CHAPTER 14: NOTHING

MAKENA

“No... I took wolfsbane," I replied without thinking, completely engrossed in the pleasant sparks igniting on my skin. But my eyes popped open when I felt him pull back. I looked up, and his gaze locked on mine.

"Wolfsbane? What do you mean?” He asked, alarmed, and I silently cursed myself. Of course, he remembered. When I told him about vampires and wolves, I also mentioned wolfsbane. So he knew exactly what it was.

"I... I came into contact with it by accident," I lied, and his expression immediately changed. He looked at me with disbelief written across his face. And I realized right away that I could not lie to him. Not if I wanted him to trust me. So I sighed and met his gaze once more.

"I haven't been entirely honest with you." I began, and a strong emotion I couldn’t describe blanketed his eyes. "My house is not doing well. My family is part of the Mafia Val." My heart raced as I wondered how he would react to that.

The mafia was not a clean business, and I was aware that some people frowned upon it. I explained it to him, and he said he knew. I was surprised because he knew almost nothing and couldn't explain how he knew what the mafia was, yet he seemed to know.

So I went on to tell him everything, including how my father needed alliances to secure the future of our house and my own. "The Drayven cartel is the richest and strongest. And the cartel's leader, Ammon, and my father are best friends." I paused before proceeding, the next part that was heavy on my chest.

"The only way for a small house like mine to become stronger is to form an alliance with a stronger one. That means my father needs to form an alliance with someone with more power and influence, which is exactly what he was doing when we met. Marriage is the most effective way to form a lasting alliance, aside from the mate bond."

I paused again, my heart beating faster as I prepared to tell him the truth; I had been dreading telling that truth aloud. “Val... I have been promised to Akira Drayven of House Drayven. We’re engaged.”

His eyes shifted instantly, clouding with an emotion I could not identify before turning completely crimson. My lips moved to speak, to assure him that I wouldn’t go through with the marriage anymore, but I paused as he set me down and rose to his feet without a word.

“I won't go through with it,” I said quickly, stepping toward him. I reached out to touch him, but stopped in mid-motion when he spoke.

“You should.”

“What?” I asked, stunned. Surely, I had not heard him correctly.

“You should marry him,” he repeated, still facing away from me, and my breath caught in my throat.

“Are you being serious?” My voice cracked as a cold, heavy feeling settled over me. “Look at me!” I cried out, grabbing his arm and trying to force him to turn around, but he wouldn't budge. “Why? Why would you say that?”

“Because he’s the better man,” he said, finally turning to meet my eyes. His eyes were still crimson, and I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach.

“That’s not true! You don’t even know him!”

“So he’s like me then? Is he lost? Is he falling apart, too?”

“Val-”

“Is he also lost and falling apart?”

“He’s not lost or falling apart... but that doesn’t make him the better man; not for me!” My voice trembled as tears flowed freely down my cheeks. “Don’t you feel it? Don’t you feel our bond?” I couldn’t believe he just said what he said. He was my mate; he was supposed to love me. Didn’t he feel what I felt? Or was it different for him... because of what he was?

“Of course, I feel it. It’s the reason I can’t let you throw your life away. Look at me, Makena!" he said with a cracking voice. “I have nothing to offer you. I live in ruins. I’m a mess. I’m nothing.”

“No, you are not nothing. Please, don’t say that.” I closed the gap between us and rested my hands on his chest, my gaze fixed on his.

“You’re not nothing, Val. You are my soulmate. You are the man I want, and no one will ever be better than you. I don’t care what they have or who they are. I want you. And if that means throwing my life away, then so be it. I wouldn’t even have a life right now if it weren’t for you.”

“Makena, you’re your father’s heir. You are supposed to marry your equal. No one will ever take you seriously with me by your side. Don’t you see? This will never be accepted.”

“I don’t care. I don’t care, Val.” My voice rose with emotion. “The only acceptance I want is yours. Please, don’t push me into the hands of another man. Fight for me, because I will fight for you. I have never felt the way I do with you, and I never will again with anyone else. If you break my heart... I will die.”

Tears welled in his eyes once more as he cupped my cheeks and closed the gap between us, capturing my lips in a kiss that made my stomach twist and turn. Sparks danced up my spine and made my toes curl as I kissed him back with the same urgency, pouring every ounce of my emotions into the kiss.

“I will fight for you, Makena Blackwell." Breaking the kiss, he leaned our foreheads together. “With everything I am.”