A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate-Chapter 90: Starlit Confessions

•Inn’s Second Floor•

Ovelia’s POV

Philip and I reached the second floor of the inn, where the hallway was lined with closed doors leading to guest rooms. The air was quiet, the muffled sounds of laughter and chatter from downstairs barely reaching us. We walked until we reached the end of the hallway, where a closed window stood as the only exit. I glanced around, confused.

"Won’t Ace be mad at you? You didn’t tell him that you was with Philip." The fairy in my pocket’s voice was laced with concern.

I had completely forgotten to mention to Ace that I was with Philip. A pang of guilt struck me as I recalled Ann; I hadn’t informed her either.

My gaze drifted back to the window directly across from us, its glass reflecting the dim light of the corridor.

"Philip, where are we going? Is there a hidden door here?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity.

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "We’re going through the window," he said casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Huh?" I blinked, taken aback. I looked at him, confusion etched on my face.

Without hesitation, Philip pushed the window open and stepped onto the ledge. My heart leapt into my throat.

"Wait, Philip! You might fall!" I exclaimed, reaching out instinctively.

The fairy, still hidden in my pocket, whispered, "Don’t worry. If he falls, I’ll use my magic to catch him." his voice light and teasing.

Without hesitation, Philip jumped.

"Philip!" I shouted, rushing to the window. But instead of seeing him plummet, I watched him gripping the roof, and climbed up. He looked down at me, his hand outstretched.

"Ovelia, it’s your turn," he called out, grinning widely, his hand extended toward me like a lifeline.

I hesitated, my stomach churning as I glanced down at the ground far below. The thought of stepping onto the narrow ledge made my knees weak

Lord, please don’t let me die today. I’m not ready yet, I prayed silently, as I stepped onto the narrow ledge clutching the windowsill.

Philip’s voice broke through my panic. "Grab my hand, Ovelia. I won’t let you go." he assured me, his voice warm and grounding.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on his steady gaze. "Okay, Philip. I trust you," I said, reaching for his hand.

His grip was firm and confident as he pulled me up effortlessly. Within moments, I stood beside him on the roof, my heart still racing but fear slowly ebbing away.

"Ovelia, look!" he exclaimed, his excitement infectious as he pointed toward the vast sky above.

I followed his gaze, and my breath caught in my throat. Above us, the night sky was a vast canvas of twinkling stars, their light shimmering like scattered diamonds. The moon hung low, its silvery glow casting a soft light over the village below.

"Wow," I whispered, my voice filled with wonder.

"I’m glad you like the view," Philip said, his tone warm and content. He strode to the center of the roof and sat down, inviting me with a gesture to join him.

I joined him, the cool tiles beneath me contrasting with the warm night air. "Philip, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, my gaze drifting up to the twinkling stars above us.

He was silent for a moment, then he asked, "Why didn’t you leave the kingdom when you had the chance?"

His question caught me off guard, and I turned to look at him. His gaze was serious, his usual playful demeanor replaced by something deeper.

"What do you mean?" I replied, a hint of confusion lacing my words.

Philip cleared his throat, his eyes shifting back to the stars. "If you head straight into that forest, you’ll find the exit from this kingdom. You still have time to escape. You won’t find happiness here."

His voice changed as he spoke, and I froze. It was the same voice, the same words, as the old man I had met on the day of my wedding to Ace.

"How did you—" I started, but he interrupted me.

"Because I was that old man in disguise. I’m a spy, after all," he said with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. The nonchalance of his words felt like a jolt, making my heart race.

So he wasn’t lying; he really was a spy.

I looked back at the stars, my mind racing. "During that time, I did try to escape through the forest. But a black werewolf attacked me. He almost killed me, but Ace saved me," my voice softened as I reminisced, the memory flooding my senses with adrenaline and fear.

"Sorry, I didn’t know..." Philip’s reply was laced with sorrow, his shoulders slumping slightly as if the weight of regret hung heavily on him.

I shook my head. "If I had escaped that day, I wouldn’t have experienced everything I have now. I wouldn’t have met the people I’ve encountered on this mission—especially you." I told him, my voice warm, passion igniting within me.

"I’m glad that black werewolf was there to stop me. Because now, I don’t regret living in the palace with Ace and everyone else. I don’t regret the challenges or the lessons—they’ve brought me to this moment. I don’t regret getting to know all of you," I said, my heart swelling with gratitude and joy.

Philip smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I’m glad you don’t regret anything." He paused, his gaze returning to the stars. "When I saw the sadness in your eyes after Ace kissed Eliana during your wedding, it reminded me of my sister."

"Wait, you have a sister?" I asked, shock punctuating my words. My brows knitted together as I noticed the subtle shift in his posture—a tightening of his shoulders, a deep breath that seemed to anchor his thoughts.

"Yes," he replied, a shadow passing over his face. "But she’s in heaven now."

"I’m so sorry..." The weight of his loss settled heavily in the air between us, and I felt my heart ache for him.

Philip met my gaze, his brown eyes revealing a mixture of sorrow and strength. "It’s okay. I’ve moved on from her death," he assured me, but a tremor in his voice betrayed him. "You see, my sister was also a bridal sacrifice to the werewolves, meant to maintain the peace between humans and werewolves,"

His eyes flickered back to the stars, their distant light holding stories none of us could fathom. "A werewolf named Leodor, the son of a mayor in Sunshard Town, chose my sister. He took care of her, and she fell deeply in love with him. They got married, but... his true motive wasn’t to make her his mate. He only wanted to make his true lover jealous."

"That’s so cruel..." I whispered, feeling the chill of his words wrap around me like a shroud.

Philip’s hands clenched into fists, his voice barely above a whisper, but seething with anger. "My sister discovered Leodor’s true motives. She even caught him... with his mistress, right there in their room." His gaze burned into the floor. "The betrayal was too much for her. She couldn’t bear it, so she... she took her own life." he finished, each word laced with sorrow.

From within my pocket, the tiny fairy’s voice fluttered out, its tone a mix of sympathy and outrage. "Hearing this makes my heart ache. I wish I could curse Leodor and his mistress into oblivion."

This was the first time someone had opened up to me like this, and I could see the turmoil etched on Philip’s face—his jaw tightened, and his eyes shimmered with unshed tears. I wanted to comfort him, but I didn’t know how.

"Is that why you wanted to save me from the same fate?" I ventured, searching his eyes for answers.

"Exactly," he replied, his voice filled with a deep, raw anguish. "When my sister died, I wanted nothing more than to kill Leodor. But then, I remembered her spirit... She wouldn’t want that. And I couldn’t bear to ignite another war between humans and werewolves, like the one we humans barely escaped."

As a silence enveloped us, I took a deep breath, contemplating my next words. "Philip," I said softly, glancing up to meet his gaze, "I wish I could ease your pain, but I don’t know how. Is there anything I can do to make you feel even a little better?"

A flicker of a smile broke through his sorrow as he looked at me, gratitude shining in his eyes. "You know," he said, his voice steadier, "just being here... It’s like having my sister back for a moment. Would it be alright if I hugged you? Just for a few minutes, to pretend you’re her?" He paused, searching my face for approval. I nodded, and before I could blink, he enveloped me in a tight embrace.

"Filia, I’m so sorry," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "I wasn’t there for you when you were hurting. I was too focused on studying and mastering combat arts, believing it would protect you. But in the end, I failed. I couldn’t keep you safe. I’m truly sorry. I’m just your useless older brother!"

As his words hung in the air, I was at a loss for how to respond. His grip tightened around me, and I noticed the faint scent of alcohol on him. I closed my eyes, sinking into the moment, letting the warmth between us wash over me. I imagined he was my brother, someone who had always looked out for me.

"Brother, I’m sorry too," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I know you feel useless right now, but you’re not. I’ve always looked up to you. You’re the most amazing brother in the world." A wave of sadness washed over me, and I added, "I should have shared my feelings with you. I shouldn’t have locked away the pain I’ve carried since I found out Leodor was deceiving me."

I clung to him tightly, feeling the warmth of his body against mine, and soon, tears began to stream down my cheeks. "Brother, I’m sorry for leaving you alone."

"Ovelia, thank you," he replied, his voice shaky. I could sense the warmth of his tears mingling with mine.

I bit my lip, trying to stop my own tears, but it was no use. The fairy’s voice broke through the moment. "You’re taking this too seriously. You look terrible when you cry."

I knew he was right, but I couldn’t help it. The pain of imagining losing someone I loved, of leaving them alone, was too much to bear.