"Ouranos, we need to talk." I said, crossing my arms. Kronos stood by me, watching the scene unfold.

My father-in-law, who seemed to be in a rush looked at me with a blank expression. "About? Look, Rhea. I'm in a hurry. Can this please wait?"

"What's the rush? It's just a few minutes. I have a few questions to ask."

"Then it can wait. I really need to get going. How about tomorrow morning?" He said, seeming more urgent with his words.

I shook my head, insisting. "It's about Fortrista."

Now that... got his attention.

"What... about her?" He asked, frowning.

Kronos stepped in, seeming impatient with his father. "Dad... before Rhea fell into a coma, she said something to us. It was before the attack. It was when Nick, Laura, and Macy passed away."

"... I'm listening."

My mate continued, not breaking eye contact. "She said you didn't just reject her. Fortrista also kept saying that she was taking back what originally belonged to her. Do you have any idea what this means to you?"

Ouranos stiffened, his eyes shifting to black. He grew quiet before saying, "No, I don't. If you'll excuse me, I must be going."

And just like that, he was gone.

Kronos and I looked at each other and nodded. With just our body language, we understood each other.

We were going to follow his dad.

***

"There you are... 'Ranos. I was beginning to think you would never show." Fortrista said, staring at her dangerously sharp nails.

"You haven't called me that nickname since we were in highschool." Ouranos said, his sadden expression throwing her off.

In fact, making her angry.

"Oh shut up. How dare you look at me like that. You don't deserve to make that face. Do you pity me?" She hissed.

He shook his head, "I don't. I just... I regret everything. It's my fault you're like this."

"Like this? I was always like this. You're the one who left me for that bitch of a Gaia! She's a cheater, don't you know? I've heard she's been sleeping with other unmated males in the pack. Or widowed ones. Don't you feel stupid? If you had stayed with me, you wouldn't need to fear being cheated on." She said, sneering at him.

"...This isn't about Gaia. You know why I arranged this private meeting."

Fortrista scoffed. "To stop me from attacking your precious son and his mate? Information on why I attacked?"

"Exactly. Stop this madness. I'll even give you me. Just leave the pack alone." He pleaded.

She only cackled. "Seriously? You really think I'll stop? You think I want you? I'm getting even. You took what was supposed to mine. And now I'll kill what is currently precious to you."

"I don't understand. We dated in high school. This is long in the past. You're being petty. It's stupid to begin a war over a heartbreak. Think about the lives that will be lost." Ouranos said, shaking his head.

This caused Fortrista to shake in anger.

"You think this is about you rejecting me? You killed my baby!" She screeched, flashing her fangs at him.

I gasped... surprised by the information. Kronos stilled beside me, his brows furrowing as he started to shake slightly.

"It was only fair for me to do the same to Laura's child. Now, I'll kill your useless son as well."

Ouranos's shoulders trembled, as he soon remembered everything.

He had forgotten that one piece of important information. That one small detail.

"Look... I forgot. I've been in a coma for a long time. But you have to understand, I had to! Gaia would have rejected me otherwise. She would have refused to bare my pups!" Ouranos said, trying to reason with her.

"Oh, what a classic. You forgot." She said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Growling, she glared at Ouranos. "So our pup couldn't survive because of your selfishness? I could have raised the pup by myself. Because of you, I am INFERTILE! The day we shared a bed together, you drugged me as I slept, and I trusted you! You aborted the fetus that was inside me. OUR baby... you killed our pup." She paused, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I woke up with blood soaking the bedsheets. The pain was unbearable. That drug you used, did not mention a side effect. It can cause infertility. I've tried for years to have another pup but with no prevail."

Ouranos grunted, remembering what he had done but he refused to budge. "If Gaia had found out I had impregnanted you, I would have been done for. She was destined to be my Luna. As for you, I could never be with a monster. You're a hybrid."

Fortrista ran her hand through her hair, trying to calm herself down. But I could tell his words hurt her.

"If you think I'm the monster, look at yourself first. For the pain you've caused me, you deserve twice as more." She hissed, turning her back towards the man she once loved.

She continued, her voice breaking. "I loved you. With my heart and soul. I even rejected my mate to be with you. He ended up finding his 2nd chance mate. There was no chance for me anymore.."

Ouranos frowned, rolling his eyes. "That's not my fault. You chose that. Did I force you to make a choice?"

Fortrista grew quiet. "You led me to believe that we could have been forever. You told me that you'd reject your mate if you ever saw her. You've lied to a lot of people. I gave you my first time because of that. I believed you." She paused, "and that was my first mistake."

Closing her eyes, a lone tear fell. "I opened up to you about my past. About how my mother was a vampire and my father being a werewolf. They were mates, but because of that, I was an outcast. Bullied everyday. And then you came along, giving me false hope and broken promises. In the end, you're the same as everyone else."

"You used me, abused me, and left me." She whispered, biting her lip.

I could hear a scoff from Kronos's dad. This man was unbelievable. "Okay, enough. Your sob story isn't going to get us anywhere. I was trying to be patient, but don't try to blame everything on me."

Silence filled the courtyard, as Kronos and I held our breath. This was just so cruel.

"I realized now that you will never change. Not only do you enjoy gas lighting me, but you love bombed me in the beginning. You are the definition of toxicity. And manipulation. And now you don't see your fault. Everything about you is a lie. You're a fake bastard." She said lowly, before staring at Ouranos dead in the eye.

Ouranos ignored everything she said, only defending himself. "You're delusional. I'm a great father to Kronos. Don't you dare say I'm fake. My love for him is real".

"Like how you said your love for me was real?" She responded, her voice laced with venom.

"You like to act like a fun father. But we all know who you really are." Fortrista added.

Ouranos grew silent, remembering why he arranged the meeting. He clenched his jaw, becoming angry but held back. "Why are you taking blood bags from our deceased pack members? You're turning those rogues into hybrids aren't you?"

Humoring him, Fortrista laughed to herself. She had finally realized no matter what she said, did not reach him. It can't reach narcissists. "Vampires need blood. Werewolf blood is a delicacy. And yes... if I turn these rogues into hybrids, they can be of most use. More powerful than you."

Kronos's father sighed, scratching the back of his head. "If I say sorry, can we just put this behind us? I'll do what I can to make it up to you. I know it's not much, but-"

"It will never be enough. You took away my choice." She snapped, interrupting him.

Having enough of his bullshit, Fortrista finished the conversation with one last sentence. "No more negotiations. You had your chance."

And just like that, Fortrista disappeared into the night.

Ouranos stood there in the middle of the field, staring in the direction she was standing previously before. He was lost, just as we were. Kronos sat beside me, his eyes were pitch black. Anger rolled off him in waves, with a hint of sadness.

We sat there, realizing one thing.

He was not the man we thought he was...

There was always two sides to every story. And then there was the truth.

Question was, what do we do now?