He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 32
Andrei is determined to find a way to speak with Natalia alone, away from Damon, after learning she aborted their child. He suspects Damon has been manipulating her all along, possibly even influencing her decision to leave him and fake her death. Andrei believes that if he can get Natalia alone and talk to her honestly, she might reveal the truth and break free from Damon’s control. To achieve this, he plans to host a hunting competition, an event that would naturally involve Damon and Natalia and provide an opportunity to isolate her in the woods.
The hunt serves multiple purposes: it helps build rapport between packs after a recent merger, asserts Andrei’s dominance by potentially winning the competition, and most importantly, creates a chance to confront Natalia. Andrei carefully considers the location and logistics to ensure the terrain is challenging enough to separate Natalia without raising suspicion. He also involves his Beta to prepare invitations for various packs to maintain the event’s neutrality.
When Lilith unexpectedly enters Andrei’s office and asks to participate in the hunt, he immediately refuses. Still angry over a previous incident involving Lilith and Natalia, Andrei does not want her involved, fearing further conflict or complications during the event. He offers a half-truth about her past behavior as justification, which frustrates Lilith but she ultimately accepts his decision to stay only for the feast and preparations.
Lilith, however, is aware of Andrei’s true motives for the hunt—his desire to see Natalia again. She fears that if Natalia reveals her secrets to Andrei, it could ruin everything Lilith has worked for. Although excluded from the hunt, Lilith plans to find another way to intervene and prevent Andrei and Natalia from reconnecting. Before leaving, she slyly suggests a location for the hunt, the Northern River Basin, knowing it will influence Andrei’s decision and possibly her own plans.
Andrei & Lilith
Andrei
I had to come up with a way to get Natalia alone, away from Damon, so I could talk to her.
A few days had passed since she had told me she had aborted my baby, and it gave me time to think. Something was off about Natalia, and I had a feeling it was because of Damon.
He was manipulating her. I was certain of it. He had likely been manipulating her before she even left me- he was probably the reason she left and faked her death to begin with. Maybe he had even manipulated her into aborting our child.
I was certain, now, that if I could just get her alone and talk to her, really talk to her, then she would snap out of it and tell me the truth. Whether Damon had some kind of spell on her–metaphorically speaking—or if he was perhaps intimidating her into obeying his orders, I wasn’t sure. But I was determined to find out soon.
After considering my options for a few days, I finally came up with an idea.
It had been years since my pack had hosted a hunting competition. Not only would it be a great way to build rapport between packs, especially so soon after the Green Ridge merger, but it would also allow me to get Natalia alone in the woods. And if I could win the hunt and show my brother that I wasn’t messing around, assert my
dominance…
Well, that wouldn’t hurt, either.
Furthermore, a hunt would be the sort of event Damon couldn’t refuse. Hunts were a big deal in our society, and refusing to participate would imply an Alpha was too cowardly to compete. Damon, for all of his flaws, wasn’t a coward. He would certainly rise to the invitation, and of course he would have to bring his precious “Luna” with
him.
Right away, I began to plan the hunt. I needed it to be on neutral territory, somewhere forested with a rugged yet not too dangerous landscape that would be perfect for hunting.
I would also need to pick out an animal to release into the forest for the hunt. And of course I would need to plan a feast afterwards, as it was tradition at such events to roast and share the prey between the attendees–breaking bread despite the competitive nature of the event.
There was much to be done, but I felt a sense of vigor that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Planning this event felt like a thread of hope in what had been a rather hopeless situation for five years.
But the end of the dark tunnel was in sight now, and I could finally see that beautiful, bright white light. Natalia was alive. And if I could just find a way to get her out of whatever hold Damon had on her, then…
Then what, a small voice in the back of my head asked? We’d get back together? We’d have a family?
“You tried to kiss her,” my wolf growled. “You still miss her. You still-
No. I shoved my wolf back down, refusing to even entertain the thought that a tiny part of me loved Natalie. Even
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if I did, I couldn’t forgive her after what she had done–faking her death and leaving me like that, aborting our child, letting me mourn for five fucking years.
I just wanted to know the truth. And maybe a small part of me held onto the hope that she was lying about having an abortion, and that our child was still out there somewhere. Alive.
After planning out the basic logistics of the hunt, I contacted my Beta and told him to begin preparing the invitations. I wanted to invite various packs in the region, not just Damon’s pack, so as not to raise suspicions.
Only one decision remained: where to host the hunt. There were a lot of options, and I had a lot of factors to consider. It needed to be difficult enough terrain so that it would be reasonable for me to find a way to separate Natalia, who would certainly participate, from the rest of the group. But I also needed to be able to do that without making it too obvious that I was singling her out.
I was just considering my options when Lilith suddenly entered my office without an invitation. I hardly noticed her standing there until she cleared her throat, and when I looked up, she had her brow furrowed. She wore a delicate yellow dress, her soft brown hair carefully braided.
Goddess, she looked like Natalia in this light. I quickly shook my head as if to dispel the thoughts, my jaw clenching.
“I heard you’re planning on hosting a hunt,” she said.
I nodded. “Yes, I thought “I cut myself off, biting my tongue. How much could I really tell her? Lilith and I weren’t close like that, and if I confessed to my real reasons behind the hunt, she might just get jealous and even more bitter than she already was.
So instead, I said vaguely, “I thought it would be good for the packs. Build rapport and morale.”
Lilith’s eyes gleamed with intrigue. “Can I participate?”
At that, I instantly said, “No.”
Lilith frowned. “Why not?”
What was I supposed to say to that? I was still furious with her after what had happened with Natalia at the pool, and letting her participate in such an event–she had always loved hunts–felt like rewarding her for bad behavior.
Besides, I couldn’t risk her being alone with Natalia again, especially in the remote woods. I wasn’t sure what kind of fight might break out between the two of them, and I couldn’t let Lilith see what might go down if I managed to corner Natalia.
Finally, I settled on a half–truth. “You publicly fought with another Luna at the pool and lied to me about the circumstances. I don’t think you should participate in a leisure event after doing something so childish.”
Lilith’s eyes flashed dangerously. “I told you I didn’t-”
“Just… go,” I said, waving my hand dismissively. “I’m sorry, Lilith, but I’ve made my decision. You can stay at the feast and oversee the preparations.”
Lilith looked like she wanted to argue, but I didn’t give her a chance. I returned to my work, silently making it
clear that this conversation was over.
:
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Lilith
I wasn’t stupid.
I knew why Andrei was really hosting the hunt–he wanted another excuse to see her. I knew it was true, because I had seen them that day in the cafe, when he had tried to kiss her.
Whether he still loved her or was just lusting after her, I wasn’t sure. Either way, I couldn’t bear the idea of them
got her alone at the hunt and she told him the
being alone together again, and I knew I had to act quickly. If he
truth about her attempted murder….
Well, that would ruin everything I’d worked so hard to build, wouldn’t it?
I had hoped it wouldn’t have to come to this, that Natalia would learn her lesson and stay away, but now I wasn’t so certain. I would have to put a stop to this, nip it in the bud before it could make matters worse.
The hunt would have been the perfect opportunity to finally end her once and for all. My wolf had always been a good hunter, and if only I could get her alone…
But Andrei wouldn’t let me participate he had shut me down the moment I had asked like I was a petulant child to be bossed around.
I would have to find another way, something more hands–off, to handle this little… situation.
My mind raced, but suddenly, an idea struck me. I stopped just as I was leaving the office and turned to look at Andrei, who was still bent over his work, brow furrowed in concentration.
“Have you picked a location for the hunt yet?” I asked, keeping my voice as sweet as possible.
Andrei didn’t look up. “Not yet,” he grunted.
I suppressed a smile.
“You should consider the Northern River Basin,” I said coolly, wrapping my fingers around the doorknob and swinging the door open. “I hear the terrain there is perfect for a hunt.”
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The chapter closes on a tense and emotionally charged note, with Andrei’s determination to uncover the truth about Natalia driving him to orchestrate a hunt that serves as both a strategic ploy and a symbol of his lingering hope. His conflicting feelings—resentment, suspicion, and a flicker of love—paint a complex portrait of a man caught between past wounds and the possibility of reconciliation. Meanwhile, Lilith’s quiet but intense resolve to thwart Andrei and Natalia’s reunion adds a layer of impending conflict, underscoring the fragile balance of alliances and rivalries within their world.
Together, these intertwined emotions and plans set the stage for a confrontation that is as much about power and control as it is about vulnerability and truth. The hunt is not just a physical event but a metaphorical battleground where secrets will be revealed and loyalties tested. As the characters prepare for what lies ahead, the chapter leaves readers suspended in a moment charged with anticipation and the weight of unspoken desires and fears.
The tension is thick as Andrei meticulously plans the upcoming hunt, a gathering that promises more than just competition—it’s a calculated move to uncover the truth behind Natalia’s mysterious behavior and the shadow Damon casts over her. With every detail he considers, from the terrain to the timing, the stakes grow higher. Will this event finally bring Natalia and Andrei face to face, allowing hidden truths to surface, or will Damon’s influence prove too strong to break? The emotional turmoil simmering beneath Andrei’s resolve hints at unresolved feelings and painful memories that could complicate the hunt in unexpected ways.
Meanwhile, Lilith’s presence looms like a storm on the horizon. Her refusal to be sidelined and her own agenda add a dangerous edge to the already fragile situation. Her desire to control the outcome and protect what she’s built suggests that the hunt may become a battleground not just of skill, but of wills and loyalties. As alliances shift and secrets threaten to unravel, readers are left wondering who will emerge victorious—and at what cost. The next chapter promises to deepen the intrigue, with every character’s motives and emotions poised to collide in the wilds of the Northern River Basin.
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.