Xander
Nala looked like she was in complete shock, her eyes wide and unblinking as she tried to process everything I had just revealed. I couldn't blame her; I had dropped a lot on her out of the blue, things that I hadn't planned on sharing but that had come pouring out nonetheless.
"It was because of Caleb," I continued, my voice a bit more measured now, "that I changed my name from Justin to Alexander Schneider. My mother was a Schneider."
Nala’s expression only deepened in shock, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind, trying to connect all the pieces of this complex puzzle.
"You see, Alia—Raya's mother—was the one who gave me shelter and kept me safe," I explained, the memories flooding back with a mix of gratitude and pain. "She was the reason Caleb's men couldn't find m
