“If you loved me enough, you would let me go.” Nik didn't reply, he gave a sigh and kissed her temple. He set her back down on the bed rose to his feet and left the room. He couldn't stand to see his mate so unhappy. If it was within his control, he would take back his claiming of her and let her go.
But he couldn't turn back the clock and he was dealing with the situation to the best of his ability. He only hoped his mate would eventually come around and return his feelings. He knew she desired him, but it wasn't enough. He wanted her love as well.
Meg sighed as she watched Nik leave the room.
She had been totally blown away when he said he loved her. She got out of bed and made her way to the shower. She'd had enough of him telling her what to do. It was about time she found some back bone and stood up to these dominant, werewolf males.
Nik made his way downstairs to his study. His Beta's had Nathan on his knees before his desk.
“Where is Nadia?”
Nik waited for Nathan to answer. He continued when he stayed mute. “I know Nadia helped you to kidnap my mate. You can't protect her. I will eventually catch up with her. You can't stop her from being banished from my pack. Now answer the question. Where is Nadia?” Nik asked again.
“I don't know and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you.
If it wasn't for your father, you would have been born into the Malibu Pack. He stole her away from my Alpha's father,” Nathan stated.
“Do you honestly believe, a werewolf female could be taken and mated against her will? Use your brains. My mother loved my father. Nothing could have changed them mating. My mother was not the mate to your previous Alpha. My parents mating was preordained by the stars. Nobody could have stopped it. Your deceased Alpha didn't know what he's talking about. He had been told one side of the story by a man who had his pride maligned. His heart did not enter into the situation; and now his son has ended up losing his life because he took it upon himself to exact revenge. Did his actions show you he was thinking clearly? Do you honestly believe he was sane?” Nik asked, as he watched Nathan.
He knew he had made him think. He could see Nathan's mental cogs turning, but knew he would not get a response from him. “Let him go.” Nik knew he would have no more trouble with Nathan. He watched as Nathan rose to his feet, cradling his wrist in his hand. “Think yourself lucky to be leaving with only a broken wrist. If I give my Beta's the command, they will rip you to shreds in an instant.”
Nathan stood staring at Nik with awe. He realized, before him stood a man of compassion. Only a man with true strength, would allow an enemy to leave without ordering him to be killed. Nathan bowed to Nik in supplication and left the room. He was not going back to the Malibu Pack, even though the his crazy Alpha was no dead. He was leaving and heading to another state.
“You will find Nadia in the previous Malibu Alpha's office,” Nathan threw over his shoulder, then disappeared from view.
Megan slowly walked downstairs after she was showered and dressed. She froze near the bottom of the staircase and watched the man sent to kill her, leave. When he was gone, she stomped her way to Nik's study.
Megan stopped when she saw Nik was not alone.
She was about to back out of the room but Nik prevented her from escaping. “
Please, leave us,” Nik stated. He waited for the room to clear, the closed the door behind his Beta's.
“What has upset you, Meg?”
“You, them, the situation I find myself in,” Meg replied.
Nik took Meg's hand in his and led her to the small sofa in the corner of his study, then sat beside her. “Talk to me, Megan.”
“I've had enough of all this, Nik. I am not going to let you or anyone else, push me around anymore. I've been here for over a week now. I want to go home and get back to my normal sane, boring life. I'm not cut out to be your wife. You need to let me go home, please?”
“Megan, I understand. Really I do, but you need to put yourself into my situation. If you were me and I was you, knew you were in danger. Would you let me leave? Please try to understand. I only have your best interests at heart. I would die if you were harmed. I was so scared when I realized you were missing and had been kidnapped for the Malibu Pack's Alpha.
Please, just stay until I know you are no longer in danger. If you wish to leave when it is safe, then you may.”
“Do you really mean that, Nik?” Megan asked uncertainly.
“Yes, Meg. If you wish to leave when it is safe to do so, I will have Stefan personally drive you back home,” Nik stated with resignation.
“Thank you,” Meg stated.
Nik watched his heart and soul leave the room. He felt as if his heart was being ripped out of his chest. It seemed there was nothing he could do or say, to change his mate's mind. She was going to leave him.
He would not live for long without his mate. He walked over to his desk and began to get his papers in order.
Stefan returned to the study as Nik finished writing his will. He stood looking at his brother, seeing the expression on Nik's face scared him. He didn't want to lose his brother, but knew if Nik didn't fight for his mate, he would lose his life.
“Why?” Stefan asked.
Nik didn't pretend to misunderstand his brother's question when he answered. “She says she has had enough of being in danger. If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't be in any danger. If I hadn't claimed her as my mate, she would probably have stayed safe. She asked to leave and I told her she could, once it was safe.”
“I know all this, Megan told me already. What I want to know is why you aren't fighting to keep her.
She is your mate. You know you won't survive for long if she leaves. Is that what you want Nik? Do you want to die? You know I'm next in line to be Alpha, and I know I don't have what it takes to lead the Trinity Pack, nor do I want to. Why are you giving up so easily? I've never known you to give in without a fight. Why now?” Stefan asked.
“She doesn't love me, Stefan. Yes, we have a chemistry together and in the eyes of our laws we are married. But she wants nothing to do with me.”
“Have you told her you love her?”
“Of course I have. Do you know what her response was?” Nik asked with a bitter laugh. “She said, if you love me, let me go. So that is what I will do. I will let her go.”
“You know what I see? I see two people in love, both as stubborn as the other. One determined to play the martyr and not beg; the other so scared of returning that love, then having her partner leave, just like the rest of her family. It doesn't matter that them leaving, dying, was out their control. What she sees in loving someone, is endless pain and emptiness,” Stefan stated. He saw comprehension dawn on his brother's face. His frown slowly turned to a grin, then outright laughter.
“When did you become so wise, little brother? No don't answer that. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,” Nik stated as he rushed from the room.
“About time you woke up!”
Stefan stated, using his mental link to his brother.
“What would I do without you, Stefan? Go and
inform Harry to begin preparations for a wedding. I
want the ceremony to be held in the center of the
maze. He can hire caterers for the reception which
will be held here,”
Nik commanded, as he went in search of his mate.
Nik found Megan in the conservatory, sitting on a bench breathing in the scent of the flowers. He sat down beside her and took the hand closest to him, in one of his own.
“I have a few things to tell you, Megan. I want you to listen and not interrupt. If you have any questions when I'm done, feel free to ask,” Nik stated.
Meg inclined her head and waited for Nik to speak.
“Being a werewolf has certain aspects, I'm sure you are unaware of. Our life span is extended beyond a normal human life span. We cannot die of any human disease. We do not get sick. The only way to kill a werewolf is by silver bullets, or any silver lodged in our bodies, and, or decapitation. We can survive our allergies to silver, as long as it is removed quickly. Werewolves have the ability to heal rapidly.
If I was in a car accident, depending on my injuries, it would take hours or up to a week for me to heal. I cannot die any other way. I can change humans to become like me by the exchanging of blood. I could lengthen your life span so you age at the same pace I do. I have what you would call superhuman strength and speed compared to a human. I can hear, see and smell beyond a normal human. I know when someone is near me. My senses let me know. I love you, Megan. I don't want to lose you, but if it is still your wish to return to your sane, boring life when it is safe for you to do so; well then, so be it. Do you have any questions, sweetheart?” Nik asked.
Meg was too shocked to voice a reply, so she shook her head.
“I will leave you to process the information, I have given you. If you have any questions or just wish to speak to me, I am available to you at all times,” Nik stated. He kissed her tenderly on the temple, gained his feet and left her to her thoughts.
Stefan found Meg sitting quietly staring into space. He sat down next to her and clasped her hand.
“I love you like a sister, Meg. I know Nik spoke to you a while ago, but I know damn well, he didn't tell you everything. I know my brother enough to realize he wouldn't want to sway your decisions in any way.
When he said he would let you go, he meant it. What he didn't tell you was, if you leave him he will die. A werewolf cannot survive without his mate for long, once he has claimed her or him. He is willing to die for you, Megan. He loves you that much. I know you have feelings for my brother. Sparks fly about the room whenever you are together. What I want to know is; if you are willing to let him die alone? Life is a risk we all take when we marry, or claim a mate.
No one can know what the future will bring. Are you willing to throw away what could be the opportunity, the love of your life? Nik is willing to risk his life for you. Can't you love him the same? Unconditionally, no strings attached. Think about that, before you throw everything away. Please, take some time to really think things through, before you make a decision, Meg. I would hate my brother and my best friend to be lonely, or live and die with regrets for the rest of your life,” Stefan stated. He kissed her hand, gave her a hug and left the room.
Megan sat and processed everything Nik and Stefan had said. She knew she just couldn't walk away without giving Nik a chance to court her. She didn't want to regret her decision and wonder for the rest of her life, what could have been. She wanted a chance to be loved for who she was. Not what she was or what she had. Nik loved her unconditionally.
Could she do the same? Could she open herself up and ignore the what if scenarios? Was she willing walk away and feel no pain? No. She already knew the answer to that question. She would still feel pain if she left. She already had loved the Alpha of the Trinity Pack.
She made her way across the room of the conservatory and left by the glass doors. She had no destination in mind, but found herself being drawn to the maze. She walked slowly through the maze as if she was in a dream. She stood staring at the fountain and the statue of the human female, which resembled her so much. She felt no fear or surprise to see a bright light begin to form at her side. She had somehow known she was meant to be in the center of the maze. Her spirit guide formed fully and stood quietly beside her. They both stood staring at the beautiful fountain.
“Are you willing to throw away the chance to have the children you have always dreamed of having?
Every race, human or otherwise, eventually feels the pain and loss of a loved one. Are you willing to throw away your love, because of your fear? I have always admired your strength and courage to face reality, Megan. Why do fear love more so now, than when you faced the reality of your parents death? Your parents loved you more than you will ever know.
They would want you to be happy. They wouldn't want you to punish yourself, just because you are still alive and they aren't. What do you think they would feel if they knew you were too scared to love, with your whole heart? I will always watch over you, Megan. It takes a great deal of courage and strength to take that final leap of faith. You will never be alone, if you decide not to stay with Nikolai, but you will continue to exist rather than live, if you leave. Is that what you want? Remember me Megan, I love you. Blessed Be,” the female specter stated as she began to fade.
“Wait. Who are you?” Megan asked in a voice full of emotion, as tears coursed down her cheeks.
“I am your Grandmother, child. Your mother and father love you very much, but they want to see you live. Grasp life with both hands, Megan, and don't let go. You won't regret it.”
“I love you too. Tell my parents I love them,” Megan called out as she watched her Grandmother fade before her eyes.
Megan stayed sitting on the bench for quite a while. She cried in a release of pent up emotion; for her guardian spirit, the Grandmother she never knew.
For her deceased parents and then finally for herself.
She finally gave herself permission to grab life with both hands and not let go. She jumped up from the bench, threw her head back and laughed with joy. She was in love and she needed to tell her husband. She wanted to get married, have a human ceremony. She wanted to live with her mate, as a wife should and finally, she wanted to have his babies. She felt so free. She was brimming with so much love, she could barely contain it. She began to run to her destiny. She was not leaving her mate and she needed to tell Nik, she loved him with her whole heart.
Megan ran through the maze and entered the conservatory. She didn't think about closing the door behind her, she was in too much of a hurry to see Nik.