Page 49 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

Or someone, I thought. I remembered Aria’s words. The woman in white told her that she would protect her and guide her.

Nymera took my hands in hers, her grip careful. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice solemn, heavy with something that almost sounded like regret. “But it was either your life or mine.”

I swallowed hard and gently pulled my hands away. “I get it,” I said, though my voice was tight. “You did what you had to do. But none of this explains why my daughter is having the same dreams as me.”

“There’s only one explanation for that.” Nymera’s voice returned to normal, her expression neutral. “The Lunaris Custodes spirit is awakening in her.”

I frowned. “But she’s just a child.”

“It’s rare,” she admitted, nodding. “But the spirits know best.”

I let out a breath, my mind spinning again. “I thought I was the Lunaris Custodes.”

“You were.” She hesitated, then shook her head. “No, you are a Lunaris Custodes. But the spirit chooses one from the bloodline to awaken in. The moment you left the pack, you abandoned that destiny. And it only makes sense that it would pass to your child.”

I sat there, staring at the cluttered table as her words settled over me like a thick fog. The last thing I wanted was to uncover something from my past that would tether me here or, worse, put my daughter in danger.

As if reading my thoughts, Nymera spoke again. “Your child is powerful, Tala Vale. Not only is she a Lunaris Custodes, but she also has Alpha blood coursing through her veins.”

I flinched, startled that she knew that. She chuckled softly, a knowing glint in her eyes.

“I knew everything about you the moment I touched you. Your secrets, your lies, your pain, everything.” Her voice was gentle, almost reassuring. “But don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

I was on my feet in an instant. “Thank you for the information,” I muttered, turning sharply on my heel and heading for the door.

Trust a woman who had once given me up to die? Never.

She knew my secret, which meant it was no longer a secret. Too much was unraveling: my past, my long-buried feelings for Damian, everything I had worked so hard to leave behind.

More than ever, I needed to get out of this pack and return to my life. Not just for myself but for my daughter.

This would not be her life.

I wouldn’t let it be.

Chapter 20

Damian

It’s been two days since the Harvest Moon Festival. Exhaustion weighed on me, not just from the pack, the alliance, or everything else demanding my attention. It was her. She was the reason for my sleepless nights, my daydreams, and the moments I caught myself staring into nothing. I wanted more than stolen glimpses in the hallway, the dining room, or anywhere else she let herself be seen.

Tala was driving me insane. The memory of that night had my cock twitching in my pants, and every time I thought about the wall she’d built between us, I felt like I was losing my mind.

I stopped in front of her door before I could think better of it. It was late, too late. The pack was already asleep by the time I’d finished going over patrol details and reports with the security unit.

I was exhausted, but still, I wanted to see her and talk to her.

I stood there for minutes, torn between reason and impulse. Just as I convinced myself to leave, I heard it.

The soft hum of her voice, sweet and effortless, was enough to undo my resolve. And without even considering if it was appropriate or not, I wrapped my knuckles on her door.

There was a pause. Then, after a brief moment, the door creaked open.

Tala stood in the doorway, wearing a simple nightdress with a neckline just low enough to tease a glimpse of her cleavage. Her hair was pulled up, exposing the curve of her neck, an invitation I immediately imagined tracing with my tongue.

My gaze drifted lower, to where the dress skimmed her thighs, revealing smooth, bare skin. The fabric was so thin that I could see her nipples poking out of it.

The sleepiness in her features vanished the moment she saw me, replaced by uncertainty and vulnerability. She swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the door like she couldn’t decide whether to let me in or shut me out.

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