Nicolas POV
“I know what you are going to say,” Kyle said, as I pulled a chair back to take a seat at the table.
I stopped what I was doing and stared at him in shock. He was no mind reader.
My gaze swept over the familiar face, taking in the changes that had occurred. I haven’t seen Kyle for more than five years. He looked a bit older than the last time I saw him, and his body and face had changed a bit.
Kyle had always been on the thin side, but now he was massive and masculine.
My gaze swept over his face. Isabella’s illness had etched deep worry lines under his eyes, now replaced by lines of laughter. His face had become more full and less sunken. He looked much healthier, and he had definitely gained some healthy body weight.
My gaze swept over his medium brown hair; it was now longer, curling around his ears. Yet, even after all the changes, his green-blue eyes were still the same, clear but sad.
“Ronan had already explained everything around Isabella’s illness,” he continued, avoiding my gaze.
Was he still blaming me?
“Oh,” I said in response, taken aback. I should have known that Ronan would share the news with him. “Then you should know that I am not responsible for her illness or death.”
“You still had the power to stop her,” Kyle hissed under his breath, his jaw tightening. He was still upset at me for something I had no control over.
After all these years, he still holds me accountable for Isabella’s death.
My jaw tightened as I remembered his instructions. He wanted me to order Isabella to abort the pup to save her life. I refused. I couldn’t bring myself to deny her the one thing she so desperately desired. She might have been ill, but she made the best of a difficult situation, and she enjoyed her pregnancy. She loved the pup growing inside her belly-my pup-my flesh and blood.
I have never seen her as beaming as in her last few days, and I will never forget her glowing cheeks and how beautiful she looked.
After that, I became suspicious of Kyle. I was afraid he would jeopardize the pregnancy. The tension between us was at an all-time high.
Then one night, after yet another dreadful argument, I came to a conclusion that
Kyle didn’t approve of the pregnancy because he was jealous and in love with Isabella.
I snapped and accused him of having feelings for Isabella.
Kyle defended himself, but I didn’t listen. I didn’t believe a word he said.
Eventually, Kyle had enough, and he left. The next moment, he was abroad.
I only found out about Kyle’s sexual preferences when Zara told me about Levi and Kyle; even Ronan kept it a secret from me.
“And what would that have helped?” I asked, reaching out to grasp Kyle’s shoulder. “Isabella would have eventually died. Our love was cursed. Her days were numbered.”
Kyle’s gaze shifted to my hand on his shoulder and back to me. His green-blue eyes were full of sadness.
“She could have lived a bit longer if she had been pregnant!” he hissed. “We wouldn’t have fought so much. I didn’t get to say goodbye!”
I sighed, shaking my head.
What my father did to us was wrong and painful.
“And I am sorry about that. I didn’t know that marking her would make her ill,” I said, taking a seat. “For Goddess’s sake, I believed Isabella was my true and fated mate. If it weren’t for my father, Isabella might still have been alive.”
“Maybe, but we will never know,” he muttered.
“No, we wouldn’t,” I replied sadly.
“I miss her, man,” he sniffed.
“I know you do,” I replied. “I do too.”
“But now you have found Zara,” he stated, his gaze pinning mine.
I knew what he was hinting at.
“I have,” I said. “But it doesn’t mean I loved Isabella any less.”
“How can you be so sure? Her anniversary is getting closer. Are you going…?”
Kyle’s words trailed off as he knitted his eyebrows together and shifted his head toward the door.
I abruptly followed his gaze, seeing Levi leave the restaurant.
“Where is he going?” I muttered, surprised.
“He’s probably taking the call outside,” Kyle responded. “Levi’s father has been calling constantly. It’s been quite a hassle.”
“I guess Beta John is just concerned,” I said. “With everything that is going on…”
“Levi knows how to handle Zara,” Kyle interrupted, his face serious. “He knows her as well as I knew Isabella.”
I waved my fingers together, shifted my head to the side, and watched Kyle. He appeared irritated about a matter unrelated to Isabella.
“What is really going on?” I asked.
Kyle’s gaze snapped to me.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
“Kyle, I know you pretty well. You have never been a reputable liar,” I stated.
Kyle shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He wasn’t sure if he needed to notify me.
I raised my eyebrows, waiting patiently for him to answer. If he didn’t tell me in the next minute or two, I knew Ray would have a way to sway him.
Kyle shook his head, caved, and raised his gaze to meet mine.
“There were rogues spotted on the Silverado Pack border this morning,” he muttered.
“And you didn’t think to inform me?” I snapped, getting up from my chair.
“We are in town, Nicolas,” he asserted, motioning for me to lower my voice. “Everyone is safe here. No one would dare try and do anything.”
“We are talking about my mate’s and your mate’s pack,” I hissed through my teeth. “Don’t you think she should know her pack and her parents are in danger?”
“Beta John instructed Levi to keep Zara away!”
“That should be her decision!” I roared, slamming my fist on the table.
Customers snapped their heads in our direction, but I didn’t care what they thought or heard.
The waiter quickly approached our table, his eyes wide as he made a defensive gesture with his hands.
“Is everything okay?” he inquired, unable to look me in the eyes.
“Yes,” Kyle hissed, waving him away. He quickly left, keeping his head down.
“Yet, the decision was made to keep her safe,” Kyle continued, gesturing for me to sit down, but before I could decide what I wanted to do, a cold and unholy feeling ran down my back….
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