn between my loyalty to the team and the growing weight of the truth I carry.
One secret concerns a revelation that could shake the foundation of our mission, while the other is a deeply personal matter, one I’m not ready to share with my companions. The Knot Head Forbidden Forest has become a crucible of challenges and uncertainties, and I fear that these secrets may be the very catalysts that push us all to our breaking points.
The only problem is I might have reached the point where I can’t keep it all in any longer. Much as I want to, it doesn’t feel possible.
I didn’t plan on revealing my secret until I’ve unraveled the mystery that haunts me every time I lay eyes on Roarke. There’s something eerily familiar about him, a sensation that sends a shiver down my spine. The realization hits me later—Roarke bears an uncanny resemblance to someone I know, or rather, someone I know bears an uncanny resemblance to Roarke.
Ryan, Anya’s son and my closest friend, is the linchpin of this enigma. He’s been like a brother to me, sharing countless memories and secrets throughout our lives. However, right now, he’s supposedly away at college, far from this enigmatic forest, The Rift, and the unfolding secrets within our team.
The idea of Ryan being a dead ringer for our enigmatic leader adds another layer of unease to our already perplexing situation. I can’t shake the notion that there might be a connection, a concealed link between Ryan’s absence and Roarke’s presence.
It’s obvious that something happened between Anya and Roarke a long time ago at some music festival, and now I’m pretty sure I know what it is!
Being around Anya has become increasingly difficult too, especially as I get to know her on a deeper level, all the while harboring the knowledge that Ryan isn’t away at college as she believes. Instead, he’s with a pack, his first pack. In most cases, individuals are born into a pack, but Ryan’s situation is unique. He grew up under the impression that he was a human, a façade that lasted until his thirteenth birthday. I had tried to tell him the truth for nearly a year beforehand, but he remained skeptical until his first change during a full moon. It was a pivotal moment that shattered his preconceptions.
Anya, however, remains completely unaware of this revelation. She doesn’t know the truth about her son, a secret I’ve kept to protect her. But as the days in the Knot Head Forbidden Forest wear on, I’ve become convinced that she deserves to know the reality about Ryan, no matter the consequences.
My determination grows stronger with each passing moment, and I’ve resolved to reveal the truth to Anya, regardless of the Alpha’s authority or any potential repercussions. She deserves to have the knowledge that has been kept hidden from her for far too long, and I won’t rest until I’ve given her the answers she deserves.
And then we get to my second secret, and this one is a biggie.
My second secret is a far more personal and intimate one, one that I’ve been carrying with guilt and desire gnawing at my conscience. It happened quite unexpectedly when I came over to retrieve some of Ryan’s belongings last month. What I witnessed was something I never intended to see, a private moment that I inadvertently stumbled upon.
Anya, unaware of my presence, was engaged in an intimate act of touching herself. It was a moment of vulnerability and raw desire, one that ignited a fire within me. I had harbored feelings for her for a long time, but watching her in the throes of pleasure took my desire to an entirely new level.
I stayed there for a long time, watching her lose herself to the heat of passion, and that image is all I’ve touched myself to since. I know it’s wrong, but what can I do? I can’t seem to help myself. I am obsessed with her, addicted even. Anya has been my every thought for what feels like forever.
The image of her haunts my thoughts, a constant temptation that I struggle to resist. It’s a secret I’ve kept locked away, a forbidden desire that I can’t bring myself to confess, especially given the complicated circumstances of our mission and our evolving relationships within the team.
Navigating this situation with Roarke has become increasingly complicated. It’s clear that he’s been involved with Anya in the past, and now I find myself developing feelings for her. The tangled web of emotions and loyalties is becoming harder to manage, and I’m torn between my loyalty to my Alpha and my growing affection for a woman who also happens to be my best friend’s mother.
The fact that I’ve known Ryan for years, that we share a deep bond as friends, makes this desire even more challenging to handle. I can’t help but feel a sense of guilt and conflict within me. It’s as if I’m betraying not only Roarke but also Ryan, whom I’ve sworn to protect and keep safe.
The realization that my feelings for Anya might be more than just a passing crush has begun to weigh heavily on my heart. It’s a daunting thought that has me questioning the very fabric of my loyalty and the dynamics within our team. What if this is love? What if it’s not just a fleeting attraction but something deeper and more profound?
The uncertainty of it all leaves me in a state of internal turmoil. I can’t help but wonder what would happen if I were to admit my true feelings for Anya. How would it impact our mission, our relationships within the team, and my standing with Roarke, our Alpha?
Sitting with Anya by the small fire near the mouth of the cave has become something of a routine for me. She insists on having the fire here to prevent the smoke from filling the main cavern, and it also allows her to cook the game I bring back from our hunts. It’s a way for me to contribute to the group and to spend some time with Anya, even if it’s just as a friend.
As I sit there, tending to the fire and keeping her company, I can’t help but overhear the hushed conversations from the others at the back of the cave. They’re deep in discussion about our strategy, and it’s clear that they don’t want Anya to be privy to all the details. It’s a necessary precaution, given the dangers we face, but it also highlights the divide that’s forming within our group.
I glance at Anya, who’s focused on cooking the meat, her brow furrowed in concentration. She deserves to know what’s going on, and I can’t help but feel conflicted about keeping secrets from her. But for now, I continue to sit with her, offering what comfort and companionship I can in this strange and perilous situation we find ourselves in.
“Anya, I have a secret.”
Anya’s surprise is evident in her expression as she turns her gaze toward me. Her eyes hold a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty, and I can’t help but feel a weight on my chest as I prepare to reveal the secrets that have been weighing on me.
“I have something to tell you,” I begin, my voice steady but filled with the weight of the truths I’m about to share. In this moment, I’m torn between the two secrets that have been haunting me—the truth about Roarke’s resemblance to Ryan and the revelation about Ryan’s true nature as a werewolf, or my more personal secret…
“Do tell,” she says, with a hint of flirting in her voice. I love it when she speaks to me like that.
“I saw you. A month ago.” Oh God, I guess I’ve decided to go with the personal secret then. “At your house, you know how I have a key? Well, Ryan wanted me to get some of his things and I saw you... touching yourself.”
My heart pounds heavily against my rib cage as she absorbs this, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. I knew I shouldn’t have said a thing. What an idiot!
