Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Nikolai
Iwas a fucking coward and that was a hard pill to swallow.
Now that I was presented with seeing my omega after over ten years of missing her, add in several of those years where I thought she might be dead, and my current reaction made no fucking sense.
My alpha was silent, like he’d closed the doors between us. I was dragging my feet, battling what I could only describe as pure terror.
I was terrified that we’d make this drive, find this town… and the name would be a coincidence.
How could I come back from that? I’d barely lived through that news once.
My pack warned me that I wasn’t going to drive long before we loaded in the car. They expected me to fight it, but I couldn’t seem to get myself together long enough for that. I was barely functioning as it was.
“Are you alright?” Thea’s voice was more gentle than it usually was. As far as “typical” omegas went, she wasn’t soft and quiet. Life had hardened her, much the way I feared it altered Aries. Would I even recognize her?
“No,” I said bluntly, looking at her out of the corner of my eye.
She and a few other omegas were with me and Ronan. The others were behind us in the car with Luca.
I hadn’t bothered to ask what their names were, which probably made me a bad person.
Though that ship had sailed long ago. There were too many lives on my hands for me to be considered good in any way.
My only thoughts were of Aries and this mysterious town we were heading for. Our contact threatened us within an inch of our lives to make sure that we didn’t disturb their society. They were a safe haven, and would remain that.
The threat was pretty fucking clear. If they had to take these girls from us and kick us out, they would, with no hesitation.
Honestly, traumatizing these girls was the last thing I wanted to do.
All I wanted was my omega.
“Do you think she’s there after all this time?” Thea asked quietly.
She didn’t move closer, which I appreciated. Her blockers kept her scent at bay but I was on edge.
In fact, everyone but me had taken blockers for this. I refused. They’d have to fucking deal with it.
If my Aries was there, she would smell my scent. It was a way for her to realize who I was.
“I hope,” I said, “but I’m terrified to find out the truth. What if it’s not her? That would mean the fight is over.”
She swallowed and nodded like she understood.
“I get it. My alpha died trying to save me from the assholes that took me. He died for nothing. I wanted to give up, but spite kept me going.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
It shocked me that I meant it. Her situation was just as awful as mine with Aries. How could I not sympathize?
I guess my heart wasn’t as dead as I thought.
“If this town is what they advertised, then maybe one day I can finally forgive myself and move on.”
I opened my mouth to tell her it wasn’t her fault, but she gave me a sad smile.
“I know it isn’t my guilt to carry,” she said, “but it’s there anyway.”
She turned toward the window. Rain had just started to fall, darkening the interior and covering the glass in small, steady streams.
I’d never considered myself superstitious, but this better not be a fucking omen.
“Breathe, Nikolai,” Ronan said under his breath.
I did as he asked, forcing myself to look out the window as well, refusing to dwell any longer.
Soon enough, I’d have my answers.
Aries
My hand was sweaty but Leon refused to let go. He stood by my side as we waited in front of Club 21 for this group to arrive.
Syrus got the call about an hour ago that they were an hour out. So, it would be mere moments. Hopefully this little meet and greet was over quickly.
“You good?” Briar asked, eyeing me, then dropping her gaze to mine and Leon’s joined hands.
“Yeah,” I said. “These big groups are always a bit unsettling.”
She nodded, understanding. Thankfully, she let it drop and didn’t call out anything about me and Leon, either.
“Here they come,” Syrus rumbled.
His steel-gray eyes were locked on the road leading into town. It took a few more seconds before I heard the telltale crunch of tires on gravel.
“Two eighteen-passenger vans… damn,” Briar said, letting out a low whistle.
“Told you it was a big group,” I said quietly, hating how fucking weak I sounded.
Usually, I was stronger than this.
Between finding Leon and dealing with these damn nightmares, I was struggling.
The vans didn’t bother finding parking. They pulled over on the side of the road before stopping in front of us.
Silva, Lexi, and Syrus formed a line in front as they stepped forward, the rest of us right behind them.
The man that stepped out of the first van was striking. He stared out with hazel eyes that felt a touch familiar. Or maybe my old alpha with similar eyes was on my mind.
He had rose-gold hair that was soft and styled effortlessly in that way that looked perfect. Tattoos peeked out from under his rolled sleeves and along his neckline.
My heart nearly stopped as his hazel eyes swept over the group, eventually settling on me.
Something in them shifted.
Relief.
A smile broke across his face. Then the others followed him out, tearing his attention away. I took a shaky breath and watched as a group of girls climbed out. The driver of the second van was right behind them.
He was just as handsome. His curly hair was dark and hung to his shoulders. He had a trimmed beard and warm, brown eyes that were assessing the crowd.
“I’m Ronan Crow,” the one with rose-gold hair greeted, holding out a hand for the sheriff, who shook it firmly.
They spoke quietly, but I couldn’t focus as something sparked in the air. My nerves or the groups’, I couldn’t tell.
My hand tightened around Leon’s and he gave me a quick squeeze for reassurance.
Then the final alpha climbed out of the van.
He had short, dark hair and more muscles than the others. Silver, wire-frame glasses rested on his nose. Every inch of him was covered in ink outside of his face and scalp.
Gold rings flashed on his fingers and a gold hoop in one ear.
Then I was focused on a face I would recognize anywhere.
One I had studied every day growing up then dreamt about every fucking day since I was taken.
The alpha who was supposed to be my salvation before Gideon’s fucking goons ruined it all.
“Nikolai…”
My voice was barely there, but his head snapped up immediately, eyes wide.
We were locked there in that moment, staring at each other in a state of pure shock.
I don’t think I took a single breath. My head spun and my chest ached as if someone was crushing it.
Through the fog, I could sense Leon’s panic next to me, but I couldn’t get it together long enough to explain anything more than the words I uttered next.
“It’s him.”
I knew Leon would understand.
“Aries…” My name was a broken whisper on his lips. “Tell me this is real.”
We were both moving then, like magnets were pulling us together and we couldn’t stop it if we tried.
His scent hit me and I let out a sob. My memory truly had never done it justice.
Peppercorn. Balsam. Moss.
It was earthy, sharp, and painfully perfect. One breath and it was as if it rewired something deep within me. A weight lifting so I could breathe properly.
He did the same, closing his eyes and taking a deep, shuddering breath. When he opened them again, something had shifted within them. Stunning warm hazel darkened to brown.
A low, feral growl echoed out of Nikolai. Ronan tried to step in, placing himself between us and whispering quickly though Nik ignored it, eyes still locked on me.
“Somebody better start talking before I start shooting,” Syrus said sharply. “I warned you boys what your role would be here.”
Syrus’s hand shifting to his gun snapped me out of it.
“He’s my alpha,” I choked out.
That was the moment Nikolai lunged toward me.
My heart slammed against my ribs, but there was no fear. It was a mix of elation, confusion, and anticipation.
If there was anyone in this world who would never hurt me, aside from Leon, it was Nick.
I didn’t even realize tears were falling until Leon tried to pull me behind him, shielding me from what he thought was a threat.
There was no threat.
Before I knew it, Nikolai was reaching around him, pulling me close and gripping me tight as he held me against his chest. He buried his face in my neck as he inhaled deeply.
I clung to him. Even if my mind hadn’t caught up, my body knew him. So did my soul.
“They told me you were dead,” he choked out.
The pain in his voice broke my heart.
“I couldn’t—”
“I think you need to step back and give her space,” Leon said again, earning another growl.
“No,” I said firmly to Nik, placing a hand on his chest. “You’re not hurting him. He’s mine.”
“You’re mine,” he argued, voice so deep I felt every syllable rumbling through me.
“I’m here,” I whispered, pressing my plam harder against him. “I’m alive.”
His heart pounded wildly under my palm.
“Mine,” he growled again.
His pheromones spiked until it was thick and overwhelming. I knew I had to get him out of here, but he was already trying to carry me toward the van.
“Alpha,” I said sharply.
He didn’t stop.
“My house. Turn around and walk up the street.” My own command was sharp and insistent. That seemed to break through enough for him to shift direction.
He was in a rut now and I knew exactly where this was going. My omega was just as feral, pushing me closer as my body ached for his knot.
Nikolai’s steps were fast, almost a jog. He was a determined alpha taking his mate away from anyone else.
My mind was still reeling. I had worked so hard not to feel guilty about finding Leon. I was terrified to let the idea of finding a new mate ruin me.
And now here he was, showing up the moment I gave my heart to Leon. Though, this changed nothing. Leon was still mine and I wasn’t taking that back.
Nik would have to learn to share.
Right now, however, I couldn’t deny him what he needed. A part of me needed that same, primal reassurance that this was real. That I was his.