Nicklaus’s POV
“Yes, he is still alive,” I assured her, mustering a hopeful smile. Yet, deep down, I was aware that Mateo was likely enduring unimaginable suffering at the hands of that malevolent pack.
She instinctively placed her hands over her heart, seemingly relieved. “That’s a relief. So, what happened that I’m not aware of?” she inquired, her curiosity evident.
“At first, I didn’t want to burden you with it. And secondly, I wasn’t sure how to break the news that we might need to return to my pack. I thought you’d refuse due to your attachment to this place. So, I took it upon myself to start resolving the issue on my own,” I confessed. Gabriella’s gaze was filled with affection, and I knew she understood the gravity of the situation.
She didn’t respond immediately, pausing to process the information. After a few moments, she moved closer to me and tenderly touched my face. With her soothing voice, she said, “I’m committed to you for life. Even though I’ve come to love this place, we need to return home. You should have discussed it with me.”
“I apologize. I suppose I presumed too much without getting your input. I’m truly sorry,” I expressed, appreciating her understanding. If I had known earlier, I would have shared my concerns with her, and we could have faced these challenges together. This would have spared us the worries of Dedusa’s threat to our daughter.
“It’s alright, love. I’m grateful we’re having this conversation now,” she responded, her radiant smile putting me at ease. “The elders and the pack think I abandoned them for desire, assuming I’m the kind of alpha who doesn’t care for his people,” I continued to explain, sensing her mood shift. What was she thinking? Was she blaming herself? I didn’t want her to feel guilty; none of this was her fault.
Recognizing her expression, I reassured, “Hey, I recognize that look on your face. Feeling guilty?” She affirmed it with a nod, prompting me to kiss her gently. “You don’t need to feel guilty. If anyone should feel that way, it’s me. I thought I had everything under control here, but I’ve clearly failed. Trust me, mate, I messed things up myself. You’re not responsible for any of this, so please stop blaming yourself,” I urged, wanting her to understand her innocence in this.
“I appreciate your attempt to ease my guilt, but the truth remains that my actions kept you away from your pack. Now, your territories are being lost one by one, and you might even lose the war,” she confessed, her guilt still evident. I couldn’t bear seeing her like this, so I assured her.
“For your sake, I will not let us lose this war. Please trust me on that. I’m determined to win,” I vowed, hoping my conviction would alleviate her concerns. Yet, she remained silent, lost in her thoughts. To continue our conversation, I delved back into my explanation.
“I sent Mateo to address the situation, and things went relatively well. However, my pack is divided, which is normal in such circumstances. Mateo left the pack without considering his own safety, all to save me.”
Her eyes widened as she processed the new information. “Hold on a second. Did you just say he saved you? What happened that you needed saving?” she inquired, her concern evident. I hesitated, realizing I might have shared too much and inadvertently worried her. “It’s a past incident; please don’t worry about it,” I deflected, hoping to steer the conversation away from my own troubles.
“I want to know, tell me what happened,” I felt compelled to share the truth with her.
“While you were asleep, I got ambushed and took a hit as well, but Jessica arrived just in time to save me,” I noticed a flicker of anger in her expression when I mentioned Jessica’s name, but I decided not to pry further, as understanding women’s feelings can be complex.
“So she’s a witch?” she inquired.
“Yes,” I replied, trying to gauge her reaction and figure out her thoughts. She swiftly redirected the conversation, asking, “So what happened to Mateo?”
“He never arrived here, and we haven’t heard from him either. I’ve been worried sick, searching for him. On the day I was going to explain everything to you, Estella fell ill,” I shared the unfolding events, hoping she would understand my situation. Her gaze lingered on me, prompting me to continue, “We found some of his belongings and lost his scent, making it challenging to track him down.”
“OMG, I’m so sorry. What do we do now? How can we find him?” Her concern was palpable.
“I received a call from my pack members saying that our enemy left a message, demanding that I turn myself in, otherwise they’ll kill Mateo.”
“What? Why does everyone seem to be fixated on the word ‘kill’ lately? Is it some kind of disturbing trend or what? One thing’s for certain, he’s not going to die. We’ll find a solution,” her determination shone through.
“What do you mean by people using the word ‘kill’?” Confusion laced my words. Had someone threatened my mate with harm? The thought filled me with a fiery rage, ready to protect her at any cost.
“One of the elders suggested killing our daughter to seal away Dedusa for good.”
“What?” My fury ignited instantly at her words. Lethal, my inner wolf, surged forth, prepared to unleash devastation. I was on the verge of tearing apart hearts when her soothing voice pulled me back, “It’s okay, love. No one will harm our daughter. I promise you, Margaret is addressing it at the meeting. Just stay calm.”
Taking control again, I felt the anger ebb slightly as she held me close. “Why is everything going so wrong now?” I lamented. I was losing the war, Mateo was missing, and now our daughter’s life was at risk.
“I understand how you feel, but rather than dwelling on the problems, let’s channel our energy into finding a solution once and for all,” she wisely advised.
“So what are we going to do now? Estella needs us, Mateo needs us, and the pack needs us as well,” I exclaimed, feeling the urgency to find solutions for each challenge that had arisen. It was crucial to address these issues one by one and find resolutions as quickly as possible. My determination was focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone, even if it meant sacrificing myself in the process. All that mattered was that everyone emerged from these trials unharmed.
“Estella’s solution will come from Margaret. Once she’s done with the meeting, we’ll gather more information from her on what to do. But I did find some information about Dedusa by reading a book that talks about her before she became evil,” she responded, giving me a glimmer of hope. Learning about Dedusa’s origins might hold the key to defeating her.
“What did you find? Is there a ritual we must perform or any instructions?” I inquired eagerly, my hope rising as I imagined a potential solution.
She smiled, attempting to reassure me, “I didn’t find a definitive solution, but I did learn why she targeted our daughter. It’s linked to her past.” While her response didn’t bring an immediate solution, the knowledge itself could prove invaluable in understanding Dedusa’s motives and weaknesses.
“Tell me more,” I pressed, needing to know every detail she had discovered.
She proceeded to share the entire story, shedding light on Dedusa’s transformation from a good witch to an evil entity driven by heartbreak and pain. My heart ached for Dedusa’s tragic past, even as it fueled her malevolent actions.
“All this nightmare will be over soon, I’m sure of it,” I said, hugging her tightly. Her words provided a sense of comfort, reminding me that we were strong enough to face these challenges and emerge victorious.
“What do we do about finding Mateo? I hope you’re not seriously considering turning yourself in. I’m not accepting that idea at all, just so you know,” she exclaimed with a furrowed brow. Her concern for Mateo and her straightforward refusal to accept the idea of me turning myself in were clear.
“Turning myself in to my enemy is part of my plan, my dear,” I confessed, knowing that it might not be the ideal option but feeling compelled by the circumstances.
Her anger flared, and she pushed me away, her voice raised in frustration. “Are you really that selfish? How could you even suggest something so terrible? What about me? What about Estella?”
I understood her anger and concern, and I was determined to explain myself despite her anger.