Chapter 93
NADIA.
Ididn’t come down for dinner. I told the Omega that came up to tell Riley that I was sleeping. And I guess Riley believed her because he didn’t come up even after dinner was over. And I was thankful for that.
I went directly to our room after I saw the pictures of my uncle’s dead body. Riley followed after me, but I shunned him and told him I needed time to grasp what was happening. He left after he kissed my forehead and told me to call him once I was ready to talk about it.
But the truth is, I was scared. I tried to vomit to take it all out of my senses, but nothing was coming out. I had no idea what I was scared of the most—that my uncle was dead or the thoughts that crossed my mind.
I trusted my mate, but a part of me would always wonder what he was up to whenever I wasn’t around him.
Is he ruthless? Does he act with integrity?
I knew this pack loved and respected him and saw him as an honorable Alpha, and it terrified me that, because of me, he did something against his morals.
Did he kill my uncle because of me? If he did, I would never forgive myself.
I hated my uncle. I hated him so much, but I would never wish him dead, especially a death like this. But I wasn’t sure I made Riley aware of that.
Guilt was overwhelming me, and I knew, sooner or later, I had to face the truth.
I just got out of the shower and was walking around in just my panties in our bedroom.
I picked up the bottle of oil from my dresser before I sat at the end of the bed.
Soon, Riley would come, and I would not be able to avoid this topic anymore.
I just had to prepare myself because I knew if I asked, he would never lie to me.
I started massaging my stomach with the oil I had spread in my hands when the door to our room opened.
Riley came in with a tray of food in his hand.
His eyes fell on me, and he probably wasn’t expecting me to be naked.
But I wasn’t expecting him to be this early.
It was still twenty minutes before eight in the evening.
He would usually end his workday at exactly eight.
His eyes dilated before he was able to gain control of his wolf. I flashed him a warm smile as I continued to massage my bump. “Come in and close the door.”
It was only then that he began to move. He shut the door with his foot and set the tray on a table before going to the bathroom to wash his hands.
My eyes followed his movements until he came out and approached me. He pecked my forehead with a kiss before he crouched in front of me, taking the oil bottle from my hand and putting oil on his.
No one said anything, but I just let him run his hands over my belly as he massaged it gently with oil.
“Do you want to lie down so I can massage it better?” His voice was so soft and warm that I couldn’t help but smile at him as my hand flew to his face, brushing the stray hair and tucking it behind his ear.
“No. I want to sit like this. I can see you better.”
He just nodded his head and continued to massage my belly before moving on to put oil on my thighs, down to my legs, and down to my toes.
Riley had been religiously doing this whenever he was around, and I was thankful to him. I didn’t need to bend down and reach for my legs.
I watched him as he lovingly massaged every part of my legs. His face looked solemn, not an ounce of angst or cruelty. He looked peaceful. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he didn’t kill him. Because how could you be so peaceful when you know you killed someone?
“How are you?” He asked as he massaged my ankle. “You should eat. I brought you some light food you can eat before we sleep.”
“I’m not hungry, but I will eat.” I gave him a warm smile. I was really enjoying the way he massaged my legs and the sparks dancing around our skin.
“Good. I didn’t want you to skip meals just because you’re upset.”
“Do you kill people, Riley?” I didn’t stop myself this time.
He tilted his head up and glanced at me for a second as he placed my leg down and grabbed the other one, starting to massage it as well.
“I do. I’m an Alpha. I will kill to protect my people.” His voice was cold and it sounded like someone I didn’t know. “Do you want to ask me a specific question?”
I swallowed before I opened my mouth to speak. My gaze focused on his, not wanting to miss any expression that would come out on his face. “Did you kill my uncle?”
“No. I didn’t.”
I let out the breath that I’d been holding. But no one said anything after that. There was just silence until he placed my foot back down and curled a finger on my chin, tilting it up a bit to meet his gaze.
“Nadia, look at me. Tell me you believe me.”
Our eyes locked as I nodded my head. “I believe you.”
“Do you believe me because you love me? Or do you believe me because you know I would not kill him?”
I bit my bottom lip because he caught me there. I believed him because I loved him.
“I’m not going to deny that I wanted him dead the moment I saw your bruises. Especially the one on your back. I wanted to crush him, make him beg for his life, but I didn’t. Do you know why?”
I shook my head this time.
He stood up and sat beside me on the bed before he guided me to sit sideways on his lap.
“Because he’s the only family you know of.
I didn’t touch him and instead turned him over to Darvin for punishment because I didn’t want to hurt you.
But if… but if you asked me to kill him, I would. Without second thoughts.”
“I would never ask you to kill him.”
“That’s why he lasted this long. Because I didn’t kill him when I had the chance.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder as soft sobs escaped my lips. I didn’t know what I was crying for, maybe because I was relieved that Riley didn’t kill him. That my mate didn’t let his blood stain him.
“I was looking for him. I want to find him to find out if he was the one who sent the letter about you and Benedict. I wanted to know if it was him or if we needed to be looking after another person. But then Darvin called me this morning, and told me that he had been notified about his death because the identification card he carried was still the one showing his address in Darvin’s territory. ”
He pulled me away from leaning on him as he cupped my face and used his lips to dry off my tears. “I love you, Nadia. I’m sorry about his death.”
“I’m sorry too. But maybe it was better for him. Rather than him roaming around, banished from his pack. Have you heard anything about his mate? My aunt?”
Riley shook his head.
“I was hoping she could tell me about my mother. Maybe you can force her to tell me who my father is, or at least if she has any idea.”
“Force?”
“I asked her before, but she would laugh or shrug her shoulders at me. But I think you can convince her.”
“You think so? You think I have that charm?”
I giggled, although my heart was still heavy. I rested my head on the crook of his neck, letting his scent calm me for a while before I pulled away.
“No. I think you can scare her. Like, tell her, I’m the Alpha. Submit or I can throw you away!” I mimicked his loud voice in the last two sentences, and the way he smiled at me warmed my heart.
“You have too much faith in me.”
“I do. I know I’m safe as long as you’re around me.”
“You are. No one’s touching you.” He let out a sigh, and it didn’t escape my notice how he closed his eyes, as if he was trying to cover his emotions.
“Is there something wrong?”
“I wanted to show you something, but I didn’t want to give you any false hope. But I don’t want to keep it from you either.”
“Good, you’re learning fast. Can I see it while I’m naked or should I put on some decent clothes?”
“Hmmm. Put something on. It’s for me. I get too distracted with your breasts even if I know it’s inappropriate to think of them right now.”
I chuckled as I stood up from his lap, placing a soft kiss on his head before heading to our closet. Instead of the nightdress I was planning to wear, I grabbed one of his loose shirts and put it on before facing him. “I’m ready.”
I thought we would be heading downstairs to his office, but instead, he stood up and picked up something from his back pocket. It was a folded paper.
He handed it to me.
“This is just a photocopy because the real one was splattered with your uncle’s blood and I didn’t want you to touch it.”
I swallowed before I took the paper from his hand and slowly unfolded it. It was a photocopy of a handwritten note, and the black marks on it might have been his blood. And I was thankful Riley didn’t give me the actual letter.
My eyes zeroed in on the words, and if Riley wasn’t holding me, I might have collapsed. I panted through my mouth as I tilted my head to look at my mate, my heart hammering in my chest.
“He knew who my father was!” I blurted out, not sure if I was telling Riley or myself.
My gaze darted again to the paper in my hands as my vision blurred. Tears welled in my eyes as I reread the words.
Veronica bore you a daughter. I know where she is. Let’s talk. And then below it was my uncle’s contact information. But that’s all. There were no names or addresses. No other information at all.
“He knew where my father was. Did you see anything else? Envelope with a name or address?” My voice was a bit louder this time.
He let out a deep breath before he shook his head. “The envelope was too soaked in blood. Sebastian and I tried to read the words written on it, but it was ripped and totally destroyed. “
My hand clamped over my mouth as soft sobs escaped my throat.
“I’m sorry, baby.” He turned me around and cupped my face as he urged me to look at him. “We will find him. I will use all my connections to find him. Now that we know he’s alive, we’re one step closer.”
I nodded my head. I tried to say thank you, but nothing came out except sobs and hiccups.
Warm arms wrapped around me before I felt my body being carried in a bridal style. He laid me down in bed before Riley took off his clothes until only his boxers were left. He took the paper from my hand, slipping it inside the drawer of my bedside table before he lay down beside me.
He then slid his hand under my neck and cuddled me while my tears just kept flowing.
I have a father.
“We will find him. I promise you that.” Riley’s voice was soothing, giving me all the hope I needed.
I closed my eyes and scooted my face against his neck. I trusted Riley. I knew he would find him for me.