Nikolai “When was the last time you spoke to your Alpha?” I ask Nova when we walk back to the SUV. Today has been a day full of unexpected revelations, and to be honest, I have no idea how to feel after everything. But Nova needs me; she needs her mate to be strong right now. “I spoke with him over the mind link the day after you brought me back. He gave me permission to stay with you until the next full moon.” She says, looking everywhere but my way. “He also hasn’t found my friend, and Raven didn’t exactly tell me anything either.” Why is she being so apprehensive now? Did I do something wrong? I drop the picnic basket and grab her wrist, forcing her to look at me. “Is there something else you’re not telling me?” I ask. There’s something going on, something she isn’t being honest about. She sighs, then leans against the tree we stopped in front of. “No, nothing’s wrong. I’m just…thinking about things. A lot happened today.” When she says this, she looks down and then bites her

NovaWe get out of the car when we reach my underground parking and I notice another SUV stop behind us; must be Boris and Ivan. Arya was extremely quiet on the drive over no matter how much I spoke - it was then that I realised that I actually talk a lot. Balls.“I don’t have much to grab still; just the rest of my clothes and shoes; nothing else is worth much value and the place was furnished when I moved in,” I tell her when we walk up the stairs to my apartment. I had called the landlord to tell her that I would be breaking my lease, but she’s welcome to keep the two-month deposit. She wasn’t really happy, but what can you do?“Are you used to not having much of value to you?” she asks when we reach my apartment, and I shrug.“I’m an orphan and have been by myself since I can remember. I’ve learned not to put value onto things anymore; they just tend to hurt you.” I say, sounding like the poster girl for Rogues.Arya scoffs sadly when I say this. “I put too much value in my looks

Nikolai The beeping of the monitors drowns Caterina’s voice out as she comforts me, but I only have eyes for my mate lying lifeless on that hospital bed. It’s odd that I find myself in a room where humans come to heal when they’re injured. But we’re werewolves; we’re supposed to recover in record time… but Nova doesn’t have her wolf yet, so she’s still devastatingly human. Caterina mentions something about Nova’s wolf being silent as well, then takes my silence as a hint and leaves the room. I slowly walk over to where she lay and sit down on the stool next to the bed, my heart not yet registering that this is the woman I love. I take her hand in mine and hold it against my cheek, and something occurs to me then. There’s no light in this body, no giggles or smart ass answers to my questions, no warmth in her skin. She simply /is/ - and it kills me. “Nova,” I breathe out her name as I hold her hand in mine and draw it to my forehead, wishing she would answer me with ‘Nickybabe.’ But

NikolaiAfter leaving Nova’s room, I head straight downstairs to grab a beer and drown out my thoughts with some gaming. It worked for a few hours, and then my thoughts drifted back to Nova.I wanted to be there for her, wanted her to know that she could count on me through this, that I won’t fuck up again. But she wanted to be left alone; she always wanted to be left alone lately. Does that mean I’m too much? Does she need space from me?Fuck, have I become a needy boyfriend?/“Are you at the penthouse? Kon, Dimitri and I have a few things to discuss after meeting with Alder,”/ Kai’s voice cuts through my thoughts./“I am,”/ is all I answer before switching off the console and TV, then moving to the foyer to wait for my brothers. It can’t be good news, given the fact that all three of them will be here, but I guess I’ll see.Twenty minutes later, they file into my penthouse, all looking grim; not only that but there’s dried blood on Kai’s hands and forearms.“What the fuck happened?”

Nova After picking up Arya, we set off for Alpha Kai’s cabin a few miles out. Arya was just as quiet as I was, but Luna Caterina and Lilith tried their best to make us feel comfortable. What can I say? Arya and I just aren’t people’s…people. About an hour later, we arrived at the cabin. But something about it confused me…didn’t Nikolai say that it takes a few hours to travel to the cabin? Did he lie to me again? I try to put it out of my head. “Okay, ladies; let’s get this weekend started!” Lilith exclaims when we walk. She seems to be the only one excited about this; even Luna Caterina is eerily quiet today. Of course, the cabin is beautiful, with just enough rustic style to make you believe you’re actually out in the wild. Our rooms weren’t huge, thank Goddess, but quaint and comfortable. I can definitely see myself coming here again sometime soon. I hear a knock at my bedroom door while unpacking, and Arya walks in with a small smile on her face. “Settling in?” I ask, packi