Victor's words hung in the air, heavy with sorrow and confusion. "Evelyn," he repeated, his voice cracking. "What have you done?"
Evelyn stared at him, her heart aching with a mix of anger and longing. She wanted to run to him, to explain everything, but she knew it was impossible. Celeste's lies had poisoned his mind, turning him against her.
"Victor, you don't understand," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Celeste lied to you. She tricked you."
Victor shook his head, his eyes filled with pain. "Don't lie to me, Evelyn," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I saw you with him. I saw you betray me."
"You saw what Celeste wanted you to see," Ronan interjected, stepping forward protectively. "She manipulated you, Victor. She's a master of deceit."
Victor glared at Ronan, his eyes hardening with anger. "Stay out of this, rogue," he snarled. "This is between me and Evelyn."
"It concerns me when she's being falsely accused," Ronan retorted, his voice firm. "Celeste is dead, Victor. She can't hurt anyone anymore."
A flicker of surprise crossed Victor's face. "Dead?" he repeated, his voice filled with disbelief. "How?"
"She tried to kill Evelyn and her children," Alaric explained, stepping forward cautiously. "We had no choice but to defend ourselves."
Victor's gaze shifted to Alaric, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "You're with her now?" he asked, his voice laced with betrayal. "You betrayed me too?"
Alaric hung his head, his face filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, Victor," he said. "But I couldn't stand by and watch Celeste destroy Evelyn. She's innocent, Victor. I know it in my heart."
Victor closed his eyes, his face contorted with anguish. He wanted to believe them, but Celeste's lies still clung to his mind, clouding his judgment.
"I don't know what to believe anymore," he whispered, his voice filled with despair. "Everything I thought I knew is falling apart."
Evelyn stepped forward, her eyes filled with compassion. She reached out to touch Victor's hand, but he flinched away, his face hardening with pain.
"Please, Victor," she pleaded. "Listen to me. Celeste was after the twins. She wanted their power. She would have stopped at nothing to get it."
Victor looked at the babies, Amara and Elias, nestled in Alaric's arms. A flicker of tenderness crossed his face, but it quickly vanished, replaced by a mask of suspicion.
"Their power?" he repeated, his voice laced with doubt. "What power are you talking about?"
"They're special, Victor," Evelyn explained. "They have a unique gift. A gift that could change the world."
"A gift that Celeste wanted to control," Ronan added, his voice grave. "She would have used them for her own twisted purposes."
Victor's mind reeled. He was torn between his love for Evelyn and his loyalty to his pack. He wanted to believe her, but Celeste's lies were deeply ingrained in his mind.
"I need proof," he said, his voice trembling. "I need to know for sure that you're telling the truth."
"We can give you proof, Victor," Alaric said. "But you have to be willing to listen. You have to be willing to open your mind to the possibility that you've been deceived."
Victor hesitated, his heart warring with his head. Finally, he nodded slowly, his eyes filled with a glimmer of hope.
"Okay," he said. "I'll listen. Tell me everything."
Evelyn, Alaric, and Ronan shared their stories, recounting Celeste's lies, her manipulations, and her dark magic. They told Victor about her obsession with power, her ruthless ambition, and her willingness to destroy anyone who stood in her way.
As Victor listened, his face grew paler and paler. He began to see the truth, to understand the extent of Celeste's treachery.
"I can't believe I was so blind," he said, his voice filled with self-reproach. "I let her manipulate me. I let her turn me against the woman I love."
Tears streamed down Victor's face as he realized the enormity of his mistake. He had accused Evelyn of betrayal, when all along, she had been the victim.
"Evelyn, I'm so sorry," he sobbed, his voice filled with remorse. "Can you ever forgive me?"
Evelyn's heart melted with compassion. She knew that Victor had been manipulated, that he was just as much a victim of Celeste's treachery as she was.
She stepped forward and took Victor's hand, her eyes filled with love. "There's nothing to forgive, Victor," she said. "I understand. We all make mistakes."
Victor pulled Evelyn into a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair. "I missed you so much," he whispered, his voice filled with longing. "I hated being without you."
Evelyn hugged Victor tightly, her heart overflowing with happiness. She was finally reunited with the man she loved, and the truth had finally been revealed.
But as they embraced, a new wave of fear washed over Evelyn. Celeste may be gone, but the danger was far from over. They were still being hunted, and the twins were still at risk.
"Victor, we have to leave," she said, her voice urgent. "We're not safe here. There are others who want the twins' power."
Victor pulled back, his eyes filled with concern. "Where can we go?" he asked. "Where will we be safe?"
"I know a place," Ronan said, stepping forward. "A hidden sanctuary, protected by ancient magic. It's the only place where you and the twins will be truly safe."
Victor looked at Ronan, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," he said. "I don't know what we would have done without you."
"We have to leave now," Ronan said, his voice urgent. "The longer we stay here, the greater the risk."
Together, Evelyn, Victor, Alaric, and Ronan prepared to leave the cabin, to embark on a new journey, a journey to the hidden sanctuary. They knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but they were determined to protect the twins and to build a new life for themselves.
As they stepped out of the cabin, a chilling wind swept through the clearing, carrying with it a sense of impending doom. Evelyn shivered, her heart pounding with fear.
"What's wrong?" Victor asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I don't know," Evelyn said, her voice trembling. "But I feel like we're being watched."
Ronan's eyes narrowed, his senses on high alert. "We are," he said. "Someone's out there. Someone powerful."
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, blocking their path. Evelyn gasped, her heart stopping with fear.
Standing before them was a tall, imposing woman, her eyes glowing with an eerie green light. She wore a long, flowing robe, and her face was hidden beneath a dark hood.
"Well, well, well," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "What do we have here? A happy little family reunion?"
Evelyn tensed, her hand reaching for a weapon. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "What do you want?"
The woman smiled, a sinister expression that sent shivers down Evelyn's spine. "My name is Morgana," she said. "And I'm here for the twins."