Chapter 22

Roza wasn’t thrilled at the idea of Faith coming back. If anything, her wolf was sensing a threat to their relationship with their mate. She sighed as she paced around her bedroom. Faith pulled Dimitri and Nikolai away for drinks. She wanted to catch up on all the things she missed since she has been gone. They were a close group of friends. Roza didn’t want to appear as clingy.

Leaving a worried Roza in her bedroom to talk herself out of trying to rip Faith’s throat.

Roza knew that feeling this way was foolish. Her human side knew this, but her wolf was not happy at all. The pacing and pulsing of rage that ran through her veins were coming stronger as time went by. She didn’t know how much longer she could control her animal side. Her wolf was threatening to come out and take full control and if she did, Roza was afraid of things that her wolf could do.

When she felt her control slipping like water through her fingers, she made for the door and walked into Nikolai’s room. Stripping away from her clothes she quickly found one of his shirts and threw it on her body. Like a crazed woman, she pushed the collar of the shirt up to her nostrils and inhaled. Closing her eyes, she allowed his scent to calm her body.

She walked over to his king size bed and crawled into the middle where she curled up into his sheets and pillow. Basically, she cocooned her whole body in his scent. It helped. It helped a lot. She was able to finally breathe and her mind was clearing up.

She felt this way when she saw Alexis on Nikolai’s body like a leech. She was blinded by rage. It seemed being closer not only made the bond stronger but their wolves a lot stronger than before. Their ability to control and show their feelings were more prominent.

She closed her eyes and allowed her muscles to relax as she fell asleep in his sheets.

Little did she know, on the first floor Nikolai and Dimitri were drunk. Faith sat next to Nikolai as Dimitri sat to his other side at the mini bar they had in their pack house -- drinking a strong tonic, enough to knock a werewolf out if they drank too much. She watched underneath her eyelashes as Dimitri’s eyes began to glaze over. He blinked a few times and brought his cup up to drink, only to realize he had already finished it.

Frowning he sat the cup down, “I think I am going to call it a night.”

“Weak!” Faith teased.

“Not weak. Just knowing my limits.” He slurred as he waved his finger in front of them.

“Stay.” Nikolai grabbed a hold of Dimitri’s shirt.

“If I stay, will you protect me from my crazy mate?” Dimitri asked and gave him a very drunk pointed look.

Nikolai shook his head and released Dimitri. “Go to your mate. I don’t want to deal with Anna.”

Faith watched as Dimitri walked drunk away from them. She turned back to Nikolai and touched his wrist. She felt him flinch underneath her and knew immediately that he probably did not want her to touch him, but still — she wanted him.

She has always wanted him ever since they were pups. Nikolai and Dimitri always protected her and especially Nikolai. He was always there for Faith.

“Nick, do you remember that one time we went sledding down that big hill on the east border?” She asked in a soft voice.

He chuckled. “Yes, you were too afraid to go down the hill.”

“But you said everything will be okay and you went down with me.” She smiled. “You are always so protective of me.”

“Yeah, I was.” He murmured.

“Even when I didn’t want it.” She said with a pout.

“Well I couldn’t help it. You were like a little sis-” She stopped him by placing a finger on his lips. He pulled back a little.

“I don’t want to be that to you. I want to be so much more. Nick, I like you a lot. I love you. I have always loved you. It is why I decided to go away and train. I wanted to be a good Luna for you.” She moved to cup his cheeks and pressed her forehead against his.

He shook his head but she stopped him. “Nick, please. Tell me you don’t feel it.”

“I’m sorry, Faith. You are just like a little sister to me.” He placed his hands on her wrist to remove them. She whimpered as he did it.

“I love you, Nick.” She said in a broken voice.

“Things changed, Faith. You and I are not mates. I will never love you the way I love her. You will always be my little sister.” He admitted and moved away from her. Standing up he pushed away his drink. She stopped him with her hands on his shoulders.

“Nick!” She protested.

“Stop this, Faith. Stop this before it gets worse. You and I will never be together. I don’t love you that way. If you continue this, I will be forced to do something that we both will regret.” He ordered and started walking away; slowly counting his steps to make his way back upstairs. He was a little tipsy, but not to the point where he didn’t know what was going on.

However, she had other plans. She grabbed a hold of his wrist and pulled him back around to face her. Her hands found their place around his cheeks as she kissed him on the lips. He growled and pushed her away immediately.

“Get out.” He growled. “I told you already. It will never be anything between us!”

He walked away before he ripped her throat apart. He knew he owed her family big time for the multiple occasions they have served as Beta to his family, but also the fact that Faith’s father was also like a father to him. This was wrong and every part of his wolf wanted to tear her apart, but he held onto every last bit of control that he had left and stormed up the steps. Faith’s quiet weeping coming from below stairs can still be heard as he made it to his floor.

When he opened the door to his bedroom, Roza’s scent swarmed around him. Instantly, it calmed the quiet fury that was burning in him. He walked towards the strong smell until his knees met with the bed. The sound must have woken up Roza because he heard the sheets moving.

“Nikolai?” Her sweet sleepy voice asked in confusion. She must’ve realized she was in his bed because she apologized quickly after.

“I didn’t realize... I just wanted to calm my wolf. She was giving me a headache. Your smell helped me.”

He crawled into bed as she continued to ramble on her reasons in being in his bed. When he felt her body, he wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her lap. She was stiff for a moment before she relaxed.

“It’s okay. To be honest, this is our bed. You are always welcome in here. I’m glad you decided to sleep in here because I needed you tonight.” He murmured into her lap. “You’re wearing my shirt too.”

He knew she was blushing. Carefully, she leaned back on the bed until she was lying down. He adjusted his position until he was lying down next to her with his arms safely around her body. She turned to her side so that she was also facing him.

Roza turned her face to look up at Nikolai. His eyes were closed and his face looked like he was completely relaxed, but then Roza smelled something that had her wolf growling. She snarled and moved to grip Nikolai’s cheeks in between her hands.

“Your lips.” Her voice a little deeper, revealing that her wolf was there on the surface.

“Faith kissed me.” Nikolai admitted.

“I’m going to kill her.” She growled and pushed Nikolai away. In a flash, she was out of bed and heading for the door.

“Roza.” Nikolai said immediately and made an attempt to grab for her hand. Luckily, his attempt was right and he got her before she could flee.

“Let me go!” She growled and yanked her hand away from him.

“Don’t do it. Calm yourself, Roza.” Nikolai ordered.

She was not happy.

She was not happy that another female kissed what was hers.

She was not happy that Nikolai was stopping her.

She turned her fury to her mate.

He looked vulnerable and a little frustrated with not being able to see her. She turned around and pushed him back onto the bed. He fell back in surprise as she moved to straddle his hips.

“Roza, control your wolf.” Nikolai tried reasoning with her.

Oh, even if she wanted to, all she could smell was Faith on him. It was enough to make her stomach burn with jealousy and she was definitely blinded with rage. Her wolf kept replaying an image of Nikolai and Faith wrapped in sheets naked in her mind.

Her canines elongated and before she knew it her canines sunk into his neck. She heard his sharp inhale. The rush of the bond ran through her veins and the feel of pride and happiness was running through her. It wasn’t hers though. It was Nikolai. She bit harder and Nikolai moaned as his hands came up to grip her hips. When the rush finally stopped, her wolf let go. She opened her eyes and moved away from Nikolai.

“Oh god.” She whispered.

“It’s okay.” Nikolai reassured her gently. He pushed himself up to a sitting position and touched the mark on his neck.

“I marked you! It’s not okay!” She growled.

“It’s okay, really, Roza.” He tried again.

She groaned and fell back into his pillow, burying her face from the shame. She was an animal. How could she just mark him like this?

“It’s not okay! I shouldn’t have marked you. This isn’t how we were supposed to do this. I force marked you. Now, you-”

“Roza!” He interrupted speaking louder now. She snapped her mouth shut and looked at him. He moved so that he knew he was next to her on the bed. His hand came up as he touched her arm to her shoulder and to her cheek.

“You didn’t force mark me. I wanted it. Don’t you feel it?” He asked softly. She stopped and slowly the feeling of happiness again wrapped around her. It was him. His wolf was happy, possessive, and protective. She could feel it all. It was the best feeling ever to feel him emotionally.

“I’m sorry. It still wasn’t right of me.” She said with so much guilt.

“You were jealous.”

She pursed her lips. “I wasn’t.”

“You’re lying.” He pointed out.

“Nikolai, I just marked you.” She said in disbelief.

“I know.” He didn’t seem to mind it at all. The man was a lot calmer than she was.

“Ok, fine. I admit it. I was jealous.” She huffed in annoyance.

“Yes you were. I admit though, it’s kind of hot seeing you like that.” He said with a chuckle. She blushed and buried her face in her pillow.

“I still can’t wrap my head around how you are okay with this.” She groaned.

“It’s because I l-” He paused for a moment and a slight crinkle between his eyebrow. “It’s because you are important to me.”