He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 44

In this chapter, the tense atmosphere at the feast escalates when Andrei discovers a potential contamination issue with the drinks. He orders immediate testing and instructs everyone to stop drinking and head to the medical tent if they suspect they were drugged. Despite protests from the crowd, Andrei remains firm, and his Beta begins questioning anyone who had access to the beverages. Damon, who has been drugged, is still mostly lucid, and Natalia supports him as they prepare to take him for medical treatment to flush the wolfsbane from his system.

Lilith’s carefully planned scheme has failed. She had intended to use Natalia’s scent to provoke Damon into attacking her, and when that didn’t work, she drugged Damon with wolfsbane to disorient him and planned to manipulate the situation to ruin his reputation and hurt Natalia emotionally. However, her plan unravels as Andrei and Damon protect Natalia, and Andrei listens to her concerns, undermining Lilith’s intentions.

Feeling defeated but still determined, Lilith watches the guests leave, her beautiful dress ruined and her plans foiled. Despite the setback, she resolves to continue her vendetta against Natalia, vowing to find a way to destroy her, whether by ruining her reputation or worse. Lilith is consumed by bitterness and a desire for revenge, especially over secrets from their shared past.

The chapter ends with Lilith being summoned by Andrei’s Beta, who approaches her with a grim expression and a look of distrust. Lilith quickly masks her emotions, preparing to play the part of a victim, as she is called to speak with Alpha Andrei, hinting at further conflict to come.

hapter 44

The onlookers had gone quiet now, soft gasps and whispers rippling through the crowd. Lilith was as still as a statue, clutching Andrei’s shirt even tighter.

Andrei handed the cup to his Beta. “Have this tested immediately.” Then he raised his voice to address the crowd. “The feast is over. Everyone return to your vehicles. Do not drink anything else, and if you believe you may have been drugged, go straight to the medical tent–we may have a contamination issue.”

Protests rose from the crowd, but Andrei ignored them. He even ignored Lilith when she softly whined something into his ear that I couldn’t make out. “My Beta will be questioning anyone who had access to the drinks,” Andrei said firmly. “If you saw anything suspicious, speak up now.”

People began dispersing, although slowly, still craning their necks to see what would happen next. I moved to Damon’s side, letting him lean on me despite my injured leg. Even though he had been drugged, it didn’t seem to be as bad as the wolf in the

Woods, and he was still mostly lucid.

“I didn’t do it,” he mumbled against my shoulder. “Natalia, I swear I didn’t touch her.”

“I know,” I said softly. “I know you didn’t.”

Lilith had gone very quiet against Andrei’s chest. When I looked at her, she wasn’t crying anymore. Her face was pale, eyes darting between the cup in the Beta’s hands and the dispersing crowd.

“Take Damon to the medical tent,” Andrei ordered, turning to me. “They’ll need to flush the wolfsbane from his system before it does permanent damage.”

I nodded and took Damon’s hand, leading him away.

Lilith

Nothing was going according to plan today.

First, my carefully orchestrated hunt had failed spectacularly. I gave that idiot wolf Natalie’s scent to set off his wolf and led him directly to the wolfsbane. I’d thought her scent would lock him onto her and make him kill her, and it had nearly worked.

But then both Andrei and Damon had protected her. Working together like the brothers they’d never really been, united in their need to keep her safe. The sight had made my blood boil as I’d watched from the treeline.

When that hadn’t worked, I had moved on to my backup plan. Crushing wolfsbane into Damon’s water had been easy enough—everyone was distracted by the feast, the flowing alcohol, the general merriment. A smaller dose than what the feral wolf had taken, just enough to make him act inappropriately without making it too obvious.

The plan had been simple. Get him disoriented, lure him into the women’s bathroom, then goad him into assaulting me. His reputation would be ruined, his pack would be disgraced, and Natalia would be devastated. If I couldn’t kill her, then I could at least destroy her image. Maybe even convince her to end things herself someday once it got bad enough.

+25 Bonus

But I hadn’t counted on Natalia being so damn observant. Or on Andrei actually listening to her.

He’d chosen me, damn it. Five years ago, he’d chosen me over her. But the second she showed up again with her sob stories and her mysterious past, he couldn’t take his eyes off of

Aler

Even now, after I had thrown myself at him sobbing, he’d been more concerned with finding the truth than comforting me.

I stood near the dying bonfire, watching the last of the guests leave. My beautiful blue dress was ruined, the sleeve I’d carefully torn hanging limp. All that planning, all that careful manipulation, wasted.

But the fight wasn’t over yet. No, I would find a way to ruin Natalia, one way or another. If I couldn’t find a way to kill her, then I would make her kill herself.

One way or another, she would die. And no one would ever find out the truth about what had happened all those years ago.

“Lilith.”

I turned to find Andrei’s Beta approaching with a grim expression.

“Yes?” I asked, turning fully to face him. I quickly schooled my face into a mask of pathetic anguish, even willing a few tears to fall. I had to play the part of a woman who had been assaulted by a drugged–up monster, after all.

He stopped in front of me, and as his eyes caught the firelight, I saw the look of distrust there. “Alpha Andrei wishes to speak with you,” he said. “Come with me.

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The chapter closes on a tense and fragile moment, capturing the raw emotions of betrayal, desperation, and determination. Lilith’s carefully laid plans have crumbled, yet her resolve remains unshaken as she grapples with the painful reality of Andrei’s shifting loyalties and the protective bond between him and Natalia. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken accusations and the heavy weight of past wounds, leaving the characters caught in a web of mistrust and unresolved pain.

Despite the chaos and heartbreak, there is a quiet strength in the way Natalia supports Damon, and in Andrei’s decisive actions to uncover the truth. The chapter highlights the complexities of loyalty and the fierce desire to protect those we love, even when shadows of doubt and manipulation threaten to tear everything apart. It is a poignant reminder that in the midst of darkness, the door to the soul is often held open by those who truly see us.

Tensions simmer as the aftermath of the feast’s chaos settles, but the real storm is far from over. Lilith’s carefully laid plans have crumbled, yet her determination to destroy Natalia only intensifies. The fragile alliances and loyalties among Andrei, Damon, and Natalia are tested in ways that will force each character to confront painful truths and hidden motives. As Lilith faces Andrei’s Beta, a new layer of intrigue emerges, hinting at secrets that could unravel everything.

Meanwhile, Natalia’s protective instincts and growing trust in Andrei and Damon set the stage for deeper emotional conflicts. The question lingers: how far will each character go to protect what they hold dear, and what sacrifices will be demanded? The next chapter promises a delicate dance of power, deception, and raw vulnerability, drawing readers further into a web of suspense where every choice could tip the balance between survival and destruction.

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.