Chapter 4

Accepting The Deal

Nyx’s Pov

I was still trying to adjust to the lavish suffocation of Caspian’s home and his creepy words when he leaned closer and asked, “What if we signed a deal?”

“What deal? I am not interested in any of your silly games, Alpha Caspian” I said, turning down whatever he had in mind.

But with that same maddening smirk, he snapped his fingers. “Alright. Maybe you need to feel refreshed then and feel at home.” He said and stood up.

He pulled out his phone and the next thing was the maids rushing in one after the other.

“Get her washed up and change her clothes. I want her back to me, and bring her back when she’s done.”

They gently pulled me along like I didn’t have a choice in the matter and I was out of Caspian’s sight. I didn’t argue, I was tired, messy, and angry, and honestly, I wanted a damn shower.

I cleaned myself up in a warm bath with flowers, brushed my tangled hair, and they gave me a dress. I was in the softest, silkiest nightie I’d ever touched. But the second I looked at myself in the mirror, my stomach twisted. It was light, too light. Sheer in places that made my skin prickle. It felt good, I hadn't felt that way in days now.

I just couldn't take a hold of why Caspian would go this far to do everything to make me feel free. I deserve freedom, but nothing would seem better until I had my son back in my arms and those jerks on those knees begging for mercy.

The maids led me to a room. I hesitated at the threshold when I saw Caspian—seated by the window, one leg crossed over the other, a drink in his hand, and his gaze, slow and deliberate as it moved over me.

He was staring harshly at me, almost as if he didn't realize when I entered and I was just there.

I cleared my throat sharply. “Alpha Caspian.”

His gaze snapped up to reality, like he was caught doing something sinful. He arched a brow like he wasn’t the least bit sorry. “You clean up well.”

I ignored that. “We didn’t finish our conversation.”

He tilted his glass lazily. “There’s nothing to finish. Go to bed, Nyx.”

“Am I allowed to have my own room, or is this some weird ‘Alpha hospitality’ thing?”

He smirked again, then stood. That same dangerous calm around him made the air feel thinner.

“I couldn't let you go to bed looking all messy, could I?”

“Why did you tell them to dress me like this? I could have had a better thing to wear than this.” I protested, my gaze sharply placed on him. “Is this another game to see how far you can push me before I snap?”

He moved closer, so close I could smell the cedarwood in his scent again. “I told you I have a deal for you. Whatever I do, you’ll need to accept it.”

“No, that's not okay” I said instantly. “Tell me what you want. I’m not accepting anything blindly.”

He exhaled slowly like I was draining the last of his patience. “The reason you’re here—why I brought you into my home, is because I need you to fulfill something for me.”

I frowned. “I have nothing for you.”

He reached up, gently tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing the back of my neck. That single touch sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. I hated how my breath caught.

“Oh, you have more than you think,” he said, lowering his voice, “I need a cure from you.”

My brows shot up. “Cure? Cure for what?”

He grabbed my wrist as I tried to step away, not hard, but firm. His eyes burned into mine. “If you don’t get your acts together, Nyx, you might lose and lose… I mean forever. And I can’t lose. If you want to, fine—do it on your own. But I won’t.”

I blinked, stunned. My heartbeat thundered.

He let go. “Find out however you need to. If you're ready to find the cure, I'll tell you what I need it for.”

“I’m not some healer, Alpha Caspian! I don’t even know what’s wrong with you. And I’m not listening to you. I have my son to find.”

“You’ll do it.” His voice dropped. “Eventually. But first you need to know what you're going to get for doing it alone.”

Right. I couldn't take back Liam alone from Zade. He's manipulative and I…I couldn't try to let him think I was still as weak as he saw me.

“Go to bed. You'll need it.” Alpha Caspian cut through my thoughts.

He walked out, leaving me there with a dozen questions that burned like fire behind my ribs.

I still couldn't sleep later at night. The silence in the mansion was way too heavy, too unnatural and I suddenly needed air.

I stepped into the hallway quietly and wandered toward the garden windows, but froze when I heard voices.

Two ladies stood by, I presumed they were part of the maids in the pack. They were whispering, and with calmness, I strained my ears.

“…the Alpha finally found his mate.”

A sharp giggle followed. “About time. Maybe now everything will go back to normal and we'll be at ease in the pack. It's almost as if he has been at war with himself.”

I pressed my back to the wall and swallowed hard.

His mate?

Me? I really hoped that wasn't me.

No. That’s not what this is. This can’t be what this is. Was it a good thing? A bad thing?

“Yeah. And he even asked us to set a bath for her. He never does that for his mistresses and now he has sent them all out. She's definitely his mate!”

I listened closely and thought, “Does he really need a cure? Was it important?”

I stood there in the moonlight lit hallway, my hand instinctively rested on my abdomen. The place where my son used to kick.

Is this the way I get my son back?