He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 19

The narrator reflects on her complicated relationship with Andrei, noting that Natalia, Andrei’s former mate and Luna, is a ghost from the past that everyone seems to mourn except her. She tries to reconnect with Andrei, hoping to help him heal from his grief over losing Natalia, but encounters coldness and resistance, especially from Mila, Natalia’s former lieutenant, who refuses to acknowledge her authority or make changes without official approval.

Later, the narrator confronts Andrei in the war room, discussing the lingering presence of Natalia in his life and the pack. She expresses frustration that despite Natalia’s departure and their divorce, everyone still reveres her memory. Andrei admits that cutting the bond with Natalia, his mate, takes time, revealing his lingering feelings and emotional struggle. The narrator, though hurt, resolves to wait for him to move on.

That night, the narrator contemplates her own role in the situation, blaming herself for leaving and allowing Natalia to enter Andrei’s life. She resolves to reclaim what she believes is hers by carrying Andrei’s heir, hoping this will finally secure her place and erase Natalia’s lingering influence. Determined and resolute, she vows to burn away Natalia’s ghost from every corner of their lives.

“You’ll always been the Moonshadow Luna to me,” I gave a light laugh. In my mind, Natalia didn’t–never

was

existed. The sooner she was forgotten by everyone–the better.

She clipped a dead bloom with practiced precision. “Hmm,” she hummed. “So you’re back,” she said. “In his life.” She didn’t sound enthusiastic.

My smile faltered. “Not in so many words, but we’ve… reconnected.”

“I see.”

I hated how calmly she said it. No warmth. No curiosity. Just an assessment.

“I thought,” I added carefully, “you might be willing to help. He listens to you.‘

She turned at that, wiping her gloves on a cloth, “Andrei listens to grief. Right now, that’s all he hears.”

She stepped closer, her eyes cool. “It will be hard for him to get over losing Natalia. Which is why he needs to heal.”

I blinked. “I could help him with that,” I said, swallowing thickly.

She gave me an assessing look and walked away without another word.

***

L

Next, I went to find the former Delta. Natalia’s old lieutenant–a stoic, sharp–eyed woman named Mila. She was organizing training exercises in the courtyard.

“Mila,” I called, stepping up to the edge of the sparring ring. “You’re still running drills?”

She didn’t pause. “Someone has to.”

“Well, I’d like to discuss restructuring the command hierarchy. With Natalia gone, I think it’s time we-”

“You’re not Luna.”

I bristled. “Excuse me?”

“You’re not Luna,” she repeated, turning to face me. “I’m sorry, but I can’t and won’t make any changes without official approval. Anyway, Natalia improved efficiency to levels that would be hard for any pack to match. Restructuring would only ruin all we’ve gained. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

My hands curled into fists at my sides. She turned away from me. Like I was nothing.

I did the same, turning on my heel and storming out.

***

By late afternoon, I found Andrei in the war room.

He stood over a map, not moving, fingers resting lightly against the border lines of Moonshadow.

مه

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I didn’t knock.

“I spoke to your mother today,” I said.

He didn’t look up.

“She was… less than supportive.”

He remained silent.

I crossed the room. “I also spoke to Mila. The Delta.”

“What about her?” he asked.

“Well, she clearly doesn’t see me as your future Luna.”

Andrei sighed. “What do you want, Lilith?”

“I want to understand,” I said. “Why does it feel like everyone is mourning a ghost while I’m still right here?”

He looked up slowly.

“I’m here now,” I said. “And she–she’s gone. She left you. She filed for divorce. She walked away and never looked back.“.

He didn’t say a word, just sighed and looked back down at the map in front of him.

“She never loved you the way I did,” I pushed. “And yet everyone still treats her like she was some kind of saint.”

“She was Luna for five years.

}}

“So?”

“So people need time to adjust.

I laughed, short and bitter. “Do you need time to adjust?”

He didn’t answer.

I stepped closer. “Do you think she was better than me?”

Still, nothing.

“Tell me the truth,” I whispered. “Do you still love her?”

He looked away. “She was my mate.”

I staggered back like I’d been struck.

“Cutting that bond,” he said slowly, “takes time.”

Not she’s gone. Not I’ve moved on. Just it takes time.

I forced a smile to my lips. “Well. I’ll wait, then.”

He didn’t stop me as I left the room.

***

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Later that night, I stared at myself in the mirror. If I’d never left, none of this would have ever happened. He’d never have found Natalia.

He’d be with me. Would have always been with me. I sighed. That was my own fault. But I’d find a way to fix it. I pressed my stomach with cold fingers.

If I carried his heir… if I could give him the one thing she stole from him…

Then I would finally have everything I’d been denied.

I would finally be the only one left.

Natalia–the “Contract Luna” was ash.

But her ghost still clung to this house like a curse.

And I wouldn’t stop until I burned it out of every room.

D

The chapter delicately explores the lingering shadows of loss and the struggle for acceptance in the wake of a fractured past. Lilith confronts the cold reality that Andrei and those around him are still bound by the memory of Natalia, whose presence haunts their lives like a stubborn ghost. Despite the silence and resistance she faces, Lilith’s determination to claim her place and heal the wounds left behind is palpable, revealing her resilience amidst emotional turmoil.

In these quiet moments of confrontation and reflection, the story captures the painful tension between past and present love, mourning and moving forward. Lilith’s resolve to wait, to heal, and to ultimately become the one who remains speaks to the powerful human desire for belonging and redemption. Though the path is fraught with heartache, her unwavering hope promises a future where the ghosts of yesterday no longer hold sway.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled emotions and unresolved tensions that bind Lilith, Andrei, and the shadow of Natalia. As Lilith grapples with her place in a world that still mourns a woman who walked away, the delicate balance between past loyalties and present desires threatens to unravel. The cold distance Andrei maintains hints at wounds not yet healed, and Lilith’s determination to claim her rightful place will surely stir both conflict and revelation.

Expect the simmering undercurrents of grief, love, and rivalry to come to the surface, forcing each character to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other. The fragile alliances and power dynamics within the pack will be tested, and Lilith’s quiet resolve may ignite unexpected reactions. The question remains: can she truly erase Natalia’s ghost, or will the past continue to haunt them all?

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.