Chapter 9 My foolishness 

I followed after my brother feeling distraught about Galen. I wanted to know why he had come and hoped Lucian would talk to me about it once he returned. Micah opened the patio door for me and I lowered my furry head to step inside. My father Nikolai was standing in the kitchen staring at me with a frown.

"You shouldn't shift outside Nia. It isn't safe for your kind," he grunted in disappointment and I looked down in guilt.

"Go find your baby sister some clothes," he added and Micah nodded. He grabbed my elbow and told me to go to Sasha's room.

"She has casual clothes in the mahogany dresser," he mumbled softly and I thanked him as I stomped myself up the stairs and went to the room I'd been in before. I rummaged through the clothing and grunted, none of the pants would fit me. I noticed a pair of sweatpants and grinned. Grabbing them I hurried to Lucian's suite and grabbed one of his black tees. Shifting back to my normal self I quickly put on the borrowed clothes. I took out the braid and brushed out my now wavy locks and headed to the kitchen. When I entered, Lucian was speaking with my father and oldest brother. He glanced at me worriedly. My brow narrowed at him.

"Spill it, Lucian," I growled sternly and Micah suggested that he and my father give us some privacy. After they left Lucian sighed deeply.

"I heard you shifted and attempted to follow after me," he mumbled softly.

"I did…I was worried about what you would do. What happened?" I asked. Lucian rubbed his eyes, reluctant to tell me.

"I confronted that Galen fellow and took him back to his realm," he growled.

"Tell me the rest," I said staunchly and he looked away and cursed.

"Did you hurt him?" Lucian glared at me.

"He was injured a little to express how pertinent it is not to return here. I gave him a reason to remember," he growled firmly and I looked up in exasperation.

"You are mine, Nia and Galen must accept that," he said staunchly.

"Also your father informed me that he is planning a ball to introduce you to other vampire kings that dwell within the human realm. I wish us to be marked by then," he said solemnly and I glared at him. I shook my head and walked out onto the patio to sit and collect my thoughts. I was upset and wished to return to the Lycan realm and see if Galen was okay. I glanced off in the distance to get the general location of the portal Lucian had gone through twice and knew I could find it if I traveled through the forest and up the mountain.

"I don't think that's wise," Eva whined and I frowned. I questioned myself. I wished to see my best friend and just spend some time talking to him.

"I want to tell him that I wish to stay here with my real family and Lucian. I'd like to get to know Lucian and the rest of my siblings including my father. Lucian seems like an alright male albeit a very possessive one," I mumbled softly as my eyes glanced back into the kitchen and at the male who had piqued my interest.

"So you are going to tell Galen farewell? Perhaps that is a wise thing to do dear," Eva growled and I nodded. Now I just needed to come up with a plan to sneak out. I glanced back up towards the portal area and thought no better time than the present. As I dashed off into the trees my heart fluttered and I pressed my hand against my chest to comfort the sudden ache. Struggling I started the climb up the rocky cliff as I questioned my wolf why my chest felt so heavy.

"It is because you are leaving your intended," Eva whined I rolled my eyes. Little did I know that my father, Lucian, and Micah, were perched on a tree branch watching me climb the entire way and struggling with the heartache.

Lucian's pov

"She is clearly suffering from leaving your presence, yet somehow she continues on," Nikolai grunted.

"It's quite obvious that she is your mate old man," Micah chuckled and I narrowed my eyes at the stubborn female. She continued to clasp at her heart and I understood because mine pained me watching her go to Galen and I knew without a doubt that was where she was headed.

"You have my blessing and a wish of luck my friend. She is much like her mother…you should have made her submit and marked her," Nikolai said firmly and I side-eyed the king.

"Thank you for your blessings but I do not need your luck. I will claim that which is mine before your little dance," I growled sternly and he nodded and patted my back as he flew off back to his home. I watched Nia make it to the top and fall into the portal.

"Are you going to go there and bring her back?" Micah questioned me. I gritted my teeth and scowled.

She won't be happy seeing her lover with a swollen eye and will be angry with me," I sighed in irritation. Micah smiled and shook his head.

"I would be more concerned about the moon Goddess. Selene wants those two to breed due to the Shaw boy's children. She's not smart enough to know that our kind's royalty destroys most of the other species' DNA. She's gone power-hungry and nuts lately," Micah said with annoyance.

"Her vampire mate Maacah should have explained that and knocked her down a notch or two," I huffed and stood.

"Does time run faster there for us?" Micah questioned me.

"No, not for us vampires," I sighed. Micah patted my shoulder and suggested that we go enjoy a glass of cognac. Exhaling harshly, I nodded. Looking one last time at the portal, I turned and felt my heart ache. I felt like I was going to lose the only thing that gave me an interest in my life.

Nia's pov

I stumbled through the portal and appeared under the night sky near the village. It was oddly quiet in the darkness except for my whines of heartache. I wiped my damp eyes and looked down at the dark substance covering my fingertips. Lifting them to my nose I scented blood.

"Why am I crying tears of blood like a vampire, Eva?" I questioned my wolf. She whimpered and explained that my time in the vampire's realm had heightened my vampire's DNA.

"I better not lose you," I muttered and Eva chortled that I wouldn't. Feeling satisfied I made my way to Xavier and Ashton's home where I'd grown up. Strolling through the darkness I jumped suddenly when Selene appeared before me looking pissed.

"Shouldn't you be with your bloodsucker boyfriend, after betraying me?" she snarled. I crossed my arms not appreciating her cocky remark.

"Don't get pissy with me because I don't want to breed with the male I considered my brother, Goddess," replied quickly and she fake laughed.

"Your mother gave you to me willingly, and I wish for you to breed with the hybrid Lycan, you young foolish female. Galen was injured by your other interested fellow and is staying at the council's residence…I suppose I can transport you to him since I'm certain that is why you are here," she growled roughly. I was hesitant but offered her my hand thinking the Goddess wouldn't cause me harm.

"Close your eyes," she mumbled sourly and I exhaled deeply as I did and felt the air shift. When I opened my eyes I was inside a dirt-walled room with a bed placed in the corner.

"What is this?" I questioned sourly and the bitch vanished only to reappear with a tired, confused Galen. Selene glared at us both.

"I will release you after you reproduce," she smirked and vanished.

"That insane bitch!" I howled out. Galen glanced over at me and rubbed his tired eyes carefully. I could see one had been bruised but was now that sickly green and yellow.

"Did Lucian do that?" I asked bluntly and he nodded.

"Why are you here, Nia?" He asked me and I shrugged and explained that I was concerned about how badly he had been hurt. Galen grinned slightly and said, "I knew you still cared about me."

"Of course I do but as a close friend…I don't want to have sex with you," I said staunchly and he raised his blonde brow.

"I didn't mention anything about sex. Maybe it is all on your naughty mind, Nia. I would make sweet love to you," he smirked and I swept his feet from under him. I growled deeply seeing him on the ground on his ass.

"You stay the hell away from me, Galen!" I growled. Galen shook his head as he stood.

"You let a bloodsucker though, haven't you? An old fucking bloodsucker!" He shouted and I stepped back from his explosive anger. I raised my hands before myself as he rushed toward me with clenched fists.

"Did you give him your innocence? Did you Nia?" He questioned rudely and I shook my head. That information seemed to calm him as he stepped closer and cupped my cheek.

"I think we should accommodate the Goddess and give her what she wants," he mumbled softly and pressed his lips aggressively against my own. My hands pressed against his chest. I turned my face and Galen's mouth moved down my neck.

"He's going to mark you! You must stop him!" My wolf Eva warned me in my mind. I shifted into my Lycan and shoved him away from me.

"Stop it, Galen, I don't want you to touch me!" I growled bitterly and he rubbed the back of his head and spat on the floor.

"Fine Nia, get away from me as well…you're much too tempting to me," he grunted in disappointment and turned away from me to look around our prison.

"I have fucked up by returning here, haven't I?" I sighed internally to Eva and she whimpered and told me it appears I had.

"Thank you for your honesty, wolf," I grunted and heard her tell me," no problem, dear." I rolled my eyes and paced the dirt room avoiding Galen.