Chapter 7: Confession
1047words
"Dr. Ravencraft is waiting for you," the nurse smiled, leading us to Owen's office.
The moment I pushed open the door, Owen's scent hit me—warm cinnamon mixed with pine, similar to Derek's yet distinct. He wore a white coat, his eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses lighting up when he saw us.
"Lillian!" He crouched down to her eye level, his voice as gentle as if addressing a treasure. "How are you feeling today, little princess?"
"Much better!" Lillian answered excitedly, unhesitatingly throwing herself into his arms, an intimacy that made my heart tighten. "Uncle Derek taught me to smell flowers! I can identify ten different scents!"
Owen picked her up, his eyes flashing with an emotion I couldn't interpret. "That's amazing! Today we're going to do some tests to see how your special abilities are developing, okay?"
I leaned against the doorframe, observing the scene. Owen's attitude toward Lillian was completely different from Derek's—Derek was serious and protective, Owen gentle and patient. Two distinctly different types of fatherly love, yet equally genuine.
"Bella," Owen finally looked at me, his eyes carrying cautious hope. "Thank you for bringing her."
"This is for Lillian," I responded coolly, though my heart was far from calm.
During the examination, Owen showed his research findings—a series of complex charts and scan results. "Look here," he pointed to two intertwined DNA strands on the screen. "Lillian has two Alpha genes competing within her. That's why she gets fevers and her eyes change color."
"Is it dangerous?" I asked nervously, my fingers unconsciously twisting together.
Owen shook his head, his golden hair glinting under the laboratory lights. "No, not as long as we help her balance these two forces. In fact, this 'Dual Mark' might make her one of the most powerful werewolves ever."
There was a certain pride in his tone, reminding me of what Derek had said—Owen appeared gentle on the surface but had a strong possessiveness inside.
After the examination, Owen suggested, "Lillian, would you like to see the play area? There are new toys there."
Lillian nodded enthusiastically, grabbing Owen's hand, ready to dash out. Owen looked back at me. "Give us ten minutes? Then we can... talk."
I nodded in agreement, following behind them at a distance. In the play area, Owen completely transformed—he knelt on the colorful mats, building blocks with Lillian, smiling as brightly as a boy. He patiently listened to Lillian's "adventure stories," occasionally making exaggerated sounds of amazement that made her giggle.
This scene stirred complex ripples in my heart. Was this really the man who had deceived me and broken my heart?
"She's so much like you," Owen walked back to my side, his voice deep and gentle. "Just as stubborn, just as smart."
"Maybe she's also a bit like her father," I said tentatively, watching his reaction. "Or should I say, fathers?"
Owen's eyes flickered, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Could we talk in my office?"
In the office, Owen closed the door, leaning against the desk, his hands gripping the edge so tightly his knuckles turned white. "I owe you an apology, Bella. No, countless apologies."
"For what?" I asked calmly, despite my racing heart.
"For the lies eight years ago," he looked directly into my eyes, his voice trembling with emotion. "I was indeed manipulated by the Blood Moon Pack, but the decision to deceive you was my own, stemming from my pathetic jealousy."
"Jealousy?"
"I fell in love with you the first time I saw you," Owen confessed, his eyes flashing with painful sincerity. "But you only had eyes for Derek. We're twins, Bella, we've shared everything all our lives, but I couldn't bear to share you."
He stepped closer, then stopped, as if afraid of frightening me. "When you told me you were pregnant, I broke down. I knew it was Derek's child—at least that's what I thought then. I said those terrible things, making you believe Derek didn't love you."
"You pretended to be Derek," my voice trembled with anger. "Made me believe he betrayed me."
"Yes," Owen admitted painfully. "It was the most despicable act of my life, and I've regretted it every day since."
I turned my back to him, not wanting him to see the tears in my eyes. "Do you know how I've spent these eight years? With a child, believing I was abandoned, questioning my worth every day..."
"I know," Owen's voice came from behind me, close enough that I could feel his breath on my neck. "I've been watching over you both from afar, ensuring your safety. When I discovered Lillian might be a child of the dual moon, my regret deepened."
I turned sharply. "What do you mean?"
Owen smiled bitterly. "I thought she was Derek's child, but Lillian's DNA tests show she has both my and Derek's genes. This is extremely rare in the werewolf world, known as 'Dual Mark.'"
My gaze fell on an old notebook on his desk labeled "Dual Mark Research." Owen followed my gaze and nodded. "That's my research from the past eight years. I've been trying to understand this phenomenon, to help Lillian someday."
His confession made anger and confusion intertwine in my heart. I wanted to hate him, to blame him for those eight years of pain, but seeing his gentle interaction with Lillian, seeing the sincere regret in his eyes...
"I don't know if I can forgive you, Owen," I finally said, my voice softer than I had intended. "But for Lillian's sake, I'm willing to try to understand."
A flash of hope appeared in Owen's eyes. He carefully reached out, his fingertips lightly touching the back of my hand. "That's already more than I deserve, Bella. Thank you."
His touch was like electricity, different from Derek's yet equally heart-racing. I quickly withdrew my hand, confused by my own reaction.
"Lillian needs both of us," Owen said softly. "She needs all three of us."
