He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 73

In the chapter “He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 73,” Damon becomes increasingly anxious when Natalia, his partner, goes missing during a social event. After half an hour without any sign of her, his worry escalates, prompting him to search the crowded ballroom. Despite his attempts to remain calm, he is unable to shake the feeling that something is wrong, especially given Natalia’s tendency to avoid drawing attention to herself in such a setting.

As Damon navigates through the party, he encounters his brother Andrei, whose presence only fuels his anger. Their tumultuous relationship is highlighted as Andrei taunts Damon about Natalia’s feelings and their bond. The tension between the brothers is palpable, with Damon struggling to maintain his composure while Andrei’s provocations dig deep into his insecurities regarding his relationship with Natalia. The conversation reveals the complexity of their dynamics, underscoring the emotional scars left by their shared past.

When Damon finally spots Natalia emerging from the restroom, he feels a surge of relief, but it quickly turns to discomfort as he notices she is accompanied by Alpha David. The sight of them together, particularly with David’s arm around her, ignites a mix of jealousy and concern within Damon. As they move further away, the atmosphere shifts, and for a moment, the animosity between Damon and Andrei dissipates as they both process the unsettling scene before them. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers anxious about the implications of Natalia’s interaction with David and the unresolved tensions among the characters.

**He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 73**

Damon

For the third time in a span of just fifteen minutes, I glanced at my watch, the ticking sound growing louder in my ears. Something felt amiss. Natalia had been away for far too long.

She had mentioned something about needing to use the restroom after our toast with Alpha David, but that was nearly half an hour ago. A knot of worry tightened in my stomach. Was she feeling unwell? If that were the case, I needed to get her home, and soon.

I politely excused myself from the elderly Alpha I had been conversing with, my eyes scanning the bustling ballroom filled with swirling skirts and the clinking of champagne glasses. Yet, amidst the joyous chaos, I couldn’t find her anywhere.

Maybe she was just caught up in a conversation with someone, I thought, trying to calm my rising anxiety. With deliberate steps, I navigated through the throng of guests, searching for the familiar cascade of her hair. She wasn’t at the bar, nor was she seated at any of the tables scattered around the room.

The packed dance floor made it difficult to distinguish individual faces, but I didn’t see her there either.

This was unusual. Natalia was not someone to drift away without a word, especially not in this place, a venue laden with memories she would rather forget.

Finally, I spotted the hallway that I believed led to the restrooms. I hadn’t spent much time in this house before, so my certainty was shaky, but I felt compelled to head in that direction, my eyes darting for any sign of her.

Just as I was about to step into the hallway, I heard a voice, smooth and taunting.

“Looking for something, brother?”

I turned slowly, my face a mask of neutrality, though anger simmered beneath the surface at the sound of that infuriating voice. Andrei stood a few feet away, a glass of whiskey held carelessly in one hand, an all-too-familiar smirk plastered across his face.

Even now, after we had signed our new alliance—an alliance that still left a sour taste in my mouth, although I had to give credit to Natalia for the cleverness of it—the mere sight of my brother sent my pulse racing with rage.

I wanted to rip him apart for what he had done to her. The car crash had been a traumatic ordeal, and then to send rogues to finish what he had started…

But amidst my anger, I couldn’t shake off the memory of his impassioned speech at her “funeral.” He had spoken of her as if he had genuinely cared for her.

As if he hadn’t been the one who had ordered her death.

“Have you seen Natalia?” I asked, turning fully to face him. “I haven’t seen her in half an hour, and I’m starting to worry that she might be unwell.”

Andrei blinked, his expression unreadable.

“You’re her ‘husband,’ at least for now. Shouldn’t you be able to use your mate bond to find her?” He tilted his head mockingly. “Oh, wait. You don’t have one. Because she doesn’t love you enough to mark you.”

My hands instinctively curled into fists at my sides. He was deliberately provoking me. I despised that it was working, but I maintained a calm facade, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my anger.

“Our relationship is none of your concern,” I replied, my voice steady. “And besides, I would think you’d be more focused on keeping your own Luna in check. That little performance at the hunt was quite the spectacle.”

Andrei’s green eyes flashed with fury. “Lilith may have her flaws, but at least she’s not living a lie. At least she can use her real name in public.”

His words struck a nerve. Natalia—or Mira, as everyone here knew her—had sacrificed everything when she faked her death. Her identity, her past, everything she once held dear. It hadn’t been easy for her. She hadn’t chosen this path; she had been forced into it.

“She has her reasons,” I replied, my tone firm.

“Hm. I’m sure she does.” Andrei took a step closer, sipping from his glass, his gaze locked onto mine. “Tell me, does it bother you? Knowing you’re just a stand-in? That she’s still technically bound to me? Her fated mate?”

My wolf snarled in response to his taunts. I yearned to shift right then and there, to sink my teeth into my brother’s throat and put an end to this charade once and for all.

But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of that reaction.

“What bothers me,” I said, my voice low and controlled, “is witnessing how pathetic you’ve become. Still pining after a woman who chose to die rather than stay with you. It’s been five years, Andrei. She left you. She chose me. Maybe it’s time you man up and move on.”

Andrei’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “She didn’t choose you. She used you. Just like she’s using you now, to hide behind. To play house with. Does she cry out my name when you’re in bed together? Does she just lie there, cold and distant, waiting for it to be over?”

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “Or does she refuse to share a bed with you at all?”

I maintained my calm exterior, but his words cut deep because there was a sliver of truth in them. Natalia cared for me, respected me, even loved me in her own way.

But it wasn’t the all-consuming passion that I felt every time I looked at her.

To her, we were merely friends. Partners. Never lovers. That reality hung heavy between us, an unspoken truth that neither of us could ignore.

I tilted my head slightly, feigning indifference. “Why does it matter so much to you what we do in our own home?” I asked. “You’re with Lilith now, the woman you always placed on a pedestal above Natalia. Shouldn’t you be more concerned about her?”

Andrei’s lip curled in disdain. “Lilith—”

“Is ironically nowhere to be found right now,” I interrupted, gesturing around the room. Indeed, I couldn’t even spot her in the crowd. “You might want to go find her before she concocts another harebrained scheme. Maybe tonight she’ll spike everyone’s drinks, not just mine.”

My words seemed to strike a chord, but not in the way I anticipated. For a fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of something in Andrei’s eyes that resembled exhaustion.

As if even he was growing weary of Lilith’s antics.

The thought filled me with a mix of vindictive glee and an unexpected pang of pity for my brother.

Just then, movement at the end of the hallway caught my attention. The bathroom door swung open, and Natalia emerged, slightly unsteady on her feet.

But she wasn’t alone.

A man followed her out, and I caught sight of the hand resting on her shoulder before I recognized who it belonged to. My spine straightened in an instant.

Alpha David.

They stepped into the hallway together, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, whispering something in her ear. They were turned away from us, so I couldn’t make out the words or see how she reacted.

All I knew was that the sight ignited a deep discomfort within me.

And it seemed Andrei felt the same, as he stepped closer to me, a low growl rumbling from his chest. “What are they doing?” he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. Because I didn’t know the answer, and even if I did, the words wouldn’t come.

Rather than returning to the party, Alpha David guided Natalia further down the hall, around the corner, until they vanished from sight. The last thing I heard before they disappeared was the low sound of his voice and a soft, melodic giggle from Natalia.

In that moment, the animosity that had existed between Andrei and me dissipated into thin air. We both stood there, frozen, staring down the dimly lit hallway, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon us.

As I stood there, the reality of what I had witnessed crashed over me like a tidal wave, drowning out the noise of the ballroom and the laughter of the guests. Natalia’s laughter, so light and carefree, echoed in my mind, yet it felt like a distant memory of a woman I barely knew anymore. The warmth of our shared moments faded, replaced by the icy grip of uncertainty. Had I been so blinded by my own feelings that I failed to see the truth? The bond I believed we were building felt fragile, a mere facade that could shatter at any moment. I had fought to protect her, to shield her from the darkness of our pasts, but now I questioned if I was the one holding her back from her true self. The thought of losing her to someone else, to Alpha David, twisted my gut in a way that felt all too familiar—a reminder of her past and the choices she had made to escape it.

In that moment of shared vulnerability with Andrei, an unspoken understanding passed between us. Though we had been adversaries, we both stood on the precipice of loss, grappling with the same haunting fear—of being replaced, of being unworthy of her love. But as the shadows of doubt loomed larger, I realized that I could no longer hide behind anger or resentment. I had to confront the truth of our relationship, to find the courage to either fight for her or let her go. The echo of Natalia’s laughter faded, but in its place arose a sense of determination. I would not allow fear to dictate my actions any longer. Whether she returned to me or chose a different path, I had to embrace the possibility of both love and loss, knowing that either way, I would always cherish the door she opened to my soul.

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**

As the tension between Damon and Andrei reaches a boiling point, the next chapter promises to unravel the complexities of their strained relationship further. With Natalia disappearing into the shadows alongside Alpha David, readers can expect a whirlwind of emotions as Damon grapples with feelings of jealousy, betrayal, and the gnawing fear of losing Natalia to someone who has always been a threat. Will Damon confront Alpha David, or will his protective instincts push him to take drastic measures to reclaim Natalia’s attention? The stakes are higher than ever as the bond between mates is tested, and the secrets of the past threaten to resurface.

Moreover, the chapter is likely to delve into Natalia’s perspective, shedding light on her motivations and inner turmoil. As she navigates her complicated feelings for both Damon and Andrei, readers will be left questioning her true intentions. Is she genuinely enjoying the attention from Alpha David, or is this merely a distraction from the pain of her past? The interplay of loyalty, love, and deceit will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager to discover whether Natalia will choose to embrace her new life or confront the ghosts that haunt her. With the tension mounting and alliances shifting, the next chapter is set to be a thrilling ride filled with unexpected twists and emotional revelations.

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.