I tap my feet against the floor, my nerves fraying with each passing second as I wait for Dad to say something. We arrived back in the werewolf kingdom an hour ago. Nickolas just finished pouring his heart out to Dad, explaining everything that happened. He apologized profusely for nearly killing him on his birthday. He declared his unwavering love for me and his desire to build a life together. But Dad remains silent, his expression unreadable as he stares at Nickolas, who stands rigid with tension, his shoulders taut as he awaits Dad’s judgment.
When Dad finally rises from the couch, Nickolas and I follow suit, the room so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I interlock my fingers with Nickolas’, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Everything is going to be alright,” I whisper into his mind. Since we have completed the mating process, we can send messages down our bond.
“Welcome to the family, son,” Dad says, his voice warm as he pulls Nickolas in for a hug. Relief washes over me, and I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding, a grin splitting my face. But my joy is short-lived as I notice Mom’s stony expression.
“I’m sorry, but it’s going to take more than that for me to believe you,” she says, shaking her head, her eyes hard with distrust. My heart plummets, a cold dread seeping into my bones. I was so focused on winning Dad over that I didn’t anticipate Mom’s resistance, especially since she seemed to understand my love for Nickolas before.
“You can name anything you wish for me to do to prove my love for your daughter because I do love her with every fiber of my being,” Nickolas declares, his voice ringing with conviction.
“That’s good to know, but before I think of something for you to do, she stays in the werewolf kingdom,” Mom states firmly, moving to my side and grasping my hand, pulling me away from Nickolas.
“Mom…” I whisper, pleading, but she silences me with a single, sharp glare. I glance at Nickolas, feeling his emotions roiling through our bond – panic, desperation, a fear of losing me again. He’s trying to maintain a composed facade, but I can sense his inner turmoil. I think he even forgot I could feel his emotions now.
Unable to bear his anguish, I pull my hand from Mom’s and rush to Nickolas, needing to comfort him. “Amelia!” Mom calls after me, but I ignore her, focused solely on my mate.
I press my forehead against his, gazing into his eyes through my lashes. “I promise you, nothing will keep us apart again. My mom will come around. Just give her time,” I whisper to him, my breath fanning his face. He closes his eyes, absorbing my reassurance, before opening them again, determination burning bright.
“I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens,” he vows, sealing his promise with a tender kiss to my forehead. He turns to face Mom, his jaw set with resolve. “Amelia is my world, and I swear you will see that in time.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Mom replies coolly, taking my hand once more and leading me out of the room.
I glance back at Nickolas, mouthing, “I’ll see you later. Love you.”
“I love you too,” he responds, his eyes never leaving mine until I’m out of sight.
Mom practically drags me to her room, slamming the door shut behind us. She paces the floor, her mind clearly churning with thoughts. I decide to break the suffocating silence.
“I know it’s a lot to take in, but I’m telling you, Nickolas isn’t pretending. He loves me and has given up his quest for revenge,” I insist, my voice trembling with emotion.
Mom stops pacing and turns to face me, her eyes softening as she approaches me by the bed. She takes my hands in hers, rubbing them gently before meeting my gaze.
“I want to believe you, dear. I truly do. But a part of me worries that he might be lying, that this is just another scheme to take revenge on us when we least expect it,” she confesses, her voice heavy with concern.
I sigh, understanding her fears. “Do you know why I believe him?” She shakes her head, waiting for me to continue.
“I feel it, Mom,” I say, my hand moving to the mark on my neck. “Thanks to this, I feel his love for me every time he says it, and I see it in his eyes.”
“Oh, Amelia,” Mom breathes, cupping my face with her hand. “How can I believe it as you do?”
“Keep your heart open, and you will see it, too,” I assure her, my eyes shining with conviction.
“Alright, I’ll try. And once I do, I will personally escort you to the lycan kingdom,” she promises, a glimmer of hope in her voice.
“Thank you, Mom,” I whisper, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“Anything for you, dear,” she murmurs, rubbing my back soothingly.
I’m relieved that Nickolas and I decided not to tell her about my pregnancy. It would have only added to her worries about my well-being. I can’t fault her for her concerns – accepting Nickolas’ love would mean entrusting me to his protection in lycan territory, where his people may not be as accepting of our union. She must be worried about how I’ll cope and whether Nickolas will truly keep me safe. But I know he will. And I hope that with time, she’ll come to see it too.