The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25 – The Real Hero

Tobias

“You found me?” I repeated, the words stiff in my throat.

Vanessa’s smile froze in place. Just for a second. A flicker of something in her eyes–guilt, hesitation, maybe panic–betrayed her before she smoothed it away.

“Well,” she said slowly, setting down her fork, “I mean… I was the one who discovered you, yes.”

My blood turned to ice. “Vanessa. Don’t play games. You just said that moment–the bear trap, the field, my leg–you said that moment is when you knew we were meant to be. That you saved me.”

She let out a light laugh, but it was paper–thin. “Tobias, come on, does it really matter? You were hurt, and I stayed with you until help arrived-”

“No.” I leaned forward, voice like a growl. “Don’t deflect. You didn’t get me out of that trap. You didn’t wrap

my leg. Did you?”

Silence.

Her jaw worked, and then–finally–she exhaled. “No.”

I sat back hard, heart hammering. “So for three years… I’ve believed you saved my life. I told everyone you

did. My pack believes it. Hell, it’s probably why the council even tolerated you moving into the Alpha wing

after Nickolai died–because you were a godsdamned hero.”

Her voice was small. “I didn’t mean to lie. I just… I found you there, next to the trap. You were unconscious. Your leg was already wrapped. There was blood everywhere. I panicked. Then Nickolai and the others

arrived, and when they started saying it must’ve been me, I-”

“You let it happen,” I said coldly. “You let everyone believe it. You let me believe it.”

She bit her lip. “I just… I wanted you to see me that way. Strong. Brave. Worthy.”

My stomach churned. “Worthy? You wanted to be Luna, and this was your opening.”

“I loved you,” she snapped. “Even back then. Even when I shouldn’t have. I loved you more than she ever

could.”

The table between us suddenly felt like a chasm.

I stood, fury simmering beneath my skin. “So if it wasn’t you… who was it?”

Vanessa didn’t look up.

“Vanessa,” I growled. “Look at me. Who got me out of that trap?”

She swallowed. “I don’t know.”

“Bullshit.”

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“I don’t!” she insisted, eyes wide now, hands clutching the edge of the table. “I just… I saw someone running off as I got there. A figure–small, fast. I thought maybe it was a scout or someone from the guard, but they weren’t in uniform. I didn’t see a face.”

“And you didn’t think to mention that at any point?”

She hesitated. “When I saw Nevara later–standing on the edge of the clearing, watching them carry you away–her dress was torn. The same kind of fabric that was used to bind your leg. And she had blood on her. Not much, but enough.”

I blinked.

Nevara. Of course, it had always been her.

“She didn’t say anything,” Vanessa continued. “Didn’t step forward. Just… left.”

My heart twisted violently. “And that didn’t tell you everything you needed to know?”

“I thought maybe I was wrong!” she cried. “I thought… if it had been her, wouldn’t she have come forward?

Taken credit?”

“No,” I said flatly. “She wouldn’t.”

Because she never did.

Not for praise. Not for recognition. She gave and gave and gave, and never asked for anything back. Not

even from me.

And gods, I’d given her nothing. She was the one who saved my life. And I repaid her by marrying her for

convenience, ignoring her for years, and letting someone else take credit for everything she did.

Just then, the waitress returned with our check. I snatched it, threw down enough cash to cover both

meals and more, and turned to leave.

“Tobias–wait,” Vanessa called, standing, panic rising in her voice.

I didn’t stop. Not until her next words landed like a blade between my shoulder blades.

“You were mine,” she choked out. “After everything… you were supposed to be mine. I even got rid of

Nickolai for us.”

The café went silent in my ears. I turned slowly.

She had her hands clamped over her mouth like she could shove the words back in if she just held them there tight enough.

“What did you just say?” My voice came out low, guttural, more beast than man.

She shook her head violently. Her eyes were wide now, like a cornered animal. “Tobias, I–I didn’t mean-”

“Say it again,” I demanded, stepping toward her. “Did you just admit that you murdered Nickolai? My best friend? Your husband?”

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“No! No, it’s not like that–1 just-” Her voice cracked as she took a frantic step back, her fingers trembling where they still covered her lips. “I didn’t mean to say that-”

“But you did,” I snarled, towering over the booth now. “You said you got rid of him. For us. For me?

Tears welled in her eyes. “I did everything for you. I wanted you–I want you. I’ve always wanted you?

“Bullshit,” I snapped. “You didn’t want me. You wanted the title. The power. The Luna crown. And now

you’ve just confirmed what I was already starting to suspect.”

She shook her head again, muttering a string of no–no–no–no under her breath.

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