Mercy

After a week of staying on Nikolai’s territory and helping him, he has gotten his strength back. Roza could return back to her home but because of her mating status, it was important for her to stay with Nikolai. Nikolai was an Alpha of a very strong pack and losing his Luna could cause harm to him physically. In return, Nikolai’s pack might feel threatened and there would be a feud between her home pack and her mate’s pack.

Taking a walk outside, Dimitri decided to tag along with Maksim and Roza. Nikolai, getting his strength back, went out for a perimeter run to check in with the border patrol. The sun was high and the weather was nice. Maksim seemed to be having a ton of fun chasing after a small cat that had decided to tag along. It was a stray and Nikolai has yet to see the new pet to the pack.

“With all that has been going on, I haven’t had a chance to thank you yet.” Dimitri said.

Roza glanced up from Maksim to Dimitri. He looked to be around Nikolai’s age. Nikolai having dark brown hair, Dimitri had thick black hair with sharp forest green eyes, a straight nose, and strong cheek bones. He was very handsome but not as handsome as Nikolai in Roza’s opinion.

“Thank me for what?” Roza asked.

“For coming here. I know it must have been a tough decision.”

“It wasn’t a choice. I was told I had to come here and if I didn’t I would be kicked out of my pack and that includes my father.” Roza corrected. Dimitri chuckled and scratched at the back of his neck. It was partially his fault.

He demanded her Alpha to hand her over or there would be consequences. It was an emergency and because their Alpha didn’t want to deal with the wrath of Nikolai’s pack, he willingly agreed to hand Roza and Maksim over, but Roza didn’t need to know all those details.

“Regardless, I want to thank you. Nikolai has gotten his strength back.”

“And yet I can’t go home.” Roza retorted.

Dimitri sighed. “It is for the best. Maksim is our future Alpha.”

“What about me?” Roza asked.

Not understanding his Luna’s question he answered, “Well, you can stay here too.”

She scoffed. “I do not mean that, Dimitri. I don’t want to be here. You and Anna have a bond. I want that too.”

Dimitri finally understood, nodding his head in understanding. “I understand.”

She sighed in frustration. “I do not mean to come off as disrespectful. I understand he is your Alpha but he doesn’t want me.”

“How do you know that he doesn’t?” Dimitri asked.

Maksim giggled as the cat meowed and licked his face before playfully hopping off. Roza looked back at Dimitri after checking on Maksim.

“Because he left me.”

“Then but now?” Dimitri asked and he could see the look of uncertainty on her face. “You don’t know.”

She pursed her lips in response. She didn’t like the fact that the Beta was able to see on her face that she was unsure of what the relationship between Nikolai and her was.

Dimitri sighed and was about to say something when they both saw Nikolai emerge from the woods. He was wearing a pair of black sweatpants but no shirt. Sweat beaded down his chest and he was breathing hard as he walked up the rest of the way towards them.

“Anything?” Dimitri asked.

“Good.” Nikolai replied as his eyes found his mate standing there staring at his body.

“With the patrol you have around the border, I doubt there will be any activity.” Dimitri responded and Nikolai shot him a glare before turning to his son.

Maksim was giggling and hugging the huge cat in his arms as he walked up to his father. Nikolai frowned and crouched down to his son’s eye level.

“What do you have there, Maksim?” Nikolai asked.

“Kitty!” Maksim grinned from ear to ear.

Nikolai’s eyes narrowed on the feline in his son’s arms. His nose wrinkled in distaste. He stood up and said to Dimitri. “Get rid of it.”

Roza gasped and moved to stand in front of the cat. “You will not.”

“It’s a cat, Roza.” Nikolai stated as if it was a good enough reason to kill it.

“You will not touch the cat. Maksim likes her.” Roza growled out.

Nikolai rolled his eyes. “Have you not noticed, Roza? We are dogs. We do not get along with cats.”

Roza scoffed. “I said no.”

Nikolai blinked in surprise. The woman had more balls than all his men. No one dared to talk back to him or defy his orders. If it was any other person, Nikolai would kill them before they could blink, but Nikolai was actually turned on by his mate’s defiance.

Swearing under his breath he walked away back towards the pack house. Roza propped her hands on her hips, not done with the conversation yet.

“I mean it, Nick.” She warned.

Nikolai’s steps faltered and he came to a roaring stop. Roza didn’t realize she had just personally, or should we say intimately, called Nikolai — Nick and Nikolai was rock hard underneath the shorts.

“Fine.” He growled out not turning back to his mate. He stalked towards the pack house to take a very cold shower.

After showering, he came out of the bathroom and walked to his closet to find himself a pair of boxers. The door opened and Roza gasped when she saw that Nikolai was completely naked in front of her. Slapping her hands over her eyes she growled in frustration.

“Do you not lock your door when you are changing?” She snapped.

“Do you not knock on doors before entering?” Nikolai responded as he pulled on his boxers and grabbed a pair of jeans to slip on. Once he got done buttoning he walked behind Roza and closed the door. She opened her eyes and glanced up and down his body.

“I didn’t think you-you would be...” Her voice trailed off. She was finding it hard to talk or concentrate with his body so close to her like this. Swallowing hard she tore her gaze away from Nikolai and walked across the room to give them some distance.

“Please put on a shirt.” She said.

His lips twitched a little as he walked to the closet and found a grey shirt, which he pulled on over his body. Roza licked her lips as she watched him getting dressed. Nikolai’s body was exactly how she remembered and the way he took her at the cabin, god, it was amazing. Memories flashed across her mind and she blushed. Scolding herself silently she turned away from him.

“Were you looking for me?” Nikolai asked.

“Yes. We need to talk.” Roza said.

“About?” Nikolai’s voice was a lot closer now. She turned around and came face to face with his chest. She squeaked in surprise and stumbled backwards. Nikolai quickly wrapped his arms around her to stop her from falling.

She quickly detangled his arms from around her and straightened up. Lifting her chin, she looked up at him. “About us.”

Intrigued now he waited for her to continue, she sighed and took a step away from him. “I think it’s time for Maksim and me to return home.”

An eerie silence followed. Someone could drop a pin and it could be heard. It was that quiet. The sound of the ticking of the hand on the clock that sat on his dresser can be heard. Nikolai’s hard gaze narrowed in on her and she almost wanted to cower and run away.

“No.” Nikolai simply said.

“What?” Roza sputtered.

“I said no.” He repeated before turning away. He was walking away from her and she followed quickly after him.

“But why? You are feeling better and I have my fath-“She started but stopped when he turned around to face her again.

“I can ask for a transfer.” Nikolai said.

She huffed. “No.”

He arched an eyebrow, daring her to defy him. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

She jutted her chin out. “What’s the point of us staying here, Nikolai?”

“Oh so now it’s Nikolai?” He asked and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Nikolai shook his head and closed his eyes. The thought of her and Maksim leaving him, it terrified him. Call him selfish, but he couldn’t find it in him to let them go this time.

“You aren’t going anywhere and that’s final. Maksim stays. He is my son too.” Nikolai said and walked to his bedroom door, unlocking it and leaving her there with her mouth gaping open.