My eyes stayed glued to his dark ones as he planted his huge frame in front of me. I felt small in front of him, so small.
“I think you haven’t gotten the memo.” He said, his voice rough. “You are not my mate.” He said, breaking my heart. “And you are not my Queen.” He snatched the crown from the top of my head and dropped it on the ground. “You are not the Queen.” And he crushed the crown with his foot, twisting it for good measure.
I saw the crown get crushed under his feet as tears flowed silently down my cheeks.
He side stepped me and began walking out. He began walking away.
I heard his footsteps as he walked further away from me. I didn’t turn around. I felt like I’ll die or something if I watch him walk away from me.
Was that possible? Was it possible to die from a broken heart? Because it hurt too much. I’m sure that people die from pain.
I didn’t want him to walk away though. I wanted him to stay. Even for a moment longer. Even if he will walk away later. I wanted to hear his voice, even if his words were cruel.
“I’m sorry.” I managed to whisper.
His footsteps stopped.
“Mistakes won’t be tolerated under my rule. Next time, you will be punished.” What kind of punishment? Maybe I should make a mistake. If there is any hope… then he will fuck me. I just want to feel him again.
I heard three small footsteps and I instantly knew who it was.
“Mama! Dadda!” Tori.
“Mama!” Klaus.
“Aunt Avalyn!” Kol.
I wiped my tears before I turned and forced a smile on my face to greet my three little munchkins.
Tori, Klaus and Kol came running towards me and I braced myself, ready for their attack.
They jumped and dashed against my waist, hugging me.
I hadn’t expected so much force in their little hugs so I stumbled and was about to fall back but Eli, who was standing beside me caught me.
Giving him a grateful look, I hugged the kids back.
“We heard you were out of the room, Mama.” Klaus told me, his big grey eyes looked at me with sadness. “We thought you weren’t sick anymore. But you look so sick. Why?”
“Yes Mama, you look sick.” Tori nodded. “I can take you to the doctor. Dadda will take us.” And then she turned to Nik who was looking at us. “Dadda!” Tori beckoned him over. “Let’s take Mama to the doctor. It’s been two weeks since she is sick and she hasn’t been getting well.”
“I don’t have time. Ask Eliyah.” Nikolai replied, his voice devoid of emotions.
“Are you going to die?” Kol asked, his voice small. “Are you going to become a star soon?”
“Shut up.” Klaus whacked his head. “She isn’t dying.” He hissed and then looked at me with fear in his eyes. “You aren’t dying, right, Mama?”
“No.” I replied softly. “I’ll get better now, we don’t need to go to the doctor.”
“What’s this?” Klaus picked up the remnants of my crown. “Why is your crown on the floor?” He looked at me with question.
I held in my tears. “It fell down, sweetie.”
“Why is it crushed?” He is too smart for his own good.
His eyes followed something on the floor until they reached where Nik was standing.
That’s when I realised that when Nik crushed the crown, the stones had shattered and some of it must have stuck to the bottom of his shoe. And as he walked, he left some minute pieces of it on the floor.
And Klaus, ever the perceptive one, caught it.
“You crushed Mama’s crown.” He stated, his voice cold with an undertone of anger.
He looked at me. “You are not sick are you? You haven’t taken any medicine. You haven’t visited a doctor. If you were sick, you would have healed yourself. Tori has been trying to heal you every day. But you weren’t sick so there is nothing to heal.”
Oh, Goddess.
“Niklaus.” Max stood up from his sear. “Don’t concern yourself with the matters of adults. Let’s go out kids.” He walked towards us but Klaus held his hand up towards Max, stopping him.
This little kid had that much strength in him.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Max but I will concern myself when the adult is my mother.” He said politely but firmly.
Max had no answer.
Klaus then looked at Nikolai, eyes full of hatred and fury. His small frame vibrated as he got furious.
“I know Mama is like this because of you. I don’t know what you did but I know it’s your fault. It always is.” Klaus spoke.
I looked at Nik and I instantly knew he was bracing himself to get hurt by his own son.
“I am going to be the King when I grow up. When I grow up, I’ll become stronger than you and then I will kill you.” Klaus gritted, his voice dripping with contempt. “Start counting your days. I know I am.”
A gasp left my mouth. Where is this coming from? Where did he learn all of this?
Then, I did something that I knew I would regret. But enough was enough.
I slapped Niklaus.
I didn’t care what anyone else thought. I didn’t care how my family reacted.
No child of mine will disrespect their father. Not anymore.
He looked at me as a tear splashed down his cheek. He covered his cheek with his hand and looked at me with hurt filled eyes.
“Apologise.”
He pressed his lips together.
“Apologise to your father, Niklaus.” I said in anger.
He took a couple of steps away from me.
My heart twisted with hurt but I maintained the angry expression on my face. He needed to know it was not okay.
“I don’t have a father. As any pack member, I am allowed to challenge the Alpha when I want to.” His voice shook as he kept his tear filled eyes on mine. “You will regret taking his side, Mother.” And then he ran out.
“Is it true?” Tori asked. Her eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Nik, her voice heartbreakingly sad. In her eyes, Nik couldn’t do anything wrong. “Did you do this to Mama?” Her breath hitched.
Nik opened his mouth but no voice came out.
She shook her head, as if she couldn’t understand, as if she couldn’t believe it. I’m not even sure if her little mind could process what was going on. But my kids were smart. And maybe they have an idea…
“Klaus, wait!” She yelled after he brother and ran out too.
Kol looked at me and then Nikolai before he too dashed out.
Nik stalked out of the room in fury. The temperature of the room felt so hot. Almost like it we were in a desert.
Everyone was silent.
I wanted to disappear.
Everything would have been so much better if I disappeared. Everyone would be happy. Klaus wouldn’t hate Nik, Tori wouldn’t be disappointed in Nik, Nik would be happy too.
“Avalyn.” Nat came and hugged me but I felt numb.
I didn’t need her hug.
I wanted Nik’s hug. His arms are the only arms that can glue my broken pieces together. His arms are the only arms that could do that.
“I’m sorry but I think I’m going to go now. Sorry for the drama.” I looked at the faces of my family members. They all looked at me with pity and sympathy.
I didn’t need it.
“Go where?” Dimitri asked.
“I -I’m going to go for a walk.”