Clarrisa's POV

The realization hit me like a tidal wave. Anya had been the witch all along—her mother’s daughter. It made sense now, why she had lied to protect her before she died. The witch had known so much about our family because of Anya, who had been sent into our lives to destroy us.

It was a twisted plan that had begun years ago when Anya first appeared. The question was, was this why Damon, Atticus, and Dante had believed she was their mate?

If Atticus fell in love with Autumn and discovered she was his true mate, it would explain why my feelings for Damon had always seemed so strong.

Was it possible that Anya was never their mate to begin with? If that was true, did it mean Damon was mine?

I had always felt a deep connection with him, but I had thought it impossible for him to be mine while Anya was in the picture.

Dante’s affection for her must have been influenced by a spell too. Anya was a witch, just like her mother. She must have cast spells on them all, hiding the truth from us.

Why had we ever let her into our lives? What had we missed, and what other plans had she been plotting after her mother’s death?

Her mother’s plan to destroy us had failed, and Anya would likely be eager to finish the job.

I had all the proof I needed to expose her, but I needed to act fast. The wedding was about to start.

“I’m a friend of your sister,” I said, trying to stay calm. “She’s getting married to someone close to me today.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Married? That’s impossible. Anya wouldn’t keep something that big from me.”

She had no idea how much her sister had hidden. I didn’t have time to explain everything. I had to take her with me to reveal what Anya had been up to.

“If you come with me, I can show you that I’m not lying,” I urged. “The wedding is happening at my home. We need to get back there right away.”

She bit her lip nervously and glanced around. “Anya never likes it when I leave home.”

“I’m sure she’ll understand this time,” I reassured her.

Still uncertain, she eventually nodded. It was time to head back and expose Anya.

DAMON

“What are you doing here?” Anya demanded, her voice sharp. “You’re not supposed to be here. Are you eager to see me in my wedding dress?”

I didn’t know how to tell her that the wedding was off. I struggled to find the right words without hurting her feelings. How had I made such poor decisions lately?

“We need to talk,” I said gently.

Her eyes narrowed. “We don’t have time for that, Damon! The ceremony is about to start, and I don’t want to be late!”

I swallowed hard, avoiding her gaze. I muttered a few curses under my breath.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, noticing my strange behavior.

“I don’t know how to say this, Anya, but there isn’t going to be a ceremony,” I finally admitted. “I’m sorry. The wedding can’t happen today.”

Her mouth fell open, and her eyes widened. “What do you mean? I’m in a white dress, Damon! There are hundreds of guests outside waiting for us. We’re going out there, and we will be married today!”

I ran a hand down my face, struggling to remain calm. At least one of us needed to be composed. But I was deeply unsettled—my worry about Clarissa was consuming me.

Had she gotten into trouble again? Had Atticus found her?

“Does this have anything to do with Clarissa?” Anya shouted suddenly.

Her words shocked me to my core. Did she know about my feelings for Clarissa, or was there something else? I needed to find out.

“Why are you asking about Clarissa now?” I asked hesitantly.

Anya’s words had made me anxious. How could I protect Clarissa if Anya knew our secret?

“You didn’t think I’d notice how you look at her?” Anya demanded. “Do you think I’m blind? I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. It makes me sick. She’s your sister. I thought Clarissa was the only one with feelings for you, but when you confessed about having another woman in your heart, I knew it was her. I wanted to believe you loved me. I wanted to believe you wanted to marry me. But now I see you never loved me. You’ve always cared about her, and you know it.”

I took a step towards her, horrified. “You knew all along? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Anya’s face was a mask of anger. “I was hoping you wouldn’t do something stupid like this. If you don’t marry me today, I will make sure everyone knows about you and Clarissa. I’ll tell the world that you’re in love with her and that she loves you too. Your family’s name will be dragged through the mud. I hope you make the right decision, Damon.”