Scarlet chains

Chapter 8-----Biological father

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Nova narrowed her eyes at the man with the striking orange hair. "Who are you?" she asked flatly.

Wolf chuckled, clearly amused. "Still fiery even after coming back from the dead, huh? I like that."

Dominic, who'd been hovering silently by the wall, suddenly stepped forward, softer than I'd ever seen him.

"That's... your father," he said, voice low.

Nova blinked. "My what?"

Wolf gave her a wink. "We'll get into that later. You've got bigger questions, I'm sure."

She turned to Dominic next, narrowing her eyes. "And what's with you?"

"What?"

"This whole gentle, puppy-eyed act. You've been acting all… sweet. It's creepy."

He stiffened, clearly caught. "You almost died," he muttered. "I thought you were going to—" he stopped himself and looked away. "It doesn't matter."

Nova sat up straighter, ignoring the IV in her arm. "Yeah, it does. You hated me three days ago, now you're acting like I matter."

Silence.

Finally, Wolf laughed again. "I told you, boy—she's not one you can control. She doesn't fall at your feet."

"I don't want her to," Dominic snapped, eyes flashing.

That made Nova go silent. Not because of the words—because of the sincerity in them. She could feel something different in him… just like something new was stirring in her.

And none of it made sense yet.

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Nova glared at the orange-haired man. "I have a father at home—and he's not you. So quit the act."

Wolf's smirk didn't falter. "The man you call your father is a coward who sold you. I'm the one whose blood runs in your veins."

She flinched, just slightly. "Liar."

Dominic stepped forward. "He's not lying."

"Oh, and now you're backing him up?" she snapped, eyes blazing. "What happened to hating me? Did nearly dying make me suddenly interesting to you?"

His jaw clenched. "You think I don't care? I carried you here half-dead. You think that meant nothing?"

Nova scoffed. "You probably just didn't want to lose your 'servant,' right?"

The tension between them crackled—anger, confusion, something unspoken pulling taut between their stares.

Wolf chuckled under his breath. "You two are exhausting… and terrifying. Like mother, like daughter."

Nova turned on him. "Don't talk about my mother."

He simply smiled. "She was a fighter too."

Nova's heart skipped. Something about the way he said that… felt real.

But she wasn't ready to believe him. Not yet.

Wolf's gaze softened, just for a moment. "I'm not playing a role, Nova. I am your father. Your *real* one."

She froze.

"No," she whispered. "That can't be true."

Dominic stayed quiet. Watching.

"The man at home raised me. He gave me a roof—"

"He gave you beatings. He sold you like property. That's not a father," Wolf said firmly.

"I don't believe you," she said, voice shaking.

Wolf sighed and reached into his coat, pulling out a worn silver locket. He held it out.

She took it hesitantly, opened it—and froze.

Inside was a picture. *Her. As a baby. In the arms of a woman with her eyes… and a man with orange hair.*

"That was taken six months before she died. Your mother," Wolf said quietly. "She died protecting you. I was forced to hide. And you… were taken from me."

Nova's breath hitched. Her mind reeled. It couldn't be real—yet the baby, the eyes, the truth in his voice…

Dominic stepped closer. "I've seen the DNA results."

Nova's knees weakened. "What… am I?"

Wolf met her eyes. "Something the world hasn't seen in centuries. *You're both vampire and wolf. You're the key to ending a war.*"

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