Aura came up closer to him, but then she started to cry as soon as she saw his mother’s form dead next to his father’s. She hated his father, but his mother was a good Alpha female. She was a quiet supporter of her husband, but she had also been very kind, when she wanted to be. “I came as soon as I heard…”
He didn’t move to comfort her, he just stayed where he was, staring at the bed but not even seeing it anymore. “She asked me to kill her. I never expected that. I should have. But I didn’t. I never thought I would…Him, yes. I thought about that. But not her.”
She shook her head slowly. “They were one of the most intimately bound pairs I’ve ever seen.” She couldn’t help but reach out and touch the side of his arm for just a moment. “I’m so sorry, Nick.”
He didn’t move at the touch and didn’t look up at her, but she knew him well enough to know that the stillness was just because his mind was moving too fast for him to spare any thought or movement. His eyes were almost spinning with the turmoil of emotions in him. “They were like we would have been.” He finally said very softly, without blinking or looking away from the bed.
Aura cried harder, especially at the thought of the puppies inside of her. They could be Nick’s. A part of her wanted to tell him, and a big part of her still wanted to be with him, but that ship had sailed. He didn’t want her. He couldn’t even look at her without being disgusted with her, and no part of her could blame him. “I’m sorry I ruined it.”
“I fought him for you, I took the claim and title from him. For you.” There was no anger in the softness of his tone, only an almost-nostalgia, as if he was reflecting on something from a hundred years away instead of just the few weeks it had been since the fight that had made him the Alpha of the pack. “And I would do it again. I can’t bring myself to feel sorry for something that I wouldn’t change even if I had the chance.”
Her fingers gripped his arm a little tighter as hot tears ran down her face. “I know you don’t need me anymore, in fact, it would probably be better for you if I was gone, but I’m here to help. Whatever you need.”
He took in a deep breath to calm himself before he spoke. “The delegations from the other packs set against the Council will be arriving soon. If you would keep your eyes on their people while they’re here, I would value your opinion on them. As always.”
Finally she let go but her fingers caressed his arm a little before she pulled away completely and nodded. “Certainly. I’ll do that.” It was her turn to take a deep breath and she spoke quietly, as though she could barely say what she wanted to say to Nick. “Please don’t trust her, Nick. All the things she took from me, the way she…she’s not good, Nick. She’s using your goodness against you.”
“Trusting isn’t something I’m likely to do again any time in the near future, Aura.” This time the response was quick and without hesitation, and his fingers balled up into a loose fist as he said it. He didn’t trust anyone, and Aura was a huge reason why.
“I know you don’t believe me when I say it, but I don’t want you to get hurt.” She looked around as the metal beneath him trembled. “I’ll go after her myself if she hurts you.” Aura grabbed his hand and squeezed it once more before guards came in to let him know another pack had arrived.
He wasn’t sure how to respond to Aura, and he was glad at the moment that Aura wasn’t a Heartborn, to be able to read his thoughts, since they were more sarcastic than he really wanted to be toward her or anyone else at the moment. Nick took his time getting out of the house, composing himself as well as he could before he actually split open the metal door of the house and stepped out to meet his visitors.
Most of the wolves in the group waiting for him in front of their main gate were standing in their human form, which was a peculiarity among Earthborn, he knew. Physically, Earthborn were the strongest of all wolves. Ironborn and Stoneborn followed close behind them, but nothing could challenge an Earthborn’s strength. Added to that was the fact that most of the men looked like they had auditioned for the role of Thor and most of the women, tall blonde bombshells that they were, looked like they were daring every Ironborn to please, pretty please underestimate them and try something.
There was a man and woman standing at the forefront of the group who were obviously stronger than all the others, and they nodded to Nick as he came out, since they recognized him.
Nick spoke first. “Master Osvald, Lady Janna, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“No need to apologize, Nickel. We were told the news as soon as we got here. Our condolences for your mother’s death.” Janna responded with the tiniest speck of pity in her expression.
“Her death was her choice. But you’re not here to talk about choosing death. We’re here to talk about choosing life.” Nick responded boldly, since he refused to dwell on his pain.
“No need to try and be pretty about it, Nickel.” Osvald said sympathetically as he took a few steps closer. “We’re not here to be pretty. We’re here to get shit done.”
“From what we read in the message,” Janna spoke next, since she wasn’t as
