40

GABRIELLA’S POV
With his words, a glimmer of hope ignited within me, dispelling the shadows of doubt that had threatened to consume me. Nicklaus’s unwavering support and belief in our ability to overcome this ordeal breathed life into my weary spirit.
I pulled back slightly from our embrace, my eyes meeting his gaze, gratitude and determination intertwining in my voice. “Thank you, Nicklaus. I needed your strength, your unwavering faith in us. Let’s gather our strength and face this challenge head-on. Our daughter needs us, and we will not let her down.”
In that moment, a renewed resolve washed over me, washing away the remnants of despair. Together, hand in hand, we would navigate the treacherous path ahead, drawing strength from each other and the unbreakable bond we shared.
With Nicklaus by my side, his embrace a shield against the darkness, I found the courage to believe that we would be reunited with our precious daughter once more.
“So, what do we do next?” I asked, my voice filled with a mix of determination and renewed hope. Wiping away my tears, I felt a surge of energy coursing through my veins, propelling me forward in my quest to find my daughter.
Nicklaus’s gaze met mine, his eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and anticipation. He took a step closer, his voice steady yet laced with a sense of urgency.
“We must act swiftly, my love. We gather our resources, rally our allies, and follow any lead that may bring us closer to our daughter. We won’t rest until she’s back in our arms.”
Before he could elaborate, the door to Nicklaus’s office burst open, causing both of us to turn in surprise. His Beta hurriedly entered, apologizing for the intrusion, his voice filled with a sense of urgency.
“Alpha, Luna, there’s good news. Our patrols found her. Your daughter has been located.”
A surge of relief washed over me, mingling with a wave of overwhelming joy. Without hesitation, we followed the Beta, our hearts pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety as we rushed toward the gathering where our daughter awaited us.
As we approached, my eyes locked on the sight of Margaret cradling our precious girl in her arms. Tears welled up in my eyes once more, but this time they were tears of overwhelming gratitude and love.
I reached out hurriedly, gathering my daughter in my embrace, holding her tightly against my chest.
The sound of my voice trembled with emotion as I whispered words of reassurance and love, my fingers gently caressing her hair. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Mama and Papa are here now. You’re safe.”
The joy of our reunion, however, was quickly overshadowed by a surge of anger radiating from Nicklaus. His Beta stepped forward, breaking the tense silence that had settled upon the gathering.
“It was him, Alpha. He had captured your daughter and was attempting to cross the border when we caught him.”
The air crackled with tension as Nicklaus’s eyes blazed with fierce rage. Without a moment’s hesitation, he launched himself toward the rogue, his movements swift and merciless.
In a single fluid motion, he subdued the captive, his hands snapping the rogue’s neck with a chilling finality.
I watched, both awed and slightly unnerved, as Nicklaus stood up, his hand stained with the rogue’s blood. His voice, now commanding and dominant, resonated through the gathering, filled with cold determination.
“Such an event should never repeat itself. All of you must ensure my family’s safety at all times. Otherwise, this land will be soaked in your blood.”
The assembled members of our pack lowered their heads in submission, their voices barely a whisper as they offered their apologies.
“We’re sorry, Alpha. We will protect your family at any cost.”
“Clean up this mess,” he ordered.
Nicklaus’s gaze swept across the gathering, exuding dominance and authority. He turned on his heels, his words lingering in the air as he walked away.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. The sight of Nicklaus, typically sweet and kind, in such a mood sent shockwaves through me.
Never before had I seen Nicklaus like this.
It was as if a switch had been flipped, transforming him into a completely different person. It felt as though a stranger had replaced the man I knew, leaving me bewildered and vulnerable.
The sheer intensity of his anger rendered me speechless and vulnerable, clutching my daughter, Estella, tightly to my chest.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I hurried after him, struggling to keep up with his rapid pace. My heart pounded in my chest, fear gripping me as I called out to him, hoping he would reconsider and not leave us behind.
“Nicklaus, are you really going to leave without us?” I managed, my voice trembling with fear and desperation. I needed him to understand that we couldn’t be left behind, that we needed him.
To my surprise, he abruptly stopped in his tracks, as if my voice had cut through the fog of his anger. His features contorted with remorse.
I watched as he turned around, his eyes filled with regret, a stark contrast to the fury I had witnessed moments ago. His expression spoke volumes, silently admitting his mistake.
“Damn,” he muttered under his breath, his tone heavy with self-disgust. It was clear he was struggling with his emotions, grappling with the consequences of his actions. I could see the turmoil etched on his face, as if he was desperately searching for a way to make amends.
His eyes sought mine, seeking forgiveness, understanding, and a faint glimmer of hope.
Taking a step closer, he gently reached out and took Estella from my trembling hands, cradling her protectively against his chest. The tenderness in his touch softened the edges of my fear, reminding me of the love we shared, even amidst chaos.
He positioned Estella securely on his shoulders, and then, with his free hand, he drew me close, his touch gentle and familiar.
“Come here, darling,” he whispered, his voice a delicate mix of remorse and affection. I felt his lips press against my forehead, a fleeting yet tender gesture that sent shivers down my spine. In that moment, I realized that despite his anger, his love for us hadn’t wavered.
“I’m so sorry, love,” he murmured, his voice laced with regret and vulnerability. “I was just consumed by anger.”
His words hung heavily in the air, and my heart wrestled between the pain of his outburst and the desire for reconciliation. Emotions surged within me, threatening to overwhelm me, but deep down, I knew that love had the power to mend even the deepest wounds.
Amidst the turbulent storm of emotions, I reached out and gently cupped Nicklaus’s face in my hands. My touch acted as an anchor, grounding us both in the face of adversity.
Our eyes locked, searching for sincerity and understanding in each other’s gaze. The gravity of the situation hung heavily in the air, poised to tear us apart, yet I knew we needed to remain united.
“Nicklaus,” I whispered, my voice a delicate blend of vulnerability and strength, “I understand your anger. Angry that someone dared to try to take our daughter, our pride. But directing that anger at your innocent pack mates won’t bring her back or solve anything. We must channel that anger in the right direction-to finding out what happened, to identifying the person responsible for this heinous act. Focus your anger where it belongs.”
His gaze softened, the tension in his face yielding to a glimmer of hope. I could sense the internal struggle within him, torn between seething anger and deep love for us. As his arms tightened around Estella and me, I knew he had made his choice. He was choosing love and family over blind rage.
“You’re right,” he said, his voice resolute. “I’ll do whatever it takes to uncover the truth. Whoever dared to take my daughter must be ready to face the consequences.”
“Yes, Nicklaus, but first you need to calm down,” I pleaded, my voice marked by concern. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise. But right now, we must remain composed.”
“I’m calm; you always make everything better,” he said with an appreciative smile.
Relief washed over me, mingling with the lingering pain.
Nicklaus interlocked our hands, a gesture that spoke volumes about his dedication to our cause, and together, we began walking toward our room.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on our shoulders, the strain of the day taking its toll.
The shadow of uncertainty hung in the air as we moved in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. Yet amidst the weariness, a glimmer of hope emerged.
We had found solace in each other, drawing strength from our love and the unbreakable bond we shared as a family.
The room brimmed with heaviness as we entered, gently taking Estella from Nicklaus’s trembling hands. Her tear-streaked face bore traces of fear and confusion, her tiny frame quivering in my embrace.
I could feel her heart pounding against my chest as I held her close, whispering a steady stream of apologies.
“Hush now, my sweet Estella,” I whispered softly, my voice quivering with emotion. “I’m so sorry, my darling. We failed to protect you, and for that, I beg your forgiveness.”