Chapter 14: Unraveled Truths and Hard Lessons
The house was quiet when Wicked stepped inside, his thoughts heavy with the revelations from the village. He had come to talk to T about the rumors spreading like wildfire, but there was more to be addressed than just that.
T sat at the table, her hands clasped together nervously, knowing this conversation was inevitable. Her mother, Tijuana, stood nearby, having joined them after a long discussion with Lydia. The air felt tense, but not hostile—more like the calm before an important truth finally breaks free.
Wicked sat down, and before he could say a word, T's mother placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I'll start," she said, her voice calm yet firm. "Tijuana, I've known about the rumors, and I've heard the whispers. I'm disappointed, not in who you are, but in the choices you've made. I didn't pull you away from your father's lifestyle just so you could fall into the same patterns."
T hung her head, her voice small. "I didn't mean for it to turn out this way."
Tijuana sighed softly. "I know, but life as a woman is different from a man in these situations. You're not just running from person to person. This could've turned into something far worse—people were talking about diseases, pregnancies, and who would father your children if you didn't know. That's not something you can walk away from easily."
Wicked, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "It's more than just rumors, T. You know that, right?"
T nodded, her voice trembling. "I know. I've made mistakes. I got carried away… I just—" She paused, then looked up at Wicked, the next words coming harder than the others. "Before you, I was with Orion."
Wicked blinked, feeling the blow hit him harder than expected. His older brother. He should've seen it coming, but it still stung. "Orion? Why didn't you ever tell me?"
T's eyes filled with regret. "It wasn't serious, not really. It ended before you and I happened. But I didn't know how to tell you because… well, look at where we are now."
Wicked felt his stomach churn. His brother had already figured out that this harem life wasn't for him. And now, Wicked was faced with the same realization, only with much more complexity than he had anticipated.
Tijuana looked between the two of them, her brow furrowed. "This is the reality of it. Running around with multiple partners, you lose track of who you are and what you want. And more importantly, T, you lose track of your responsibility."
Wicked's voice was quieter now, thoughtful. "It's more than just being involved with someone, T. It's about the consequences."
T wiped her eyes, trying to hold herself together. "I know. I've learned my lesson."
Tijuana gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "Good. Because next time, it might not be so simple."
Just then, Lydia entered, standing beside her son. "I'm proud of you, Wicked, for having this conversation. You're starting to understand the consequences of the world we live in."
Wicked nodded, feeling the burden of responsibility growing heavier but clearer. "Yeah. I think I'm starting to."
---
Later, at the training grounds, the mood was tense. Wicked, Autumn, Isabel, and Junior were preparing for another intense session. As they warmed up, Junior had a visible bruise on his cheek, and his movements seemed stiffer than usual.
Wicked glanced over, noticing Junior's discomfort. "What happened to you?"
Junior rubbed the back of his neck, wincing slightly. "Dragon Knight."
Wicked raised an eyebrow. "He beat you?"
Junior sighed, clearly embarrassed. "Yeah, he heard the rumors about me being involved with T and… well, let's just say he wasn't happy. I didn't even get to explain much before he handed my ass to me."
Wicked chuckled despite himself, shaking his head. "He really beat you up that bad?"
Junior gave him a sidelong look. "You don't know half of it. My dad's disappointed in me for messing around with another man's woman. He said if I want to grow into a real warrior, I need to learn respect—and that means not getting tangled up in things like this."
Wicked couldn't help but laugh, but there was a seriousness to it as well. "Well, I guess you learned your lesson."
Junior smirked, though his body language was still sore. "Oh, I learned, all right. Never again. I'm never going to mess with someone else's girl. Not worth getting your ass handed to you by your dad."
Wicked nodded, understanding more than he wanted to admit. "Yeah, I think we're all learning that."
As they dove into their training, the group pushed themselves harder than usual, each of them dealing with their own realizations, their own mistakes. Autumn noticed Wicked's intensity but didn't press him. She knew he was working through something, just as Junior was.
By the end of the session, Wicked felt more focused, more driven. The chaotic energy that had surrounded him was beginning to settle, and with it came a clearer understanding of what lay ahead.
---
That evening, Wicked made his way to the blacksmith's house. The blacksmith had four daughters, three of whom were older and still at home waiting to be married, aged 20, 21, and 24. The youngest daughter, who was still in school, was friends with Wicked's older brother, Orion, and sister, Laura.
When he knocked on the door, he was greeted by the three older sisters. They had already suspected that Wicked was talking to all three of them, and tensions were high.
"Wicked," the eldest, Kira, said, crossing her arms. "We need to talk."
Wicked took a deep breath. "I need to be honest with you about everything."
He explained the situation with T, the rumors, and the truth about how he had been talking to each of them. He admitted to sleeping with one of them, specifically mentioning the one who had fought him earlier—who had always been athletic and competitive, making their encounters all the more intense.
"We appreciate your honesty, Wicked," Kira replied, her expression softening a bit. "But we've seen the fallout of what you've been doing. It's not just about you and T. It affects all of us."
Wicked nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "I just… I need to figure myself out before I get involved with anyone else. This harem life isn't for me."
The sisters exchanged glances, then Kira spoke up again. "We want you to know that we care about you, but you need to understand the responsibility that comes with these relationships. Especially if someone gets pregnant or if we have to deal with any other complications."
Wicked left their house that night feeling lighter than before. He still had a long road ahead, but now, he was ready to face it with clarity.