SWNOVELS Chapter 33 - Mia
I wake up and stretch, hyper-aware of the rock-hard body behind me. Last night I felt like I shed my skin just by opening up to Nikolaos, and our relationship feels like it can progress from here.
He still thinks he’s ruined, and I think that about myself too. I just hope we can grow closer and heal ourselves while we heal each other.
Turning around in his embrace, I'm surprised he’s still sleeping. Last night must have been cathartic for him, just as it was for me - a purging of the secrets we allowed to define us. It stops after this; I won't allow my abuse to take over my life anymore and prove to Nikolaos how much he’s loved. My eyes go lower, taking in his scars and how it now makes sense that he’s covered his body with tattoos. He was hiding his shame and turning it into power by looking more intimidating.
I mean, it worked - everyone fears him, and for good reason. He's not just an Alpha but a Lycan Alpha.
Kissing his bearded cheek, I slip out of bed and head to the bathroom to do my business. I haven't felt this relaxed in my life and by the way Ares is saying good morning; I know he feels the same relief.
Just as I dry my hands after washing them, I slip on my ring and hear a crash inside the bedroom, so I run inside. The bedside table is on its side while Nikolaos is nowhere to be seen; when I'm about to walk out of the bedroom to find him, he rushes back in.
His eyes are wide with what looks like fear and his mouth is hanging slightly open as he takes me in. “Mia,” he breathes out my name and pulls me into his arms. “Fuck, I thought last night was a dream. Don't leave me like that again.”
I blink rapidly, frowning at his words. “I was just in the bathroom,” I squeak and his hold tightens so I slap his arm. “Can't breathe, Alpha!”
He lets go of me and places his hands on my shoulders. “I'm sorry, I just... It's so good to see you again.”
Gods, I am so full of love for him right now. I wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his chest, my heart constricting when the memories of last night come flooding back. My Alpha is hurting, so badly hurt and I will make it my mission to show him just how special and loved he is. “I'm not going anywhere, I promise,” I say, then I stand on my tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek. “Good morning, Alpha.”
“I would love to solidify my bond with you, Nikolaos,” I say with a heated face. “What you feel for me...I never thought I would ever have anyone see me in the same light you do. Thank you...”
He gets up and pulls me to my feet. “You're thanking me for treating you how I should have treated you a long time ago?” he asks, cupping my face. “It's a fucking pleasure knowing you love me, Mia, and if that means I have to bear my nape to you, then I'll gladly submit to you for the rest of my life.”
My face heats up and a sheepish smile makes its way onto my lips, only to explode in a grin.
"Gods, I love seeing you smile,” he says, stroking my cheek. “I want to see that every morning when I wake up and every night when I fall asleep.”
I cover my face to hide my smile. “Argh, why are you being so sweet to me? I'm not used to this!" He chuckles and pulls me into his arms. “Well, I'd recommend you get used to it quickly, little rabbit, because I don't intend on stopping any time soon.”
Ares moves and I feel Nikolaos smile against my skin. “See, even Ares agrees with me,” he says and his hand moves low to caress my belly. “My Luna and heir. I'm the luckiest asshole on the planet.” Pretty sure I'm going to wake up and realize I've been dreaming this entire time. There is no way this is really happening, no way the infamous Alpha Nikolaos is treating me so well. Someone is going to come and wake me up soon, and I'll realize I'm still trapped in Mikhail's cage.
Please let this be real. Please, please!
“Oh, this is a sight for sore eyes!” We turn around to see Ariadne standing there, staring at us with a hand to her heart. “I am seeing what I think I'm seeing, right?”
Nikolaos sighs and rolls his eyes. “Yes, YaYa. Mia is my woman now,” he says, kissing the side of my head a little too hard. “I have to go shower and do some work for a little while. You're free to roam the pack house if you so wish.”
He then walks to Ariadne and gives her a little growl before kissing her cheek and walking upstairs. Wow, watching Nikolaos walking away from me might be another favorite of mine. And since he's not wearing a t-shirt, all I see are rippling muscles I want to nibble.
“I'd say you both are sunk, but I called this before it even happened,” Ariadne says, knocking me out of my staring. I turn towards her and she sits down opposite me, wearing a smile on her face. “It's lovely to see Nikki smiling - he never does that.”
My eyebrows pinch together. “Never? At all?”
“Never,” she sighs, shaking her head. “Not even when Bastien is around. I never thought I'd see a woman be the reason he’s smiling, though.”
I peer up at her and notice the pain in her eyes. “You know?”
She places a hand on her heart and nods. “He didn't tell me himself, but...the Goddess blessed me with a gift that allows me to see things when I touch someone and what I saw with Nikki...” she shakes her head and a tear rolls down her cheek. “My heart shattered into tiny pieces knowing what those witches did to him.”
I can feel my face pale at her words; it's one thing for someone to tell you the trauma they've experienced, but it's something completely different when you can actually see it after it's happened.
“That must have been harrowing,” I murmur.
“It was, but when I saw what you went through...” she trails off and my heart stops. “I knew you two would be able to heal each other, especially when I caught a glimpse of your future together.”
My eyes grow even wider. “Future?! You can see that, too?”
“I can and what I saw was...lovely,” she says with a wistful smile, but then she sighs. “Although the future is not set in stone, so don't cling to what I have said. As long as you and Nikki love each other, I know you both will bring that future to pass.”
Can love alone truly make a difference, though? Not only that, but there are still enemies out there who want us dead, not to mention my father and his ulterior motives. Will Nikolaos share his plans with me? Sighing, I give Ariadne a terse smile and say goodbye before I head back upstairs.
I'm suddenly feeling exhausted for some reason.