Lost Heart – 1

Thea’s POV

I felt my soul detach from my body, like I was walking the edge of reality. My fingers moved across the keyboard, searching for the name of this feeling. The screen offered an explanation: “dissociation”—a psychological defense mechanism common among those who’ve experienced deep trauma.

I put my phone down and rubbed my tired eyes. Iris was probably right. I needed professional help. Those old wounds, those years of being treated like an outcast in the Sterling family, those memories of being viewed as an unqualified Luna in the Ashworth Pack—all had left cracks within me that wouldn’t heal.

I stood up, feeling that familiar dull ache in my chest start acting up again. Since the confrontation between multiple Alphas in my house, I’d pushed everyone away. I set my phone to Do Not Disturb mode, refusing all contact. I just wanted to be alone, to process everything by myself. Sometimes, I felt the weight of it all crashing down on me, and it was just too fucking much.

The phone rang, breaking the silence of the room. Sheriff Hawthorne, for the third time today. It was Kane’s sentencing day, and he wanted me to testify. My finger hovered over the accept button before finally sliding to decline.

I knew how serious Kane’s crimes were. Impersonating law enforcement was an extremely serious offense in our world, not to mention attempted murder. But every time I thought about personally sending him to prison, those memories of our time together surfaced, tormenting me.

How fucking ironic. Sebastian’s seven years of coldness had conditioned me to expect rejection—I always knew his indifference was inevitable because he never accepted me. But Kane’s betrayal tortured me more because he’d made me believe I deserved to be loved just for being myself.

I pulled back the curtains, looking out at Moon Bay. These past few days, I’d been wondering if I truly was the Kincaids’ daughter. If I’d grown up surrounded by Seraphina and Maximus’s love, would I have become a different person? Would I still be so desperate for love and validation? Would I have been so easily deceived?

Unable to stand the oppressive atmosphere of the room any longer, I grabbed a hat and sunglasses, deciding to get some air. I had no clear destination, letting the wheels carry me through the city. Only when I saw the courthouse’s silhouette emerging in the dusk did I realize my subconscious had been driving me here all along.

“This is insane,” I muttered to myself, adjusting my sunglasses to make sure no one could recognize me.

I got out of the car and walked slowly toward the courthouse building. I gave myself time to change my mind, but I didn’t. Instead, I walked through the doors. I wasn’t here to see justice served—I was here to see him one last time.

Seraphina and Maximus had successfully prevented the hearing’s details from leaking to the media. Kane’s actions, if made public, would seriously damage the Kincaid family’s reputation.

I counted the room numbers until I found the right one. Gently pushing open the door, I slipped silently into a seat in the last row, careful not to let anyone notice my entrance. The courtroom atmosphere was tense; everyone’s attention was focused forward. Sheriff Hawthorne was presenting the case. Kane and his lawyer sat on the right, with Seraphina and Maximus in the row behind, their expressions complex and painful. On the left sat the prosecutor and witnesses, including several police officers, Roman, Iris, and, to my surprise, Sebastian—though it made sense; Sebastian hated Kane, and he was the type who enjoyed watching his enemies crumble.

“How does the defendant plead to the charges?” the judge asked sternly. She was a female Alpha who appeared to be in her fifties.

Kane whispered in his lawyer’s ear, who then stood up: “My client pleads guilty.”

The judge nodded: “Proceed.”