Chapter 345

A Strong Maybe

~Liam~

As the time approached for our picnic on the mountain, Miles and Marvin had already gone ahead to
help Noah and Sebastien with the preparations, leaving Oliver and me in our room. We were planning
to catch up with them soon. I watched as Oliver meticulously tried on three different shirts, putting in a
lot of effort to look good for Elaine. His fashion dilemma amused me, and he joined in on the laughter
when he noticed me chuckling.

Out of the blue, Oliver asked, “What’s going on between you and Josephine? Did you guys have some
kind of disagreement?” I was taken aback by the question.

“Not really; why do you ask?” I responded, trying to hide any unease in my tone.

“I’ve noticed that she usually keeps her distance now. She used to be friendly—giving a little hi or hello
and laughing at our jokes. However, she’s been rather cold this week,” Oliver explained, expressing his
observations.

I couldn’t hide the truth and told him, “She mentioned that we made fun of her two years ago at the
mansion.”

Oliver’s eyes widened in surprise, “You mean she brought that up? That was in the past, and we
certainly didn’t mean any harm by it. We were just casually talking.”

Realising that Oliver remembered the conversation too, I asked him, “So you do recall the
conversation?”

“Yes,” He confirmed.



“ Elaine said she overheard us talking about her. But we never intended any harm by it. I think she
might be taking it a bit too personally.”

His words made me feel awful. Whatever Josephine had overheard must have hurt her deeply, and she
kept it to herself for so long. It became clear that her exterior toughness didn’t mean she was
impervious to hurtful words. I regretted my actions and wished I had been more careful with my words
back then.

After getting dressed, we made our way out to join the others. On my way, I happened to bump into
Uncle Leo.

“Having fun?” he asked with a playful smile, and I instinctively dodged when he reached to tussle my
hair. My reaction amused him, and he chuckled warmly.

“You’re a grown man now, huh?” he teased, and his laughter was infectious. I couldn’t help but laugh
along with him. He then paused and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“You should enjoy life, Liam. I wish I were eighteen again. Don’t let Mike’s mistakes steal the joy and
laughter of your youth. I admire what you’re doing for your girlfriend, but remember to live a little too.
No matter the outcome, don’t let it weigh you down,” he advised, echoing the same wisdom I had
received from various people. I nodded, appreciating his words, and smiled at my uncle.

As I looked at him, an overwhelming urge to ask about the mate bond took over me. I felt like I was
going crazy with all the uncertainty and emotions tied to it.

“Uncle Leo, can I discuss something with you?” I asked, and he raised an eyebrow, giving me a nod.
Sensing my unease, he understood my need for privacy and guided me away from the hallway into a
nearby room.



Closing the door behind him, he looked at me with a kind smile. “I’m all ears,” he said, offering his full
attention. I swallowed nervously, wanting to inquire about the mate bond, but cautious not to reveal that
it was specifically about Josephine.

Curiosity and uncertainty filled me as I finally asked, “What does the mate bond feel like? Can you tell
me about what happened when you met Aunt Amelia?” I asked him.

To my surprise, he suggested, “Actually, let me tell you about Amanda instead.” It was a rare topic, as
we seldom discussed her, despite her being the biological mother of Charlotte, Gemma, and Jewels.

“I’ll share about Amanda because that was the first time I experienced the mate bond. By the time I met
Amelia, I was already filled with apprehension and resistance due to the bad luck it had brought me
with Amanda. So, my experience with Amelia might not give you an accurate representation,” he
explained, sighing softly.

“We were at a dinner party, and her scent caught my nostrils. I was in a trance, you see, and I couldn’t
control myself or my wolf. The pull was powerful, almost impossible to shake off,” Uncle Leo recounted,
and I nodded in acknowledgement, as I was already familiar with that part of the mate bond
experience.

Curious, I asked, “What would have happened if you could feel the mate bond, but Amanda couldn’t
because she wasn’t yet at the mating age?” His puzzled expression showed that he needed a moment
to process the question. Eventually, he grasped the implication.

Uncle Leo was indeed a brilliant man, and he studied me thoughtfully before arriving at a revelation.
His eyes widened with surprise.

“That’s why you’re going crazy searching for Sophia?” he presumed, thinking it was her I was referring
to. I immediately shook my head, indicating that it wasn’t Sophia, which only seemed to deepen his
confusion.



He went on to explain, “Well, it is a rare occurrence, but it has happened to a few people. Perhaps the
person is close to the mating age, but the pull won’t be as strong as it would have been if she had
reached the mating age. That scent would simply let you know she is the one, and she is ready. Once
that person is of age, the pull will become intense; you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from her.
Your wolf would go crazy, needing to complete the bond. It’s a profound feeling, especially when you’re
still unmated, but it can be torturous if you’re already mated,” he explained, sharing his insight on the
complex dynamics of the mate bond. He moved closer to me.

“If you’re asking these questions, then I suspect you’ve found her,” Uncle Leo remarked, looking at me
intently, and I reluctantly shook my head.

“Don’t lie to me, Liam; what you’ve described is an exceedingly rare occurrence. You wouldn’t be
asking me about it unless you’ve experienced it yourself or someone close to you has. So, tell me the
truth,” he insisted, and I felt a pang of shame for being caught in a lie.

“Can I keep it to myself for now? I’m still trying to sort out my feelings,” I admitted, hoping to buy some
time. Uncle Leo studied me with a knowing expression, understanding the complexity of the situation.

“Are you romantically involved with Sophia?” he inquired, and I shook my head.

“I haven’t yet expressed my feelings to her,” I confessed, and he seemed relieved by that.

“And this person you believe is your fated, does she know about it? And do you have feelings for her?”
he continued his probing questions, to which I again shook my head.

“I don’t have any negative feelings towards her, but I don’t see her in a romantic light either. She’s
unaware of my thoughts,” I explained, being as honest as I could.



“Do you want to reject her and search for Sophia?” he asked, but I found myself unable to answer. The
bond was strong, and neither Alex nor I wanted to let it go.

Uncle Leo noticed my uncertainty and gently said, “I see you’re unsure. Take your time to figure things
out.” He advised, and I nodded, grateful for his understanding and guidance in this intricate matter.

“Well, I would advise you to give the bond a chance. Since you haven’t confessed your feelings to
Sophia and haven’t made any promises yet, it would be unfair to discard the gift of the moon for
something that isn’t truly yours. Keep in mind that Sophia might find her own fated match, and unlike
you, she might be more than willing to embrace it,” Uncle Leo advised, echoing the same sentiments
that Justin and Alex had pointed out. He sighed, placing his hands on my shoulders with a reassuring
touch.

“Whoever this person is that you believe is your fated mate, I’m sure she doesn’t deserve to be rejected
without being given a chance. I made that mistake with Amelia, and I’m grateful she didn’t give up on
me. I don’t want you to make mistakes that you won’t be able to rectify, Liam. I was fortunate, but I
don’t want you to test your luck. Whatever it may be, I urge you to embrace it and give it a chance. We
will still search for Sophia regardless,” he emphasised, alleviating my fears. I looked at him, and he
nodded, understanding the reasons behind my hesitation.

“I understand that might be a part of your reluctance, but at this point, we are all too invested to pull
out. Remember, she is still your friend, Liam,” Uncle Leo said, and I let out a sigh of relief. However, the
realisation struck me that he could potentially share this information with my parents, and the last thing
I wanted was for them to become involved in my love life, especially when I wasn’t entirely sure about
my feelings for Josephine. If my parents found out she was my fated mate, there would be no room for
rejection. I needed time to figure things out before they knew.

“Please don’t tell…” I started, and he finished the sentence for me, understanding my concern.



“I won’t tell anyone. You lied when I asked, so I can see that you don’t want anyone to know. Your
secret is safe with me,” he reassured me, and I thanked him sincerely. Uncle Leo extended a
handshake, but then he pulled me into an embrace and playfully tousled my hair. We both shared a
hearty laugh, and in that moment, I realised that no matter how old I grew, I would always be little Liam
to him.

Uncle Leo’s wise words reminded me of the importance of being fair to both myself and the person I
believed to be my fated mate. His advice reassured me that there was room for both hope and
exploration, and it didn’t necessarily mean closing off my heart to other possibilities. I felt a sense of
gratitude for his guidance and support as I navigated through the complexities of the mate bond. I knew
I could count on him to keep my confidence, allowing me the space and time to sort out my emotions
without unnecessary interference.

After leaving my uncle, I made my way outside and realised that everyone was ready to go. Two vans
were waiting, one already full and the other still open. Charlotte seemed unhappy, standing by the door
of the open van. I quickly assessed the situation and noticed that the only available seat was next to
Josephine.

As I hesitated, my eyes scanned the other seats in the van, unintentionally making Josephine speak
up. She seemed defensive, saying, “I don’t want to sit beside you either, but it looks like everyone else
has paired up, and the other van is full,” I felt the need to clarify my actions, as I didn’t want her to think
I was avoiding her. I shook my head immediately and sat beside her.

Taking a gentle approach, I looked at her and explained,

“I wasn’t looking around because I don’t want to sit with you, Joe. I was simply trying to figure out who
else was in the van with us.”



Josephine’s scepticism was evident, but I wanted to put her at ease. So, I placed my hand over hers,
intertwining our fingers. At that moment, my heart felt lighter, and my fears seemed to dissipate. The
tingling feeling of the bond was undeniable, and I was determined to see where this journey would lead
us.

“I was actually looking forward to sitting beside you,” I whispered to her, noticing the furrow of her
brows as she tried to understand the sudden change in my demeanour.

Update of The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad
Usman

With the author's famous The Dark Side Of Fate series authorName that makes readers fall in love
with every word, go to chapter Chapter 345 readers Immerse yourself in love anecdotes, mixed with
plot demons. Will the next chapters of the The Dark Side Of Fate series are available today.
Key: The Dark Side Of Fate Chapter 345


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