“I want her gone.” Verena said as she bit a piece of candy off the stick. Her eyes glared at the flowers in particular in front of her.
Nicolas turned and glanced at her. With the way she stood, the rays of the morning sun hit her face through the roof, making her eyes look like pools of honey. He quickly turned away.
He was taking some time off his morning to relax in the garden. Verena found him and joined him without asking, offering him a piece of candy which he politely declined. She then went off a rant of how much Kai had changed because of Karen.
“Alpha Kai wouldn’t appreciate that.” Nicolas said.
“That’s exactly my point.” Verena groaned. “It’s like he’s charmed by her or something.”
“That’s not true. Alpha Kai cannot be charmed by anyone, you and I know how it ended the last time you tried to.”
“Ugh! Don’t even remind me okay?!”
A brief period of silence passed. Nicolas closed his eyes briefly and inhaled the scent of flowers. It felt calming to him, and he needed that right now.
It had been two days since Karen recognized him, and he had done everything in his power to avoid her.
“Do you love him?” Nicolas sudden asked.
Verena laughed briefly. “Of course I do! I’m going to marry him!” She said the last part to herself.
Nicolas hummed. “Is that so?”
“Why are you asking?”
“Nothing exactly.” He replied. “Anyway, refrain from doing anything to the alpha’s slave. You know what will–”
“Who’s side are you even on?!” Verena suddenly exclaimed, making Nicolas turn to her.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you see what that girl is doing to our alpha?! You’re just going to lay back and allow it to happen? For all we know she could be as bad as her father! Probably even worse!”
“She can’t do anything, Verena.” Nicolas sighed. “Don’t try to….”
Verena rose to her feet in anger. “How about you try to grow a backbone?!” She spat and stormed off, throwing the unfinished piece of candy in the ground in anger.
Nicolas felt like running after her and giving her a hug. He could understand how she felt, being so used to having Kai all to herself. They were to be married soon, then Karen comes in. And worse, she is revealed to be Kai’s mate.
Nicolas sighed heavily.
Karen.
He didn’t know how to feel about her.
***
After basking in the morning sun for a few more minutes, Nicolas headed back to the pack house. He had to meet Kai for breakfast before they started work as Alpha and Beta.
Nicolas took the back door that cut through the servants quarters. He hoped that he wouldn’t bump into Karen. Just as he finished his thought, he saw her coming up in front. She saw him first.
“Ah shit.” Nicolas sighed.
She walked up to him, her steps quicker. Nicolas kept his eyes ahead and kept walking. “Nicolas,” She called softly. “Please I need to talk to you.”
He ignored her, walking as if nothing happened. She ran after him, trying to keep up with his long strides.
“I know you don’t want to talk, but at least can you hear me out?”
She was met with silence. She sighed softly.
“What I’m trying to say is, I’m really sorry. And I know my apology doesn’t mean much to you but…. I really mean it. And I hope you will accept it.”
Nicolas honestly didn’t have anything to say to her. If he was being honest, he wanted he to just walk away like nothing had happened.
“I’ll .. I’ll go now ” She said at last after waiting for a response from him. “Bye,”
Nicolas kept mute. She walked away heading to the servants quarters. Nicolas continued on his way to the alpha’s private dining room.
He got there and threw the door open.
“You’re late.” Kai said in a clipped tone. He didn’t look up from his breakfast.
“I ran into your slave on the way here.” Nicolas replied sarcastically. He took a seat opposite him, half glaring at Kai.
“And does that explain why you’re late?” Kai asked.
A servant came in with a steaming plate of food and served it in front of Nicolas. It was french toast, one of his favorites. Nicolas took a bite of it, his eyes still on Kai.
“I’m so sorry, my alpha.” Nicolas said. “Does that fix it?”
Kai raised his eyes and glared at Nicolas. “You’re getting out of hand.”
“That makes two of us.” Nicolas grumbled under his breath. He ate some of his toast. “There’s been a lot of scouts lately. From Winterblood.”
Kai’s fork hit the plate loudly.
Nicolas glanced at him. “They’re looking for Karen. And every time they come, they get bolder and bolder.”
Kai stared at Nicolas, his eyes narrowed. “So?”
“There must be something about her. Something that they want. If they’re willing to die just to try and get her.”
A memory came to Kai’s mind. He recalled the time he had seen a warrior harassing Karen. The way Karen had screamed at him to confess his crime stuck Kai as odd.
He was sure that in that moment, the order was coming from an alpha.
He hadn’t asked her about it, she probably didn’t even notice anything different. It rubbed Kai the wrong way. He was the alpha. His pack members listened to him. No other alpha could command them and they listen.
Yet Karen had done it. Or perhaps, he thought, he had just imagined it and the warrior caved out of fear.
“Kai,” Nicolas said, tapping his fork on his glass cup. “I was talking to you,”
Kai blinked and focused on him. “Did they say exactly why they want her?”
“No ”
“In that case, have some of the warriors interrogate them. If it’s something we can stop now, we should better do it.”
Nicolas raised a brow. “You won’t order their execution?”
Kai picked his fork up and continued eating. “No.” He said simply. “Why will I do that?”
“All this is because you still keep her around. Break the mating bond and cast her out. She can die with the rest of her pack.”
Kai looked at him sharply. “Let me worry about my slave, okay?”
A look of disgust flashed on Nicolas’ face. “And to think I needed to grow a back bone.” He scoffed bitterly. “You’ve grown soft, Alpha Kai.”
Kai froze. “Take that back.” He said sternly.
Nicolas folded his arms across his chest. “No. It’s the truth. She’s just a mere slave and you cast Verena aside for her. Let her go and–”
Nicolas didn’t get to finish his sentence. Faster than he could track, Kai rose to his feet and crossed the space between them. His hand went for Nicolas’ neck and squeezed hard. His eyes were red with anger, his brows furrowed and a snarl on his lips.
He looked feral.
Nicolas felt a spark of fear in his heart. It has been years he last saw Kai this angry.
“Kai…. I…” He tried to say but Kai was having none of it.
Nicolas cried out in pain as Kai punched him in the face. He tried to cover his face and brunt the blows. Kai left his neck and grabbed his long hair, slamming his head into the table.
“Stop!” Nicolas shouted, his eyes going out of focus. “Kai please! Stop it!”
All he could hear were the furious growls of a beast.
Kai lifted him up by the hair and flung him to the side. He crashed into the wall, the force of the impact sending shock waves of pain through his body. He moved away as fast as he could into the corner, his hands raised in surrender and eyes wide with fear
He couldn’t recognize Kai. It was like a furious beast had taken his place. His hair moved with life of their own, menacing and black. His eyes were a blood red, Nicolas could see the fangs in his mouth as he snarled.
It reminded him painfully of Zeke. He knew that look. It was a look that told him that nothing good was coming.
Nicolas felt something break inside him. He slammed his hands on his ears, muffling them so he couldn’t hear. He curled up in the corner, his head between his knees as he started rocking himself.
He felt Kai pause in front of him and squeezed his eyes shut. In that moment, he felt a peace wash over him.
“Oh my goodness…” Kai gasped.
He looked around him, surveying the damage he had just done in ten seconds. The breakfast table was ruined, a few chairs with it. He heard soft whimpering, and he felt his heart plummet.
Nicolas was in a corner, his hands over his ears and his head between his knees. He was rocking himself back and forth, whispering “I’m okay, nothing is happening,” Over and over to himself. His voice sounded small and like a child’s not that of a grown man.
Kai’s heart broke and guilt filled him inside. He rushed towards Nicolas and gently touched his shoulder. Nicolas moved away from his touch, still chanting to himself.
“Nick,” Kai said softly. “Nick it’s me, Kai. I… I’m not going to hurt you okay?”
He couldn’t believe he has just caused Nicolas to lapse back into his PTSD. For a moment all he could see was fourteen year old Nicolas curling into a ball after someone so much as yelled at him.
Kai felt like shit.
“Nick,” Kai said again and tried to touch him again. “Please, look at me….”
Nicolas shook his head. “I didn’t do anything wrong…”
Kai pulled him into a hug, holding him as tight as he could. Nicolas struggled against him and slowly went still. Kai could feel a wet patch growing on his shoulder, soft cries reaching his ears.
He felt like kicking himself for being such a fool.
He held Nicolas close, knowing just the words to say to pull him from the mental prison he had created. He spoke the words softly, his voice trailing off at the end. Kai felt his heart shatter as Nicolas continued to cry softly, mumbling about how he shouldn’t hurt him.
Sudden anger filled Kai inside.
This was all Zeke Winterblood’s fault