Nicolas POV
“What will happen if we don’t mate?” My voice was filled with worry as I posed the question.
“Your future Luna will endure constant agony, and eventually…” Assessing Zara’s vitals, Celia’s voice betrayed her concern.
Beta John signaled for me to follow; I did so grudgingly. I hated to leave Zara’s side while she was so weak.
“Poor baby,” howled Ray. “She’s in a lot of pain. She needs our assistance.”
“Let us just find out how bad the situation is first,” I muttered, turning my attention to Beta John. He looked even more worried than Celia.
“Tell me, Beta, how bad is it?” I asked, glancing back at where Zara was.
“It is bad. There are two possible outcomes,” he stated.
“What kind of things?” I gazed into his eyes and questioned him.
“Firstly, if the pain extends to the mate bond, you may experience agony.” He informed me, “It will stop you from marking and mating her.”
“Okay,” I said, not knowing what to do. I was dead set against that happening. “What is the second thing?”
His icy blue eyes held my attention as he murmured, “Her heat can leak from this temple into the rest of the surrounding packs. It will summon any potential mates.”
Ray seized control and hissed. He grabbed Beta John by the neck and pinned him against the wall.
“I will never let that happen!” He scoffed. “Zara is mine! And mine alone!”
“Then I suggest you do something!” said Beta John, removing my hand from his neck.
“And how do you suggest I do that?” Ray snarled.
“You two need to figure that out and get mated!” he hissed angrily at me. “Delaying the process will just make matters more complicated!”
“Nic, Beta John,” Zara called out from the door. “Is everything okay?”
After giving Beta John a final glance, I hurried to Zara. Her complexion had improved, and her cheeks had turned red once more.
“Everything is fine,” I said, as I put my arm around her waist for support. “Let us get you to your room.”
“I’ll bring you something to eat,” Beta John said, and he hurried toward Celia.
Now that we knew where to go, we had no trouble finding Zara’s room, and I assisted her in getting into bed.
“You didn’t give Ray control this time,” she stated.
The fact that it wasn’t a question didn’t stop me from responding.
“No,” I answered. “I need to control myself around you when you are in heat.”
“Celia gave me something for now,” she said with a mortified expression. “However, she cautioned that it would only provide temporary relief. My body is depleting the potion more quickly than she anticipated, and…”
“Zara, we need to talk,” I said, cutting her off.
As Zara looked directly into my eyes, she froze.
I drew near the fireplace in the vain hope that it may reveal to me some answers.
How do I let her know that our time is running out?
How can I express clearly that we must mate immediately to prevent her from attracting unwanted mates?
I picked up a log, tossed it into the fireplace, and ran my fingers through my hair.
“What is it?” Zara’s voice quivered.
I shifted my gaze to her and let out another breath.
Her silver eyes betrayed her despair.
“It seems like we shouldn’t put off mating any longer,” I said while kneeling by the bed. I tenderly extended my hand and drew her close.
I tenderly kissed her neck, and I muttered, “I desire to mate with you and leave my mark on you.”
Zara let out a groan.
“I just want to know how you feel about that.”
Zara carefully pulled away from me, her cheeks turning red. As she looked down at her hands, she appeared to be seeking help.
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to…”
“You have my permission,” she cut me off. “Mark me and finish the mating; I demand it of you. I give my approval. Why should we wait any longer?”
I felt a surge of relief, but there was still a small matter that needed addressing. Is it safe to proceed without hurting Levi?
They were still legally bonded.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “What about Levi?”
“Zara and Levi never fully formed a connection,” Beta John said as he entered the room. “My apologies for interrupting.”
“How sure are you about that?” Scared, Zara inquired. “I refuse to hurt my best friend because of…”
“Believe me,” Beta John responded, “Levi isn’t a concern right now. He will be alright. You and your mate need to resolve this. When the time comes, we will organize a ceremony to dismantle the bond between you and Levi.”
“Thank you, Beta,” I said.
Beta John placed a tray on the table and took off the lids.
“Eat,” he said, passing a plate of food to each of us. The dish appeared appetizing despite its simplicity-just rice and steak. “Your strength will be needed. The mating rite will exhaust you.”
It caused Zara’s cheeks to flush. Her innocence never wavered.
Beta John smiled and excused himself, and I escorted him out of the room.
“How much time do we still have before her heat comes back?” I asked.
Beta John glanced over his shoulder.
“It is difficult to predict,” he stated. “I don’t know. It might take thirty minutes, or it might take an hour, maybe even longer.”
I nodded in sympathy.
“Why do you ask, Alpha?”
“I always wanted to make Zara’s first time special.”
“Ah, I see,” Beta John remarked. “Like me, you are still old school, and your goal is to safeguard that first experience forever.”
“Something like that,” I replied, shifting my attention back to Zara. She seemed distracted as she picked at her dinner. “Is there any way I can make her first moment special?”
Beta John turned silent, thinking.
Did he intend to help me?
Has he come up with a brilliant plan?
“I might just have a perfect solution to your problem,” he said, his icy blue eyes gleaming with delight. “And Zara would love it.”
“That’s great,” I replied, eager to find out his plan. “What is it?”
With a small smile on his face, he said, “I will tell you in a bit,” and then he walked down the hall. “For the time being, make sure Zara is comfortable. You must love and support her. I promise I’ll be right back.
As I turned the corner, Beta John vanished from view.
“Oh, Goddess,” I murmured to myself. I hope that Beta John’s involvement in this situation will lead to a positive outcome.”
I wonder what Beta John was planning? Will his plans succeed, or will uncontrollable factors cause them to fail?
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