Chapter 5 - Her desperate pleas
1203 Words
Nicholas’ POV:
5 years later:
I was seated at my desk, overwhelmed by a flood of documents strewn haphazardly around.
I absentmindedly ran my fingers through my hair, gazing out the expansive window in front of me, fixating on the distant horizon.
My thoughts, like an old record, played the same tune that had consumed me for the past five years.
Not a single day had passed without it occupying my mind; I was utterly ensnared by it.
Suddenly, a jarring sound cut through my thoughts, yanking me back to reality.
"Nicholas? Are you even listening to me?" Chloe's voice pierced the air with a heightened volume.
She stood beside me, vigorously shaking my body to jolt me from the daily reverie I had fallen into.
"You're still thinking about her, aren't you?" She probed, successfully regaining my focus.
"Who?" I asked, confused by her sudden accusation.
"Who else? That b*tch, Emily," she revealed with a scowl. Her jaw clenched, her eyes seething with anger as she mentioned my ex’s name.
I remained silent, my mind clouded with images of Emily. My hands clenched into fists at the mere thought of that woman and what she had put me through.
"Do you still have feelings for her, Nicholas? After all this time... do you still have feelings for that wh*re of a woman?" Chloe inquired, her impatience evident, awaiting my response.
I rose from my chair, my gaze locking on Chloe. My agitation was mounting, disbelieving that Chloe would even ask such a question.
"Of course not. How could you even say that?" I retorted sternly.
"You've already revealed her true colors to me. Why would I humiliate myself by loving a sl*t like her?" I added, positioning myself at the edge of my wooden desk after pushing the stack of documents aside.
Chloe's once-angry visage gradually softened, her lips curling into a smile upon hearing my stance on Emily.
She drew closer to me and enveloped me in her arms, resting her head against my chest.
"Is that a promise? Does that mean you... love me?" She asked, excitement underlying her words.
I sighed, "You know I do," I replied, wrapping my arm around her head and gently caressing her.
Though she wasn't my mate, Chloe was my childhood friend. She was someone I could rely on, someone with whom I could share laughter, fun, and pain.
She had stood by me through thick and thin, particularly after my marriage to Emily.
If it weren't for her showing me those pictures of Emily and the guy at the hotel, I would have been a fool, still believing that Emily loved me.
Chloe had never warmed up to Emily from the moment I introduced her as my mate to the pack. I had initially dismissed it as her protective nature, a trait she'd exhibited since our childhood.
Little did I know that she would show me just how delicate a mate bond could be.
I genuinely loved Emily, but she stabbed a knife in my back.
Not only did she pull off that disgusting act, she vanished into thin air after taking the lives of two of my pups. I was burning with the desire to punish her badly for what she had done, but she shamelessly fled and disappeared to god knows where.
I didn't give it too much thought, as I was convinced she wouldn't survive long on her own, given her vulnerable condition. Any rogue from the outside would have likely ripped her to shreds, and I wouldn't have given a damn.
I found solace in her absence, even though I could never forgive her or the moon goddess for snatching my pups away from me.
Thinking of my pups, I found solace when my youngest angel entered my home office, her face beaming with innocence.
"Daddy!" she cried out in delight, erasing Emily from my mind and allowing me to relish the moments with my daughter.
“Jesse, how's my little princess doing?" I inquired, lifting her gently into my arms.
"Daddy, what were you doing here? I was looking for you all over the house!" she asked, her adorable eyes seeking a warm embrace.
I felt fortunate to have my firstborn daughter by my side. Without her, I couldn't imagine how I would have found peace in these past five years.
"I'm sorry, my Princess. Daddy was working in his office," I explained, exaggerating a look of sadness on my face, albeit with purpose.
"Then what is she doing here, Daddy?" Jesse asked innocently, pointing towards Chloe with her lips slightly pouted.
I shifted my gaze to Chloe briefly and then back to Jesse, pondering how to respond. However, Chloe swiftly interjected, cutting me short.
"Oh, Nic, I have to go shopping for my wedding dress. Can I have your credit card?" she asked excitedly.
I scratched my head and replied, "Sure," setting Jesse down on the floor.
I reached for my wallet and handed Chloe the card, which she snatched eagerly from my hand, her eyes widening at the sight of it.
"Thank you so much, baby. I'll see you later," she said, planting a kiss on my cheek before hurrying out of the room.
I turned my attention back to Jesse, who was looking at me with a dejected expression.
"What's the matter, Jesse?" I gently lifted her chin as she kept casting her gaze towards the floor.
Her pigtails accentuated her innocent appearance, but the weight of sadness was apparent. It pained me to see her like this, and I wanted to understand what was troubling her.
"Daddy, are you marrying her?" Jesse inquired in a soft voice, her eyes glistening as she nervously fiddled with her fingers.
"Her? Do you mean Chloe? Yes, I am, princess. It was supposed to be a surprise… but never mind. Are you excited about it?" I reassured her, holding onto her hands and encouraging her to meet my gaze.
I maintained a hopeful smile, anticipating a change in her expression. It had been quite some time since Jesse had someone she could call her mother. I was convinced that she would be delighted to learn that I was marrying someone like Chloe.
Chloe had been with Jesse since she was a little pup, often assisting me in raising her and developing a special bond with her.
"Could you please not marry her, Daddy?" Jesse's request caught me off guard, and she appeared on the brink of tears.
I furrowed my brows, surprised by her sudden objection. I lifted her onto my desk to have a heart-to-heart conversation.
"What's wrong, Jesse? Why don't you want Daddy to marry Chloe? She will become your new mommy... Don't you want that?" I questioned.
"You've always wanted a mommy, right? Don't you remember?" I added.
"I do want a mommy, Daddy. But not her, please, Daddy," she responded earnestly.
"But, princess, I've already made the decision to marry her. We love each other... and she's a wonderful woman. She'll be an amazing mother for you, Jesse," I insisted, hoping to help her understand.
"No, Daddy, I don't want her," she declared before leaping off the desk and dashing out of the room.
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