He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 26
In this chapter, the narrator grapples with intense emotional pain but finds solace in the fact that Natalia is alive. Lilith, who has been crying uncontrollably since being pulled from the pool, tries to explain her side of the story about an altercation with Natalia. However, the narrator senses dishonesty in Lilith’s account and confronts her, leading to a tense exchange where Lilith admits to lying. The narrator’s feelings of betrayal and unresolved emotions about Natalia create a rift between him and Lilith, who fears losing him if Natalia returns.
The narrator reflects on the situation with a heavy heart, acknowledging the truth in Lilith’s words about his lingering feelings for Natalia. Despite Lilith’s plea for understanding and loyalty, the narrator distances himself, emphasizing that his concern is with Natalia’s experiences and survival. The chapter ends with Lilith quietly leaving, leaving the narrator alone with his conflicted emotions.
Later, the narrator steps onto a balcony and speaks with Carlos, revealing his determination to uncover the truth about Natalia’s time with Damon’s pack. He demands detailed information about Natalia’s whereabouts, relationships, and the child she was carrying, expressing a fierce resolve to protect her this time. Carlos agrees to begin the investigation immediately, understanding the gravity of the situation.
The chapter closes with the narrator reaffirming his claim over Natalia, despite the possibility that she might truly belong to Damon now. His wolf stirs with possessiveness and determination, signaling that he is ready to fight for her and not lose her again. The moonlight symbolizes a moment of quiet resolve and hope amid the turmoil.
Chapter 26
It stung. Deeply.
But none of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was that Natalia was alive.
Lilith hadn’t stopped crying. Not when I’d pulled her from the pool. Not when she clung to my arm like her survival depended on it. Not even when we headed up to our rooms to retire for the night.
But her tears didn’t move me anymore.
When she finally knocked and stepped into my room, she was freshly dressed, hair towel–dried and braided down her back, face washed of makeup. A blank canvas.
She stood just inside the door, wringing her hands.
“I didn’t know she’d be here,” she said softly. “I swear, Andrei–I didn’t know.”
I looked at her, expression unreadable.
“Did she push you?”
Her lips parted. “What?”
“In the pool,” I said slowly. “Did Natalia push you?”
She hesitated.
Too long.
Then: “We struggled. It wasn’t… it wasn’t like that-
“So she didn’t.”
})
Lilith stepped closer. “She cornered me. She said things. I was defending myself.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
She faltered again. Her voice shrank. “No.”
Silence pulsed between us.
My voice was flat. “You lied.”
“I didn’t mean to-”
“You lied.”
Her composure began to crack. She looked away, her throat working. “You were looking at her like you’d never stopped. Like I’d never even existed.”
I didn’t answer that.
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Because it was true.
I sighed. I should be yelling at her for acting like a fool, but I didn’t have the energy.
“It’s no excuse,” I muttered instead. “You’re old enough to know better.”
Lilith had the decency to look abashed. She wrapped her arms around herself. “So what now? You abandon me? After everything we’ve been through?”
“We haven’t been through anything,” I said. “She has.”
She flinched like I’d slapped her.
I turned away before I said something crueler.
Lilith’s voice was faint. “I always knew… if she came back, I’d lose you.”
I didn’t respond.
Eventually, she slipped out without another word.
I stared at the door for a long time after it closed.
***
I stepped out onto the private balcony, the night wind cool against my damp collar. The scent of pine clung to the air, and somewhere below, wolves were still murmuring about the incident. About me. About her.
Carlos stood at the edge of the railing, arms crossed. He didn’t turn as I joined him, but I knew he’d been waiting.
The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable. It never was. But tonight, it was taut with questions neither of us had spoken aloud—yet.
“I want to know everything,” I said quietly. “I want to know if she’s been hiding in Damon’s pack this whole time. I want to know what Damon is to her. I want to know…” My voice faltered.
The image of her surfaced again–dripping, furious, radiant. Alive.
“…I want to know about the child,” I finished.
The one she’d been carrying when she left.
The one I should’ve protected.
I stared out at the trees, the edges of my vision dimmed with memory and regret.
“I want it all,” I said. “Records. Testimonies. Anyone who’s crossed paths with her since she joined Ashmoor. I want names. Timelines. Everything Damon’s kept quiet.”
Carlos gave a slow nod, the kind that meant the gears were already turning. “You’ll have it.”
I turned to him fully. “Start tonight.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “And when we find out she’s been his Luna for real?”
My wolf surged just beneath my skin, burning and restless.
“She was mine before she was anyone else’s,” I said, voice low. “And I won’t lose her again.”
Carlos gave another short nod and disappeared into the shadows.
I stood there long after he was gone, the moonlight washing over my hands like absolution.
She was alive.
And this time, I would fight for her.
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The chapter closes on a note of raw vulnerability and simmering tension, capturing the fractured bonds between Andrei, Lilith, and Natalia. The emotional distance that has grown between them is palpable, underscored by Lilith’s quiet desperation and Andrei’s steely resolve. Despite the pain and betrayal, his focus remains unwavering on Natalia’s survival and the tangled truths that still lie ahead. The weight of the past presses heavily on all of them, but it is clear that Andrei’s heart is irrevocably tethered to the woman who once held his soul.
Amidst the lingering shadows of doubt and regret, there is a flicker of determination that promises a reckoning. Andrei’s demand for answers and his vow to reclaim what was lost reflect a deeper yearning for redemption and closure. The chapter leaves us suspended in the quiet aftermath of turmoil, where love, loyalty, and the quest for truth intertwine, setting the stage for the battles yet to come—both within and without.
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled emotions and unresolved tensions between Andrei, Lilith, and Natalia. As Andrei grapples with feelings of betrayal and loss, the fragile threads that connect these characters are pulled taut, setting the stage for difficult confrontations and heart-wrenching decisions. The weight of past secrets and unspoken truths threatens to unravel relationships that have already been tested by pain and misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, Andrei’s determination to uncover the full story behind Natalia’s return and her ties to Damon hints at a looming revelation that could change everything. The pursuit of answers will not only challenge loyalties but also force him to confront his own fears and regrets. As alliances shift and new truths emerge, readers can expect a chapter rich in emotional intensity and suspense, where the fight for love and redemption takes center stage.
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.