He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 25

Natalia stands dripping wet beside the pool, her soaked gown clinging to her as the truth of her identity is revealed to everyone. The makeup she used to hide herself has washed away, and the persona of Mira is gone. She has been pulled from the water, gasping, and the crowd is buzzing with Lilith’s accusations that Natalia pushed her to humiliate her. Natalia no longer cares about playing roles or hiding; she is ready to face the world as her true self, even if it makes people uncomfortable.

As Natalia tries to leave, Andrei calls after her, soaked and tense, with Lilith clinging to him. He asks if she has anything to say, but Natalia refuses to explain, knowing he will defend Lilith as usual and dismiss her truth. When Andrei grabs her wrist to stop her, Damon intervenes, pulling Natalia protectively into his embrace and warning Andrei not to lay hands on another Alpha’s Luna. The tension between the two men is palpable, but Natalia calmly points out that Andrei should be helping his crying fiancée instead of confronting her.

Andrei is left alone, staring at his wet hands, filled with guilt and confusion. He realizes he always knew Natalia was alive, feeling the bond between them and never sensing her death. His guilt led him to be more lenient with Lilith, but now he struggles to accept that Natalia is Damon’s Luna, his half-brother who left the pack years ago. The chapter ends with Andrei grappling with the painful truths and shifting loyalties around him.

NATALIA

The world slowed to a syrupy drag as I stood dripping beside the pool, every eye in the room drawn to me like moths to a flame. My soaked gown clung to my legs, heavy and cold. I could feel the mascara streaking down my cheeks, the foundation long gone, leaving only bare skin and truth.

The makeup I’d tried to use to shield my identity had washed away.

Mira was gone.

Natalia had been pulled, gasping, from the water.

And by morning, everyone would know it.

Behind me, I could hear Lilith’s voice–cracked and breathless–sputtering accusations as Andrei hauled her out of the water.

“She pushed me! She–she did it to humiliate me!”

Her voice trembled on the edge of a sob, just loud enough for the crowd to hear.

I didn’t even look at them.

I was done playing roles. Done pretending to be someone else to survive.

Let them stare.

Let them wonder.

I’d almost died once trying to disappear. I wasn’t going to shrink again just because the truth made people uncomfortable.

I turned toward the side exit, water sloshing in my heels, and took a single step before I heard him behind me.

“Natalia–wait!”

I stopped.

Closed my eyes.

And turned slowly.

Andrei stood there, his shirt soaked through, eyes wild. Lilith clung to his arm like a parasite, soaked and shaking, mascara bleeding down her cheek like ink. She was practically buried against his side, but his attention was all on

“You really have nothing to say?” he asked.

His voice was hoarse. Raw.

Like he’d swallowed regret and didn’t know how to breathe past it.

I stared at him for a long moment, then shook my head once. “I have nothing to explain.”

And I meant it.

Because I knew exactly how this would go.

He would defend her, as he always had. He would say I overreacted. That I misunderstood. That Lilith had been through so much.

He would believe her tears over my truth.

Because he always had.

And I was done begging to be believed.

I turned again.

But this time, his hand shot out and caught my wrist. Not roughly–but enough to stop me.

That’s when the low growl cut through the air.

Andrei barely had time to turn before Damon’s arm slid protectively around my waist, pulling me back into his

chest.

It was like stepping into the eye of a storm and finding calm.

“Isn’t it a little inappropriate,” Damon said, his voice smooth and sharp as a blade, “to lay hands on another Alpha’s Luna?”

The silence amongst the gawking masses went razor–sharp.

Andrei didn’t let go right away. His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing.

The tension crackled between them, old and deep and unresolved.

Damon didn’t flinch. His hand tightened gently at my waist.

“You’re upset. I understand. But whatever this is” his eyes flicked to Lilith and back” doesn’t involve her

anymore.

Andrei’s gaze returned to mine, something fragile breaking behind his eyes.

But I’d seen enough.

I stepped out of Damon’s hold just enough to steady myself and said, without venom, “Your fiancée is still crying. Shouldn’t you be helping her?”

Andrei opened his mouth–but I didn’t give him the chance to speak.

I turned and walked away, my back straight, my steps slow.

And this time, I didn’t stop.

ANDREI

I stared at my hands, still wrinkled from the pool water, my shirt hanging off my shoulders like an accusation. The candlelight cast long shadows along the walls, flickering like they couldn’t decide which version of the truth to cling to.

She had been right there.

Alive.

And I’d barely kept myself from falling apart.

I should have known. I did know.

There were too many signs. Too many half–explained coincidences.

And the pull I felt with her the bond. It had never severed. I would have known if she’d died. I would have felt it.

And I never did.

I’d known. I’d known she was alive and the guilt had made me more lenient with Lilith.

I pressed my fingers into my temples, trying to clear the spinning in my head. And now Natalia was Damon’s

Luna? My half–brother, who’d left my pack seven years ago and started his own. That was the one thing I couldn’t

believe.

日

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The chapter closes on a poignant and raw moment of truth, where Natalia sheds the masks she’s worn, embracing her vulnerability and strength alike. Her decision to no longer justify herself to Andrei or the crowd marks a powerful turning point, highlighting themes of self-acceptance and the courage to stand firm against misunderstanding and betrayal. The tension between past bonds and present realities is palpable, underscoring the complexity of love, loyalty, and the painful process of moving forward.

Andrei’s internal turmoil mirrors the emotional upheaval surrounding Natalia, as he grapples with guilt, denial, and the stark reality of her new allegiance. The unresolved history between them, coupled with the arrival of Damon as a protective force, sets the stage for a fragile but significant shift in their intertwined fates. This chapter delicately balances heartache and hope, leaving readers suspended in a moment where old wounds meet the possibility of new beginnings.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled emotions and fractured loyalties that have been simmering beneath the surface. Natalia’s defiant stand signals a turning point, but the wounds between her, Andrei, and Damon are far from healed. Expect the raw, unspoken truths to bubble up, forcing each character to confront the choices they’ve made and the consequences they now face. The tension between the brothers, complicated further by Natalia’s position, will likely ignite new conflicts that challenge their bonds and beliefs.

Emotions will run high as the characters grapple with betrayal, regret, and the fragile hope for understanding. Natalia’s resolve to stop hiding her truth may inspire strength, but it also risks deepening the rifts around her. Meanwhile, Andrei’s internal struggle and Damon’s protective stance hint at a storm of feelings that could either shatter or reshape their relationships. The next chapter will leave readers questioning who will stand firm, who will falter, and what sacrifices might be demanded in the pursuit of truth and loyalty.

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.