Gabriella’s POV
“Oh right, so what are those herbs for?” I said, attempting to divert my thoughts from the worries about my daughter. The idea of Dedusa being real and my daughter possibly being her host felt unfathomable.
“To cure any soil poison,” Margaret replied.
“Soil poison? I’ve never heard of it before,” I remarked, genuinely curious.
“That’s because there are numerous types of poison, but this one is quite rare. Anyway, don’t just stand there, join me,” she said with a warm smile. As we worked together, we chatted about various topics, and I found myself slowly getting lost in the rhythm of the task.
After we finished, we returned to her place. Margaret thanked me and praised my skills as a student. She mentioned that Nick had been worried about me and even thought she might have harmed me at one point. I chuckled at the thought of Nick being so protective and assured her that I would always treat him well.
I left Margaret’s place with a smile on my face, eager to see Nick. I headed to the garden to find him, only to be surprised that he wasn’t there. Confused, I asked around and learned that he hadn’t been visiting the garden lately. It struck me as odd since the garden was one of his favorite spots. Perhaps he was spending more time in the woods? I decided to gather some fresh fruits to bring to him and the others in the woods.
I stopped at a nearby market and bought some fruits. The seller refused to accept my money, declaring it my lucky day. With a thankful smile, I set off for the woods. However, upon arrival, I found no one there not Nick, not his beta, not any of the pack members. My confusion deepened. Where was everyone? Why did it feel like I was in the dark?
Deciding to return home, I turned around, only to spot an unfamiliar woman lurking around. I approached her, asking if she was looking for someone. She confirmed she was looking for Nicklaus, and my irritation grew. Why did she need to see him? What was their connection? And when did they become friends?
“There’s something urgent I need to ask him, and yes, we’re good friends. He often comes to my bar for a drink,” she explained casually.
I couldn’t help feeling a surge of jealousy and anger. I never knew about this bar or their supposed friendship. The thought of Nick spending time with another woman, especially when I had just returned after days of being asleep, fueled my frustration. Trying to remain composed, I asked with a tense smile, “Oh wow, you two must be pretty close.”
As Leah tried to calm me down, I was consumed by jealousy and anger. The idea that Nick might be close to someone else while I was away was unbearable. The fact that this woman had come to our home to see him intensified my emotions even more.
“You need to calm down. You don’t know if she’s really his friend or if she’s here for something important,” Leah reasoned with me, attempting to offer a more rational perspective.
But my jealousy and resentment clouded my judgment. “No way. Why would he be close to someone else instead of me? I can’t take this anymore, she’s so beautiful,” I retorted, my tone seething with disdain.
Leah continued to advise me, reminding me that both she and I were attractive in our own right, and that I needed to find out the reason for the woman’s visit before jumping to conclusions. However, my anger had already consumed me, and I wanted nothing more than to distance myself from the situation.
“Well, Leah, since you’re no longer supporting me, I’m done talking about this. I don’t even want to know why she’s here,” I declared, my frustration boiling over.
Leah seemed amused by my jealousy. “You’re jealous! Wow, I’ve never seen you this jealous before. This is something.”
In response, I denied my jealousy, insisting that I would never feel that way about Nick. I was determined to stand my ground and not let my emotions get the best of me. But as the conversation continued, I lost my temper again and yelled at Leah, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.
Leah looked shocked by my outburst. “Did I do or say something wrong? Why are you angry at me? Why are you picking on me? I’m sorry if I did something to upset you, but I really have no idea where I’ve wronged you.”
Feeling guilty for yelling at Leah, I quickly apologized and explained that I hadn’t meant to raise my voice. My temper was spiraling out of control, and I knew I needed to regain my composure.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you. Please forgive me,” I said, my tone gentler this time.
Leah forgave me with a smile, and we continued our conversation. Eventually, the subject shifted to Nick’s whereabouts. Leah asked if Nick was around, and I informed her that he was out.
“Tell me your name, and I’ll let him know about your visit once he returns,” I offered, trying to be civil despite my emotions.
“My name is Jessica. Please tell him it’s important, and he knows where to find me,” she replied.
“Sure, he knows where to find you. That shouldn’t be a problem,” I assured her, holding back my anger as best as I could. She smiled and left, leaving me to grapple with my emotions and uncertainties about Nick’s actions.