Page 63 of The Gamma's Second Chance

Nolan straightens, his hands on the back of the couch again, and I sense his eyes boring into the back of my head. Benjamin’s brows pinch together, and he shakes his head. “I—I’m not sure I follow.”

I grip the edge of the cushion, staring at an empty coffee mug on the table in front of me, avoiding Benjamin’s eyes and leaning forward to evade Nolan’s touch should he try to reach for me. “One night, when I was five, I woke from a deep sleep with a sudden, unimaginable pain in my abdomen. It was the worst physical pain I’d ever felt. Even to this day, I’ve never experienced anything as dreadful as that pain. My parents rushed me to the healers, where they found a tumor growing in my uterus. They tried to staunch it with their healing abilities, but it was nasty and fast-growing, and the doctors had to remove my uterus to prevent the tumor from spreading to any of my other organs. After I healed from the surgery, they ran more tests to determine the cause and check for any cancercells. And although my scans came back clean—no cancer—they discovered all my eggs died.”

I swallow and blink, my fingers digging into the leather cushion, my nails leaving marks on the surface. Behind me, Nolan is tense. My lycan whimpers, urging me to seek his comfort. But I don’t know the true cause of his tension, and my focus is finishing my story, no matter how difficult.

I can’t hide from this.

My voice grates in my throat, but I push through the pain and the turmoil. “The healers thought the sudden pain was from my small size and how large the tumor had grown in such a short amount of time. We didn’t know dark magic caused it until King Malachi’s visit.”

Benjamin stares at me, his blue eyes wide as I finally look up from the drained mug on the table, his body as still as a marble statue. “Because your dad knew nothing of my existence, because he didn’t know if my mom had found her mate or had children, I now bear the burden of the curse he thought Gladys placed on her.”

As soon as those words leave my mouth, I gasp and cover my face, leaning my elbows on my knees. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t part of my plan to say that. And I didn’t tell you all this hoping you’d pity me or—”

“Or think my dad was a piece of shit? Because he was.” Benjamin barks out a harsh, sardonic laugh and shakes his head, staring out the window with darkened, red-rimmed eyes. He pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers and sighs, rising to his feet and pacing in front of the sofas. “I need some time. So I can tell Nicole and Oliver.”

I stand as well, folding my hands in front of myself once more. “Thank you for listening to me,” I say, inclining my head in a subtle nod. “I just wanted to meet you. I thought you deserved toknow you had another sibling. If you don’t want anything to do with me or never want to see me again, I understand.”

I turn to leave the office, making my way around the couch and towards Nolan, who strides towards the door as well, his eyes straight ahead and his back ramrod straight, but Benjamin’s voice stops me. “No,” he says, walking towards me. “I just need some time to let this all settle and to tell my—tellourbrother and sister.”

My heart swells, and I stare up at him, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. “Are you sure?”

“I would be no better than my father if I punished you for his crimes.” His hand rests on my shoulder, and he gives it a firm, reassuring squeeze. “We don’t get to choose our parents, but we can choose our family.”

Chapter 23

CASSANDRA

Nolan is silent ourentire drive home. His elbow rests on the center console, both hands on the wheel, and his eyes never once leave the road as he drives. I keep my hands in my lap on top of my medical file, one wrapped around the other, my throat tight and my eyes itchy the whole time.

When we reach Nolan’s house, I get out of his truck before he shuts off the engine and enter his house using my key. I stand in the entry, the folder in my hand, staring between the staircase and the hallway to my old room, my teeth digging into my lip, indecision warring within me.

The shutting of the door behind me yanks me out of my turmoil, forcing me to make a choice, and I dart up the stairs and into Nolan’s room, leaving the folder on the table in the entry. I duck into the closet and take off my sandals, and I have the zipper on my dress halfway down when Nolan enters the closet, his arms crossed as he watches me. I turn my back to him as I undress and toss the shirt I wore this morning back on, my hands shaking and my jaw clenched the entire time.

“I have to admit, for a minute there, I thought Ben was your mate.”

I whip my head towards him, my eyes wide. His face is serious, his brow wrinkled with concern, but there is a small sparkle of humor in his eyes, a sparkle that gives me a smidgen of hope.

The corner of my mouth tips upwards, and I smooth the wrinkled hem of his shirt against my thighs. “That would be weird.”

He nods but says nothing else. I put my dress back on the hanger and place it on the rack, then move to the doorway, scooting past Nolan to enter his bedroom.

But before I can get far, his hand curls around my wrist, stopping me with gentle pressure. “Cassandra.”

I glance over my shoulder, and his features have softened, his eyes scanning over the smile painted on my face that does nothing to hide my watery eyes or my pink-tipped nose or the tremble of my lower lip. But I smile all the same, presenting the picture-perfect version of myself I’ve mastered over the years.

“You don’t always have to smile,” he says, stepping closer, his body hovering next to my arm. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”

I pinch my lips together, but I don’t break. My throat swells, and the tears pool, but I hold them back as I lift one shoulder in a subtle shrug. “I’ve lived with this for sixteen years.”

He inhales through his nose, and his fingers flex against my arm. “When you said ‘I can’t—’”

“It wasn’t—”

“I thought you were flustered or caught up in the moment and couldn’t get your words out properly. Everything was so intense and heated and…” He trails off, his chin dipping to bring his face to my level. My heart clenches in my chest, and I can’t bring myself to meet his eyes.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth.” I clear my throat and straighten my shoulders, bracing myself for the inevitable rejection. “I understand if you don’t want someone who’s broken.”

His grip on my arm tightens. “I didn’t say that.”

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