I looked between them, searching for any sign of deception. Any hint that this was some elaborate lie.
But all I saw was truth. And something that looked like fear. They were afraid I wouldn't believe them. Afraid I'd leave.
"I need—" I swallowed hard. "I need a minute to think."
"Take all the time you need," Kellan said.
I stood, my legs still shaky, and walked to the window. Stared out at the garden without really seeing it.
Everything they were saying explained things. Things that had never made sense. The way my mother could never answer questions about my first year of life. The way she'd always been vague about where I came from, who my father was. The way she'd looked at me sometimes, like she was seeing someone else. Someone she'd lost.
"Where did you go?" Rowan's voice, quiet behind me. "After your mother died."
"My grandmother's house. She took me in. Raised me until she died when I was seventeen."
"And your grandfather?"
"Already dead. Heart attack when I was twelve."
"Did they leave you anything behind?"
I turned to look at him. "Why?"
"Because if they were in on the kidnapping, they might have information." He paused. "Did your grandmother ever say anything? Anything about where you came from?"
"Once." I stopped, the memory surfacing. "She said my mother saved me. That she gave up everything to keep me safe."
Kellan and Rowan exchanged a look.
"What?" I demanded.
"The woman who raised you, she was taken too," Kellan explained. "She was an Omega who was kidnapped along with you to become your caretaker."
The room spun.
"She was a victim too?"
"We know this is a lot," Rowan said gently. "We know you need time to process."
"Time to process?" I laughed, the sound bordering on hysterical. "You're telling me my entire life is a lie. That everyone I thought I knew was lying to me. That I'm supposed to be some pampered Alpha heir?"
"You're supposed to be ours," Kellan said quietly. "That's all we care about. The money, the status, the bloodline, none of that matters. You're our mate. Our scent match. That's what matters."
"And if I don't believe you? If I think this is some elaborate scheme to control me?"
"Then you're free to leave," Rowan said. "We'll give you the documents. You can verify everything independently. Run your own DNA tests. Talk to whoever you need to talk to." His voice was firm. "We're not holding you hostage, Naomi. We're just telling you the truth."
I looked at them. These two Alphas who'd taken care of me, who'd shown me kindness I'd never known I could receive, who were now telling me my entire life was built on lies.
And the worst part? I believed them. I was pissed, but I believed every part of it as if this information was a missing piece in the puzzle. Not because I wanted to. But because deep down, I'd always known something was wrong. Had always felt like I didn't quite fit in my own life. I wouldn’t just take their word, but unfortunately, my soul felt like it was finally free from the confines of my old life.
"I would like DNA tests," I said finally. "I need to see those documents before I can process any of this."
"Done," Rowan said immediately. "I'll have everything arranged by tomorrow."
"And until then?"
"You rest. You recover. And we give you space to think." Kellan's expression was gentle. "Nothing has to be decided tonight."
